Cop cuts you off? Don't honk or you'll get tased to death

[widebody911]

Family sues police over California Taser death - Yahoo! News

Kephart was driving in Rimforest, 60 miles northeast of Los Angeles, in May when he honked at a patrol vehicle that turned in front of him, according to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday in San Bernardino Superior Court.

The sheriff's deputy then circled his patrol car back behind Kephart's vehicle and pulled him over at a nearby gas station, the lawsuit said.

The deputy ordered Kephart out of his car at gunpoint, forced him to the ground, and was joined by a sergeant and another deputy, the lawsuit said.

The three officers used their electroshock Taser weapons on Kephart "without provocation or justification" for about 10 minutes, expending five cartridges, the lawsuit states.

Kephart, who the suit said was "overheard screaming for help," stopped breathing at the gas station.

[Flieger]

That's a damn shame.

[Joe Bob]

To Protect and Abuse......

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Flieger

That's a damn shame.

That's a damn crime

[daepp]

The story around here is that he was an especially kind man.

[Tervuren]

Not good.

I saw and heard a lady honk several times at a patrol car that had stopped past the stop line in a left turn lane coming off the interstate, and was blocking her, and others view to safely make a right turn. The cop politely realized he was causing a problem, backed up a few feet, and she made her right turn. That officer gained my respect.

[look 171]

There has to be more to that story. The residence up at Arrowhead are not poor and very educated. They are not going to put up with that kind of nonsense from the police dept. If the story is true, that really is a damn shame/ crime.

[daepp]

I ALWAYS think there is more to the story if someone is bagging on the police.

A few points:
- I don't think it's Arrowhead - but a neighboring community.
- when the local papers ran this, I think they took great pains to get the story right, and it still made the cops look bad.

[Brando]

He has Qualified Immunity on his side (the cop).

[Hawktel]

4 more and he become a taser ace!

[ZLP]

Sounds like a conclusive story

[Tobra]

There are three men should die in prison.

No criminal charges? I would think Eric Holder would be all over this, violation of civil rights, abuse of power.

wait one, is the victim a white guy?

never mind

[Jim Bremner]

I think that cops should be allowed to taze. BUT if they do taze that they have to pay $500 of their own cash as a fee.

Same with using their baton or their fire arms.

Cops should use any and all weapons as a last resort.

That and if they break the law that they will serve 2x what a non-cop would serve. Same for DAs, Judges, and any other people involved with writing laws or prosecuting.

[johnsjmc]

There is an unfortunate story about a polish speaking visitor named Chicanski? to Vancouver Canada being disoriented and angry after being stuck at the airport for hours. Police were called and they repeatedly tazed him. He died. He was not armed or comitting a capital/felony offence at the time but he was out of control. Police are too quick to use the tazer thinking it is non lethal

[Rick Lee]

I remember the video of that Polish guy. Wasn't he throwing things and totally out of control? Still, he should have been tased just long enough to get the cuffs on. I don't think cops should have to wrestle with people or ask more than twice.

[David]

[Heel n Toe]

I'm pretty sure the Polish guy was acting strange/violent because he hadn't taken his psych meds. Can't remember if it was because his luggage had been lost or what. Difficult situation for an officer to assess with the language barrier.

[Hugh R]

The deputies were taking cellphones and cameras. What would they do if you said "No", taz you as well?

[Tobra]

If they wanted to take my cell phone or camera, they would have to arrest me first.

I had an incident with a Nevada state trooper about 20 years ago. It was snowing, near Tahoe, right up the street from Hyatt on the North side. A 4x4 turned left off of Hwy 28 onto Lakeshore, cutting the corner and heading right toward me in my lane. I flash my lights, honk and throw him the bird. Turns out to be a very dirty, full size Chevy Blazer police car.

He is furious, turns around to chase me, I was pulled over before he turned around, waiting for him. He was out of control angry, tells me I look like I am on drugs or drunk(1000 AM). He gets me out of the car, looks up my nose, walks me around to the back of my vehicle and berates me for about 10-15 minutes, never did do any field sobriety tests. I ask if I can get my jacket out of the car as it is snowing, "You'll live." Fortunately, there were 4 other people in the car. All 5 of us, all medical students, wrote letters to Nevada about it. They wrote back, and notified me that he had been suspended, without pay, for two weeks and had to do anger management.

I am absolutely convinced that if there had not been any other people in the car, I would have gotten the oak shampoo and a trip to the ER for all those broken bones and knocked out teeth from when I "slipped" and hit my head trying to resist arrest. Then I would have gotten to go to jail for a while.

I have gotten to the point where I don't particularly trust the police. I donm't think this stuff is any more common, I just think it is much better reported and identified.

You can bet your ass if I ever have some cop turn on the party lights for me, I will be pulling into a gas station or bank where I expect there to be video surveillance.

[slakjaw]

Man. the pigs need a reality check or what?