21 yr old black man tasered 9 times in 14 minutes by police officer AFTER being arrested and handcuffed. He died

Poor Black folks in the Delta get little coverage. They are rural, considered "minorities," and lastly, economically disadvantaged.

Hurricane Katrina was the last time these communities were in the spotlight, and not a whole lot has changed since.

Now if he were an attractive white female who disappeared... this might've gotten blanket coverage.

Now if he were an attractive white female who disappeared... this might've gotten blanket coverage.

And probably for months and months. The disparity is ridiculous.

Don't start that bull@!$%#, caroaber. You know damn well that when a black is in trouble or racists remarks are made, the media blow it up all over the tv. When whites get @!$%#ed with, it most often doesn't get a headline story. That's racist BS. The media just loves to get @!$%#s like you all fired up because it's so easy to do. You people are always @!$%#ing.

rbjk74, please abide by the Code of Honor:

Above all else, respect others. Address issues and arguments and refrain from making personal attacks. If you see something disrespectful or inappropriate, report it - rather than further inflaming the situation.

Hey, in LA they have their OWN brand of law!

UHUH, why are you so unpleasant? Reported.

Thanks, dbm! I did the same.

[wow I can edit this for the next 17 minutes]

Yeah, yesterday I got an hour editing time.

I only misused it the once. I went for a scatterblast insult fest, got a response and then wiped it and said sorry leaving the responses to me looking immature when I had started it.

All I could think of on short notice,

Maybe he should have been in a better place at a better time.

If you run with dogs, you're going to get fleas.

If only we had a system where people were innocent until proven guilty.

Did you know Eagles carry fleas?

This guy is a new troll, just like the old trolls, don't give him juice or as i did give him juice once then leave him be. It's what he wouldn't have wanted.

It was the replacement to the billy club which left it's mark on many.

From 1999 to 2002 I bought Taser (nsdq: TAZR) at .10, sold at $17. My best zap yet. (groan)

I haven't worked for THE MAN since.

Not to be a stickler, but it's actually TASR.

Hah! Lieutenant Curry also says:

"This has come down to a police officer that was trying to apprehend a suspect that they had warrants for," he said. "He done what he thought he was trained to do to bring that subject into custody. At some point, something happened with his body that caused him to go into cardiac arrest or whatever."

He's right. Something did happen with his body: it was electrocuted. Once upon a time, you had to be convicted of murder before they zapped you. That must have just been a logistical decision, because now you can take the chair with you wherever you go.

Just for fun, let's compare the voltage and amperage of the chair (2000V delivered at about 5 amperes) to a shock from a taser (1500V delivered at between .005 and .03 amps, though elsewhere I've read claims upwards of 8). The low amperage is what protects against lasting damage, the kind you might encounter from a lightning bolt, and, like, you know, people survive those, right?

Apparently, going easy on the amps is only an effective barrier against serious injury when you don't repeatedly shock the body. Nowhere in any police manual does it say "if the perp is bigger than you, just keep tasing him until he passes the @!$%# out."

Pff. "May be charged."

guys a redneck pus-bucket. @!$%# niceties, drag him behind a truck til he's done.

Heh. Eloquent as always, wc.

1500V

50,000 Volts For 5 seconds in a pulsed charge. Each fully charged M-26 or X-26 taser can deliver about 500 discharges.

Any relation to Ted Nugent?? Just asking.

Chances are those so called "good cops" are just going to do their best to cover for him.

UHUH, you really have to get your head around the fact that there are good cops. Depending on your environment that could be hard to understand admittedly, but your environment isn't dealing with the entire range of police officers. See there's you on one side and deputy padded groin and eaglefart on the other. neither of you will ever change anything as long as your extremes keep the situation balanced, unchanging, just the way it is.

Eagle fart wants to keep bush in for the next 20 years, he's a brownshirt, or wants to be but he and you and Sergent compensating truncheon are just noise. The real power's in the middle.

Unfortunately the people in the middle do nothing more than turn on the tv and numb their brains with lack of reality shows. That is how this trash gets into police uniforms and stays in them.

And you? What are you doing with your rage apart from venting on the net like 'the man' wants you to do.

This works both ways. I'm not against you but you do go overboard venting wise, i can understand it but you need to understand it's not constructive. I say this as a guy that makes the same mistakes as you all the time.

Eagle fart? lmao : )

Wow a serial offender and having read all comments posted so far it is crystal clear that this individual should not have been employed as a police officer much less given a Taser Gun but as has been mentioned in some detail the New Orleans Police Department has been less than candid in this type of situation on many occasions.

As I said, the guy probably enjoyed pulling wings off flies as a kid. He's a disgrace to all in blue.

Ditto Ms Cyrpah. We always hear in the US media that we have "Come such a long way" when it comes to race. I'm wondering how much this was convered in mainstream media because they do not want to acknowledge the fact that racism is so deeply entrenched in our institutions and society. Whites don't want to admit it because it is a system of privilege that has benefited them since before this country's beginning and continues to benefit them.

Uhhh, hello. How many handouts, freebies and 'pulling the card' situations do you people ride on? Several. You get more than you ever deserve or work for. Blacks (and other minorities) are the ones who cry racism everyday but deny that they are racist to whites. They use the past to get free @!$%# and to recieve jobs and services that most more qualified whites deserve. Get your head out of your ass tessatito, YOUR people are the ones benefitting. My parents and I work hard for what we have and pay insane taxes so that lowlife minorities can sit at home and push out more beneficiaries.

rbjk74 - cut it out. Please post like an adult or don't bother posting at all.

Get your head out of your ass tessatito, YOUR people are the ones benefitting.

Please abide by the Code of Honor:

Above all else, respect others. Address issues and arguments and refrain from making personal attacks. If you see something disrespectful or inappropriate, report it - rather than further inflaming the situation.blockquote>

Thanks Brian and Dustin. There is no need for this kind of name calling on Newsvine.

jdl-28, by refusing to acknowledge that this man was black, you are refusing to acknowledge the disproportionate number of black men (and others of color) who are in our prison systems, who are victims of profiling and worse, ruthless violence by white law enforcement.
Honestly, how many times have you heard of a black cop lashing out at a white criminal or worse yet, innocent man? Think about it.

In your dreams jdl-28.

Honestly, how many times have you heard of a black cop lashing out at a white criminal or worse yet, innocent man? Think about it.

All the time when I lived in PG county Maryland. Here's an article: http://www.ta-nehisi.com/2008/07/the-case-against-diversity-as-a-cure-for-police-brutality.html

The majority black police force in a majority black county was as brutal as any in the nation. It is incorrect to think that white police are the cause of police brutality.

tessatito- "acknowledge the disproportionate number of black men (and others of color) who are in our prison systems"

are you saying that the prisons are full of black people because of profiling? no. that's ridiculous. i'm gonna guess that a majority of people in prison are guilty. if you want to blame social and economic factors, i would wholeheartedly agree with you, but you can't blame white people for minorities committing crimes.

"ruthless violence by white law enforcement"
don't complain about racism and profiling by making a racist, profiling remark. not all white people and/or cops are racisit rednecks. don't becoming like them by letting a few bad examples clout your perception of the rest.

and before you call me anything, i am not racist at all and i belive that this cop should rot in jail, then hell.

are you saying that the prisons are full of black people because of profiling? no. that's ridiculous. i'm gonna guess that a majority of people in prison are guilty.

That may be true, but it may also be true that a lot of white people who are guilty get off, or get lesser sentences.

There are many people out here who either have been or (in my case, since I'm not eligible) have friends who have been pulled over on suspicion of DWB. If you aren't aware of that crime, look at the rest of this thread and think about it....

oh, i am very aware of profiling. my friend (black) got pulled over on a busy street with his friend (black) and mother in law (white). the cop asked his mom 3 times if she was alright, before even talking to my friend. she told his to f--- off and they left. but that's not why our prisons are full. i know that it exists, and i'm sure it plays a role. but she is saying that prisons are full because of racist white cops, and that's crap. blame social/econmic factors

Point taken, wronghanded1, but profiling (or at least the mindset behind it) is not limited to cops. It seems to permeate the American justice system at all levels.

Constitution Patriot: I concur.

Hire officers of the law who respect the people they serve.

Respect to us!, who hired them is a must. This crime in my opinion, had nothing to do with race. Ever watch the cop shows on T.V. They glorify this kind of judge,jury,and in this case executioner, attitude. They treat us like children, unless!, you have money. No, not all cops are this severe. But far to many of us are being treated like the child in the despicable skateboard incident in Baltimore.

Novak issued citation after hitting pedestrian,
Columnist said he didn't realize what happened until cyclist stopped him

David Bono, the bicyclist who witnessed the incident, told The Associated Press that the pedestrian was hit in a crosswalk and was splayed across Novak's windshield.

Thi story was in a MSNBC article. I Could`nt make the link to it.

I think much of the outrage in this case that is not directed towards big bad cops is directed at the growing problem of gross misuse of a supposedly "safe" enforcement weapon. This is a case of wrongful death (the forensics specialist called it "homicide") regardless of the victim's race or the officer's prejudices, whatever they may be.

Part of what we have to deal with is the fact that officers of the law have been provided a dangerous new tool and a very poor set of instructions. That tasers are new and widely billed by "experts" (read: invested parties) as non-lethal weapons effectively makes them the socked soap of police brutality, leaving those who would misuse them with a host of excuses or explanations at their disposal--and many of them viable in court.

The question of officers of the law protecting their own is another matter. I don't have much frame of reference for such an allegation outside of cop shows, but I'm sure others have plenty to contribute on the subject.

Long time no see, M.

well put Stolte-Sawa... as usual... "socked soap" lovely! i don't entirely agree with the question of police not being provided instructions around the use of these non-lethal devices in quasi-tortourous ways. In fact the LAPD, until it was leaked in late 90's, labeled their taser instruction video "the taser dance" ... It's part and parcel with framing it as a behavior management tool -- a tool that in its very use separates those who use it from those upon whom it's used. Those classed, and raced, and humiliated bodies are not understood to suffer in the same way other bodies do... and we needn't cringe when inflicting pain upon them (especially, as you suggest, when using an instrument that is non-lethal and intended to increase safety). It's as if the tool itself become an instrument that makes particular kinds of citizens...

i don't entirely agree with the question of police not being provided instructions around the use of these non-lethal devices in quasi-tortourous ways.

I said "poor instructions", didn't I? :)

It's my understanding that all such tools separate the enforcer from the inflicted (guns, batons, cruisers, tickets. Jail cells). Enforcement is separatist by nature. Hell, the very mention of prior offences are used by those other types of citizens to justify this kind of abuse (see comment #21).

i wonder what happens when we consider the fact that we are all capable of torturing the powerless and demonized given the right set of circumstances... yes, even you.

As a parent of young children, I concur. While I try to reason, cajole, beg and bribe my kids into compliance, I have, in moments of frustration, resorted to "parental brutality" of which I am ashamed. Though I'd like to think that my actions fall short of the legal definition of child abuse, that in no way lessens my shame. When I regain my composure, however, I *do* always apologize to the kids and let them know that what I did was wrong.

the polarization of the different sides is what's the real problem. minorites are tired of racism, as they should, but commit racial profiling all the time as well. And the white majority thinks that because we abolished slavery and everyone can ride the same bus or drink from the same fountain, that racism isn't as big an issue anymore. and neither side wants to admit they're wrong.

segregation and racially driven fears (as well as sexuality, age, etc) are ridiculous in this country. both sides need to make changes for this to ever get better

OK, let's move into the 21st century here...

I'm about as mixed race as it comes (white, latino, native american) and while my life isn't exactly perfect, it is what I have made of it... not my ancestors. rzeen25, seems to missing the point that first, like myself, many "white people's ancestors" in America, were still in Europe when slavery was finally outlawed in the U.S. Second, this was not a black/white issue... it was an issue of a BAD COP and a CRIMINAL.

I have worked, over the years, with many fine police officers (black, white, and latino) who would not tolerate this officer's behavior, and would have been filing charges with internal affairs, or, lacking an IA department, the state attorney general's office, before the officer even got back to the station.

And, just in case you missed it in the history books, rzeen, one of the duties of the Buffalo Soldiers was hunting "renegade indians" (basically, any native that refused to move to the reservations... so does that mean that native americans should hold similar hatred and distrust of all african-americans? No, as I alluded to earlier, we, as individuals, are responsible for our actions (or inactions) and need to accept the consequences of our actions.

Would this man still be alive if he didn't have outstanding warrants? Would he still be alive if he had surrendered in the first place rather than attempt to elude capture? Unfortunately, we will never know due to the officers actions, but don't continue the hatred and hostility by making this a black/white, or cop/black man issue--you insult every good officer (black or white) by the assumption that all cops in Louisiana (or anywhere) are like this... and by default, since the man who was killed was a criminal evading arrest on warrants, by painting him as the "poor, defenseless black victim/martyr," you are insulting ALL blacks (and other minorities.)

"We will never know due to the officers actions."

that's the crime right there. 'Warrant's and 'eluding' are just smoke screens. You know this. You are otherwise reasonable. IMO.

Rzeen25, you need to come back into the 21st century. As for your hatred toward caucasians, well that just goes to show your ignorance and cluelessness. Try doing a little research for once before you babble on and on again. Idiot.

Physician, heal thyself.

rbjk74, meet the Newsvine code of honor:

Above all else, respect others. Address issues and arguments and refrain from making personal attacks.

If you want to yell and scream, kindly do so somewhere else. While I don't agree with everything that rzeen25 said, I do find the expression of the viewpoint valuable, and will not tolerate your use of insults and blanket attacks. Capeesh?

If the guy didn't want to be tasered, he wouldn't have been walking around looking suspicious.

You're right. Every suspicious looking person deserves to be tased.

First of all, he wasn't pursued because he "looked suspicious" but because there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest for possession of narcotics (a nonviolent crime). Nobody is questioning this man's rap sheet.

The contention here is that he was repeatedly tased by this officer whose testimony of the day's events have been roundly refuted by eyewitnesses who do not belong to the police force and by the coroner who examined and found no evidence to support his allegations that the suspect died because he was high and asthmatic, and not because he abused his weapon. This man should not have died.

Oh come on! Get over it!

Grounds for flagging. Please be respectful and abide the Code of Honor. Thanks.

Right Winged Eagle: More like right wing nut. And

this cop was doing his job. For God's sake, can we place a little more importance on the life of our precious Law Enforcement agents, and a little less on the lives of hardened criminals?

So it's blacks are presumed to be guilty without ever being charged with a crime and the penalty is death by electric shocks courtesy of a Taser Gun? This cop should never have been in uniform. You would not be making such haughty statements praising the cop if the victim was related to you or a Friend would you?

Pretty callous of you, RWE. We do not know the origin of the warrants against him, but what could possibly be in them that would cause this officer to repeatedly Taser a handcuffed individual? Any handcuffed individual? What was it that made him a "hardened criminal"? Or did you just make that up to try to justify your opinion?

Sorry to disagree with you, but an officer's life has the same value as anyone else's life. In a civilized society, we trust those officers to uphold the law, not to mete out arbitrary sentences decided in fits of anger. Hell, I look suspicious to most folks, and I'm not black, either. This cop went above and beyond his job, which was to apprehend and deliver this fugitive from justice. Instead, he became judge, jury, and executioner with his unlawful actions. This officer deserves anything that comes his way should (I hope) he goes to trial. As for ruining his lfe, maybe he should have thought about that before he callously and indifferently eloctrocuted this poor man to death.

I doubt if I would ever need his help, and would be scared feces-less if he ever offered it.

The Confessor,

Right Winged Eagle: More like right wing nut. And

Please abide by the Code of Honor:

Above all else, respect others. Address issues and arguments and refrain from making personal attacks. If you see something disrespectful or inappropriate, report it - rather than further inflaming the situation.

'looking suspicious' ?

from the article, no drugs found and not asthmatic: "Gee, that doesn't exactly corroborate the police account "

SOP

I'm beginning to suspect that Right Wing Eagle is some kind of a satirist.

So many things wrong with this. The man was handcuffed and on the ground. He was tasered because he wouldn't get up fast enough. Now I don't know about you, but to me that seems pretty frickin detrimental to what this thankfully ex-cop wanted.

Again, name calling is not the way... ;<)

Sorry, a troll is a troll is a troll.. Read all the posts..

This one won't last out the week....

RWE, you're funny. Huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huhuh...funny...huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh

demmywemmy - your turn to read the coh. The link is at the bottom of the page.

My guess is that most abusive cops wouldn't have shot in the absence of tasers. Shooting somebody is messy, the sound of the gun firing attracts attention, and it's explicitly final. I'd think the taser is perceived as cleaner and less likely to be lethal, so some cops probably feel like they can get away with more indiscretion. It probably comes down to how above the law the particular cop believes he is. But as far as I'm concerned, death by taser is no less excusable than death by bullets.

thinking about that the taser could be viewed as a step into what could be percieved by the user as less of a tactile experience than using a firearm etc. this could be a problem with the current psychology of taser users is that since they were so previously cued to kill, the taser by its definition "wouldnt" function in that manner. clearly retraining is necessary or a cessation of deployment until these issues are lucid.

Yes, there certainly needs to be credible studies of law enforcement psychology in general, and specifically with things like taser use. Unfortunately, cultural momentum makes it difficult to expose anything too scathing. The politically correct approach is to start by acknowledging the police officer's pedestal, and the rest of the message can't drift too far from that; any criticism needs to be followed by, "once again, most of them are heroes." There certainly are heroic police officers, but I suspect the word most is feel-good elixir.

Adding to my comment above about the disuasive qualities of shooting somebody, I think the taser offers some people an opportunity for torture. The cop in question had his victim in a catch 22: he knew that a person isn't going to spring to their feet after being electrocuted, but when he doesn't comply with the cop's command to do so, he's resisting and needs another zap.

Such displays of maturity and grace have no place on the 1nt0rn3tz. (Kidding!)

Thanks, Confessor. Sorry I missed this yesterday (my comment tracker has been on the fritz and not counting new comments as 'New'--this one, for instance. No little green clock up there). Keep the thoughtful comments coming!

Please be more specific, as I am taking this as an EXTREME racist comment. If it is, just admit it. If it's sarcasm, then I don't believe you.

Excuse me?

Don't feed the trolls.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Sometimes they go for "blue eyed girls" also.

YES, blue-eyed girls are the best...and most femanine (which is what we look for in females).
Demmy, shut up.

Someone delete this tard. He's invalidated his right to any opinion by his inability to be civil.

He's an embarrassment to us white folk.

Aw crap. This is what I was afraid would happen. The vine has devolved.

I think I've posted five or six references to the coh in just this one seed. Keep hitting those ! buttons, people. We've got to do something to fight off the trolls.

I've hit more ! buttons than made comments today..

Is there a full moon, something in the water, or the air?

It is hard to believe but recently, a relative of mine spent two nights in jail for a ticket he didn't take care of and he witnessed first hand the treatment of detainees. I can tell you, he said he will never go to jail again.