Violent arrest of (black) teacher caught on video; officers face investigation

[villager]

Source: American Statesman

Officials are investigating an Austin police officer’s violent arrest of an African-American elementary school teacher who was twice thrown to the ground during a traffic stop for speeding and comments by a second officer who told her police are sometimes wary of blacks because of their “violent tendencies.”

Video from the previously unreported June 2015 incident was obtained by the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV this week. The video shows the traffic stop escalating rapidly in the seven seconds from when officer Bryan Richter, who is white, first gives a command to 26-year-old Breaion King to close her car door to when he forcibly removes her from the driver’s seat, pulls her across a vacant parking space and hurls her to the asphalt.

Richter wrote in his report of the incident that he acted quickly because King demonstrated an “uncooperative attitude” and was “reaching for the front passenger side of the vehicle.” He didn’t know whether she had a weapon, he wrote. He said King resisted by pulling away from him and wrapping her hands and arms around the steering wheel.

Police charged King with resisting arrest, but the Travis County attorney dismissed the case after reviewing the police dashcam video.

As King was being driven to jail, a separate police video recorded a conversation between King and officer Patrick Spradlin in which he said whites may be concerned about interacting with blacks because they can appear “intimidating.”

<snip>


Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/violent-arrest-of-teacher-caught-on-video-officers/nr3W6/

[brush]

1. Another disgraceful cop who doesn't know what deescalation means

Let's see if the cop apologists defend this one too?

Seems they'd get tired since there are so many videos of bully cops out now.

[wallyworld2]

30. Trust me

They will never get tired of defending cops violent behavior

[wallyworld2]

31. They see

Citizens as the enemy.

Not to be trusted.

The US is the same as Iraq to them.

Yelling at people as if they don't understand their language.

Yelling and not listening to the people they are pointing their guns at.

They have the wrong attitude when dealing with the public. Protect and serve is no longer the attitude

[citood]

2. Video wouldn't play for me

youtube:

[KT2000]

8. this should be on all news stations

it is horrible. Kept thinking what I would do in that situation and realized she was dealing with a potential killer. They have made sure it is against the law to defend yourself if your potential killer is a cop.

[Igel]

22. That's part of the problem.

She starts off afraid, I think. Or at least suspicious. Because she's "dealing with a potential killer." She carries her perceptions and past with her.

However, flip it around. He also may have suspected he was dealing with a potential killer. He carries her perceptions and past with her.

[Photographer]

14. Thanks for posting this. That was heartbreaking.

[CrispyQ]

23. I couldn't even finish it.

Did that beefy manly man feel better throwing a woman to the ground? So this just so fucking wrong. I hate cops. All of them. Good cops who are silent are not good cops.

[Dr Rise]

25. I agree

[librarylu]

3. Uh, who has "violent tendencies"?

I hope she sues.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. What happens to a teacher's career in Texas (or any other state for that matter)

once it's learned that hey have been arrested?

And, did that POS cop keep his job?

[Igel]

21. No prosecution or conviction.

Speeding and other routine traffic violations don't matter.

Arrests aren't even accusations. A lot of people get arrested and released with no charges. Still, some view arrests (of people we don't like) as proof of a crime. (We also sometimes assume that in a two-sided dispute, one accuser and one defender, that the accusation is proof of guilt and the trial's a rubber stamp. Esp. when for emotional or ideological reasons we side with the accuser.)

[KeepItReal]

5. Police have the ability to RUIN and even END lives over petty offenses

Would he have tossed around like a rag doll his own mother or sister or spouse or partner?

[puffy socks]

15. Probably

Police higher rate of reported DV than the avg Joe. I wonder how many DV victims don't report because they know the boys in blue will back their abuser?

[Feeling the Bern]

6. Scary looking black people. White cops have no spine, courage or fortitude

All they have is their gun.

[Dr Rise]

26. I agree, again.

[montana_hazeleyes]

7. I am outraged and crying at the same time.

THIS SHOULD BE SHOWN ON EVERY TELEVISION STATION ACROSS AMERICA!

[jimmil]

9. Are cops getting more violent?

Or, are we just now hearing about it because the wide spread ownership and use of video? I have never been a fan of cops simply because I felt that they are bullies with a badge. I got my ass beat by one that had pulled me over because, well, I don't really know. It was no time from the time I stopped until he was on top of me beating me with his fists. He was nothing but a thug. I just don't like people able to do anything they want to another human with almost no possibility of justice. It's just my opinion.

[christx30]

10. Cops have always been violent.

But thanks to cell phone cameras, we're seeing it more and more. It's harder for bad behavior by police to be covered up.

[Midnight Writer]

16. It is the widespread use of video. Nearly every citizen now carries a camera.

When I was a kid (the 1950's), in my small town, we had two brothers ( the Police Chief and Captain) and their crew that were scarier than any criminal in town. They would stop folk, take their wallets for ID, then strip the cash out and hand it back. If you protested, you may get your ass beat, or you may get arrested, or both. It was your word against theirs, and they always won. Fridays (payday) was their time to hang outside bars, restaurants, grocery stores and grab on to anyone for the slightest reason.

We had an illegal gambling hall. If someone won a good amount of money, the owner of the hall would call these guys up to wait outside and rip off the "winner".

On the plus side, you would rarely be arrested. I was a hell raising juvenile and was often grabbed by cops, usually curfew violation, fighting and underage drinking. They would knock you around, slap you, scream in your face, dump your beer, take your pot, and then take you home and turn you over to your parents.

Much better than going to jail and having a criminal record.

[Taitertots]

19. Almost everyone carrying a video camera has....

cast new light on our previous assumptions.

Gone: Big foot, lock ness monster, aliens...
Exposed: Wide spread police criminality.

[CrispyQ]

24. Occupations where one has power & authority over others

often attract the very types that shouldn't have power & authority over others.

[lsewpershad]

11. Where are the good cops

Any comments? Of course not... must wait for the whitewash investigation which blames the Black victim.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Officer Bryan Richter's claim to another cop that Breaion King "swung" at him is bogus.

He was throwing her around so hard and fast she didn't even have time to consider trying to throw a punch at him, much less attempt it. Had she even tried it, iit wouldn't have met its target, as he was whipping her around so wildly it would have never connected. Had it connected, he wouldn't have felt it as he outweighed her, outsized her, and overpowered her. She was completely helpless, and hopeless. She also was NOT belligerent. She was afraid.

Cops don't abuse people like that because they are afraid of them. He could see with his very own eyes there was no way on earth she could have harmed him, just as tiny people can see instantly someone CAN beat the holy #### out of them. If she hadn't been able to get her leg free when he was trying to body slam her on the asphalt, she probably would have been very seriously injured, as in lethal head injury.

He was NOT afraid of her or he wouldn't have behaved that way. As that Southern Repulican Congressional piece of #### shrieked during a President Obama State of the Union address, "You lie" to officer Richter.

[center]

Officer Richter, on the right side of the photo. [/center]

[heaven05]

13. what is wrong with these white people?

they are disgusting cowards. COWARDS!!!! POS!!!!!

[rockfordfile]

20. I'm white and they're a embarrassment and just plain racist

[Lunabell]

17. The video was appaling.

I think the theory that the kkk has infiltrated the police force at every level is true. The justice dept needs to investigate this.

[Dr Rise]

27. I agree, again.

[Vattel]

18. Richter is a racist asshole. Even the police union condemned his behavior.

I guess that's a good sign. I am glad she was not seriously hurt.

[uponit7771]

35. +1

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

28. Donald Trump's kind of cop

[icv03985]

29. Angry and Sad

Each time I see the injustice of it all - I get so, ANGRY. There is so much of this going on; and for what - people just want to be treated fairly, for god sake. This just leaves me saddened.

This is why we need Black Lives Matter - because the powers-that-be, sure isn't going to bring about change on their own.

[PatSeg]

32. That was so disturbing

and sadly has become too common.

[Eugene]

33. Austin police apologize after video shows black woman's violent arrest

Source: The Guardian and agencies

Austin police apologize after video shows black woman's violent arrest

• Breaion King dragged and thrown to ground after traffic stop escalated
• Officer told her ‘people’ fear of black people’s ‘violent tendencies

Tom Dart in Houston and agencies
Friday 22 July 2016 18.51 BST

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Later, handcuffed in the back of a vehicle as she is driven to jail, King has a conversation about racism with another white officer, Patrick Spradlin.

“Let me ask you this, why are so many people afraid of black people?” he asks. “I can give you a really good idea of why it might be that way: violent tendencies.”

He continues: “I’m not saying anything, I’m not saying it’s true, I’m not saying that I can prove it or nothing, but 99% of the time, when you hear about something like that, it is the black community that’s being violent. That’s why a lot of the white people are afraid and I don’t blame them. Some of them because of their appearance and whatnot, some of them are very intimidating.”

Video of the June 2015 encounter was published on Thursday by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE local news, amid a heightened nationwide climate of concern and anger about aggressive and sometimes lethal interactions between police and African Americans. Fatal shootings by officers in Baton Rouge and St Paul in recent weeks were followed by murderous attacks on police in the Louisiana city and Dallas.

Art Acevedo, the Austin police chief, apologised to King on Thursday and pledged thorough investigations. At a news conference he said both officers had been placed on desk duty, that he was not aware of the video until this week and that King did not file a complaint. Her resisting arrest charge was dismissed in January.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/22/austin-police-breaion-king-black-woman-arrest-video

[LanternWaste]

34. Kick and rec. This shines a bright light on something far too many people deny

Kick and rec. This shines a bright light on something far too many people deny exist, and worse, rationalize.