DA Cleared LA Police
in Pepper Spraying
2006-11-15 A district attorney's investigation has cleared police officers of wrongdoing in a videotaped incident in which a transient in handcuffs was apparently pepper-sprayed in a police car, police Chief William Bratton said Tuesday.
A "Transient"? You mean a HOMELESS PERSON? They "apparently" pepper sprayed him? NO, they DEFINITELY pepper sprayed him, there's no question about that. They're trying to make the cops look less despicable with this framing.
The February 2005 incident came to light this week when the videotape, shot by a citizen, was released by the man's attorney.
The tape of Benjamin Barker's arrest surfaced on the heels of an 18-second video showing a Los Angeles officer repeatedly punching a suspect in the face while another officer tried to handcuff the man during a struggle on a Hollywood street on Aug. 11.
Repeatedly punching a suspect in the face? REPEATEDLY PUNCHING A GUY ON THE GROUND IN THE FACE????
At a news conference, Bratton cited a Nov. 15, 2005, decision by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office in which prosecutors declined to file any charges against officers in the arrest of Barker, who had been in a scuffle with a Venice Beach merchant.
Ooh, a SCUFFLE huh? They " declined" to file charges? They make it sound optional, like turning down appetizers, "Oh, no thank you." Yeah Mr. DA, side with the cops! We citizens don't need protection from government abuse, WE'RE FINE. You just go protect THE GUYS WITH THE GUNS AND ALL THE POWER. Thanks Sparky, you deserve a raise.
The officers were identified as David Guieterman, Victor Eguez and Peggy Thusing. Guieterman, seen in the video using pepper spray, left the department last year for reasons unrelated to the arrest, but remains in law enforcement, police said.
Not THIS arrest, a different arrest where he totally brutalized somebody else maybe?
"Examination of the videotape clearly shows (the officers) did not use excessive force on Benjamin Barker, nor did they assault him under color of authority," Bratton said, quoting the decision. "The officers showed remarkable restraint and demonstrated professional courtesy to Barker despite his belligerent, threatening and combative behavior."
Gee thanks for holding back this time guys! NO, they didn't assault him under color of authority, they just plain assaulted him. By the way, what IS the color of authority? Would it be GREEN by any chance? The guy can't afford a roof over his head. He's probably a veteran and he was probably starving. When he asked for some food they ran him out of the place, was that the 'scuffle'? Did it occur to these officers to get him somewhere for a meal and a bed instead of a prison cell? I guess not. That would be too much like serving the public good. What WAS I thinking?
The tape shows Guieterman take pepper spray out of a holster, then raise it toward Barker's face, but the actual spraying is obscured by shadows.
They've failed to mention the homeless guy was subdued in the back of the squad car and the cop sprayed him in the eyes for TWO FULL SECONDS. Nice people these 'officers'.
The report found that officers arrested Barker after the merchant reported that Barker had hit him and customers.
Barker 'hit him and customers?' What customers? Define "HIT". Was anyone hurt? Was anyone mussed up? Could they possibly provide the details? There ARE details aren't there? They can PROVE the guy caused somebody harm or problems or something. Can't they? They're giving me nothing. Which means there IS nothing. They have NOTHING. If they had anything they'd be whining about it full blast.
The report, citing the videotape, says Barker resisted police efforts to put him in the police car, screaming and making a kicking motion toward an officer.
Oh no. Not a kicking motion! Those are so scary. Do you suppose that since the only thing the man had left in the WHOLE WORLD was his FREEDOM, that FOUR ARMED COPS approaching him to take it away might have upset him? All he wanted was some food. And they got him some pepper...SPRAY.
After he was placed in the car's back seat, he jumped out and lunged toward a fourth officer. Placed in the car a second time, Barker spit on the window and on Guieterman, the report says the tape shows. In response, Guieterman sprayed him twice with one-second bursts of pepper spray while Barker was in the back seat.
He "lunged toward" a cop? With his hands cuffed behind his back? How do you lunge toward someone with your hands behind your back? OOH maybe he was going to HEAD BUTT him. That must be it. Being that all he wanted more than anything was to get the hell away from them. But the spitting. My my my. This is unprecedented in law enforcement history. NO ONE has EVER spit on a cop, or a cop car window, EVER. It just isn't done man, are you crazy? Doesn't he realize that this will make a cop have to use a little Windex later? ANIMAL. Anyone who causes a policeman INCONVENIENCE, no matter how minor, DESERVES TWO FULL SECONDS OF AGONIZING PAIN IN THE EYES. No abuse of force from a dick head here. Nope, it's clean. Good call Mr. DA! Two thumbs up.
