Police smash 70yr stroke victim drivers window and kick open his windscreen because

[HipChick]

he was not wearing a seatbelt


‘The police went completely over the top – you would have thought I had robbed a bank. I was terrified when they started smashing in the window and trying to kick in the windscreen.
‘It’s something you might expect in America but not in the quiet of the British countryside.’
The officers have been suspended while the Independent Police Complaints Commission carries out an investigation.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1300608/Policemen-suspended-smash-grab-raid-disabled-mans-Range-Rover.html#ixzz0vnL5M2sF




http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1300608/Policemen-suspended-smash-grab-raid-disabled-mans-Range-Rover.html#ixzz0vnK7VoVP

[nonconformist]

1. ‘It’s something you might expect in America but not in the quiet of the British countryside.’

:wtf:

[tularetom]

2. Yup, we have a great reputation around the world

You're surprised at this statement?

That's the way they see us.

[HipChick]

3. Unfortunately it's true...between what the US media reports,cops and fiction cop shows

[notesdev]

4. And a trillion dollars of militarized domestic police in the name of the Drug War

don't forget that little thing

[Cid_B]

6. Yes yes... it always has something to do with everyone's pet cause...

Waiting for the cries of abuse from the left handed midgets next....

[Bitwit1234]

5. Isn't it terrible what the world thinks of us.

But the way people here act today no wonder. Republican politicians calling for the murder of the president. Republican representatives calling for people to invade the offices of other representatives and do harm...

[-..__...]

7. A job for two who are now of job age...

[miscsoc]

8. I have my doubts about this story, given that it's the Daily Mail

It COULD be true, and we will see that the IPCC comes up with, but maybe the Mail encouraged the guy to embellish his earlier story in exchange for a wad of cash.

[HipChick]

9. It's true..the cops were disciplined...here's another link

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7928289/Video-police-officers-filmed-smashing-up-pensioners-car.html

[miscsoc]

14. I might have missed something, but it looks like they've only been suspended pending investigation

Rather than actually already disciplined.

[miscsoc]

10. actually, yes, the post above is misleading

Just read through the whole article, which I should have done first.

A court heard yesterday that Mr Whatley, right, was originally pulled over in a country lane in Monmouthshire by traffic police who tried to issue him with a fine for not wearing a seat belt.

But when an officer went round to the passenger side, the car lurched forward and he was knocked over.

So, for all we know he tried to run the policeman over! Or they thought he did. Maybe it's a misjudgement, but it changes things quite a bit, doesn't it?

Basically looks like they thought he was trying to run one of them over and/or escape, which wouldn't necessarilly justify their behaviour but it's not as if they smashed up his car just because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt. Unless the officer was lying about being hit by the car. Apparently the defendant disputes it.

Anyway it's a bit more complex than the op suggests.

[HipChick]

11. Not really..if he had tried to run the cop over...why wasn't he prosecuted for that?

and not for just not wearing a seat belt..

Mr Whatley, who never broke the speed limit during the chase, said he had become confused during the pursuit.

He said he thought that the blue lights and siren of the pursuing car meant the officer was giving him a police escort home.

But he finally pulled over when he was confronted by a police “stinger” device on the road into Usk.

Mr Whatley, who has a heart condition, was later charged with several motoring offences. At Caerphilly Magistrates Court hee admitted not wearing his seat belt when he was first spotted by police but claimed he had been reversing at the time.

The court heard that as the officer went round to the passenger side the car lurched forward and the officer alleged he was knocked – a claim disputed by Mr Whatley.

He told the court he then drove off because he thought he had been dealt with and was in need of his medication for a heart condition and stroke.

Mr Whatley was found guilty of not wearing a seat belt, failing to stop for a police officer and having tinted car windows that did not conform to legal requirements.

[miscsoc]

12. Maybe it became apparent afterwards that the "lurching" was accidental

Which is probably the case. It explains the policemen's behaviour.

Maybe the Mail version (or the version the Mail's presentation implies to the casual Mail reader) is correct, I'm just saying I'm a bit doubtful, and we have to bear in mind that the Mail will whenever possible portray every story in the most sensationalistic light.

[HipChick]

13. I understand about the Daily Mail..also thinking at 70yrs..reflexes etc..but jumping up on a SUV

and kicking the windscreen in..seems excessive

[miscsoc]

15. Yes, it does seem possibly excessive

I don't know what exactly "lurching" means here, whether an argument can be made that the police were acting unreasonably etc. Or if there were further details omitted from the story.