“Why go so far as to “set up” the cop—”
This kid gets off on it. He does it all the time. No doubt he has MANY encounters with the police that he tapes that are quite benign. Can’t have THOSE getting out, though.
I’m not defending the officer’s actions. I’m saying he was set up, provoked and fell for it hook, line and sinker. I don’t appreciate people interfering with police officers, good or bad, for their own jollies.
Brett claims its for self protection, based on a prior incident. Having had similar experiences with backwoods LEOs I tend to believe him. I record all interactions with LEOs and private security. Saved me a lot of hassle several times, and has put several cops on report with their superiors. MP3 players that record are plentiful and cheap.
My attitude is about that of Brett's I am just smoother and older, which tends to get me hassled a good deal less.
Have you ever filed a complaint against a police officer for abuse? Internal Affairs will laugh in your face. It comes down to your word vs. his. Sorry but you, the citizen, will lose. A friend of mine, a disabled Gulf War Veteran and retired policeman himself, didn't get anywhere when he complained that three State Troopers roughed him up. He went line-by-line with their violations--did they care? No.
I see this situation rather differently. If this cop acted this horribly to this one person, it's highly likely he was doing the same to other citizens like you and me and getting his jollies doing it. He was proud that he could railroad others--now he is reaping what he has sown.
The fact is, there are monsters and bullies within the system, and it appears the system won't police their own. This citizen--irregardless of his motives--took the matter into his own hands and did it legally. My guess is that he probably got legal advice. I don't blame him one bit for doing what he did. Some police do target and harass citizens, and it is getting so that citizens need video proof to protect themselves. Otherwise they are not believed. If my policeman friend had a video camera going, the outcome may have been very different for him.
Who cares if the kid gets off on it, the end result is: this monster cop won't be trumping up false charges on anybody else anytime soon.
Well, I do.
So there's one for and one against.
Heh! The Marion Berry defense.
I don't appreciate people interfering with police officers, good or bad, for their own jollies.
First of all, BS on the interference call. And get used to it. In the wake of this incident, there will be more such episodes when our public servants misbehave. You should be thanking him for a job well done!
The cop followed Darrow into the lot. He persisted in questioning Darrow when he could've just told him to have a good night. He escalated it by calling for a second officer.
So remind me again how Darrow interfered with the officer...