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yuiyoshida

(41,759 posts)
Fri Jan 30, 2015, 01:17 PM Jan 2015

WATCH: Cop Pepper-Sprays Teacher Who Was Talking On A Cell Phone



by Ahiza GarciaPublishedJanuary 29, 2015, 4:23 PM EST 35878 views

A Seattle teacher is suing the city after a police officer allegedly pepper-sprayed him while he was walking by and talking to his mother on the phone, KOMO reported on Thursday.

Teacher and activist Jesse Hagopian said he was leaving a peaceful Martin Luther King Jr. Day protest on Jan. 19 when he was pepper-sprayed by a police officer who screamed for passersby to "get back."

"I felt the piercing pain shoot through my eye, my ear drum and my nostril, all over my cheek and face," Hagopian told the television station. "I yelled out. My mom was in distress as she heard me yell."

Video of the police officer who allegedly pepper-sprayed Hagopian was uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday by Hagopian's attorney, James Bible, who filed a suit against the city on the same day.

&quot Jesse) was pepper-sprayed irrationally by a police officer -- no provocation and no reason," Bible said. "We view this as a challenge to free speech."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jesse-hagopian-seattle-police-pepper-spray
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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WATCH: Cop Pepper-Sprays Teacher Who Was Talking On A Cell Phone (Original Post) yuiyoshida Jan 2015 OP
Obviously it was "very important" that they stand back zebonaut Jan 2015 #1
Amazing... OilBurnerBob Jan 2015 #2
Is that nutty policewoman yelling "We are the police!"?? She clearly is in over her head and needs FailureToCommunicate Jan 2015 #3
I know a loaded QUESTION when I see one, so I will not "Partake" in this issue! Johnny Rash Jan 2015 #4
Appalling! wolfie001 Jan 2015 #5
And the other cops just stand there while she sprays shawn703 Jan 2015 #6
Very noticeable BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #7
That's what really struck me too. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #10
I hope you weren't hurt too BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #11
I got off very lucky. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #12
Maybe you can get a hold of this lawyer BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #14
Pepper spray is the new firehose Taitertots Jan 2015 #8
Use of force dsteve01 Jan 2015 #9
I usually don't make these types of statements packman Jan 2015 #13
 

zebonaut

(3,688 posts)
1. Obviously it was "very important" that they stand back
Fri Jan 30, 2015, 02:18 PM
Jan 2015

because otherwise they'd be a few inches closer

FailureToCommunicate

(13,988 posts)
3. Is that nutty policewoman yelling "We are the police!"?? She clearly is in over her head and needs
Fri Jan 30, 2015, 05:59 PM
Jan 2015

to take a long leave from the Force.

 

Johnny Rash

(227 posts)
4. I know a loaded QUESTION when I see one, so I will not "Partake" in this issue!
Fri Jan 30, 2015, 06:04 PM
Jan 2015
It could have been a good discussion, though!

But since you will probably climb all over my face for mentioning the obvious fact here, I will just let everybody use their own imagination.

The Video clip pretty much speaks for itself, anyway!

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
7. Very noticeable
Fri Jan 30, 2015, 10:49 PM
Jan 2015

They don't react at all as the female officer is literally having a meltdown. It's not obvious what provoked her other than people casually walking across the street. She needs some counseling and a desk job as dealing with the public is too stressful for her.

And is that bear spray? It's got so much range and so much liquid coming out, she could have sprayed the whole block if she wanted to.

F4lconF16

(3,747 posts)
10. That's what really struck me too.
Sat Jan 31, 2015, 06:51 AM
Jan 2015

The other officers next to her said nothing as she incited panic in protestors. We were sprinting to the sidewalk, trying to get past her, and the whole situation was being escalated needlessly. Yet none of them made any attempt to restrain her, verbally or otherwise.

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
11. I hope you weren't hurt too
Sat Jan 31, 2015, 07:07 AM
Jan 2015

There were a few people who got it very badly in that video. They should join together for a class action suit. And all the officers there should be named. The woman spraying is obviously incompetent and dangerous, but her partners are just as bad.

F4lconF16

(3,747 posts)
12. I got off very lucky.
Sat Jan 31, 2015, 08:05 AM
Jan 2015

Just a bit of the mist hit the side of my face. If the wind was going the other way, it would have been a lot worse. A couple people next to me got nailed.

The officers definitely need to be named. They shouldn't even be allowed to be on duty without a prominent name badge.

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
14. Maybe you can get a hold of this lawyer
Sat Jan 31, 2015, 02:27 PM
Jan 2015

Class actions are very strong in producing pressure on officials to change. You are also an eye witness. Glad you weren't hurt. That spray looks like it could blind someone if it hit them straight on.

dsteve01

(312 posts)
9. Use of force
Sat Jan 31, 2015, 02:05 AM
Jan 2015

It looks like she's obviously using force, but she won't have to paperwork on it because it's not deadly force. It's absolutely offensive that they employee these stark raving dogs to 'police'. Also, where is the leadership to keep this lady professional? It's obvious she's instigating a fight here rather then maintaining the peace.

 

packman

(16,296 posts)
13. I usually don't make these types of statements
Sat Jan 31, 2015, 11:43 AM
Jan 2015

BUT-she sure is small in stature to be a cop. I do believe she would be feeling intimidated by almost anyone around her, including her fellow officers.

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