Cadet sues R&B singer LaBelle over airport beating

HOUSTON CHRONICLE ^ | 6/2/11 | ALLAN TURNER

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Lawyers for a West Point cadet who says bodyguards for soul singer Patti LaBelle beat him while he was waiting for a ride at a Houston airport released security video Thursday showing the student being pushed and punched by two men and a woman.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7592273.html#ixzz1OEBHK1oZ

[bvw]

When a vicious thug makes up a story to “explain things”, and the police record that story, is that “falsification”? What say you?

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Well, some of the commenters on the Houston Chron. said they witnessed it and in no way did our Cadet start the action. From what I could see, the security pushed him back while he had his ear on the phone and Cadet simply stiff-armed security as if he simply bumped into him (which is a reflexive football response [seen it on my Marine {former football quarterback} many times]). May have uttered, “WTF - watch out” thinking the security guard stumbled into him, but no guard got hit in the face on that tape, nor did our Cadet do any more than try to hear on the phone. He may have had more than the two drinks he claims, but his attorney said he wasn't drunk and assume they'd have had to take his blood at the ER for treatment.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Well, some of the commenters on the Houston Chron. said they witnessed it and in no way did our Cadet start the action. From what I could see, the security pushed him back while he had his ear on the phone and Cadet simply stiff-armed security as if he simply bumped into him (which is a reflexive football response [seen it on my Marine {former football quarterback} many times]). May have uttered, “WTF - watch out” thinking the security guard stumbled into him, but no guard got hit in the face on that tape, nor did our Cadet do any more than try to hear on the phone. He may have had more than the two drinks he claims, but his attorney said he wasn't drunk and assume they'd have had to take his blood at the ER for treatment.

[moovova]

It looks like you can be...relied upon to gobble up the skittles and unicorns story spun by the black thugs, has-been FattyPatty, and the star struck cops posing with a "defendent" for their Kodak-moment pictures.

There's obviously more to your story than meets the eye, too. You're not worth the keypad you're pounding your silly responses out on...

[PLMerite]

“King was verbally abusive when asked to move so LaBelle’s people could load her luggage onto a cart.”

Depends upon how politely the thug “asked” him to move. I don’t take orders from people who aren’t in my chain of command or otherwise allowed to boss me around.

[I cannot think of a name]

One other thing I forgot to mention that infuriates me in that video.

Ever since 911 all the airports have these signs up that say, “Active loading and unloading only - no stopping.” A couple of years ago my wife was returning from Houston after undergoing cancer treatment. It was hotter than hell and I really didn't want her to have to stand there and wait for me. I kept circling the pick-up area, but if I even slowed down the slightest bit, the cop would whistle and make the move-on sign.

Several months later I was returning from a business trip and waiting for my wife to pick me up. What should be parked right in front but a big black limo with dark windows. Two cops stood by uselessly. I took out my cel phone and grabbed a picture of them standing next to the limo. I walked over to those two guys, and in what was probably a foolish move, let them have it. I told them in no uncertain terms that fr#@$ing car would get moving or else. One of the cops, reluctantly, walked over to the driver side and made whoever was inside move.

If there are any celebrities reading this blog, let me make my position clear. The Constitution has one (1) class of person. The rules and laws apply to you just like everyone else. And if that pisses anybody off, I have a suggestion - leave! Most of us won't miss you.

[riverdawg]

I don't know what really happened, but if it is true that King was the aggressor and hit LaBelle’s driver in the face, then maybe he got a well-deserved beat-down. I grew up near Norfolk, VA. Wearing a military uniform does not give anyone a pass to act like a fool. I witnessed more than a few drunk sailors get their @$$ kicked, first by some redneck and then by the Shore Patrol.

[Tallguy]

This is the kind of prescribed action that results from “Zero Tolerance” rules. The cops said King “smelled of alcohol”. So what? He’s old enough to drink. There’s no evidence that he was drunk (none reported, anyway). And there is no indication that King was arrested for public intoxication or anything else.

Despite this King’s superiors at West Point are going to throw this kid under the bus because he MAY have had a beer or 2 and got ambushed because he strayed too close to somebody’s imaginary comfort zone.

Looks like loyalty only flows one-way at the Point. Underling screws up, cut him loose. Somebody please tell me I’m wrong.

[Vendome]

That is amazing.

The guy seems oblivious to anything and is talking on his cell phone when some stranger comes up to attack him.

He attempts to push the assaulter back and then blamo.

[SoldierDad]

I’m fully prepared to accept the Cadet’s side of the story, and I certainly hope that the police officers who “responded” are severely reprimanded, or better yet fired.

[SeeSac]

Public Affairs 713 308-3200
Public Integrity Review Group 713 247-5800

[riverdawg]

““King was verbally abusive when asked to move so LaBelle’s people could load her luggage onto a cart.”

Depends upon how politely the thug “asked” him to move. I don’t take orders from people who aren’t in my chain of command or otherwise allowed to boss me around.”

I was taught to assess the threat and then respond appropriately. If I am unarmed and threatened by three heavyweights, I'm going to retreat if possible and then call the police. Sometimes, prudence is the better part of valor.

[SoldierDad]

From the video there is NO evidence that the Cadet was the aggressor. What I saw was a young man who was talking on his cell phone and was oblivious to the “party” who beat him up until they began the assualt.

[Vendome]

Pardon me, but did you watch the video?

Drunk or not the guy seems to be standing around, minding his own business and talking on a cell phone when is suddenly assaulted.

[SeeSac]

public.affairs@cityofhouston.net

[riverdawg]

If King wasn’t the aggressor, then the bodyguards should be arrested, the police should be suspended, and the cadet should be reinstated to USMA.

[Tallguy]

It appeared to me that the cadet was not fully facing the 1st dude that ‘bumped’ him. It also appeared that the cadet acted reflexively, pushing off the guard as he turned.

I think that I would have reacted exactly the same way given the circumstances.

I think that we need to ask ourselves who was or was not acting “reasonably” in this situation.

[SoldierDad]

Agreed. And, he should be awarded damages in his suit.

[SoldierDad]

Yes! Based upon the video evidence, I’d say that the police who wrote that report falsified the details. Given the number of witnesses, this will come out at trial.

[txmissy]

What’s even more disgusting is the cops/security/whatevertheyare at the end taking photos with her while there’s blood on the ground next to them.