FBI agent accused of a hate crime

[Ian David]

Source: WHDH-TV Boston

JUST ONE STATION: FBI agent accused of a hate crime

BOSTON -- A cab driver claims that a FBI agent attacked him and used a racial slur.

Robert Sell, a FBI agent from Detroit, was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court Thursday where he was charged with assault and battery. The Boston Police Disorders Unit has also filed felony civil rights violations as well.

The cab driver dropped off Sell and his wife, who is in a wheelchair, outside of the Westin Hotel in Copley Square when the cab driver reportedly commented that it was a pain to pick up someone who was handicapped.

A verbal dispute erupted, and according to a police report, Sell reportedly told the cab driver to "go back where you came from."





Read more: http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO71740/

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

1. Sounds like the cabbie may be a wee bit at fault here.

[Ian David]

3. Granted, the cabbie sounds like a major dick. But that doesn't mean he should be assaulted.

Not like he taunted a Siberian Tiger or something.

[varkam]

5. I agree.

Even though the cab driver may of behaved inappropriately, that still did not give the FBI agent the right to put his hands on him regardless of what was said.

[Pavulon]

7. Sounds like he slammed the agent in the door

in which case this guy is lucky he still has teeth and does not require a cast. Sounds like something is missing here.

[varkam]

8. Erp.

Well, then I suppose the agent had a right to defend himself - though the law only generally allows for the minimum amount of force necessary to escape or subdue an attacker.

[pitohui]

2. oh my god, sounds like the hate crime was against the disabled woman

so the fbi agent said something when a mean spirited cabbie made a nasty remark about his wife and the agent is accused of the hate crime

this when the cabbie is also facing charges for physically assaulting the agent

where is the fbi agent committing any crime? he's supposed to smile and say nothing while 1) his wheelchair bound wife is insulted and 2) a crazy cabbie slams the door on his arms?

sorry, saying "go back where you came from" is rude but it is not a hate crime and it sounds like the agent was badly provoked

[Ian David]

4. OOps... I missed this part...

<snip>

... At a hearing after Sell's arraignment, the cab driver was charged with assault and battery for allegedly slamming the trunk of his car on Sell's arms.



I'd say the both of them should just let it go and call it even.

[pitohui]

9. let it go and call it even?

the guy bitches about having to pick up his wheelchair bound wife, i guess a lady in a wheelchair should just take the subway or maybe rise up out of her chair and walk, the guy then slabs the trunk down on the arms of a frigging fbi agent because the fbi verbally responds to one hell of a provocation -- the verbal attack on his handicapped wife -- and they should just let it go and call it even?

unless there is something missing here, the fbi agent should pursue the charges against the cabbie

if saying "go back where you come from" is a hate crime when someone is verbally assaulting your wife and physically assaulting you, well, something is seriously wrong here

i agree with the other poster, some detail HAS to be missing because otherwise going after this fbi agent makes no sense whatsoever

[Ian David]

10. I agree. This sounds too weird.

I miss the days when this stuff used to become a "Movie of the Week."

[Pavulon]

6. Those are some serious charges

unless there are witnesses that is insane. Detail is missing.

[Demeter]

11. Having Just Recently Encountered Someone at the Wheel of a Snowplow

who was equally "uncouth" (how about verbally abusive and threatening?) I believe the FBI agent is not the antagonist here. Just a hunch.

[SlingBlade]

12. If it were my wife

Id bonk the bastard too.
Guess that's another reason added to my list as to why I'm
not with the FBI.

[ejbr]

13. I completely agree...

it's not enough to endure the stress of having a disabled spouse, but to have some prick add fuel to the fire? I am not claiming that attacking this guy was the right thing to do, but darn tootin' I may just well have done it too!

[Oldtimeralso]

14. I can tell you from personal experience

try to get a cab to even pick you up in a wheelchair, even if you call in advance and make the proper arrangements they all suddenly become very busy. Also there are some cabbies that go the whole nine yards to assist those with disabilities.
I'm just glad I was able to leave my chair behind.

[Swagman]

15. if true-mediation should be used here not the courts