The lulzy blue line and police brutality-related paid vacations

[ch33zw1z]

It's called innocent until proven guilty, maybe you're familiar with the concept?

lol, funny you bring that up...the police officers don't always treat a situation in that regard either..Cops or not, the beating sounds uncalled for overall.

 

[Narmer]

That would be likely, but there could be complications. I can imagine many legitimate self defense scenarios where even with four witnesses it could be difficult to produce a convincing case.

Charges can always be dropped.

 

[xj0hnx]

This was my OP. I'm glad that the "police can do no wrong" apologists showed up post-haste, cocks in hand, claiming that I'm full of angst and live with my parents.

As always, there are two sides to a story. I hope the "off doodie" police stories are a real nail-biter, because they "appear" to seriously lack judgment and self-control. There were only two sober witnesses at the incident, btw.

Quoting part of your OP didn't magically add any facts, or the other side to the story.

 

[nonlnear]

Unless the guy was armed or on serious drugs (and I don't see any mention of that), I can't think of any reason why four cops couldn't take down a single guy without beating on his FACE. They did eventually use a set of handcuffs.

Charges can always be dropped.

I wasn't making any claims about what should happen (or did happen) in this case. I was speaking entirely hypothetically: I can imagine a not entirely freakish scenario in which blah blah blah happens and no charges are filed. That's all.

 

[fallout man]

Quoting part of your OP didn't magically add any facts, or the other side to the story.

By quoting my own OP, I was merely trying to set straight some posters who have gone off the deep end with assumptions and knee-jerk reactions.

Seriously, please, do tell which part of my OP is "hatin' on the cops?"

While you're down there, I could use someone to wipe down my thighs with a moist towel.

 

[kylebisme]

... I can imagine a not entirely freakish scenario in which blah blah blah happens and no charges are filed. That's all.

Such as?

 

[nonlnear]

Such as?

I think the easiest way to cook up such a scenario would be to combine a politically motivated DA with a victim who has credibility issues - for whatever reason, legitimate or not... Hey, I'm not saying it should happen that way but it can, and does sometimes. I don't really want to derail the thread further, so could I leave it at that?

 

[xj0hnx]

By quoting my own OP, I was merely trying to set straight some posters who have gone off the deep end with assumptions and knee-jerk reactions.

Seriously, please, do tell which part of my OP is "hatin' on the cops?"

While you're down there, I could use someone to wipe down my thighs with a moist towel.

Without the other side of the story, or any facts, your whole post is "knee jerk". Your assumption of facts you don't know, and calling them "thugs" is pretty much "hatin'"

You're a big boy/girl, you can wipe yourself, if not I suggest you look into some Depends.

 

[kylebisme]

I think the easiest way to cook up such a scenario would be to combine a politically motivated DA with a victim who has credibility issues - for whatever reason, legitimate or not... Hey, I'm not saying it should happen that way but it can, and does sometimes. I don't really want to derail the thread further, so could I leave it at that?

Unless the DA was at the scene to stop what otherwise would have been an arrest, you scenario doesn't even come close to passing the sniff test.

 

[Sclamoz]

Without the other side of the story, or any facts, your whole post is "knee jerk". Your assumption of facts you don't know, and calling them "thugs" is pretty much "hatin'"

You're a big boy/girl, you can wipe yourself, if not I suggest you look into some Depends.

We would have all the facts and both sides of the story if the police department weren't withholding all information in regards to the incident. If you beat someone up would the police hide your identity and refuse to release the police report?

 

[xj0hnx]

We would have all the facts and both sides of the story if the police department weren't withholding all information in regards to the incident. If you beat someone up would the police hide your identity and refuse to release the police report?

http://www.wickedlocal.com/brooklin...e-officers-involved-in-Beacon-Street-incident

They did release their names, but I guess since you aren't really interested in seeing it done right, only in bashing the cops, getting facts isn't a real concern. And it appears the OP's post left out some information, such as the "victim" getting out of his car when he saw the cops taking a picture of his plates, and since we only have his side of the story I am doubting he got back out of his car to politely ask the cops why they were taking a picture of his plates. Regardless when the full story comes out, we might actually have enough information to pass judgement.

 

[Sclamoz]

http://www.wickedlocal.com/brooklin...e-officers-involved-in-Beacon-Street-incident

They did release their names, but I guess since you aren't really interested in seeing it done right, only in bashing the cops, getting facts isn't a real concern.

Well that's good that they released the names. Now how about the 911 call and police report? Also, I haven't said anything bad about cops in this thread. You just keep getting your panties in a huge knot at the mere suggestion of police misbehavior.

And it appears the OP's post left out some information, such as the "victim" getting out of his car when he saw the cops taking a picture of his plates, and since we only have his side of the story I am doubting he got back out of his car to politely ask the cops why they were taking a picture of his plates. Regardless when the full story comes out, we might actually have enough information to pass judgement.

So its wrong to ask why 4 off duty cops beat a man based who wasn't arrested for a crime, we have his story and the police department investigation to back that up at least but its alright to assume the guy did something to deserve it?

That's like a defense attorney refusing to hand over evidence or witnesses to a court and saying you can't prove my client did anything wrong!

Cops aren't a higher class of citizen than the man who was beaten. If its OK for you to ask questions and make assumptions about a guy who got put into a hospital you better be damn sure I'll do the same when it comes to the cops who put him there.

 

[thegimp03]

lol, funny you bring that up...the police officers don't always treat a situation in that regard either..Cops or not, the beating sounds uncalled for overall.

Beat first, ask questions later.

 

[fallout man]

Brookline Police file criminal complaints against officers, bodyguard, stripper

The Brookline Police Department has filed criminal complaints against four Brookline officers, an exotic dancer and her bodyguard in connection with a fight at a Beacon Street bachelor party on March 28.

Officers Daniel Avila, David Hill, Yu Kajita and Brendan Kelliher are being charged with assault and battery. Bodyguard Robert Sonia of Lynn is being charged with assault and battery, threatening to commit a crime and unarmed assault with intent to rob or steal. Theresa Soundis faces charges of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger and witness interference and obstruction of justice.

The four officers are still on paid administrative leave, according to Lt. Phil Harrington. Brookline Police have concluded their criminal investigation, Harrington said, but would not comment on any further internal decisions.

Sonia had filed charges of aggravated assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot), plus assault and battery last week.

Tom Drechsler, who is retained by the police union to represent the four Brookline officers, said his clients deny the charges of assault and battery, which are misdemeanors, but that they feel “vindicated” by the fact that the Police Department concluded Sonia and Soundis should be brought up on felony charges.

“My clients deny even the misdemeanor allegations of assault and battery, which are a far cry from what Mr. Sonia alleged, but we’re very confident those charges won’t be sustained in the hearing,” Drechsler said.

No date has been set for the hearing; Drechsler said he wouldn’t be surprised if the case were moved outside of Brookline District Court.

Sonia's attorney, John Saliba, said he was "absolutely incredulous" that his client was charged in the incident and called the charges "retalitory in nature."

"If they thought my client committed a crime, they would have charged him a lot sooner" and arrested him at the scene, said Saliba.

He called the charged filed by Brookline police against the four of the department's own officers "highly unusual."

"I feel that the Brookline police believe they assaulted my client," said Saliba.

The TAB has requested comment from the attorney representing Soundis.

Sonia, who is an employee of the Lynn-based Shamrock Entertainment, said he was working as a bodyguard for a stripper who was hired to dance at a Beacon Street bachelor party attended by the four off-duty cops early on the morning of Sunday, March 28. When the pair got to the party, they were told the bachelor had left and the four men didn’t want the dancer’s services any longer, he said.

Sonia said the officers refused to pay for the stripper, and refused to give the pair gas money.

Sonia said he and the dancer returned to their vehicle, but the officers followed them outside, and one tried photographing his license plate with his cell phone. Sonia got out of the car, and that’s when he said he was attacked near the corner of Beacon Street and Corey Road. He suffered a broken eye socket and other injuries during the attack, he said. He was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for treatment that morning.

Police put the four officers on paid leave following the incident and launched an investigation, they said. On Wednesday, March 31, the department released the four officers’ names to the media, and said none have been the subject of an investigation before. Police have declined to release the police report or 911 calls of the incident to Sonia and the media, including the Brookline TAB.

Selectwoman Betsy DeWitt said she could not comment on the case, but did say O'Leary will give selectmen a report on the matter during a selectmen's meeting on Tuesday night.

"It's now a matter for the courts to decide," DeWitt said.

I LOVE IT!

Apparently the four off-duty officers fucked up enough that even their own department couldn't sweep it under the rug. Curiously enough, the victim of the assault, and the witness have now been charged with with multiple counts as well.

Keep in mind, the guard wasn't arrested for any crime at the time of the incident (though he was "read his Miranda rights" at the hospital, and the "stripper" wasn't arrested nor had her Miranda rights read at all). I think that assault and battery, threatening to commit a crime and unarmed assault with intent to rob or steal, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger and witness interference and obstruction of justice would be significant enough to get arrested at the scene. Yet, they were not.

I wonder if they'll be intimidated enough to drop the charges against the police and call it even...

What bullshit.

 

[fallout man]

i'm curious who called the uniforms... the stripper? and they arrived that fast? the 911 call is going to be interesting when it's released...

Theresa Soundis faces charges of assault by means of a dangerous weapon [cell phone], witness interference and obstruction of justice [calling 911].

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Papiere, Bitte.

 

[tk149]

I'd just like to point out that all parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

I would expect that administrative leave with pay is standard in any case where police are accused of a crime. Seems like the best option to me. If they are not guilty, then why should they be penalized? If they are guilty, you don't want them on active duty while awaiting trial.

OTOH, this case reeks of police brutality and departmental coverup. I haven't seen any reports that there were outside witnesses, and I wonder why the 911 call hasn't been released. It will certainly come up at trial though.