UCLA student stunned by Taser plans suit (now racial profiling)

LA Times ^ | 11/16/06 | Stuart Silverstein, Times Staff Writer

[BurbankKarl]

The UCLA student stunned with a Taser by a campus police officer has hired a high-profile civil rights lawyer who plans to file a brutality lawsuit.

The videotaped incident, which occurred after the student refused requests to show his ID card to campus officers, triggered widespread debate on and off campus Thursday about whether use of the Taser was warranted. It was the third in a recent series of local incidents captured on video that raise questions about arrest tactics.

Attorney Stephen Yagman said he plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing the UCLA police of "brutal excessive force," as well as false arrest. The lawyer also provided the first public account of the Tuesday night incident at UCLA's Powell Library from the student, Mostafa Tabatabainejad, a 23-year-old senior.

He said that Tabatabainejad, when asked for his ID after 11 p.m. Tuesday, declined because he thought he was being singled out because of his Middle Eastern appearance. Yagman said Tabatabainejad is of Iranian descent but is a U.S.-born resident of Los Angeles.

The lawyer said Tabatabainejad eventually decided to leave the library but when an officer refused the student's request to take his hand off him, the student fell limp to the floor, again to avoid participating in what he considered a case of racial profiling. After police started firing the Taser, Tabatabainejad tried to "get the beating, the use of brutal force, to stop by shouting and causing people to watch. Generally, police don't want to do their dirties in front of a lot of witnesses."

He said Tabatabainejad was hit by the Taser five times and suffered "moderate to severe contusions" on his right side.

UCLA officials declined to respond directly to Yagman's statements, saying they still were conducting their internal investigation of the incident.

[dennisw]

This Iranian kid is a spoiled little punk and provocateur. Read post 39 for details

[L.N. Smithee]

He said that Tabatabainejad, when asked for his ID after 11 p.m. Tuesday, declined because he thought he was being singled out because of his Middle Eastern appearance. Yagman said Tabatabainejad is of Iranian descent but is a U.S.-born resident of Los Angeles.

A "U.S.-born resident of Los Angeles" should know better than anyone that when the police tell you stand up or sit down, YOU DO IT!!!

And as a black man, pal, lemme tell you something -- when people who look like you act like a-holes on a regular basis, people will make presumptions about you. It is at that point you have to make a decision; do you want to break the cycle of unfair stereotypes, or do you want to act like an a-hole since they think you are anyway?

You took the latter path, and you've got scars to show for it. You deserve each one of them. Don't look to me for sympathy, you won't get it. In short, I don't CAIR.

[Sprite518]

No their feelings are not hurt at all. The only thumb suckers here are you and that student. I guess you think this kid and you are above the law?

We are either a nation of laws or we are not. I guess you would prefer the Police to beg people to listen to them. Yeah that will work.....

[dennisw]

LOL You are making excuses for this snotty little creep. He should have done what the police requested same as you or I would have done. Don't be stupid- look at what the police asked him to do.

How come some little smart Alec Iranian shit doesn't have to comply with a simple request for student ID?

[Binstence]

The police in NYC are without a doubt the most hard working in the world. They deal with unspeakable crimes and the daily relentless stresses of this urban jungle. They do it with charm, wit, humor and good will. The best of the best. They also refrain from using tazers. If anyone had good cause to use one it would be New York's finest. The use of tazers against unarmed, nonthreatening citizens is barbaric. For the record, nowhere in my post did I even hint that "most police officers are criminals". I don't know where you pulled that from. I respect those who deserve respect. I despise those who were losers all their lives and were attracted to law enforcement in order to have the power they could never achieve on their own. The essence of evil is the desire of one to have power over another.

[dennisw]

In my book this Iranian boy treated the campus police with extreme disdain and disrespect. He did many things to annoy and provoke them. All that was asked for was student his ID

[opinionator]

Dude, you forgot to add the </sarcasm> tag to the end of your post. Someone reading it might think that you are serious.

[Binstence]

Someone forgot to tell you that your contribution is inane.

[dennisw]

You need to be tasered to get you off of cloud nine. You live in the clouds

[Sprite518]

If a cop pulls you over and ask for your drivers license? Do you tell him to F-Off and resist? Perhaps you do, but most of us here are law abiding citizens. We respect our communities, police, firemen, and pay our taxes. We play by the rules.

We are a far cry from a police state. Political Correctness is the trump card. Thus it is slowly wussifying our country. This video is a perfect example. This student is crying like a little girl because he thought he could tell the cops off, and expect nothing to happen to him. Many other countries would have shot the kid on the Spot. We are a far cry from that.

[Sprite518]

Oh he is serious. Unbelievable!

[opinionator]

I live in NYC where the cops face real threats every minute of every day and they police dept here does not use these inhuman devices.

Tell that to Amadou Diallo. Or Anthony Baez. Or Abner Louima.

[Binstence]

I'd say the police officer was the provocateur the moment he put his hand on the person who appeared to have been leaving the premises on his own accord. The cop has no right to touch an innocent civilian.

[Sprite518]

Ahh the traditional Liberal Defense. If you cannot argue facts, then call your opponent a Nazi. Do you even know what Nazi means? Probably not. I would explain it to you, but I believe its over your head. So I will not waste your time or mine.

[Binstence]

It was these isolated cases that caused the department to re-evaluate their policy. Some people actually have the capacity to admit they are wrong when they are. I see that the disease of not being able to do so is virulent on Free Republic.

[Binstence]

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause.

[dennisw]

I'd say the police officer was the provocateur the moment he put his hand on the person who appeared to have been leaving the premises on his own accord. The cop has no right to touch an innocent civilian.

In the good old days he would have gotten a nightstick in the belly for yelling out (like some spoiled rich kid) "Get your hands off me"

He is not innocent. He is an agitator. A provocateur.

[Binstence]

Now I'm a liberal? Your ignorance is stunning.