Posted on 07/30/2008 10:57:36 AM PDT by LibWhacker
I watched the video on rewind,
it’s obvious that the officer was
helping the cyclist up off the ground.
I’m not saying it wasn’t deliberate. But there was a provocation.
BTW, everybody, I’m thoroughly enjoying the give and take here. By and large I think most of you are being honest and you’re coming up with some good arguments. If this thing goes to court, lawyers on both sides are going to score some points. In other words, it’ll be far from a one-sided, slam-dunk case.
Speaking for myself, I just happen to think Pogan’s got the better case. Thanks again. Gotta go for now.
RE: I don’t care if those bike riding a-holes in Critical mass get run over by a city plow.
I don’t either. I do have integrity though, and am not going to lie to myself and the forum about what happened in the video.
Just watching the vid, the kid kept moving toward the curb to avoid the officer, who then lengthened his stride to intercept, no gesture of command to stop, no audible command that I could hear. The officer let his frustration overcome his training.
He’s going down.
Watching the video in full screen mode at Youtube is even more damning of the cops actions: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bhxjxAMQXpY
“Zactly.
I’m sticking to it! with you!
We can’t see in the video what made to cop single out that cyclist, not to mention what he said when taken down “you are pawns in the game, I’m gonna have your job” sounds to me like he knew exactly what he was doing, civil disobedience / set the police up for a law suit.
The cop may have been trying to stop him, but the bicyclist at the last moment turned his wheel toward the cop. The cop might have then just reacted out of defensive reflex.
I guess I tend to distrust anarchists, and am open to considering what cops have to say in their defense.
It does not matter who the victim of a criminal is. It matters that the criminal be prosecuted no matter who they are.
There’s only one problem here...the Jackboot should have first asked “Vere are your papers?!”
It was an assault, but that little tin badge makes it all o.k..
The video shows the evidence that the SS is a lair and should be in jail for assault on a citizen.
The only video I saw was provided without sound and missing essential context.
The officer is claiming that the cyclist assaulted somebody else first and then resisted arrest.
Essential information is missing from the video that, by coincidence, was submitted by an apparent critical mass supporter.
You can't see what the officer saw and you can't hear what the officer said.
You only get to speculate based on the tiny portion of the situation that was provided to you by an apparent supporter of critical mass.
Apparently you are temporally challenged. if you think that cop can percieve and react to that very minor turn you are erroneously labelling a “swerve” in that amount of time.
The turn .162 seconds before impact is a coincidence in that its the only piece of video that resembles his perjured statement.
IOW, we’ve found the real Clark Kent if I’m wrong.
This all could easily be put to rest if we would just pass a law authorizing police officers to beat Critical Mass riders at will. Maybe I’ll get the petition started.
The guy does seem to swerve towards the cop just before contact. Why? It could be panic...or he thought he could get away.
It’s not just the turn 0.162 seconds before impact. Watch the video again, especially the slow motion version. Long stops moving to the left, though he had some more room on that side if he was really interested in avoiding contact, lowers his head, braces himself, and leans into the cop, WAAAAAY before the 0.162 second mark.
He rammed the cop. Period. And the cop gave as good as he got, better even.
Long partially got what he deserved. What he really deserves is to be laying up in the hospital with a broken skull right about now.
I completely disagree.
We’ll just have to see.
If that's what you call doing his job then hopefully you're not a Cop.
The 22 YO "kid" Cop has lost his job and has been stopped in his tracks. We don't need Cops like this guy, trust me, any Cop will tell you that.
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