Sox Fan's Death Raises Questions on Force

earthlink ^ | 10-23-04

[LouAvul]

BOSTON - The death of a college student from a pepper-spray-filled projectile sparked anger and questions Friday about whether police used too much force to break up rowdy Red Sox revelers outside Fenway Park.

The mayor said more police will be at neighborhood bars during the upcoming World Series to make sure fans do not get too drunk or rowdy, but he backed off his threat to ban alcohol in the area during the games.

Police Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole said police are considering discontinuing the use of the weaponry that killed Victoria Snelgrove as officers tried to contain an estimated 80,000 fans who poured into the area after the Red Sox victory Wednesday at Yankee Stadium in New York.

O'Toole said the officers showed "great restraint" but had to fire the projectiles after a few revelers set small fires and threw bottles at police and vandalized property, endangering others. Snelgrove, a 21-year-old Emerson College student, was hit in the eye and died hours later.

The plastic balls of pepper spray, which are propelled from devices similar to paintball guns, are meant to help police control large groups without injuring people.

"We want to use the least force necessary in order to maintain the crowd," O'Toole said. "Very unfortunately, it resulted in a horrible action."

Mayor Thomas Menino decided against invoking a rarely used state law to ban the sale of alcohol "in cases of riot or great public excitement" after meeting with about two dozen bar and restaurant owners Friday.

Instead, the city and bar owners agreed to limit the number of people lining up to enter Fenway-area clubs and to prevent live television coverage inside the bars so patrons do not get rowdy as they play to the cameras.

[CWOJackson]

"O'Toole said the officers showed "great restraint" but had to fire the projectiles after a few revelers set small fires and threw bottles at police and vandalized property, endangering others. Snelgrove, a 21-year-old Emerson College student, was hit in the eye and died hours later."

Actually, a Boston paper and eye witness accounts said that the unfortunate incident was sparked when some officers were cut off by an angry mob that was threatening to turn the situation very violent.

[Mediterranean Madman]

I guess they think the police should've used fly swatters on theses people. The police department can't win, no matter what seemingly innocuous tactics they use, someone will always get hurt at some point and they will always receive all the blame. If they had used fly swatters no doubt somebody would've got a welt that would've got infected and they would've had to have their arm amputated, which also undoubtedly would've been the police's fault.

[cynicom]

Anarchy in any name is still anarchy.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Celebrate a win by burning and riots.

What are they thinking or smoking?

[AZLiberty]

Wrong.

Sox Fan's Death Raises Questions on ... Fan Stupidity.

I smell a Darwin Award here.

[Bogolyubski]

I'm curious as to how a pepper-ball projectile (which typically has a velocity of under 400 fps and is fired from paint-ball gun) could actually kill someone. It must have been a freak accident where this poor woman was hit in the eye in such a way that she suffered severe brain damage.

[ProudVet77]

All I can say, is I wish the cops would aim low with those things. Shot someone in the gut or the butt. Not in the head or face.
Anybody partaking of a post Sox or Patriots win or lose is asking for trouble based on the track record. Stay home and celebrate.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The police should be slightly irresponsible and completely stay away from riots. Let the rioters rip! Then watch the "citizens" cry for control.

[pageonetoo]

Celebrate a win by burning and riots. What are they thinking or smoking?

they were not thinking, they were DRINKING ...duh! If they were smoking some Wakky Tobakky, they would have been lined up at the 7-11 for cheetos!

[LiberalBassTurds]

Ditto Bogo. Was wondering the same thing. Bad deal all around.

[Wormwood]

It must have been a freak accident where this poor woman was hit in the eye in such a way that she suffered severe brain damage.

I call pre-existing condition.

[Enduring Freedom]

Only 1 Sux fan dead?

And they call themselves police?

[backhoe]

There's a pretty good discussion about this at the High Road:

 So much for "Less than Lethal"... Red Sox Fan Killed by Police Projectile ( 1 2 3 )

[Dacus943]

" The death of a college student from a pepper-spray-filled projectile sparked anger and questions Friday about whether police used too much force"

Maybe we ought to consider replacing the word "police" with the word FANS!!!

[jocon307]

"I call pre-existing condition."

I was wondering about that too. Well, those involved will certainly ascertain all details, because one thing we can be 100% sure about is that this will be litigated.

[csvset]

Celebrate a win by burning and riots.

When did this " custom " start ?

It reminds me of Euro-Trash soccer hooliganism.

[solitas]

Only 1 Sux fan dead?
And they call themselves police?

One assumes you are a yankmee sycophant?

[jude24]

You challenge the cops in a riot situation, and you deserve what you get.

No sympathies from me for the "victim."

[bert]

Merely collateral damage.