Disturbing Video of Fort Worth Arrest.. WTF?

[Lucas McCain]

Fair enough. Enjoy the holidays my friend.

[MarkHobby]

Thank you sir you too

[Scribe]

Originally Posted by grean

The issue here is not about littering.

Maybe the child did make it up. Maybe this was the ntenth that police had been called out. Maybe a ton of things happened that did not get captured on the camera. None of that matters. Police cannot treat situation's like that as cases of someone calling wolf.

The officer, instead of deescalating the issue, ramped it up. Would he taunt a bear after her cub was injured? No. Mothers flip out when they feel their kids are harmed. Black, White, Asian, Hispanic or any other color of mother turn into fucking bears when it involves their child. That officer instead of calmly walking away decided to poke the bear. Really????

If he arrived on scene and didn't find that he could justifiably arrest the alleged assailant, he could have just left or explained why he could not and tried to calm her down instead of prodding the mother. Have some human decency.


The officer is also seen athe the end of the video rushing toward the person taking the video. My guess is that if anything this will be what gets him in trouble.

Time and time again police have been told that bystanders, as long as they are not in the way, are free to video police. Police need to behave better. They are being watched and know it.

A badge doesn't make them infallible.


Defending him is ridiculous.

Do you think the cop who tazed a guy to death after he was in hand cuffs was justified? That guy's no longer a cop and is sitting on prison as we speak.

Any one know of any charges were brought against the former McKinney police officer over the pool party incident?

grean - unlike what CT wants to portray; I am in total agreement with you. I just don't feel that this is anything having to do with "the issue of FT Worth cops"... it's an officer who could have handled it better.

That - is a completely separate issue - from the legal aspects of what was happening there and who should have been issued a citation; and completely separate from - the moral issue or "should you teach your kids respect for others, other's property, and elders?"

CT- No offense intended here. I just feel you can't jumble all those issues together and come up with a "single correct answer".

The boy was wrong for littering.
The neighbor was wrong for grabbing the kid (But, if you can justify the mother's anger - then you have to justify the neighbor's action in the heat of the moment)
The officer was wrong for baiting the mother into action where he could take her into custody.
The daughter was wrong for getting between an arresting officer and the person being taken into custody.
Mother was wrong for "resisting arrest"
Daughter's were wrong for screaming like their mom was shot - when she was just being arrested.
And we're all wrong for making so much out of an "improper arrest" (which happens all the time, happened to me too).

[DSK]

Originally Posted by MarkHobby

I hate racist shit too!! Like I said I jumped immediately on this band wagon against the cop at the very beginning as well. But when I stopped and really took a look at the video...I saw more. I'm not ruling out that officer wasn't acting a little racist...I actually think he probably was. But as far as it actually escalating...I blame the mom. And I also think they were baiting as well. I think every single person in that video was racist. Just the mom took the bait. But anyways.....where's the unedited video?

Merry Christmas to you from my multi racial family! :-) Don't worry...my kids respect other people's property so we good in my neighborhood. :-)

I applaud your post and I apologize to you if anything I said in my replies was considered racist by you. It won't increase your standing in this thread to get my applause, but I want to thank you for your post once again.

[DSK]

Originally Posted by Scribe

grean - unlike what CT wants to portray; I am in total agreement with you. I just don't feel that this is anything having to do with "the issue of FT Worth cops"... it's an officer who could have handled it better.

That - is a completely separate issue - from the legal aspects of what was happening there and who should have been issued a citation; and completely separate from - the moral issue or "should you teach your kids respect for others, other's property, and elders?"

CT- No offense intended here. I just feel you can't jumble all those issues together and come up with a "single correct answer".

The boy was wrong for littering.
The neighbor was wrong for grabbing the kid (But, if you can justify the mother's anger - then you have to justify the neighbor's action in the heat of the moment)
The officer was wrong for baiting the mother into action where he could take her into custody.
The daughter was wrong for getting between an arresting officer and the person being taken into custody.
Mother was wrong for "resisting arrest"
Daughter's were wrong for screaming like their mom was shot - when she was just being arrested.
And we're all wrong for making so much out of an "improper arrest" (which happens all the time, happened to me too).

Very well put. If I were the neighbor, I would have just shown my well known maturity, told the kid to fuck off, then laughed at him when he cussed at me. Nothing you can do in these situations.

[DSK]

Originally Posted by TexTushHog

I've never done civil rights cases. No real money in them, especially in the 5th Circuit. I'm only practicing part time now. I just have a few cases, mostly patents in Texas, O&G royalty litigation from Oklahoma, and class actions in Calf. I spend more time on other business ventures, including O&G. Spend roughly one week plus per month outside the country. Hoping to move that number up as current cases settle. Hope to be fully retired in three years or so.

But back to this case. It has no real value as there are no danages. Can't prove that the officer's extra constitutional actions were the result of department policy. A $100,000 settlement would be a home run. $50-60,000 is much more likely. Shows just how hard it is to interest top lawyers in this type of case. Even if you do a great job, there's no substantial payday.

Interesting and thanks for your thoughts and analysis. If you are an O & G man, we actually have a lot in common. Sorry I was such an asshole.

[TexTushHog]

Haven't been in O&G until recently. Buying up oil production here and there at what I hope is rock bottom prices. Just a bit of diversification. We'll see if it pays off.

I'm slowly winding down in preparation for retiring. It was just something I fell into, as much for amusement as anything.

[dallasfan]

The whole scene looks like it was staged and rehearesed. Who the hell has a camera videoing this stuff unless they were up to something.

Kids have no respect now. I think the guy was in the right.

The cop could have handled it better to say the least. But imo a non event.

[Crock]

Originally Posted by grean

The issue here is not about littering...

...The officer, instead of deescalating the issue, ramped it up. Would he taunt a bear after her cub was injured? No. Mothers flip out when they feel their kids are harmed. Black, White, Asian, Hispanic or any other color of mother turn into fucking bears when it involves their child. That officer instead of calmly walking away decided to poke the bear. Really????

You hit the nail on the head. I don't think this cop did anything illegal, but he is the poster child for an ignorant cop that doesn't care at all about community policing. Instead of recognizing the sensitivities of the situation, he threw gasoline on the fire.

The officer is also seen athe the end of the video rushing toward the person taking the video. My guess is that if anything this will be what gets him in trouble.

Time and time again police have been told that bystanders, as long as they are not in the way, are free to video police. Police need to behave better. They are being watched and know it.

This jumped out at me as confirming that the cop is one of those powertripping types and is the only thing that might bring him jail time. Everything else shows a horrible lack of judgment (which isn't usually illegal), but this is a violation of someone's civil rights (under the color of law) which sometimes results in jail time.

I did find it interesting that there was one person in the video that actually assaulted the cop (pushed him from behind) that wasn't arrested on video. I actually think that's the only person that needs to be arrested here, and, on video, they got away scot free.

[Crock]

Originally Posted by Scribe

I just don't feel that this is anything having to do with "the issue of FT Worth cops"... it's an officer who could have handled it better.

I disagree. Whether it's a hiring issue, or a training issue, cops shouldn't handle situations like this. Across the nation, racial tensions are high. We're on the verge of a war with cops on one side, and persons of color on the other. Shots have already been fired and people have died.

Police departments should be hiring stable people and training them to handle situations like this. One example doesn't prove the Department has a problem, but if this is any indication of a trend, than FWPD needs to address it.

I have no doubt that this officer will be fired, and every other FWPD officer will have additional training as a result of this video, regardless of what is or isn't edited out of it.

[L.A.]

Originally Posted by dallasfan

Who the hell has a camera videoing this stuff unless they were up to something.

What teenager (and damn near everybody else) doesn't have their cell phone with them 24/7 now? To start recording literally takes about 2 seconds.

[dallasfan]

Not from the very start. And she periscope that shit not just recording it.

[Chung Tran]

Originally Posted by Scribe

The daughter was wrong for getting between an arresting officer and the person being taken into custody. disagree.. I think she was mature for a 15 year old, trying to diffuse the situation, unlike the adults present

Mother was wrong for "resisting arrest" I don't believe she resisted at all.. every Cop puts that charge in an arrest report.. the "throw it in and see what sticks" idea

Daughter's were wrong for screaming like their mom was shot - when she was just being arrested. it's wrong for teenage girls to react like that, when Mom is assaulted and unduly arrested?

And we're all wrong for making so much out of an "improper arrest" (which happens all the time, happened to me too).

we are wrong, because it is common? so we should shut up about injustice, because it happens to most of us?

[Boltfan]

I look forward to rereading this thread when more information is made available. On its face, the cop fucked up BUT I am of the belief more information will be presented. The narratives being presented to justify the officers behavior absolutely could have happened but they are fantasy in hopes that is what did happen.

Dont justify or condemn actions based upon a fantasy of what could have happened.

[Scribe]

Originally Posted by Chung Tran

we are wrong, because it is common? so we should shut up about injustice, because it happens to most of us?

Chung, honestly - I have nothing against you, these people involved, or the situation... But, "yeah" - if this is what the world thinks of as the significant event for a rallying cry of "injustice", then the world should just shut up about it.

Now - if you can convince people to not lie to the police, to refrain from losing control due to being emotionally "wired", and good to one another (love thy neighbor)... then you've won me.

I would then agree that every injustice should be pointed out (because in that case it would be 100% correct); and championed to a positive conclusion.

But people lie, they color the truth, they make false statements, they get angry when cool heads are needed, they are personally affronted by anything that they don't see as going 100% their way (much the same way you're affronted by my feelings expressed here); ESPECIALLY when it involves themselves and the police (IE: possibility of being arrested)

And if you can't change those flaws in people; then why are you so certain you can change it in people who apply for a job as police? (through training after training)

And I hate to say this - because you and I have different lives, and I've been all over this country living in many poor places (and I don't know your circumstances)... but honestly - "No" you're wrong... "Injustice" doesn't happen to most of us. Most people are pretty happy and/or get what they deserve out of their actions. It's just that everybody doesn't always get things the way they think they should... that's not "injustice", it's disappointment from a wrongful sense of entitlement.

The fact that your car gets hit in an accident is not "injustice". The fact that you have absolutely no avenue for recourse, "is".

These people in this incident are getting their say, being heard... where is the "injustice"?

OR, do you feel the world should be completely void of errors, mistakes and accidents shouldn't happen in the first place because all of those are "injustices"?
(Good luck with finding that place.)

I don't want to keep going on this - we both see little conclusion (but thanks - it was a fun debate. Seriously. and thanks for keeping it civil) but here's what I've come up with:

You feel the cop should have acted better.
I feel the civilians should have acted better.

I will say this - if EITHER of these had happened, this wouldn't have concluded as it did.