FA_Q2
Gold Member
Before we all jump to defending the cop lets all remember that they hold extreme power over your daily lives and that with that power comes the utmost responsibility to act accordingly.Before anyone starts whining, yes, this is one sided. But if the officer was aware of this boys condition he should be brought up on criminal charges. There is no excuse for this if it is accurate.
Dayton police "mistook" a mentally handicapped teenager's speech impediment for "disrespect," so they Tasered, pepper-sprayed and beat him and called for backup from "upward of 20 police officers" after the boy rode his bicycle home to ask his mother for help, the boy's mom says.
Pamela Ford says her "mentally challenged/handicapped" son Jesse Kersey, 17, was riding his bike near his Dayton home when Officer Willie Hooper stopped him and tried to talk to him.
The mom says that "Prior to the incident described below, defendant Hooper knew Jesse and was aware that Jesse was mentally challenged/handicapped and a minor child."
Nonetheless, Ford says, Hooper "apparently took Jesse's speech impediment for disrespect ... [and] began yelling at Jesse and after Jesse attempted to communicate with him[.] Jesse, being a minor and mentally challenged/handicapped, turned and rode his bike back to his home in an attempt to ask his mother, Ford, to help him communicate with defendant Cooper," according to the complaint in Montgomery County Court.
Courthouse News Service
There are bad cops out there. Not necessarily crooked but below average, and everyone makes mistakes. Sounds like one.
Before we all jump against the police remember what they deal with every day.
My father once told me "son, don't be smarting off or looking threatening to no cops. Especially little tough guy cops or broads. They will just haul off and shoot your big ass"
Really decent advice. At least now there are tazers and pepper sprays.
Pre teens and teenagers, hell everyone, should have to watch that cops show two hours a week. Just to see the world through their eyes would help prevent these situations.
I do not care what you say to a cop or if you walk away. That is your right. The only time that a cop has the right to retaliate is if there is a crime going on or you do more than simply become disrespectful.