Every once in a while, a mistake occurs and a defendant is released who shouldn’t be. When this happens, the evil defendant may make a run for it, hoping that his good fortune will allow him to continue to pillage. The unaware defendant, however, may chose a different path, like the one that leads straight back to the jail to collect his belongings.
One might suspect that the defendant who returns to the jail, quietly, politely, without the slightest degree of hostility, might be treated with some kindness, having merely done the normal thing, the right thing. Nope. Not when it’s the Kings County, Washington, jail. From the Seattle Times :
[45 year old Daniel Macio] Saunders was mistakenly released from jail June 10 when prosecutors failed to alert the jail that charges had been filed. The prosecutor’s office blamed the mistake on a paperwork error.So what do you do when the guy you mistakenly released walked happily back into the jail?
Saunders went to the evidence unit June 11 to retrieve personal property that had been taken when he was booked into jail.
Clearly, Saunders did nothing wrong, either in his being released or in his return to collect his things. He was as compliant as could be, even holding the door open for the officer to enter. Whatever happened to a simple “thank you?” Yet that didn’t prevent him from getting a darn good tuning up at the hands of Seattle’s finest. Not just the typical, unwarranted use of force, but a severe beating, and then a tasing for good measure, rinse and repeat another four times.
But there’s the video, you say? At least that will do the trick. Well, not quite.
There’s little doubt that the violent police conduct was a product of externalizing their anger over the mistaken release, an embarrassing affair at best. The cops screwed up, so the defendant requires a good beating. Certainly anyone can appreciate that, right?
The only remaining problem is how a prosecutor could possibly view this video and reach the conclusion that this “exonerates the officers?” I guess these old eyes of mine just aren’t working as well as the prosecutor’s.
H/T Injustice Everywhere
But there’s the video, you say? At least that will do the trick. Well, not quite.
Prosecutors say the tape, “while not pretty,” exonerates the officers, who said in statements and sworn court documents that Saunders resisted arrest and “armed himself with a screwdriver and tried to injure the officers with the weapon.”At least we can agree that the tape isn’t pretty. From the prosecutor’s perspective, the video clearly shows how Saunders “actively resisted” the officers. Of course, from the prosecutor’s perspective, the only appropriate reaction was for Saunders, essentially jumped without explanation, being unaware of the mistake leading to his release, to lie there and allow three cops to beat the living daylights out of him for no apparent reason. How dare Saunders try not to let them beat him.
The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild said Saunders resisted and disobeyed the officers.
“They did everything right,” said Guild President Sgt. Rich O’Neill.
There’s little doubt that the violent police conduct was a product of externalizing their anger over the mistaken release, an embarrassing affair at best. The cops screwed up, so the defendant requires a good beating. Certainly anyone can appreciate that, right?
The only remaining problem is how a prosecutor could possibly view this video and reach the conclusion that this “exonerates the officers?” I guess these old eyes of mine just aren’t working as well as the prosecutor’s.
H/T Injustice Everywhere
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This is an example of adaptation where people become desensitized to injustice. For example the man behind the counter did not appear at all disturbed and the prosecutor thought the brutality was within the normal range.
Could something like that happen to me? How does one guard against that?
Sir, I’m a dedicated follower of S.J., B & B & I.E. having you to thank for mentioning Packratt in a post over the summer. His collection of police brutality caught on tape boggles the mind. He is one of the bravest people on the planet, for he does what he does for you and I. Which is why we gave him the “Public Heroe” award.
In each case, you’d beleive these thugs are going to loose their jobs and go to jail, only to learn in updates they didn’t. If they did, the unions help them get it back. If anyone wonders why there is no faith in the system as a whole, all you have to do is remember that the prosecution has the cops backs. Then when it comes time to call in the marker, the cops got theirs. Go figure.
Isn’t strange that in alot of these videos the passive onlookers with badges are never mentioned and/or charged? Thanks for mentioning the scumbag behind the counter.
Mr.N.,
After a second look, there are two men behind the counter. Did you notice the old cop bend over and say something through the hole and one of them hold up his hands as if to say, “I saw nothing” like Shultz? This isn’t a case of being desensitized, it’s a case of going along with the program. I wonder what the cop said as he pats the white shirt on the back?
Damn right it could happen to you, it’s just a matter of time. To guard against it you learn self defense. To do something about it other than blogabouit, you take time to voice your disgust to the people that matter. Anything with Seattle in front of it is a good place to start. From the Mayor on down. Then wake up & call again. If you don’t, then you’ll suffer from the “D” word syndrome. Thanks.
Q. how many pokes & wacks did you count before the tape was spliced to the gourney scene?
Q. since we witnessed the crime take place, does that make us witnesses for the defense? HMM?