Young Handcuffed 'Thug' Saves Arresting Officers Life

[SunSeeker]

A HANDCUFFED teenager is being hailed as a hero after he helped save the life of a police officer who was processing him.  Last September, Jamal Rutledge — a juvenile defendant — was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and burglary, according to NBC Miami. But as officer Franklin Foulks was booking Rutledge, the cop collapsed holding his chest in distress. Rutledge immediately began to kick the security fence and yell for help, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department said.

...
The FLPD said attending medical staff noted quick action by Rutledge and other cops saved Foulks’ life.

I especially love the poster's comments:

Of course a lot of people will say 'what else would he have done? theres a man dying in front of him'.

And to that I say... well he could have tackled the officers sister as she came running in concern for her brother and lock her in a police car feet away from her dying sibling all while refusing to administer aid...  

Or he could have ignored any signs of distress emanating the officer... perhaps pleas of 'I can't breathe'?

Blamed the officers condition on his diet and left it at that?

http://m.dailykos.com/stories/1357668

Video of incident and story about how the teen was subsequently formally honored for saving the officer's life:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/teen-honored-aiding-cop-distress-28203195

[lpbk2713]

1. Jamal took a big chance calling for help.

LEO's charging into a room with a cuffed black teenager standing above another LEO
writhing in agony on the floor could have been interpreted in a very unfortunate way.

[SunSeeker]

2. Good point, sadly. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. He did take a big chance, but this time it paid off. It gives me hope. n/t

[uponit7771]

4. +1

[Blue_Tires]

8. +1

I'm so very glad this had a happy ending, though

[ncjustice80]

13. Agreed. Bad move on his part- it could have ended very badly for him!

[hfojvt]

5. I just gotta love

how a seemingly inspiring story cannot be told here without some quickly turning to cop bashing.

Well dang, considering how evil cops are, maybe the kid would have been doing the world a favor if he had let the pig die. Right?

criminals = good
cops = bad

Is that about what we are supposed to get from this story?

[SunSeeker]

7. No. The point is to not judge a book by its cover.

And it applies to both the cops and kid. The kid, who many would view as a "thug" due to his arrest and/or skin color, is in fact a decent human being and helped the cop. Also, the cops did not jump to any paranoid conclusions (a la Tamir Rice), and instead recognized the kid's decency and did not beat the crap out of him suspecting he did something to the cop. In fact, they honored him.

No one here, NO ONE, is suggesting the kid should have let the cop die. They are just pointing out the sad fact that this could have ended badly for this decent kid.

[Savannahmann]

10. Well, look at the differences in responses.

For a fellow officer who is having a heart attack. Break out all the first aid gear, get the defibrillator, and get an ambulance on the way. Tamir Rice, stand around and talk about the football games going to be played next weekend.

[Skittles]

11. don't you know? here, all cops are evil, all civilians are pure

[MindPilot]

6. Dude is very lucky the cops didn't beat him.

The DA is probably busy looking for a way to charge Mr Rutledge for causing the heart attack.

[Major Nikon]

9. Results...

On Wed Jan 14, 2015, 04:00 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Dude is very lucky the cops didn't beat him.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6085249

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Over the top nonsense.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Jan 14, 2015, 04:07 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: It is nonsense, but it is not nonsense I am willing to hide. Sometimes leaving the nonsense in is the appropriate response.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Not
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

[Skittles]

12. I think it was over the top nonsense too

but not worth alerting on

[MindPilot]

14. Seriously?!

My post expressed exactly the same sentiment as several other posts in this thread, and did so with no profanity, racial slurs or even misogyny. I think I have a secret admirer, or maybe even a stalker.