U. of Florida Student Arrested & Tasered at John Kerry Forum for Asking Questions.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

oh, Headache, please go read some history or do some googling, .....there are democrats AND republicans {NOT neo-cons} who have {and are} stood up for various crucial things through the decades.

yes... there are still plenty of democrats and republicans who are standing up for various crucial things when it's politicaly convienient for them to do so.

 

[MrPryck2U]

Ok, let's have a Devil's Advocate moment here:

Didn't this dude ever watch an episode of Cops? If he just went along peacefully, they wouldn't have tasered him. But, there he was resisting, so they pretty much decided the only way to control him was to taser his ass.

 

[Irvine511]

i think this guy is probably a pain in the ass.

i think campus police knew he was a pain in the ass.

i think he was being a pain in the ass at the speech.

and i'm sickened and frightened at what happened to him, to actually yell, "don't taser me, bro!" when you have 5-6 police officers sitting on top of you, and then to have him tasered, while people stand around and video the whole thing (not that they should have or could have intervened) is completely inexcusable. it was the most disturbing thing i saw yesterday, and yesterday as i was walking down 16th street i saw an accident where a car flipped over and a woman was trapped inside and they had to cut off the door with the Jaws of Life and they pulled her out and she was covered in blood and they backboarded her and put her in an ambulance.

the officer(s) who tasered this student should be fired, and prosecuted.

 

[joyfulgirl]

i think this guy is probably a pain in the ass.

i think campus police knew he was a pain in the ass.

i think he was being a pain in the ass at the speech.

and i'm sickened and frightened at what happened to him, to actually yell, "don't taser me, bro!" when you have 5-6 police officers sitting on top of you, and then to have him tasered, while people stand around and video the whole thing (not that they should have or could have intervened) is completely inexcusable.

the officer(s) who tasered this student should be fired, and prosecuted.

 

[Flying FuManchu]

Police report student told them: 'You didn't do anything wrong'

BY ALICE WALLACE
The Gainesville Sun

5:52 p.m.
GAINESVILLE - Police have released the incident report detailing the Tasering of a University of Florida student during a campus forum with Sen. John Kerry Monday, and the officer who actually Tasered Andrew Meyer wrote in the report that Meyer later told police, "You didn't do anything wrong."

In the 12-page report, which gives accounts of the incident from the perspective of eight different officers who were present Monday afternoon, Officer Nicole Mallo writes that Meyer would only resist officers when cameras were present.

"As (Meyer) was escorted down stairs (at the University Auditorium) with no cameras in sight, he remained quiet, but once the cameras made their way down stairs he started screaming and yelling again," Mallo wrote.

Mallo was one of two officers who actually rode in the vehicle as Meyer was escorted to the Alachua County jail, and she said said he told them during the ride: "I am not mad at you guys, you didn't do anything wrong, you were just trying to do your job," according to Mallo's account.

Mallo also wrote in her report that he asked, at one point, if cameras would be present at the jail.

The report details the events leading up to Meyer's arrest, saying that Meyer was in line to ask a question of Sen. Kerry when it was decided that no more questions would be allowed.

Meyer continued down the aisle toward Sen. Kerry angrily, according to police, saying he wanted the senator to answer his question because he had been waiting for two hours.

Though Sen. Kerry directed that Meyer be allowed to ask his question, police reported that Meyer did not ask any specific question and instead "badgered" the senator, and at one point said something about President Clinton being impeached over a sexual act.

At that point, police reported that ACCENT Director Max Tyroler turned off Meyer's microphone and asked police to escort him out of the auditorium, saying, "He had said enough," according to Officer Mallo's report.

Officers then proceeded to attempt to remove Meyer from the room, but when he resisted, they placed him on the ground and tried to handcuff him. The six officers who actually took part in holding Meyer down while he was being handcuffed reported that they were only able to get a handcuff on his right hand because he was squirming so much.

The supervising officer, Sgt. Eddie King, attempted to Taser Meyer on his chest, but he reported that his Taser would not deploy. He then instructed Mallo to Taser Meyer, and she Tasered him on his shoulder, according to one of the officer's report.

The officers were then able to fully handcuff Meyer and escort him from the building. Each of the six officers reported that Meyer yelled things like, "They're going to kill me," and, "They are giving me to the government," while he was being taken from the room.

LMAO at the attention whoring to the extreme from this guy. Obviously he watched episodes of COPS.

I give the benefit of the doubt to the above report and wouldn't be surprised if it's true.

 

[Flying FuManchu]

i think this guy is probably a pain in the ass.

i think campus police knew he was a pain in the ass.

i think he was being a pain in the ass at the speech.

and i'm sickened and frightened at what happened to him, to actually yell, "don't taser me, bro!" when you have 5-6 police officers sitting on top of you, and then to have him tasered, while people stand around and video the whole thing (not that they should have or could have intervened) is completely inexcusable. it was the most disturbing thing i saw yesterday, and yesterday as i was walking down 16th street i saw an accident where a car flipped over and a woman was trapped inside and they had to cut off the door with the Jaws of Life and they pulled her out and she was covered in blood and they backboarded her and put her in an ambulance.

the officer(s) who tasered this student should be fired, and prosecuted.

I think the cops did their job, but since it was a woman police officer involved, mebbe it's proof that females shouldn't be on the field as cops?

 

[joyfulgirl]

I think the cops did their job, but since it was a woman police officer involved, mebbe it's proof that females shouldn't be on the field as cops?

 

[Flying FuManchu]

I'm pretty sure FuManchu is trying to get everyone's goat in here. That, or he's delusional.

I watched the video 3 times now, and it gets more and more unnerving. I cannot come close to accurately describing how much this episode bothers me.

The guy did not one thing to warrant this sort of treatment. So frustrating to me. So fucking frustrating.

I'm not delusional. Believe it or not, I'm not surprised at all at the use of a taser on this douchebag. Police have been using a taser as a means to subdue people for a while now. If you are being "belligerent" and if you are not following the officers' directions AND "resisting" arrest (which was what was happening, considering they were trying to put the cuffs on him) don't be surprised if you get your ass tazed. Douchebag wasn't some little old lady, he was a grown adult who was giving a number of those people in uniform trouble AND he attempted to flee at the door. If you came off as a fruitcake and try to run off while you have a former Presidential candidate/ Senator in the same room, don't expect the officers to be all hunky dory. It's just common sense, IMO. People in the audience or you all at home may look at this video, and make the judgement that he is just a douche fruitcake, however, the police erred on the side of caution b/c they don't truly know who "sane" this guy truly is and they are the once having "the adrenaline rush" of having to apprehend a person.... and they gave him a shock that he probably enjoyed because he is douchey attention whore.

How bout this social experiment. Why don't you all speed, in your cars, and try to get pulled over by the cops. Once the cop pulls you over, and is walking towards your car to ask for your license and registration, just open your door and walk out to greet him/ her and see what the reaction from the cop might be, cuz I'll tell you, it won't be pleasant. And don't be surprised if he/ she pulls a gun or tazer and tells you to get on the ground or hands up. The point of this example- believe it or not, there is a certain "protocol" when dealing with police. You don't come out of your car no matter how harmless you might think it is (even making sudden movements while in the car is frowned upon). If you're resisting arrest and causing a disturbance and then you are told that you are gonna get tazed, several times, then don't be surprised that you do get tazed.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Why the eye rolling? She was probably on her period too

 

[Irvine511]

FFM: the more you say "douchebag" the better your argument becomes.

 

[Irvine511]

How bout this social experiment. Why don't you all speed, in your cars, and try to get pulled over by the cops. Once the cop pulls you over, and is walking towards your car to ask for your license and registration, just open your door and walk out to greet him/ her and see what the reaction from the cop might be, cuz I'll tell you, it won't be pleasant. And don't be surprised if he/ she pulls a gun or tazer and tells you to get on the ground or hands up. The point of this example- believe it or not, there is a certain "protocol" when dealing with police. You don't come out of your car no matter how harmless you might think it is (even making sudden movements while in the car is frowned upon). If you're resisting arrest and causing a disturbance and then you are told that you are gonna get tazed, several times, then don't be surprised that you do get tazed.

yes, because a Q&A session at a political forum at a university is entirely comparable to a traffic stop late at night.

well done.

 

[BVS]

How bout this social experiment. Why don't you all speed, in your cars, and try to get pulled over by the cops. Once the cop pulls you over, and is walking towards your car to ask for your license and registration, just open your door and walk out to greet him/ her and see what the reaction from the cop might be, cuz I'll tell you, it won't be pleasant. And don't be surprised if he/ she pulls a gun or tazer and tells you to get on the ground or hands up. The point of this example- believe it or not, there is a certain "protocol" when dealing with police. You don't come out of your car no matter how harmless you might think it is (even making sudden movements while in the car is frowned upon). If you're resisting arrest and causing a disturbance and then you are told that you are gonna get tazed, several times, then don't be surprised that you do get tazed.

Shit analogy...

 

[BVS]

I think the cops did their job, but since it was a woman police officer involved, mebbe it's proof that females shouldn't be on the field as cops?

Your trolling has gotten pretty lazy and weak over the years.

 

[Flying FuManchu]

yes, because a Q&A session at a political forum at a university is entirely comparable to a traffic stop late at night.

well done.

I think you're losing sight of the point. There is an "ettiquete" when dealing/ confronting with police, especially when they are ordering you to do something. or if you're in a position to be arrested. Did people not expect him to be restrained and something like a taser would not come out if he continued to resist?

 

[BVS]

There is an "ettiquete" when dealing/ confronting with police, especially when they are ordering you to do something. or if you're in a position to be arrested.

There is also ettiquete by cops when dealing with civilians, like having to tell you why you are being put in cuffs...

 

[BVS]

Did people not expect him to be restrained and something like a taser would not come out if he continued to resist?

Um, actually yes, I expected something much different. Like forcefully being escorted out of the building. Or at least I would think 6 trained police could cuff one college kid without a taser...

but maybe I'm expecting too much.

 

[phillyfan26]

I think the cops did their job, but since it was a woman police officer involved, mebbe it's proof that females shouldn't be on the field as cops?

Alright, now I'm sure you're delusional.

 

[phillyfan26]

How bout this social experiment. Why don't you all speed, in your cars, and try to get pulled over by the cops. Once the cop pulls you over, and is walking towards your car to ask for your license and registration, just open your door and walk out to greet him/ her and see what the reaction from the cop might be, cuz I'll tell you, it won't be pleasant. And don't be surprised if he/ she pulls a gun or tazer and tells you to get on the ground or hands up. The point of this example- believe it or not, there is a certain "protocol" when dealing with police. You don't come out of your car no matter how harmless you might think it is (even making sudden movements while in the car is frowned upon). If you're resisting arrest and causing a disturbance and then you are told that you are gonna get tazed, several times, then don't be surprised that you do get tazed.

How does that relate in ANY way to this situation?

 

[Irvine511]

I think you're losing sight of the point. There is an "ettiquete" when dealing/ confronting with police, especially when they are ordering you to do something. or if you're in a position to be arrested. Did people not expect him to be restrained and something like a taser would not come out if he continued to resist?

tasers are used at an officer's discretion, but there has to be some sort of threat to the officer involved to warrant such force, and there wasn't any in this case -- there were 4 officers and one individual. the individual was unarmed, was not attacking anyone, and no one anywhere at any time was in any sort of danger. he was just a pain in the ass. being a pain in the ass is not a reason to be tasered, and the "resisting" in this case is pretty weak -- there were 4 cops there. this was not a use of reasonable force.

i think the guy's a jackass. i don't think he needed to be tasered, and this isn't a question of "you weren't there." 4 cops and one guy? i don't care if this was an elaborate practical joke, if he meant to get arrested and cuffed. the tasering was way, way out of line. cops are trained to take down one offender, cuff them, and get him/her under control. here you had 4 officers holding him down and tasering him.

the incident didn't even require police intervention at all.

 

[LMP]

Had to do it . If I didn't, FSU takes my diploma away

This is true.

After seeing this video on the local news and online, I've got to agree that the tazering was completely unwarranted and excessive. It's a completely Orwellian video, that's what scares me the most.

About the half-assed "police etiquette" analogy, police officers are people, too. They're not going to rush to get a tazer out on a person speeding for some perverted joy, at least the majority of them. I don't understand what any of your arguments have to do with this topic at all, and that macro earlier was great, too.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

When you put a taser or a gun in the hands of some police officers it becomes, I would assume, awfully easy at times to use them rather than to take the much more difficult route of trying to deal with someone without one. It is a huge amount of power to have, the key is to keep that power balanced with ethical and moral responsibility and clear thought processes. That is much easier obviously in non-life threatening situations such as this one-assuming they didn't believe any lives were threatened, which they obviously weren't since he had no known weapon. I would imagine the audience was screened for weapons, maybe not. He made no threats against them either, not that I have heard about.

 

[Sherry Darling]

I read threads like this and I'm reminded that there are those of my fellow Americans who would welcome facism here with applause for law and order.

 

[deep]

this kid will most likely not even be charged


but this thread has been a wonderful kum ba yah opportunity for us white folks to come together on

something we can relate to

 

[phillyfan26]

When you put a taser or a gun in the hands of some police officers it becomes, I would assume, awfully easy at times to use them rather than to take the much more difficult route of trying to deal with someone without one. It is a huge amount of power to have, the key is to keep that power balanced with ethical and moral responsibility and clear thought processes. That is much easier obviously in non-life threatening situations such as this one-assuming they didn't believe any lives were threatened, which they obviously weren't since he had no known weapon. I would imagine the audience was screened for weapons, maybe not. He made no threats against them either, not that I have heard about.

Then again, with so many issues arising these days involving scrutiny of the police, I think also many policemen would be inclined to hold back in some respects for fear of being accused of using "excessive force." These incidents of video surfacing online are becoming more common with the genesis of YouTube, and network news more inclined to take viewer-sent material. While I see your point and agree to a certain extent with what you're saying, I think that in these situations police have more responsibility and issues to deal with than ever before. I don't think it's too bold a statement to say that the image of police officers in this country is not at it's peak right now, to say the least. The scrutiny they face makes it harder to make that call.

 

[UberBeaver]

 

[Canadiens1131]

After viewing the Youtube video of said incident, I feel that it was unnecessary to taser the guy, as in many cases with police using stun guns.

However, this idiot basically ran into an organized public forum ALREADY being chased by cops, made a total mess of the proceedings, continued to act like a cunt and asked more questions even after Kerry was gracious enough to answer one for him, and resisted when the police attempted to escort him out of the building.

Now, I have no problem with free speech, but I do have a problem with nincompoops who shout "what are you doing!!!! police brutality!!!!" and flop around like a fish on the deck of a boat when security attempts to remove them for being unruly.

It's like the idiots who wanted attention in grade school and wouldn't wait for their turn to be called on. The guy was completely entitled to his question, if he had been sitting as an audience member like everyone else and waited for his possible turn like everyone else.

So, in the end

The Rest of Us: 1
Douchebag College Student: 0
Police Use of Taser: Unwarranted

 

[verte76]

He didn't do anything wrong. He just asked some questions. I didn't see it, but my parents told me about it.

 

[AnnRKeyintheUSA]

There was no need to tase him. He was subdued.

 

[Canadiens1131]

I just don't understand why the 5+ police couldn't have just dragged the guy, kicking and screaming as he was doing pre-tasing, out of the building.

With such advances in non-lethal weapons, it's quite disturbing thinking about how these weapons will be used unnecessarily. Even worse than the taser is the new "Silent Guardian" instant pain-o-rama raygun currently in US Army testing.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

I think we can make points here without using the c word

(CNN) -- Two University of Florida police officers were on leave with pay Wednesday as university officials tried to sort out what caused them to use an electronic stun gun to subdue a student, the school's president said.

But the student's behavior and past activities prompted questions about whether the incident was part of a stunt.

The Florida Division of Law Enforcement will investigate Monday's arrest of Andrew Meyer, said University of Florida President J. Bernard Machen. Machen called the incident "regretful for us."

"The thing that I regret is that civil dialogue and civil discourse did not happen," Machen said. "That's fundamental to a university campus. Why it didn't happen is what we're trying to sort out."

Machen said authorities have not determined whether Tasers were used improperly.

In addition, he said a student-faculty review panel will examine "all of our protocols relative to student dialogue and faculty interaction" in the wake of the incident.