Mistrial For Alabama Officer Charged After Assaulting Elderly Indian Man

[Blanky]

Is it possible they just didn't find on the civil rights charge but would have on another? Going only on that video I don't know why everything has to be a civil rights issue. Perhaps this shouldn't have been a civil rights charge?

Obviously the cop is a piece of shit and should be in prison and I dearly hope he is given a trial on a charge appropriate to find him for that.

 

[Darwin333]

Is it possible they just didn't find on the civil rights charge but would have on another? Going only on that video I don't know why everything has to be a civil rights issue. Perhaps this shouldn't have been a civil rights charge?

Obviously the cop is a piece of shit and should be in prison and I dearly hope he is given a trial on a charge appropriate to find him for that.

Looks pretty clear that it's at least assault and battery to me. Hell considering his age I wouldn't shred a tear if a normal person was accused of attempted murder even though it would be harder to get a conviction. Notice how normal people get charges piled on, usually in an attempt to force them into a plea deal, but this cop is only facing a single civil rights charge.

 

[Mai72]

Someone needs to start a hunger strike!

Ghandi style!

 

[SheHateMe]

If he's brown, take him down.

 

[Linux23]

If he's brown, take him down.

If he's black, pump a bullet in his back.

 

[LegendKiller]

How the fuck did he have no other option? How about radioing in and asking for somebody to translate? How about knocking on a door and asking a few neighbors?

 

[Linux23]

How the fuck did he have no other option? How about radioing in and asking for somebody to translate? How about knocking on a door and asking a few neighbors?

Pffft. That would take too much effort.

 

[K1052]

Point taken, but the cynical among us (basically, anyone who has had to work with the Alabama court system) think that actions here speak louder than legal jargon. There is really no practical difference between acquitting the cop and a mistrial like we have here if the case isn't retried by the prosecution. If a new trial is scheduled, I will cede your point.

The civil rights charge is Federal not state. There will be a new trial.

He's also facing a state charge pending the outcome of the Feds case.

 

[Jimzz]

How the fuck did he have no other option? How about radioing in and asking for somebody to translate? How about knocking on a door and asking a few neighbors?

What?!?! He was speaking terrorist language. That cop saved us all that day.



:sneaky:



But this is why if you get called to Jury duty don't try and get out of it. There's a reason most juries, esp in smaller areas, are more older, conservative, and religious.

 

[Aikouka]

This case brought up an interesting question to me... what are cops supposed to do when they encounter someone that only speaks (or is only willing to speak) a foreign language? Given the larger number of Hispanics in the south, they may understand some Spanish, but I doubt they'd understand a bit of Hindi or Mandarin. It's an interesting point to me, because after living here for over five years, I've noticed an increasing number of different nationalities living here. It isn't uncommon for me to walk around Target and hear 3-4 different languages (Japanese, Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish, English, Italian, French, German, etc.). Someone above asked why they didn't radio in for a translator... would there even be one available? They might have officers that speak Spanish, but that would probably be the extent that I'd expect.

To be clear, while my question spawned from this situation, it doesn't mean that I think this guy was in the right.

 

[Mir96TA]

Just call any call center and you got a hindi speaking person.
They should call the dispatcher and await for instructions. Or just follow the person and see which house he goes to.
It was not life threatening situation.

 

[LegendKiller]

Just call any call center and you got a hindi speaking person.
They should call the dispatcher and await for instructions. Or just follow the person and see which house he goes to.
It was not life threatening situation.

I can't see why they just wouldn't follow him or ask a neighbor.

We have a lot of older indians that walk around our neighborhood. I know them by sight and would be glad to help them. None really speak English but all are very friendly. It would piss me the fuck off if some overzealous cop took one down for no real reason. "No other options" ... are you kidding me?

 

[Victorian Gray]

Well, seems the 'good officer' is free and clear:

Madison police officer acquitted of civil rights charge late Wednesday evening

"A federal judge granted a motion of acquittal in the criminal case against a Madison police officer."

http://www.waff.com/story/30960727/madison-police-officer-acquitted-of-civil-rights-charge

 

[DrDoug]

It's tough to find enough people to serve on a jury in Alabama that think minorities are human beings.

Agreed, though I'm surprised that they were deadlocked and didn't just outright acquit the cop.

Progress, Alabama style.

ETA:

Well, seems the 'good officer' is free and clear:

Madison police officer acquitted of civil rights charge late Wednesday evening

"A federal judge granted a motion of acquittal in the criminal case against a Madison police officer."

http://www.waff.com/story/30960727/madison-police-officer-acquitted-of-civil-rights-charge

Yup, another one escapes justice.

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Man, I'm sure glad the police apologists tell us these are all isolated instances.

I mean it's not like cops just are basically given carte blanche by the judges and public to assault and kill anyone that want right?

But he wasn't white, so it's all good to most people.

 

[Pipeline 1010]

For a few years now, I've thought that cell phone cameras and Youtube were going to revolutionize how police treat us by leading to tons more convictions of cops.

Boy was I stupid. Cases like this help me realize how badly I've been had. Even with video, it is still very fucking hard to convict a cop of a crime, no matter how shitty he treats an innocent and no matter how bad that person's life is ruined. What's the difference if video exists when juries are too brainwashed to ever think a cop can actually do something wrong enough to get convicted? And when the DA intentionally over/under charges his cop coworkers? And when the judge makes sure to instruct juries in ways that are favorable to the cop defendants?

The justice system is a fucking sham when it comes to cops as defendants. I blame the asshole cops themselves as they have spent decades working toward making it this way. I have come a long way from thinking cops are noble heroes who selflessly risk their lives for me. They now come across as selfish violent cowardly assholes who want to be able to get away with literally anything including body slamming and permanently disabling little elderly people who aren't a threat.

 

[Indus]

For a few years now, I've thought that cell phone cameras and Youtube were going to revolutionize how police treat us by leading to tons more convictions of cops.

Boy was I stupid. Cases like this help me realize how badly I've been had. Even with video, it is still very fucking hard to convict a cop of a crime, no matter how shitty he treats an innocent and no matter how bad that person's life is ruined. What's the difference if video exists when juries are too brainwashed to ever think a cop can actually do something wrong enough to get convicted? And when the DA intentionally over/under charges his cop coworkers? And when the judge makes sure to instruct juries in ways that are favorable to the cop defendants?

The justice system is a fucking sham when it comes to cops as defendants. I blame the asshole cops themselves as they have spent decades working toward making it this way. I have come a long way from thinking cops are noble heroes who selflessly risk their lives for me. They now come across as selfish violent cowardly assholes who want to be able to get away with literally anything including body slamming and permanently disabling little elderly people who aren't a threat.

This!

Seems life is but a joke when the cops seem to screw with us.

 

[Victorian Gray]

More detail about the most recent trial:

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/feds_end_prosecution_of_madiso.html

 

[DrDoug]

More detail about the most recent trial:

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/feds_end_prosecution_of_madiso.html

Wow... it's clear that the jury was looking for a way to not to convict the cop. I really don't know what else to say...

Other than this really sucks for our nation.

 

[master_shake_]

just some good ol boys.

didn't mean no harm.

that's not even a little bit more than the law will allow.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Wow... it's clear that the jury was looking for a way to not to convict the cop. I really don't know what else to say...

Other than this really sucks for our nation.

The bottom line is that it's not simply a police issue. It's a broken legal system mixed up with a few social/cultural issues in the larger society (i.e. too much deference to "authority" & racial and class issues).

 

[DrDoug]

The bottom line is that it's not simply a police issue. It's a broken legal system mixed up with a few social/cultural issues in the larger society (i.e. too much deference to "authority" & racial and class issues).

It's a police issue in the sense that too many people want to believe that the police are always doing the right thing and police departments have learned to take advantage of that. In the end the result is pretty much jury nullification; cops really can't be convicted for their crimes because the public has decided that in many cases they are fine with them breaking the law.

The laws that they enforce do not apply to them.

 

[master_shake_]

it's like the masters have lost control of their dogs and are too afraid to take it back.

 

[Victorian Gray]

It's a police issue in the sense that too many people want to believe that the police are always doing the right thing and police departments have learned to take advantage of that. In the end the result is pretty much jury nullification; cops really can't be convicted for their crimes because the public has decided that in many cases they are fine with them breaking the law.

The laws that they enforce do not apply to them.

The police didn't get there on their own. I happen to believe that entire legal system is well and truly broken. The 'system' protects itself and Americans are, in large part, perfectly fine with it until/unless it turns on them.

If you are white and middle class or better, you are generally safe as long as you tug your forelock and give 'authority' it's proper due. If you're poor and/or not white... good luck.

 

[Captante]

What a disgrace.