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[Enzom21]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/01/17/3612876/police-beat-wrong-person/
http://fox2now.com/2015/01/16/st-ann-police-chief-apologizes-for-mans-mistaken-arrest-injury/

ST. ANN, MO (KTVI)-The St. Ann police chief is apologizing after an innocent man was injured and bloodied when he was mistakenly arrested Thursday afternoon. Joseph Swink, 22, is a college junior studying accounting. He was on his way home from an internship at Edward Jones when it all unfolded.

His grandmother, Marettree Sanders, says, “I’m angry. I’m upset. I didn’t sleep last night.”

She didn’t sleep because of what happened to her grandson. The family has a photo showing Joseph’s bloodied face.

Swink said he feared for his life.

“I’m just glad that I’m still here.”

St. Ann police says it was a case of mistaken identity on I-70. St. Ann police were pursuing a suspect wanted for 17 warrants. The suspect’s car crashed and went down into a ditch where he was arrested. The chief says Swink’s car had been clipped by the suspect and also crashed.

When a second police car arrived, the three detectives inside only saw Swink’s car and him running from it. Police assumed the worst.

St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez said, “Most of the time when you see that you know this is the bad guy. He’s running. Unfortunately, he was a citizen.”

Swink was totally innocent. It turns out he was running from his car because it was filling with smoke.

“This is all we ask of our young men, to do the right thing, become productive citizens in this country and he’s not being given that opportunity because someone has mistaken him for a criminal and that upsets me very much,” said Sanders.

Chief Jimenez said, “I do apologize. As the police chief who runs this city, I do apologize to Mr. Swink that this has happened.”

Joseph Swink said, “There was nobody black on the scene, just a lot of white cops. I didn’t feel safe around them. I think they probably felt they could get away with it because I was and they can do this.”

The police chief responded, “This has zero to do about race.”

He said the three detectives will not be disciplined because they were acting in good faith. Swink said he’s still in pain and needs to return to the doctor. He is considering hiring a lawyer for a civil suit.

St. Louis County police are investigating the incident.

No punishment... surprise surprise. I am curious how beating someone is acting in good faith.
"Oops, wrong negro."

 

[Sanjuro]

What is a wrong black man?

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

He's gonna get a big amount of money from that civil suit settlement.

I love how "HOLY SHIT HE'S RUNNING KICK THE SHIT OUT OF HIM" is the instant response.

 

[Big Baybee]

Not disciplined because they were acting in good faith.......lmaooooo

 

[NintendoGal]

So, because they had good intentions they face no penalty? I know people who would kill to have that kind of work place security.

Hope the guy sues and is compensated, but I really wish he could sue directly, just so there's more accountability, but who am I kidding?

 

[studyguy]

Jesus Christ, looks like they chewed on that kid's face.

 

[commedieu]

#34 Run away from smoking cars after you've been knocked off a bridge.

 

[Floridian]

No penalty... give me a break.

 

[entremet]

This is why Ferguson became a thing.

This is decades of stuff like this.

 

[Raxus]

Jeez. Poor guy. Sue them for all their worth. At least cover the medical expenses.

 

[EatinOlives]

Still can't believe police officers are by and large above the law in every respect. Zero repercussions for ganging up on a completely random person and beating the shit out of them.

This is why Ferguson became a thing.

This is decades of stuff like this.

And Diet Racists wonder "omg why don't ppl on Ferguson just get a job and get a life!! i'm tired of hearing about this!!!!"

 

[commedieu]

Still can't believe police officers are by and large above the law in every respect. Zero repercussions for ganging up on a completely random person and beating the shit out of them.

0

Sick of this shit.

 

[CesspoolofHatred]

This is why Ferguson became a thing.

This is decades of stuff like this.

At least they're not charging him with destruction of property for bleeding on their clothes. Progress?

 

[Violence Jack]

"acting in good faith" = beating the shit out of a suspect?

Bullshit.

Yeah, he should clean up from a civil suit.

 

[studyguy]

#34 Run away from smoking cars after you've been knocked off a bridge.

Not if the police have anything to do with it.

Get back in that wreck, asshole.

 

[esms]

Some say all black people look alike. We don't get bent out of shape. We normally just call those people ''police,'' okay? Just learn to live with it. That's all I can tell you.

- Dave Chappelle, For What It's Worth

.

 

[BaltimoreLarry]

“This is all we ask of our young men, to do the right thing, become productive citizens in this country and he’s not being given that opportunity because someone has mistaken him for a criminal and that upsets me very much,” said Sanders.

Good quote from Grandma

 

[commedieu]

"acting in good faith" = beating the shit out of a suspect?

Bullshit.

Yeah, he should clean up from a civil suit.

great, a civil suit.

No police behavior corrected. And we just wait for the next beating/killing. With the same non disciplinary results

 

[Zaph]

The police chief responded, “This has zero to do about race.”

He said the three detectives will not be disciplined because they were acting in good faith.

 

[Patryn]

So, because they had good intentions they face no penalty? I know people who would kill to have that kind of work place security.

Hope the guy sues and is compensated, but I really wish he could sue directly, just so there's more accountability, but who am I kidding?

Wonder if they're not being punished because of the incoming civil suit. Punishing the officers would indicate that the department knew what they did was wrong, and probably could be used against it. By not punishing them, the department isn't admitting any wrong-doing.

Same reason a lot of people say that you shouldn't apologize in a lot of cases, because it's the same as you admitting fault.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Welp..they can't take THIS away!!!

Take the fucks to court. Look at this man. He looks like they finished him off with a brillo pad..I tell you.

 

[commedieu]

Welp..they can't take THIS away!!!

Take the fucks to court. Look at this man. He looks like they finished him off with a brillo pad..I tell you.

dudes wearing a tie and a nice shirt too..

Just goes to show you, it doesn't matter how you appear. The black skin is the dead giveaway 99% of th, 100% of the time.

 

[EPaul]

He should sue for millions

 

[Gordon Shumway]

dudes wearing a tie and a nice shirt too..

Just goes to show you, it doesn't matter how you appear. The black skin is the dead giveaway 99% of th, 100% of the time.

Same as it ever was..

 

[Nealand Liquor]

Jesus christ his face!
I really have no words about what cops are doing in the States anymore... Just no words.

 

[cdyhybrid]

He fit the description.

 

[Blair]

Yeah but was the smoke from the car accident, or from the many marijuanas that were no doubt ablaze in the vehicle? Take him down boys!

 

[commedieu]

He fit the description.

fitting the description doesn't = Green light to be beaten by police.

 

[andycapps]

He was probably giving the officers furtive glances as he ran away.

But seriously, I hope he files a civil suit and wins.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Yeah but was the smoke from the car accident, or from the many marijuanas that were no doubt ablaze in the vehicle? Take him down boys!

Why you got me laughing, man..shit lol.

 

[The Faceless Master]

that's what happens when you run from cops, nigga!

at least he's an accounting major so he won't blow the settlement money.

 

[cdyhybrid]

fitting the description doesn't = Green light to be beaten by police.

I think you missed the joke.

Spoiler

The description is black male

 

[Angelus Errare]

I think you guys are seeing race where it isn't about that. It was an accident that could have happened to anyone. Just don't run from the police and you'll be fine.

Not if the police have anything to do with it.

Get back in that wreck, asshole.

lmao!

 

[Trojita]

What the fuck at those injuries. I'm assuming based on the article that was caused all by the cops and not the car "accident".

Dude was coming back from his internship at an accounting firm too

 

[NintendoGal]

Wonder if they're not being punished because of the incoming civil suit. Punishing the officers would indicate that the department knew what they did was wrong, and probably could be used against it. By not punishing them, the department isn't admitting any wrong-doing.

Same reason a lot of people say that you shouldn't apologize in a lot of cases, because it's the same as you admitting fault.

Yeah which is another problem with our society, but that's just personal opinion.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Yeah which is another problem with our society, but that's just personal opinion.

You are not alone..

 

[Enzom21]

fitting the description doesn't = Green light to be beaten by police.

This piece of shit chief is pretty much saying it does. "Good faith"
Law enforcement in the US is fantastic.

What the fuck at those injuries. I'm assuming based on the article that was caused all by the cops and not the car "accident".

Dude was coming back from his internship at an accounting firm too

I don't think he was injured by the crash at all. Those are all from the "good faith" beating.

 

[Corgi]

hope the police chief at the very least pays the hospital bill out of, you know, good faith.

 

[kmax]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiMSDCjg2y0

Obligatory. Some Dave Chappelle gospel.

 

[WanderingWind]

How chilling is this statement?

"Unfortunately, he was a citizen.”

 

[akira28]

Dude was coming back from his internship at an accounting firm too

Don't come home from work and get in a car accident. You might "accidentally" fit the description and get your face chewed on by an angry cop.

I said godd damn.

 

[NumberTwo]

Dehumanizing Bookkeeping.




Brothers not even safe wearing a suit and tie.

 

[NobleGundam]

Really? Wow. That's some bs. Dude should sue them.

 

[theignoramus]

Imagine the shit these departments got up to in the decades prior with minorities. At least today there's a marginal possibility for corrupt, asshole cops to be publicly shamed for their behaviour.

 

[rjinaz]

It's ok, it's ok. The chief police is REALLY sorry. Hey, mistakes happen everyday, am I rite?

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Dehumanizing Bookkeeping.




Brothers not even safe wearing a suit and tie.

Shiiiiit..that ain't helped for decades.

 

[LilWayneSuckz]

This story makes my blood boil...I should expect these every day it seems.

I'm so glad the protests are still happening...

I seriously hope he sues them penniless....

 

[Fenderputty]

Terrible. This reminds me of that staged video where the black kid gets harassed when messing with a bike but the white kids get offered help.

Also reminds me of this recent ted talks that I liked. These cops should watch

https://www.ted.com/talks/verna_myers_how_to_overcome_our_biases_walk_boldly_toward_them

 

[Angelus Errare]

Brothers not even safe wearing a suit and tie.

I mean MLK was assassinated while wearing one.

 

[NintendoGal]

You are not alone..

I don't know, my thoughts are this: People shouldn't lie, but obviously it happens. Our society though seems to ding everyone for being honest (This doesn't apply here, the police were clearly in the wrong.). There's also so much more risk in being honest or even vocalizing your concerns.

Instead of principles, we now play the arguing game with one another with the courts deciding who's hand was last in the cookie jar as it were. As stupid as it sounds, we're a society all flash and little substance at the moment. We're too busy being offended instead of trying to build a bridge of understanding.

I'm not great at expressing how I feel exactly, but I hope this made sense.