Posted on 02/11/2010 10:54:38 AM PST by anonsquared
The 15-year-old victim of a beating that took place at the Westlake transit tunnel last month said she pleaded with Seattle police officers to help her get away from a group of people who eventually attacked and robbed her, court documents said.
As surveillance video from the incident revealed that transit security officers stood by while the girl was beaten, more details about what led up to the attack were found in court papers by KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Jeff Dubois Thursday morning.
In the court documents, the victim said Seattle police officers did not help her when she pleaded with them to help her get away from her group of attackers prior to the beating, but police did not help her.
WATCH IT: Victim Says She Asked Police For Help
That same group of people, including a 15-year-old girl seen attacking the victim on surveillance video, later followed the girl into the tunnel where the attack took place, police said.
The mother of the 15-year-old girl accused of robbery and assault in the case defended her daughter, saying the two teens have a history of aggressiveness toward each other, and that her daughter is a good girl who made a bad decision.
WATCH IT: One Suspect's Mom: 'I Can't Feel Sorry For My Daughter'
(Excerpt) Read more at kirotv.com ...
I’m certain we will be seeing many more ‘Bernie Goetz’ situations occurring in the future as the population becomes aware that the ONLY protection one will receive is from the firearm one is carrying.
Shoot to kill and let the lawyers sort it out.
You make a fair argument, but it won't carry the day. The place they "threw here into" was a public street, that had no sign of imminent danger. As far as they were concerned, they were not putting her in harms way. It is not reasonable to hold them to prescience, or to judge them with the benefit of hindsight. IOW, had nothing happened (which is the case the majority of the time), the same action would NOT have "made it worse."
The law is very stingy about assigning duty to itself.
When I was a kid parents were held responsible for the actions of their children. Not just financially, but also criminally.
If a kid was continually in trouble, the judge had the option to jail the parent and the child. Parents of kids who were always in trouble could give up their parental rights and turn the kid over to the state. The kid would then end up at Audy Home. The other option if they were teens was to sign them over to the Army. Many judges gave the choice - Army or prison?
The useless government employees - police - did nothing before the altercation on the platform. That is not on tape. Read all the articles.
I went to school with the average mix of kids, some of them were pretty mean, but I never saw this business of 5 or 6 or 10 against 1, and stomping on their head when they are down.
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"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe".
Thomas Jefferson
Isn’t that the truth. If I recall, the “system” subsequently went after Getz for merely defending himself.
Cboldt, I disagree. I think there was a sign of imminent danger and they knew, or should have known, that they were putting her in harms way. Not only was she being harassed inside the store, which in itself might be sufficient, but according to the earlier posts she actually pleaded with the police not to put her out there with them because of her own fears for her safety. The police would have determined that those fears were well-founded in light of the way that she was being abused inside the store.
Ok, how?
Better yet...
Shoot to kill and don’t leave any witnesses.
playing devils advocate...security guards are employees of private companies and have no official law enforcing capacity...even if they acted as a concerned citizen as long as they wear the uniform of the company they represent they would be liable for any actions through lawsuits regardless of intent. In other words if the security guards had acted and the situation escalated chances are they’d be sued into oblivion. Their “observe and report” policy is most likey the result of past circumstances where security officers got involved in a situation outside of their duties when they shouldn’t have. In a world of pc and frivolous lawsuits they had to play it safe.
So much for the FReepers who were implying that she deserved it cause maybe she *provoked* the attackers in some way and that it was just *ghetto justice*. Too bad for her.
Some people just make me sick.
Oh, there’s already standing court precedent that the police have no liability if they fail to protect you.
More and more it looks like it’s time to hit the big ol’ red reset switch on this machine.
I think the case against the security guards would be more problematic than the one against the police. You would have to argue that by presenting themselves as security, they invited the girl to come near them and then did not do what they falsely implied that they would do: to protect her. This would be far from a slam-dunk case.
You are absolutely correct. Security guards, like the ones pictured here, cannot legally do anything other than report.
I was looking for a second job for a little extra pay, and went to an interview for a security company like this. They made it very clear that not only would I be sued by anyone that I touched, but that I would be in breach of contract and lose my paycheck as well so they could protect themselves from litigation.
Needless to say, I didn’t take the job. Mainly, because I know that I’d jack someone up in this situation, and can’t afford the hit to my bank account. But for everyone here bashing the security guards, get a life. Most of you are gloating about someone getting sued over this. Well guess what? Those lawsuits cause situations like this, where security guards can’t provide security without worry of getting sued.
The cops on the other hand? Reprimands needed.
Sadly, I think you’re correct. It’s easy to Monday morning quarterback from the comfort of our computers, but none of us had a job (I doubt they get paid much) on the line if we didn’t follow orders. Certainly many of us probably would have thrown caution to the wind and intervened, however I suspect that some will say they would, but faced with the same circumstance would act like the security guards did. BTW it did look to me as if one of the guards was conflicted about stopping the assault, but I can’t tell if he’s saying anything etc.
Thank you for the link. From what I read, there is no question that the Seattle Police Department are liable. The police officers who refused to render aid to the 15 year old girl, will loose their jobs. I am writing King County Prosecuter Dan Satterburg (who I help in his campaign).
I heard KING TV’s broadcast about the incident last night. It revealed that that the Seattle Police had instructed the Seattle Metro guards that they are only to “observe and report.” They are not to intervene in any public disturbance. So these bus tunnel “guards” could only watch. Otherwise, they would not only lose their jobs but be subject to prosecution.
This shows that government makes policy to their own benefit. In this case, they were putting Seattle Metro in a bind so that they would be pressured to hire Seattle Police Officers to guard the Metro Tunnel. Because Seattle Metro had insufficient budget for it, they operated with their hands behind their back at the jeopardy of every citizen who walked into that bus tunnel.
The article from your link suggests that all citizens in the city of Seattle are great danger with little or no police protection. I think it is a political extortion strategy to pull more tax money from the public.
I did read any FReeper on this thread imply that she deserved it. Is that on another thread about this same story?
Oops! I meant...
I did NOT read any FReeper on this thread imply that she deserved it. Is that on another thread about this same story?
Yeah.....FReepmail....
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