Posted on 03/01/2005 11:04:12 AM PST by socal_parrot
AURORA, Colo. -- Aurora police are reviewing a weekend incident in which a man accused of stealing salad from a Chuck E. Cheese salad bar was hit with a stun gun twice by officers.
The incident began at 4:05 p.m. Sunday when officers were called to the restaurant at 145005 East Exposition on a report of a larceny in progress.
Police talked to the Chuck E. Cheese manager who told them that a customer had refused to show proof that he had paid for food. The manager said the man was seen "loading" his plate at the salad bar.
The officers confronted Danon Gale, 29, who was at the restaurant with his children, aged 3 and 7. Patrons said the popular kids pizza parlor was packed with children and families at the time.
According to police, Gale was asked to step outside to discuss the incident.
"According to witnesses (Gale) refused to cooperate with police and a struggle ensued," said Larry Martinez, a police spokesman. He said that Gale became argumentative and shoved one of the officers, a fact disputed by another patron.
"One of the officers kept poking the gentleman in the chest," Felicia Mayo told the Rocky Mountain News.
She was there with her 7-year-old son. She told the newspaper that Gale told the officer "You don't have to do that." She said Gale never put his hands on the officer who was confronting him
The argument escalated until Gale was shoved into the lap of Mayor's sister, who was sitting two booths away, holding a 10-month-old baby. That's when police pulled out a Taser stun gun to subdue him.
"They beat this man in front of all these kids then Tased him in my sister's lap," Mayo told the newspaper. "They had no regard for the effect this would have on the kids. This is Chuck E. Cheese, you know."
Gale's two children were "screaming and hollering and crying" as Gale was tasered with two times with the stun gun.
Police arrested Gale as his children and other customers watched. They took him outside, leaving his children inside the restaurant.
Gale was arrested for investigation of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and trespassing.
His two children were picked up by a relative.
The manager of the restaurant declined comment and Gale said he couldn't talk about it, after hiring an attorney.
The last and final time I went to a Chuckie Cheese was with my kids for a B-day party. What a Zoo? People were dropping their little kids off at the door. They weren't with a party or another adult. Unsupervised kids running around everywhere. I felt sorry for the employees.
The officer probably overreacted, they are supposed to be the calm ones but, the guy was probably a jerk about it too.
As an aside we have way too many law enforcement officers, at least where I live. Many don't have enough to do.
Me-ocratic larceny is not okay, but exceedingly profitable as long as one thinks there will be too many witnesses to the repercussions of bad behavior. (It helps when the witnesses are liberals who never correct their own kids' Me-ocratic behaviors, and who themselves sneer at cops and authority in general.)
What, no larcency? Wasn't that the original complaint?
A friend who's now dead used to tell us he walked a beat in NYC for years and never had to shoot anybody. He said he could always talk suspects down. Police don't do that anymore, a lot of 'em seem to just "shoot" first and ask questions later. (I'm including the taser when I talk about shooting, as well as use-of-force-arrests.)
Not sure I follow you - I didn't claim anyone was a victim, nor did I ask anyone to stop discussing anything. Just relating an incident relevant to the thread.
You violated part of your tag line. lol
What's worse? Eating at a Chuck E. Cheese or getting Tased?
37 Port Authority Police officers died on 9/11 because they worked for us. 23 New York City Police died on 9/11 because they worked for us.
That's a point well taken
Notice how far away the people are standing in the background. Just in case they need a head start should that Bull break loose.
That "was" polite for me....:o)
Stay safe V !
The officers need some training too if the media got any of this right.
If he would have stepped outside the cops would have just done it out there, however it would have been out of view of the witnesses.
I agree. I come from a police family and I know a hundred good cops...I also know a whole lot of bullies in uniform who should never be allowed on the streets with a badge and a weapon. This guy sounds like one of the bullies. The fact that they hauled the guy off with no concern about his small children, who were left behind is especially disconcerting to me.
Pictures???
"37 Port Authority Police officers died on 9/11 because they worked for us. 23 New York City Police died on 9/11 because they worked for us."
Brother, I have undying respect for anybody who has to wear a bullet-proof vest to work everyday. There is no more volitile job than that of a peace officer. Tempers may flare and mistakes may be made but in the end it's police that keep civilization civil.
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