Posts tagged death

(May — A Seattle police officer offered a tearful apology after being caught on camera kicking an innocent man and using a racial epithet. The video shows a group of officers standing around three men who are lying on the ground. Seattle Police Detective Shandy Cobane shouts, “I’m going to beat the [expletive] Mexican [expletive] out of you homey! You feel me?” Cobane later kicks the man in the head and another cop kicks him in the hand. The detective sobbed as he gave a news conference on Friday to apologize to the Latino community, his colleagues and the city of Seattle, The Seattle Times reported. “I know my words cut deep and were very hurtful,” Cobane said. “Please know that I am truly, truly sorry.” The video was shot by a freelance videographer at around 2 am on April 17. The incident in question took place as officers were investigating an armed robbery in Seattle’s Westlake neighborhood. The 911 call reporting the crime had described the suspects as Hispanic. The man attacked was not involved in the robbery. After officers let him go, the freelance videographer asked the unidentified man why he had been beaten. “I don’t know. They knocked me down and kicked me in the head,” he responded. Cobane and another officer have been placed on administrative leave. The city’s police department is carrying out an internal investigation, according to the Times. Seattle police learned of the event a few days after the incident, and launched the investigation soon after …

2008 Tammy Christopher is suing Grady County Oklahoma after Deputy Sean Kinght shot her dog. While the police officer told her that the dog charged at him when he stopped for direction while serving tax warrants, the video appears to contradict that claim and show Knight. shooting the dog in the head. Christopher has filed a 000 claim against Grady County, State of Oklahoma and Grady County Deputy Sean Knight for the wrongful shooting of her dog

April 16, 2010 — Chicago – A Streamwood police officer’s own dashboard camera has proven to be his downfall. Officer James Mandarino is facing charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct after he was caught on video beating an unarmed motorist. The video, recorded March 28 after a traffic stop, shows Mandarino getting out of his squad car with his gun drawn, and approaching an SUV driven by 28 year old Ronald Bell of Streamwood. Bell is seen with his hands up for about a minute and a half before Mandorino orders and then pulls him to the ground. The video shows Mandorino beating Bell with his baton 15 times in 13 seconds. All the while, Bell is trying to protect himself. He was beaten on the head, back and arms and suffered a concussion and required seven stitches to close a gash on his right ear. Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced the charges Thursday after a two week investigation. “The conduct displayed on the video by this officer is not only disturbing, it’s outrageous and it’s unacceptable,” Alvarez said. “Every law enforcement officer holds his or her powers through the public trust and this officer’s senseless act of rage against an unarmed motorist constitutes an offensive violation of that trust.” Mandorino posted bond and was released after court. The 15-year veteran with the Streamwood police has been relieved of his duties and put on paid administrative leave according to the department. As he left court reporters peppered him with …

Police are under scrutiny after a toddler was accidentally shot by officers aiming at a robbery and carjacking suspect at a fast food drive-through in Jacksonville last Friday. Authorities say 2-year-old old Daniel Crichton was shot in the arm and upper torso after a suspected bank robber forced his way into the car in which the toddler was seated. The child remains in critical condition. “We had a very volatile situation,” Sheriff John Rutherford told the Florida Times Union. “I just don’t want to try to speculate on why they felt the need to shoot at the suspect while he was in the vehicle.” The child’s mother, Joann Cooper, was hit once in the foot. A 7-year-old girl also in the car was not injured. The suspect was killed but has not been identified. The gunman did not discharge his weapon. Five officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office fired a total of 42 rounds at the vehicle. Four of the officers involved were veterans, and one was a rookie still in field training, the Times Union reported. Thomas J. Aveni, executive director of The Police Policy Studies Council, told the newspaper that training for situations where gunfire may be necessary amid crowds is nearly impossible. He added that police departments are working toward better guidelines to give officers on when to fire at moving cars. “Officers tend to miss significant number of rounds when firing at human beings on foot,” Aveni said.

A legless unarmed man suspected of domestic abuse and charged with resisting arrest was Tasered by the City of Merced. After effectuating this arrest the report states the police left the man nude from the waist down for several minutes in front of a small crowd. No explanation was given of what the arrestee did that made the police fear for their own safety or the safety of fellow officers. The person arrested is a 40-year-old double leg amputee. He said Williams was stunned once for less than five seconds, causing him to release his grip on his wheelchair so that officers could handcuff him. Andrade called it “unfortunate” that Williams’ genitals were exposed to his neighbors and said officers didn’t mean to humiliate him. The Taser device can release up to 50000 volts of electricity.