Victim’s friend called 911 before beating to complain of harassment by off-duty cops, sources say

Buffalo News ^ | May 16, 2014 | Lou Michel / Matthew Spina

[bamahead]

A companion of William C. Sager Jr. called 911 early Sunday to report Sager was being harassed inside Molly’s Pub by the management and two off-duty police officers.

Soon after that call, Sager was thrown down a set of stairs and placed in handcuffs while out cold.

Then, still in handcuffs and bleeding from the ears and mouth, he was dragged out on the sidewalk, a short distance from the bar. When a friend tried to intervene, he was placed under arrest.

Later, when on-duty police responded, they found an internal surveillance tape from Molly’s in the trash nearby.

These new details emerged Friday as a wave of Buffalo police officers, troubled by the events at 3199 Main St. five days ago, shared what they knew. A Sager family member also confirmed much of what others told The News.

Sager, who was to be married in July, remains in the intensive care unit at Erie County Medical Center, unaware of his surroundings. Police and people who have visited him say there is little chance he will recover from his severe brain injury.

These reports suggest that at least one of the off-duty officers inside Molly’s Pub early Sunday was more than a passive observer to the beating.

The off-duty officer retrieved his handcuffs so they could be clicked around Sager’s wrists. He then complained to responding officers about Sager’s friend, who was arrested.

Said one cop: “Why would an off-duty officer put handcuffs on an unconscious man?”

[Zuben Elgenubi]

“Why would an off-duty officer put handcuffs on an unconscious man?”

Trophy?

[bike800]

Most places I know of are required to submit to a blood test after a crash or lethal force incident. The insurance companies are requiring it. It is to the point that if I take my fiorinal for a migraine I won’t go into work because, even though I have a prescription for it, I don’t want ANY narcotic in my system just in case.

[null and void]

Most places...

Places? Which sort of places?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

“Why would an off-duty officer put handcuffs on an unconscious man?”

Because the off duty officer was drunk? Drunk on alcohol and drunk on his nearly unlimited powers over the Serfs? Or both.

[bike800]

Jurisdictions around that which I work...those places. Non union states

[familyop]

"...bleeding from the ears and mouth..."

Concussion, neural damage. His lack of neural function will help his opposition to defeat him in court. Juries these days aren't any more empathetic than political folks (being the same and all). It's kinda like when bureaucrats rob someone to keep him or her from being able to afford a good attorney to sue.

Have fun. Enjoy the slide as long as the recirculating debt flows.

[null and void]

Jurisdictions? Do you mean police departments?

Non union states

Are police in union states exempt from drug testing?

[sport]

Ping

[familyop]

"...unaware of his surroundings. Police and people who have visited him say there is little chance he will recover from his severe brain injury."

Oh, well, it looks like he won't be testifying at all. And as with other lawsuits against big shots, other witnesses will be silenced in advance.

I'm saying that our nation is morally bankrupt, and its leadership at every level has no sincere regards for consequences.

[gaijin]

"Dad, help me...!"

Remember that? The Orange County, Calif. cops who beat him to death ON CAMERA were fired, but never did a SINGLE DAY in jail.

NO JAIL TIME --nothing.

[gaijin]

Account taken from the audio:

[bike800]

Yes police depts...and I don’t know for sure if u ion states are exempt. But I do know that insurance companies are requiring random drug and alcohol tests. And if you are involved in a crash, or fire your weapon, you have a blood sample taken.

[GladesGuru]

Speaking of “disappeared images” of police beatings, has anyone managed to find a link to the supposedly “viral video” of the Molly’s Pub beating

[piroque]

And the J B T THUGS are your friend . /S

[Altariel]

Mr. Sagar is (was) an aspiring police officer.

I bet he may have said something “incorrect” or “ offensive” at the academy.

Recited Robert Peel’s principles, perhaps?

[MediaMole]

It sounds like the viral video was of a different case of police brutality.

The video from Molly’s Pub was “was collected as well by responding officers and will be part of the investigation.”

From my experience, the level of corruption in a department is inversely correlated to the number of officers fired for corruption. Locally, we have departments that fire a couple people each year, but that is because they deserve firing and the departments work to get the bad seeds out. Other departments never fire anyone until the U.S. Attorney’s office gets involved. Those are the bad departments.

Every department has bad officers, the difference is how the department deals with them.

[Carl Vehse]

To their credit the Buffalo PD seems to be doing a real investigation instead of closing ranks around those two thugs.

Let's wait and see if it is simply "form, rather than substance."

[null and void]

Thanks! That’s very good to know!

[ncalburt]

I recall years ago the Buffalo Pd off duty officers stomp to death a kid named Long for cutting them off in traffic!

[Altariel]

If the good officers aren’t actively stopping the bad officers in the act of a crime, or reporting the bad officers when they learn of the crime, then they are accessories to the crime.