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Man With Down Syndrome in Clash With Cops
NBC Miami ^ | September 17, 2011 | Brian Hamacher

Posted on 09/28/2011 5:29:02 AM PDT by Immerito

The attorney for a man with Down Syndrome who was badly injured after a confrontation with Miami-Dade Police Saturday night says his family is shocked over what they say was an unnecessary attack.

"The family is very upset and really shocked, to be honest," attorney Philip Gold said Wednesday. "They can't believe that this could have happened, let alone to their their son who is an innocent, sweet individual with Down syndrome."

Gilberto Powell, 22, was stopped by officers in the area of Southwest 111th Place and Southwest 138th Street around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to a Miami-Dade Police report.

The report said officers spotted a bulge in Powell's waist band and when they tried to pat him down, he tried to flee. Police say Powell broke free as officers tried to place him in handcuffs, hitting his forehead on the ground.

****

After Powell was finally handcuffed and questioned, the officers realized he was "mentally challenged, was not capable of understanding our commands, and that the bulge in his waistband was a colostomy bag," the report said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcmiami.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; downsyndrome; florida; gilbertopowell; miami
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1 posted on 09/28/2011 5:29:07 AM PDT by Immerito
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To: Immerito

Not to be insensitive or anything, but I wonder how this guy could ever have qualified for a driver’s license.


2 posted on 09/28/2011 5:36:23 AM PDT by sonofagun (Some think my cynicism grows with age. I like to think of it as wisdom!)
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To: Immerito
What, No dogs around to shoot?
3 posted on 09/28/2011 5:38:38 AM PDT by ladyvet ( I would rather have Incitatus then the asses that are in congress today.)
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To: sonofagun

Article doesn’t say he was driving. Police sometimes “stop” people who are walking, sitting, sleeping if they think s/he is “suspicious”.


4 posted on 09/28/2011 5:39:52 AM PDT by Hootowl
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To: Immerito

Don’t forget: According to jNap: Most terrorists are white, Christians bitterly clinging to their Bible and guns. They block our path to absolute power and must be swept aside - first by intimidation. It must be illegal to film our troopers, as this will only help fuel resistance.


5 posted on 09/28/2011 5:40:06 AM PDT by Darteaus94025
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To: ladyvet

“What, no dogs around to shoot?”

I was thinking, “What? No homeless guys around to beat to death”. I guess we are on the same page.


6 posted on 09/28/2011 5:44:54 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: Immerito

“Gilberto, he 5-foot-3, 130 pounds with Down Syndrome,”

What was he stopped for in the first place? And why was he out alone at 9:30pm?


7 posted on 09/28/2011 5:46:47 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: Immerito

From what was described here, it was an unlawful stop and a clear violation of his 4th Amendment rights. There is no law concerning “printing” of a firearm here in Florida. There was no reasonable suspicion that this gentleman was committing or about to commit a crime.

Sue the asses off these JBTs.


8 posted on 09/28/2011 6:03:27 AM PDT by 109ACS (If this be Treason, then make the most of it. Patrick Henry, May 1765)
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To: momtothree

““What, no dogs around to shoot?”

“I was thinking, “What? No homeless guys around to beat to death”. I guess we are on the same page”

Imagine the mayhem that would follow, when they find a homeless guy, with downs syndrom, walking his dog.


9 posted on 09/28/2011 7:37:20 AM PDT by PoloSec ( Believe how that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again for our justification)
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To: Hootowl
Article doesn’t say he was driving. Police sometimes “stop” people who are walking, sitting, sleeping if they think s/he is “suspicious”.

I stand corrected!

10 posted on 09/28/2011 7:50:31 AM PDT by sonofagun (Some think my cynicism grows with age. I like to think of it as wisdom!)
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To: sonofagun

I didn’t see anything about him driving. The article isn’t clear, but seems to hint that he was stopped for having a bulge, which turned out to be a colostomy bag.


11 posted on 09/28/2011 8:13:52 AM PDT by BykrBayb (Somewhere, my flower is there. ~ Þ)
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To: Immerito
After Powell was finally handcuffed and questioned, the officers realized he was "mentally challenged, was not capable of understanding our commands, and that the bulge in his waistband was a colostomy bag," the report said.

Oh, for godsakes! Way to go, Inspector Clouseau!

Get these guys on the SWAT team! Quick!

12 posted on 09/28/2011 8:17:13 AM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: nuconvert
And why was he out alone at 9:30pm?

Many Down Syndrome adults would be fine out by themselves in their neighborhood at 9:30 - depends on the person and the neighborhood.

13 posted on 09/28/2011 8:22:21 AM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: nuconvert
What was he stopped for in the first place? And why was he out alone at 9:30pm?

He was targeted for harboring a colostomy bag. Is there a curfew for handicapped adults? Do they have to be in before dark so they are not targeted by the police?
14 posted on 09/28/2011 8:51:07 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: dead; SaraJohnson

The description his father gave, made it sound to me as though he really shouldn’t be out alone at night. (It made me wonder if he should be out alone during the day)


15 posted on 09/28/2011 8:58:46 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: nuconvert
The families of handicapped people always have that feeling of needing to be in control of their experiences to protect them. They used to put them in a mental institution or keep them hidden and safe in the house.

Like parents of normal children, they have to let them go to the store, go to jobs, take the bus and have as full a life as possible. They don't count on police officers preying on them for wearing a colostomy bag but now they have to change that calculation. Same as at the airports. Handicapped people are the new terrorists for the dumbed down, abusive police force we endure. Islamists walk.

16 posted on 09/28/2011 10:35:46 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: SaraJohnson

“Like parents of normal children, they have to let them go to the store, go to jobs, take the bus and have as full a life as possible”

That depends - the parents along with health prfoessionals have to make the determination as to whether their child is capable of doing all that. Each case is different.


17 posted on 09/28/2011 11:05:45 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: nuconvert

Apparently, there was no legitimate, legal reason to stop him.

The man’s fourth amendment rights were violated.


18 posted on 09/28/2011 1:48:22 PM PDT by Immerito (Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days)
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To: Immerito

Sue them.


19 posted on 09/28/2011 3:10:24 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (We kneel to no prince but the Prince of Peace)
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To: nuconvert

That is true. :)


20 posted on 09/28/2011 3:36:20 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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