(Not Mr. Pecciano)
Posted on 08/29/2006 6:34:29 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
AUBURN NY--Stop the presses. The war on terror must be over.
The Syracuse Post Standard reports that, instead of hunting bombmakers, enemy combatants and terror cells, the local branch of the FBI is busy "looking into an August 2004 arrest of a skateboarder by an Auburn police officer."
[Auburn Police Chief Gary] Giannotta said the FBI asked for a complete copy of the entire investigation surrounding the arrest of Richard Picciano, of Auburn. Picciano, who was then 16, was charged on Aug. 4, 2004, with skateboarding in the city's no-skateboard zone and resisting arrest. In the midst of the arrest, Picciano was pepper-sprayed. Giannotta has said Picciano refused to comply with Police Officer Stephan McLoughlin's directives.
According to the article, the FBI is investigating whether or not the arrest was a possible "civil rights violation."
Auburn and Syracuse are both located in upstate New York, which has seen several terror-related arrests since September 11. In September 2002, six Muslim men were charged with operating a terror cell in the Buffalo area. In August, 2004, two mosque leaders in Albany were arrested for scheming to buy a shoulder-fired missile. And in 2005, a Syracuse jury found a local Muslim physician guilty of nearly sixty federal charges, "ranging from Medicare fraud to conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions against pre-invasion Iraq."
Amazing.
Good grief.
The only legitimate function of government in a free society is to defend the rights of the citizens. The FBI has an obligation to investigate the incident.
Things always need to be prioritized, but if there is insufficient manpower to do all the things they need to do, more agents should be employed.
What's the trouble here? The article seems to imply that it isn't worth the FBI's time to investigate civil rights abuses by a representative of our government.
What a load of crap.
This looks like quite the agenda piece to me. If the FBI refused to investigate crimes like this because they're "too busy" we would all suffer at the hands of unchecked government servants.
So every time a criminal defendant wants an investigation into his rights, the FBI should look into it?
(Not Mr. Pecciano)
A 16 year old got pepper sprayed. BFD.
Not a violation of civil rights if the turd was resisting arrest.
Government work. It's not just a gravy train anymore.
What are they going to charge the cops with--totally harshing a buzz?
The arresting officer's report tells a different story. McLoughlin wrote that he "observed Picciano in the area of the front steps riding his skate board." When the officer went to speak with the group, "Picciano took a step towards (McLoughlin) and tensed his body." McLoughlin then informed Picciano that he "was under arrest for skateboarding in a prohibited area and Picciano resisted arrest." A "short struggle" ensued during which Picciano "received pepper spray." He was then arrested and transported to police headquarters, where he was processed and then released into his mother's custody on an appearance ticket.
McLoughlin received back-up support in the arrest from another officer, named Butler, who was in the area and heard McLoughlin transmit on his radio.
In his report, Butler wrote that he "asked P.O. McLoughlin if he was 'all set' and he transmitted what sounded like 'he's resisting.'"
When Butler pulled up to city hall, McLoughlin had Picciano in handcuffs against the patrol car. "Picciano was highly agitated and yelling at P.O. McLoughlin," the report indicates. It also says "Picciano appeared to be bleeding from his nose and he was spitting the blood on the rear" of the patrol car. McLoughlin asked Butler to transport Picciano to the police station because he was transporting evidence in the back of his car. Picciano's skateboard was later submitted as evidence.
Mrs. Picciano said she has kept her son's bloody clothes from that night as evidence.
Only Butler's report mentions that Picciano was injured and treated by the Auburn Fire Department rescue unit for a nose injury and exposure to pepper spray.
In the information filed with Auburn City Court, McLoughlin told a slightly different version, saying that Picciano "was advised to place his hands behind his back and he refused to comply. (McLoughlin) attempted to secure the defendant's hands and the defendant pulled away.
"The defendant then began to walk away, was placed on the ground and taken into custody by using pepper spray and soft hand techniques, then handcuffs were placed on the defendant."
Do we have far too many FBI agents or just very poor FBI supervisors?
Sort of reminds me of the fact that the FBI's most wanted fugitive is a polygamist. I guess the crime rate has gone down so much that they don't have much to do at the FBI these days.
Oh I dunno, how hard is it to bust speeders, evil smokers, seat belt violators, jay walkers, etc,etc,etc.
They are ALL soooooooooo busy ya know.
Shazzzaaam! No sooner did I mention the polygamist, and now I see there is a post that he's been arrested.
I guess that means that the guys who committed this civil rights violation are going to move up the list of most wanted now.
A 16 year old got pepper sprayed. BFD.
Not a violation of civil rights if the turd was resisting arrest.
Behind Liberal Lines says
So every time a criminal defendant wants an investigation into his rights, the FBI should look into it?
First, the story that he resisted arrest came from the police officer who sure as hell isn't going to admit to violating the law. I'm sure the victim's story is much different. WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH? HOW DO YOU KNOW?
And yes, if there is a credible allegation of excessive use of force or violation of civil rights there sure as hell BETTER be an investigation. Just because the cop has a piece of tin on his chest doesn't make him right, and just because the victim is 16 years old doesn't make him wrong.
So...what about internal affairs? Or the NYS Attorney General even? You really want the FBI looking at every scuffle where a kid gets a nosebleed? MMMkay....
Call me crazy, but this is not something I would do. If my child were arrested, pepper-sprayed and handled harshly by the cops, I'd say: "You fool! Why'd you cause so much trouble? Always do what the police tell you to do! When we get home, I am gonna whup you myself!"
And then we'd try to get past the incident, rather than wallow in it.
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