Brutality charged as Pittsburgh police defend 'fist strikes' on teen (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

January 22, 2010 8:22 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- An arrest in which several punches were thrown has triggered an accusation of brutality against Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, police from the mother of the 18-year-old honor student who was taken into custody.

Police, in a criminal complaint on the incident, say "closed fist strikes" were used by the undercover police officers, but only to subdue the teenager as he tried to get away.

His mother said she plans to file a civil rights claim against the officers.

Terez Miles said her son, Jordan Miles, who is black, thought his life was in jeopardy when three white men jumped out of a car on the night of January 11 as he walked not far from his home.

"My son tried to run thinking his life was in jeopardy," Terez Miles said. "He made three steps before he slipped and fell." After that, she said, the police used a stun gun and beat him, pulling out a chunk of his hair.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/22/pennsylvania.arrest.dispute/index.html?hpt=Sbin

So, when do the police ever decide that it's best NOT to violently subdue someone? When do they realize that someone's running away ONLY because he's being jumped by total strangers? When do they say "Hey, we don't know that he's done *anything* ... let him go"?

At the very least, when they realized it was only a bottle, why didn't they just say "false alarm" right then and there?

ETA: One of the charges is "loitering" -- this is copspeak for "we got nuthin' on this guy, but we gotta charge him anyway". And that charge of "escape" seems kind of contradictory, since he doesn't seem to have escaped anything.

[Bonobo]

1. How did he get a branch stuck through his face?

Oh, because they beat him with a branch, that's right.

[Brickbat]

2. Some reports are saying he wasn't carrying a bottle.

He said he rarely drinks pop and when he does, it's not Mountain Dew.

[anonymous171]

3. Wow. Just wow

Hopefully these cops will get punished for this.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. They beat the shit out of this kid

[eppur_se_muova]

6. But it was *only* to subdue him!

So that makes it all OK.

[fascisthunter]

5. Real Tough Cops... they should be proud

now you know what bullies end up doing as adults... they find their way into positions of authority only to bully the very people they are supposed to serve and protect. If someone does something wrong, arrest them... but this? This is abuse...

[flvegan]

7. That second picture really tells the story.

Now, I wasn't there, but were I a smaller, young black man, and 3 white guys leaped from a car and ran at me, I might panic and run (and not hear anyone say "stop, police"). For three people to beat a kid like that AFTER getting a taze in? I'm on the kid's side for now.

[Arctic Dave]

8. Hopefully all three go to jail were they will get their faces punched in for loitering

[KG]

9. prolly just another one of those exceptional incidents, that seem to happen

on a weekly basis..... :eyes:

[Taitertots]

10. Undercover police work is socially non-optimal

There is an obvious problem with having people with no indicators spring out at people.

Undercover officers should not be allowed to arrest, detain, or interfere with the public. They should collect evidence, record events, or many other controlled activities.

[tkmorris]

11. Yep, and "no-knock" entries need to end as well.

[Taitertots]

12. Yes they should end

If it is against the law for people to impersonate police, then it should be against the law for police to impersonate people.


Under cover police should gather evidence, not make arrests. Arresting officers should be clearly identifiable as police.
When police enter someones home they should be making it clear to the people inside that they are police. Breaking in someone front door and running at them is not going to do that.

[safeinOhio]

13. You have the right to remain silent and

anything you say will be misquoted and used against you.

[niyad]

14. the story I read yesterday said a tree branch went through his jaw. that is NOT a "closed fist

strike" or whatever the hell term the uniformed bullies are using. as I understand from the article, this young man is shorter than I am--and it took THREE cops to beat him up?

even if they were to get jail time, they would be segregated from the general population.

[eppur_se_muova]

15. I didn't see that story; got a link? Pgh source? nt

[lostnfound]

16. Furthermore, the teen says he didn't even have a bottle.

Not that bottles are reasons to beat someone up.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/24/jordan-miles-teen-violini_n_434772.html

Atrocious.

[eppur_se_muova]

17. Thanks for the link. nt

[mrbarber]

18. "He's met with the chief"

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is "taking this very seriously," said his press secretary, Joanna Doven. "The case is being investigated, he's closely monitoring it. He's met with the chief."

Well, I feel SO much better now, as I"m sure the "chief" is completely non-biased in this situation.

[Junkdrawer]

19. Ravenstahl is over matched by janitors, much less police chiefs n/t

[eppur_se_muova]

20. Follow up: 'Justice For Jordan:' Students March Downtown After Classmate's Police Beating

OP by junkdrawer: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4243301&mesg_id=4243301

OP by Mr. Scorpio's: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7565007&mesg_id=7565007