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Connecticut police officer indicted for stomping tasered suspect.

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Enzom21

Member
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/08/us-usa-connecticut-stomping-idUSKBN0G821820140808

Video:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/...ged-cop-stomping-suspects-head_n_5662829.html
(Reuters) - A Connecticut police officer has been indicted on a charge he violated a tasered suspect's civil rights after being caught on videotape appearing to stomp the downed man's head and neck, federal prosecutors said on Friday.

Clive Higgins, a 12-year veteran of the Bridgeport Police, was due in court on Friday to be arraigned on the felony charge of using unreasonable force during the 2011 arrest, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Connecticut said in a statement.

If convicted, Higgins, 48, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In May 2011, two Bridgeport police officers were chasing Orlando Lopez-Soto's van on suspicions that he had a gun. The officers called for backup, and Higgins responded, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Lopez-Soto ditched his car and fled into a nearby park, where he was tasered by one of the pursuing officers.

In a widely circulated amateur video, the two officers, Elson Morales and Joseph Lawlor, can be seen kicking the victim repeatedly while he is on the ground. Then Higgins arrives in his cruiser, gets out and appears to stomp the downed suspect around the head and neck.

Morales and Lawlor pleaded guilty in June to misdemeanor civil rights charges stemming from the assault. As part of the plea deal, they agreed to resign from the police force.
Hey, at least they actually arrested and charged these cops.
 
I just do not understand how anyone on this planet thinks its OK to kick and stomp on a persons head, under any circumstances.

This video is also crazy, 2 officers pummelling a guy who seems to be out cold and the 3rd looks like he runs to get a kick in before others arrive.
 

Braag

Member
When the third guy got out of the car I thought he would come to stop them from stomping him but nope... he joins the fun.
 

Stet

Banned
When the third guy got out of the car I thought he would come to stop them from stomping him but nope... he joins the fun.

MKNnjbH.gif
 

Dead Man

Member
They charged him with violating civil rights and not, you know, attempted murder? Well, it's something at least.
 
Those cops are the ones who should be behind bars, not the other way around. Scum of the earth. At least it seems they're going to get punished for this, good thing it was filmed.
 

minx

Member
Ctrl + F = no paid administrative leave found

Whaaaa?
Administrative leave (paid) occurs right after an incident while the department investigates wrongdoing. Then after that comes the suspension. Then court happenena months to year later which is where this is at right now.
 

Chumly

Member
In a widely circulated amateur video, the two officers, Elson Morales and Joseph Lawlor, can be seen kicking the victim repeatedly while he is on the ground. Then Higgins arrives in his cruiser, gets out and appears to stomp the downed suspect around the head and neck.

Morales and Lawlor pleaded guilty in June to misdemeanor civil rights charges stemming from the assault. As part of the plea deal, they agreed to resign from the police force.
The fuck? Im curious what type of charges would be brought if people were kicking and stomping on police officers. Surely not misdemeanor civil rights charges.
 

KHarvey16

Member
Ctrl + F = no paid administrative leave found

Whaaaa?

I'm sure it did happen in this case three years ago when it occurred.

It's really getting pretty old to see this over and over and over again from people unwilling to dedicate three or more brain cells to working out why such a thing exists. Should every police officer be fired or suspended without pay while an investigation is conducted every time there's a complaint? Why deprive them, or anyone in any job, of their livelihood if the potential exists they did absolutely nothing wrong? What should their family do when there's no money coming in?
 

Lord Fagan

Junior Member
This is the fourth news item about police brutality that I've seen on gaf in the last 5 hours.

What's happening to our hood?
 

riotous

Banned
Disturbing.. evidence of an entire Police department being violent thugs.

That's incredibly shocking, since it's just the occasional bad cop who makes the 99% of goody 2 shoe's patient civil servants look bad according to Republicans on the internet.
 
The fuck? Im curious what type of charges would be brought if people were kicking and stomping on police officers. Surely not misdemeanor civil rights charges.
Well attacking an officer definitely shouldn't be a misdemeanor. But an officer abusing his power shouldn't be one either.
 

Camwi

Member
WTF at that video. YOU ALREADY FUCKING TASERED HIM! He was on the ground, what the fuck is wrong with these guys? I know adrenaline is flowing and everything, but if you can't control yourself, you shouldn't be a fucking cop.

I'd love it if the guys were actually sent to prison for this, but the chances of that happening are slim to none. Fucking assholes.
 
Hispanic? Gotta reach that diversity quota, I guess.

Fuck police, always and forever.

Now who's going to be first to the scene to defend this horseshit?
 

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
I used to know a guy, weirdly, a former games journalist, who joined this police department. He added me to facebook and I must have read about twenty racist posts by him until I finally looked up how to delete someone from Facebook. Non stop anti Obama and anti "thug" posts, including conspiracy theories. I briefly thought about reporting him to his department.

I clicked on the OP because I sort of expected it to be the same guy.
 
Well at least these ones got caught. I had a few police in my gas station earlier talking about how stupid they were for getting caught. When I asked them about the crime they said "what crime? Just some good guys being punished for doing their jobs." I hope this isn't a widespread sentiment.
 

Chumly

Member
Well attacking an officer definitely shouldn't be a misdemeanor. But an officer abusing his power shouldn't be one either.
I guess my point is that since people are given harsher punishments for attacking police that police should be given equal treatment if they abuse their power. Due to the power they have they have to be held to a higher standard.
 
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