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New York Cop Who Pepper Sprayed Driver For Giving Him the Middle Finger Getting Fired

R

Reasonable Doubt

Senior member
New York Cop Who Pepper Sprayed Driver For Giving Him the Middle Finger Is Getting Fired

A New York judge has just dismissed the charges filed against Adam Rupeka. Adam had “given the finger” to police officers – an act protected by law as “free speech.” The officer, who didn’t apparently think he had to respect the Constitution, pepper sprayed the Troy man, assaulted him, handcuffed him and detained him, the Saratogian reported.

The driver knew he had the Constitutional right to give cops the middle finger if he wanted to. That right has been upheld in multiple court cases and he had the proof. But one cop apparently thought that shiny badges give you the special right to pepper spray people who don’t like you. Now that cop is going to be out of a job.

Last Thursday, City Court Judge Jeffrey Wait ruled that all charges against Rupeka should be dropped.

Saratoga Springs police officer Nathan Baker has been placed on administrative leave after the incident. He is now suspended without pay pending a disciplinary hearing that the department says will take place within the next 30 days.

But Police Chief Greg Veitch says that he “will be seeking Baker’s termination.”

Rupeka says that he is considering filing a civil suit against the department.

Rupeka, who is a member of CopBlock, a decentralized police accountability group, was driving “near the Hampton Inn in downtown Saratoga Springs.”

He had two cameras set up in his vehicle, as he performed a test of whether the police would respect his first amendment right to free speech. Officer Baker didn’t apparently have any patience for the Constitution.

In the video clipof the incident, Baker can be seen demanding Rupeka’s license. Rupeka says he will if Baker can “articulate what crime I’ve committed.”

Baker barked “Step out of the vehicle,” and removed a can of pepper spray.

“You’re under arrest for disorderly conduct,” Baker trumped up, right as he sprayed Rupeka’s face.

Baker then twisted Rupeka’s arm, and bullied “You gonna comply?”

“I can’t,” Rupeka explained.

Rupeka was then charged with disorderly conduct, having an obstructed view, resisting arrest, and obstruction of governmental administration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjVaqL1IcB0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIpNK5-w81M


http://countercurrentnews.com/2015/...iving-him-the-middle-finger-is-getting-fired/
 
Rupeka, who is a member of CopBlock, a decentralized police accountability group, was driving “near the Hampton Inn in downtown Saratoga Springs.”

He had two cameras set up in his vehicle, as he performed a test of whether the police would respect his first amendment right to free speech.
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So they were doing a setup for a "test" like entrapment. I don't think the cop should have pepper sprayed the dude, but what they were doing is a bit shady also.
 
I agree, shady as shit. I often rally against the abuse of power. But respect is a two-way street.

This 'whistleblower/entrapment' dude got off way too easy with the pepper spray. A true thug in the heart of a ghetto would have given him far worse.
 
pcgeek11 said:
So they were doing a setup for a "test" like entrapment. I don't think the cop should have pepper sprayed the dude, but what they were doing is a bit shady also.
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The cops acted like power hungry douche's, and should not have arrested him or sprayed him. But I do agree with you, they set them up.

On its Facebook page, CopBlock describes itself as “a decentralized project supported by a diverse group of individuals united by their shared goal of police accountability… documenting police actions whether they are illegal, immoral or just a waste of time and resources then putting direct pressure on the individuals responsible (ideally while recording and then later sharing), we can work together to bring about transparency and have a real impact… We do not “hate cops.” We believe that no one – not even those with badges – has extra rights. The failure to realize and act on that is to our detriment. By focusing the disinfecting light of transparency on public officials we safeguard not just our rights but those of future generations.”
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So they go around trying to provoke incidents, pushing buttons. Legally it looks like they did nothing wrong, morally I think they did.
 
If all it takes is for someone to give him the finger for him to go off the rails like that, then he deserves the punishment. While I think that one impulsive act that's a bit OTT wouldn't be entirely unexpected from an immature person (assuming said act didn't result in lasting damage or was likely to), this is a police officer (ie. someone who should be difficult to provoke as well as having a carefully aligned moral compass), and one would think that the act of arresting someone should result in enough brain activity that it being an impulsive act is extremely unlikely.

Having said that, I've heard that the NYPD has run "arrest quotas" before, I wonder whether this might be involved in any way.
 
This may be shady, entrapment, a set up, etc. But police officers should always be held to a high standard when it comes to not only following but also enforcing the laws. They are expected to be put in high pressure situations where they must react according to the law. If one can't perform that duty effectively in the type of situation described in the OP then he doesn't need to be in this line of work.
 
mikeymikec said:
Having said that, I've heard that the NYPD has run "arrest quotas" before, I wonder whether this might be involved in any way.
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I once got detained and was given a ticket to appear in court. The officer admitted the ticket would be immediately dismissed due to it being legally outside of his jurisdiction and intimated that he was fulfilling his daily quota.
 
Great two idiots doing battle.

Yes fire the cop but I hope the driver gets nothing else. He can enjoy having destroyed a guys life, that should be reward enough. This should not be misinterpreted as supporting the officer, he deserves to be fired. But his life is destroyed nonetheless.

Going around being an asshole in hopes that you get a reaction doesn't make you special or courageous. You're still just an asshole. This is the same grade of idiocy that makes people take a rifle to an airport. You are creating for your own amusement a situation with no upside for anyone else, and potentially massive downside. Just because you're bored and want to look like a bad ass on the internet?

Viper GTS
 
Ackmed said:
So they go around trying to provoke incidents, pushing buttons. Legally it looks like they did nothing wrong, morally I think they did.
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hmm if the cops can't fallow the law what does it matter? it was a setup. again so what?

they shouldn't have anything to fear in these setups if they fallow the law
 
Another thing:

If he's running around with cameras setup trying to do this, you can bet this is not the first time he's done it. He probably has deleted dozens (hundreds?) of encounters that were complete non-events. As a tax payer (albeit not in NY) I do not support giving him any public funds to reward this shit. Yes he found one guy with a short temper. We fired him. This should be the end of the story.

Viper GTS
 
Viper GTS said:
Great two idiots doing battle.

Yes fire the cop but I hope the driver gets nothing else. He can enjoy having destroyed a guys life, that should be reward enough. This should not be misinterpreted as supporting the officer, he deserves to be fired. But his life is destroyed nonetheless.

Going around being an asshole in hopes that you get a reaction doesn't make you special or courageous. You're still just an asshole. This is the same grade of idiocy that makes people take a rifle to an airport. You are creating for your own amusement a situation with no upside for anyone else, and potentially massive downside. Just because you're bored and want to look like a bad ass on the internet?

Viper GTS
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What? He did no such thing. if a cop, someone that is trained and entrusted with more privileges than most, can't handle getting a finger without going nuts he should never be a cop or someone in place of authority.

The COP brought this on himself.
 
Viper GTS said:
Yes fire the cop but I hope the driver gets nothing else. He can enjoy having destroyed a guys life, that should be reward enough. This should not be misinterpreted as supporting the officer, he deserves to be fired. But his life is destroyed nonetheless.
Click to expand...

If the cop can so easily be pushed off the rails then it was only a matter of time until he got caught doing illegal things as a result of his temper. The police in every country get to routinely deal with arseholes and clearly this person wasn't up to the job.

I always find the "destroying someone's life" comments a bit odd to say the least. IMO the cop was doing a good job of it for himself already. Where should one draw the line with using comments along the lines of "destroying someone's life", do the police do this every day by arresting people who have committed crimes?
 
mikeymikec said:
If the cop can so easily be pushed off the rails then it was only a matter of time until he got caught doing illegal things as a result of his temper. The police in every country get to routinely deal with arseholes and clearly this person wasn't up to the job.

I always find the "destroying someone's life" comments a bit odd to say the least. IMO the cop was doing a good job of it for himself already. Where should one draw the line with using comments along the lines of "destroying someone's life", do the police do this every day by arresting people who have committed crimes?
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I'm not defending his behavior at all. Obviously he was out of line and getting fired is precisely what he deserved.

But I think that taking away someone's ability to make a living in the only way they likely know how AND simultaneously obliterating their reputation is effectively destroying someone's life. It's justified, in this case, but that destruction should bring him (the recipient of the pepper spraying) some personal enjoyment. That is all he deserves.

I would feel differently if there had been an attempt to cover this up. If they hadn't dismissed the charges and fired the officer I'd be fine with him winning a lawsuit and making the department hurt. Given how it turned out though it's hard to argue they aren't doing what they're supposed to.

Viper GTS
 
mikeymikec said:
If the cop can so easily be pushed off the rails then it was only a matter of time until he got caught doing illegal things as a result of his temper. The police in every country get to routinely deal with arseholes and clearly this person wasn't up to the job.

I always find the "destroying someone's life" comments a bit odd to say the least. IMO the cop was doing a good job of it for himself already. Where should one draw the line with using comments along the lines of "destroying someone's life", do the police do this every day by arresting people who have committed crimes?
Click to expand...

There are some really great videos of cops upholding the First Amendment. There are lots of people out there now who do 1st Amendment "audits". They make police decide whether to uphold and defend the constitution or whether to act like a thug. Out of all the videos I've watch (and I've watched a ton) only a very small number of cops resort to violence. Quite a few end up with the cops learning something and a good number of them end with the cop coming up to say hi, finding out nothing illegal is happening, then going on their merry way.

People may not like how this is being done but it is one of the only efforts out there to end police thuggery. It exposes bad cops, exposes misconceptions some cops have of the law and it highlights the good cops. Every youtube channel I follow makes a point of highlighting and thanking the good cops.
 
Viper GTS said:
I'm not defending his behavior at all. Obviously he was out of line and getting fired is precisely what he deserved.

But I think that taking away someone's ability to make a living in the only way they likely know how AND simultaneously obliterating their reputation is effectively destroying someone's life. It's justified, in this case, but that destruction should bring him (the recipient of the pepper spraying) some personal enjoyment. That is all he deserves.

I would feel differently if there had been an attempt to cover this up. If they hadn't dismissed the charges and fired the officer I'd be fine with him winning a lawsuit and making the department hurt. Given how it turned out though it's hard to argue they aren't doing what they're supposed to.

Viper GTS
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Newsflash:

The cop did that. Not the CopBlocker.


kthxbai
 
rudeguy said:
Newsflash:

The cop did that. Not the CopBlocker.


kthxbai
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They both did it. If either one of them hadn't chosen to be a dick none of this would have been an issue.

Going around being a dick in hopes of triggering a response should not be an acceptable behavior. I'm not saying it should be legally unacceptable, merely that normal, well adjusted people should look at this and say "Wow you are really a worthless asshole."

Viper GTS
 
Viper GTS said:
They both did it. If either one of them hadn't chosen to be a dick none of this would have been an issue.

Going around being a dick in hopes of triggering a response should not be an acceptable behavior. I'm not saying it should be legally unacceptable, merely that normal, well adjusted people should look at this and say "Wow you are really a worthless asshole."

Viper GTS
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So if a guy beats his wife for flipping him off, its the wife's fault for ruining his life?
 
rudeguy said:
So if a guy beats his wife for flipping him off, its the wife's fault for ruining his life?
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This is more akin to running around times square getting in people's faces until one of them finally decks you and then complaining about the violence.

Those two morons would have never even spoken to each other if he hadn't initiated the situation solely in hopes of generating a reaction.

There is so much legitimate injustice and police thuggery going on, why does he feel the need to generate his own? And why do you feel compelled to support him?

Viper GTS
 
Viper GTS said:
This is more akin to running around times square getting in people's faces until one of them finally decks you and then complaining about the violence.

Those two morons would have never even spoken to each other if he hadn't initiated the situation solely in hopes of generating a reaction.

There is so much legitimate injustice and police thuggery going on, why does he feel the need to generate his own? And why do you feel compelled to support him?

Viper GTS
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No its not.

The guy did not get in the cop's face. This is exactly like the instance I gave, so I will ask again:

If a woman flips off her husband and he beats her for doing it, is it the woman's fault?
 
Whether provoked or not, it doesn't matter or justify an insane reaction like using pepper spray. If someone gave me the finger at work and I pepper sprayed them, I'd be out on my ass as well.
 
Grooveriding said:
Whether provoked or not, it doesn't matter or justify an insane reaction like using pepper spray. If someone gave me the finger at work and I pepper sprayed them, I'd be out on my ass as well.
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And charged with aggravated assault.

Cop does it and there is a debate if he should even get in trouble at his job, let alone charged with the crime he committed.
 
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