California police use taser on deaf man trying to communicate with them via sign language
Source: Raw Story
California police use taser on deaf man trying to communicate with them via sign language
By Scott Kaufman
Sunday, February 16, 2014 14:21 EST
Four police officers in Hawthorne, California used a taser on a man who was attempting to tell them that he was deaf via sign language.
The Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness is filing a lawsuit on behalf of Jonathan Meister, who was charged with assault as a result of the incident. According to the lawsuit, Meister was retrieving boxes he had left at a friends house when police, alerted by a neighbor to a possible burglary, arrived.
Officers Jeffrey Salmon, Jeffrey Tysl, Erica Bristow, and Mark Hultgren allegedly ordered Meister to stop loading the boxes into his car, but Meister could not hear the order. One of the officers then grabbed Meister by the hand, who responded by attempting to use American Sign Language to communicate with the officer.
The officers interpreted his sudden movements as resistance, so they struck Meister with fists and feet, and forcibly took him to the ground. Once he was on the ground, one of the officers allegedly shot him twice with a taser. Another officer then delivered a drive stun to Meisters abdomen.
Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/16/california-police-use-taser-on-deaf-man-trying-to-communicate-with-them-via-sign-language/
truthisfreedom
(23,160 posts)mackerel
(4,412 posts)I can't imagine Mr. Meister being able to handle that situation any better unless he carried a sign around his neck.
Diclotican
(5,095 posts)Judi Lynn
The police officer "could" have used a few seconds to ask what he was doing - instead of stricken the man with all his force... I suspect many police officers in the US is little to willing to use unnecessary force to subdue anyone who might have legitimate rights to be there.... And then to risk being sued in cort.. Why do they use all the un-necessary violence ?
In other parts of the world - police tend to start in the easy end - by asking why he is there - and try to get a knowledge about the situation, before starting to be violent - mostly because of the training they are given before they are able to even be an police officer for real...
In some parts of the world - like my own - the police do not even have weapons as part of their uniform - they do have weapons in the car in a locked part of the car, but they have no weapon as part of the uniform - and it works well - at least my experience with them is rather pleasant - they have been polite and professional - and correct - I have been polite and correct to them - and I would say, for the most part it have been a pleasant experience
Diclotican
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)and told they were "harmless" or at best "less than lethal". Now they use them all the time when in the past they would have tried to talk through this, now they don't bother.
LibDemAlways
(15,139 posts)quality of the cop training -- not to mention the caliber of the cops themselves. This kind of crap is inexcusable.
mindwalker_i
(4,407 posts)tofuandbeer
(1,314 posts)Tunkamerica
(4,444 posts)and how is that?
NickB79
(19,277 posts)At least, that's what I do with trucks
NutmegYankee
(16,204 posts)I live in a rural area that doesn't have garbage pickup. I have to haul my recycling and garbage to a transfer station. It's also handy to move soil for building gardens. Others haul lumber for construction or chop firewood. I have friends and co-workers who have wood fired central furnaces for their main heat source. They go to the state forest (by permit) and take down dead trees as a firewood source. Trucks are pretty useful. And if they can get their fuel economy up, I'd drive them more often.
My daily driver for fuel economy and ease of parking - a Jetta.
Nanjing to Seoul
(2,088 posts)And not to judge cops because then you're a racist, intolerant asshole that stereotypes an entire group!
After all, being a cop is a tough job and we don't know anything about it.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)pothos
(154 posts)fixed it for you
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Ash_F
(5,861 posts)King_Klonopin
(1,307 posts)Even if he could speak, that still would not have assured that he wouldn't
have been zapped.
Another example of the "stand your ground" mentality taking over the whole
damn country -- everyone is a threat to be feared and dealt with harshly.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)ReRe
(10,597 posts)... Orange Co, by any chance? Or a county butting up against it?
tofuandbeer
(1,314 posts)ReRe
(10,597 posts)Steerpike
(2,692 posts)To Compton and Inglewood...I used to walk the span of these three cities and it can be a pretty rough place. If the thugs don't get you...the cops will. My Mom worked urgent care in Inglewood and she handled mostly gunshots and stabbings. That was the 80's...
sakabatou
(42,189 posts)geomon666
(7,512 posts)This is the same police force that used a taser on an autistic child. This is the same group of shitheads that arrested a man for videotaping them and then shooting his dog dead in public.
When is it enough? Do we as citizens have to protect ourselves from these fucking cops?
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)addressed.
CanonRay
(14,125 posts)or do they just hire them straight out of the military and throw a uniform on them. Stupid and needless.