Video shows attack on girl in US police custody

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/01/police-custody-assault-video


Prosecutors in the US have released CCTV footage of an assault on a 15-year-old girl in police custody.

The teenager is seen being punched and shoved into a wall before being pushed to the floor to be handcuffed and then dragged out of the cell by her hair.

The video is evidence in the case against a Washington state deputy, Paul Schene, who is accused of using excessive force against the girl in November. Schene, 31, denies assaulting the teenager in SeaTac City hall, Washington state. A fellow police officer is also shown in the video, which has no audio.

The girl, who has not been named, was brought to the police station during an investigation into a car theft. Schene's partner said the girl became "lippy" and called them "fat pigs" before the assault.

The county prosecutor, Daniel Satterberg, said the video showed Schene using "excessive force". "We believe this case is beyond just police misconduct, it's criminal misconduct," Satterberg said.

The teenager was treated by paramedics after complaining of breathing difficulties after the assault.

[midnight]

1. What is curious, is why the police are acting this way?

This is definite criminal misconduct.

[tosh]

2. "Lippy" 15 y/o girl = HUGE physical threat to these two adult officers.

:shrug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. It seems that the criteria to become a police officer now is that you have to be a Neanderthal.

This is disgusting.

[lutherj]

4. I suspect the police around the country have been given free rein over the last

eight years. I remember at the beginning of Bush's first term Ashcroft toured the country addressing police departments. The meetings were closed to the public and to reporters. I suspect he was encouraging them to crack down, saying they would be supported from the highest levels. Of course it was all in the name of the war on terror.

It's time for a national dialogue on the issue of police brutality and civil rights. Perhaps an independent commission should be appointed to look into the issue.

[raysr]

5. That's like that

fat prick "Steve Wilkos". He's all over the little guys but he ran into a big pissed off black guy "Tyron" the other day and got put in his place. He was afraid of Tyron. Wilkos signature chair throwing didn't affect "Tyron", he picked it up sat in it and dared Wilko's to move him. He remained seated. Ha.

[Mist]

6. Citites, and states, are going to have to decide between two things:

1)Deciding they like the idea of terrorizing the citizenry so much, they're willing to pay out on the resulting lawsuits
or
2)Deciding they can't afford the lawsuits, and getting some better goddamned training for their police.