Going back to Rodney King, the public looks at a few minutes or seconds of graphic video, and decides that's all that's needed to form an opinion. "Hey, it's all right there on tape."
Here's the problem with that: there is always context that the first, incendiary footage doesn't show that is directly relevant to the use of force. The media narrative ALWAYS omits the preceding events -- in the Rodney King case, a half hour long car chase, King's aggression and assaultive behavior before the on-scene LAPD sergeant assumed command over the female CHP officer, etc. etc. etc. Which is why the first jury absolved the officers.
In the present case, the evidence is still trickling out, and one big question everyone should be asking is "where's the body cam footage?" Do you think that it's being withheld because it makes the officers look worse? Or maybe it adds context that makes things look a little less callous.
So, unless you think it's perfectly fine for someone to be under the influence of narcotics and meth, in public, trying to start a car and drive away, you'll want someone to detain that individual and either take him to jail, or as in this case, the jail ward in a hospital.
But if that individual decides to resist, you have two choices, as far as I can see. Walk away, and say "Sorry, we asked him, but he didn't want to come", or use force. And once it comes to force, things can get unpredictable. It's not some precisely calibrated thing that can be instantly turned on and then off, undesirable things can, and will happen.
It looks to me that not one of those officers was in an agitated state, and they tried to use the minimum amount of force to effect the arrest. There were no blows, no baton strikes, and they all appeared to be following their policy manual, which allowed the scary-looking neck hold. And the autopsy says there wasn't even a bruise on Floyd, and he didn't die of asphyxia.
I don't know what the rest of the evidence will show, but these snippets of tape are not enough for anyone with a fair mind to draw a final conclusion.
I can also assure you that every police officer in the country is pondering this case, and the media and public reaction. There's a case to be made that all of these officers followed their policy manual, and the law as it stood on that day, but now everyone in the country is howling for their blood. Even so-called conservatives, all based on a few snippets of video on social media. They all now know that no one has their back, or will even give them a fair hearing. What I keep hearing, usually from the best ones, is "there's got to be a different way I can make a living."
I don't think you'll enjoy living in a country with Antifa and BLM stepping in when the current, real police decide to find other employment.
“In the present case, the evidence is still trickling out, and one big question everyone should be asking is “where’s the body cam footage?” Do you think that it’s being withheld because it makes the officers look worse? Or maybe it adds context that makes things look a little less callous.”
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That’s an excellent point. I’ve heard an unverified report that the reason the body cam footage hasn’t been released is because it shows Floyd kicking an officer, telling them he has COVID-19, and spitting on them twice.
I believe if the body cam footage showed Floyd in a favorable light, it would have certainly been leaked to the media by now.
We all agree that the officer shouldn’t have had his knee in Floyd’s neck as long as he did. He likely will go to prison on a manslaughter charge. Even if Floyd died from the cardiac arrest and drugs, it doesn’t matter now. If you punch an 80 year old woman in the stomach and she dies of a heart attack, you will be charged with murder. If someone is kept in a blood or air choke for even 2-3 minutes after they pass out, they are dead.
I learned a long time ago to treat the police with respect and “sir” them out - and they will respect you. If you act like a jackass, curse at them, and resist arrest they will treat you like one.
Thank you for an intelligent, reasonable comment based on the known facts. There are apparently three videos the authorities are not showing. The two body cam videos and the security cam video for Cup Market. As you commented, the body cam video may hold the clue why the officers’ took the actions they did.
However, there is another document that may shed some light on why the officers took the course of action they did. It is the Probable Cause statement in the original arrest warrant. In that document, the officers discussed the proper positioning for an excited delirium case.
If you do some research into excited delirium cases you will find that he proper course of action is for officers to secure the subject and wait medical assistance.
“Because prolonged struggle increases the chance of sudden death, officers should focus on the quickest possible restraint followed by sedation by EMS personnel.”
https://coronertalk.com/excited-delirium-death-police-custody
“This is not the person that you want to place unattended in the back of your squad car once he or she is controlled. If the subject goes on to have a problem, it is much better to have him in the back of an ambulance with EMS personnel in attendance. Your goal should be to have EMS stage away from the scene but arrive as soon as you have the subject controlled so he or she can be evaluated.”
https://www.policemag.com/339775/how-to-respond-to-excited-delirium
Now look at the photo in this article.
https://www.lawofficer.com/minneapolis-police-ban-chokeholds-not-used-in-the-incident/
Chauvin has his right knee on the ground, his left knee is on the back of Floyd’s neck, keeping Floyd’s head from moving. If you watch the video carefully, you will see Floyd raise his head a couple of times, lifting up Chauvin’s knee, so if appears that Chauvin does not have his whole weight on Floyd’s neck. The photo also shows Chauvin monitoring Floyd as he should while applying the neck restraint, and Chauvin has Floyd’s right arm, pulling it back so that Floyd is not in a complete prone position.
Then check the amount of Fentanyl in Floyd’s system.
With that amount of Fentanyl in mind look at this article.
https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/02/02/fentanyl-overdose-dont-count-naloxone-save-you-10822
An interesting thing is that the MSM is now referring to Floyd’s death, as he died in police custody instead of him being killed or murdered by Chauvin. Interesting isn’t it.