Taser Time

[Adam Gamradt]

Was that an Olowakandi joke Rob? Nice!

I'm curious why this kid was arrested in the first place? It seemed like John Kerry was going to answer his question.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TIYTJ75U4NU& ... ed&search=

While I'm not defending his actions from the point the police put their hands on him, I'm curious why they felt the need to place their hands on him in the first place?

Is it now against the law to be smarmy and rude? Or did this guy display other behavior not captured on the video that led police to think he was a threat?

[Danny Hogan]

from what i understand he was essentially being ejected for going past the allotted time. he refused to leave then the police were summoned to remove him and he got arrested for his actions after the police became physically involved.

one of those "arrested for resisting arrest" type things.

regardless Jolly Roger's quote sums it up.

[Adam Gamradt]

I guess the investigation will clear things up.

On the video, it's clear the police were already there when he began his question.

It certainly didn't appear they were summoned after he went over his allotted time.

[sohotrightnow]

This kid looks like he weighs 100 lbs. I think it speaks more to the effect of what kind of officers they are hiring. Don't they have to pass a physical test any more? How can four police officers have not subdued this kid w/o a taser?

Unfortunately, this type of behavior happens way too often: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f ... NRSLRC.DTL

To quote Bill Maher: "I believe the motto of police is 'to protect and serve,' not WTF are you looking at a-hole.

[Beta]

To quote Bill Maher: "I believe the motto of police is 'to protect and serve,' not WTF are you looking at a-hole.

I think that's something everyone can agree with.

[Danny Hogan]

I guess the investigation will clear things up.

On the video, it's clear the police were already there when he began his question.

It certainly didn't appear they were summoned after he went over his allotted time.

i think the video started "when things were getting good" from what i read earlier and can't find now, he asked a bunch of questions, wouldn't leave then they cut the mic and all that happened.

The UF UPD and GPD do have a sort of thuggish reputation, a couple guys i know where thrown on the ground, cuffed, spent the night in jail last friday for.......open container violations. The entire time asking "what did we do?" and hearing "are you resisting?" <knee in the back>

[Sonny]

Is it now against the law to be smarmy and rude?

No, its against the law to disrupt a public speech. The rest of the folks want to hear the fine Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

I love how some of you are already making him out to be a victim. Priceless. Looks to me, he got what he was deserved.

[StrykerFSU]

This guy got just what he deserved, just like the idiot at UCLA. It's really strange that I have managed to get through life without being Tasered by a police...oh wait, I treat them with respect so I guess it's not that strange.

Officer Nicole Mallo writes that Meyer would only resist officers when cameras were present.

"As (Meyer) was escorted down stairs (at the University Auditorium) with no cameras in sight, he remained quiet, but once the cameras made their way down stairs he started screaming and yelling again," Mallo wrote.

Mallo was one of two officers who actually rode in the vehicle as Meyer was escorted to the Alachua County jail, and she said said he told them during the ride: "I am not mad at you guys, you didn't do anything wrong, you were just trying to do your job," according to Mallo's account.

The report details the events leading up to Meyer's arrest, saying that Meyer was in line to ask a question of Sen. Kerry when it was decided that no more questions would be allowed.

Meyer continued down the aisle toward Sen. Kerry angrily, according to police, saying he wanted the senator to answer his question because he had been waiting for two hours.

Though Sen. Kerry directed that Meyer be allowed to ask his question, police reported that Meyer did not ask any specific question and instead "badgered" the senator, and at one point said something about President Clinton being impeached over a sexual act.

http://www.starbanner.com/article/20070918/NEWS/70918007/1053/BREAKING_NEWS

Think about this, what if this kid had violent intent instead of just a thirst for publicity? What would everyone be saying about the police in this case if they had let the kid go and he had attacked the Senator?

[Beta]

Think about this, what if this kid had violent intent instead of just a thirst for publicity? What would everyone be saying about the police in this case if they had let the kid go and he had attacked the Senator?

Haha, then they would surely say "Why didn't someone do something when he was acting crazy??".

Whether you like cops or not...it's not the best idea to cross them.

[echo 600]

I didn't read the article about the Kerry attendee being tased, but I will say this about tasers...they're great.

Seriously, they are. There are several sources where you can find statistics in regards to tasers, and the most fascinating stats reveal that departments that have implemented the use of tasers see a drastic reduction in medical bill cost for injured officers, man-hours lost to injured officers, and man-hours lost to suspended officers.

Here's another thing people need to understand about cops: they're people. Once they've had some years on, they're people with kids and families, and all the stressors and time-robbing activities that come with families. Cops learn self defense, and some take-down moves, but so few are rarely martial arts masters that are going to painlessly and effortlessly disarm a drunk or high idiot. Even when cops have the numeric advantage, there's still a drunk idiot in the center of the fracas, that may or may not be past the point of feeling any pain. When that happens, even if you outnumber them 5 to 1, why not pull out the taser and give them a shot? In 10 seconds they won't feel it anymore anyway. Especially when the alternative is taking some renegade elbow to the face as you're going hands-on. Anyway, a few random thoughts from a fan of tasers.

[sohotrightnow]

What would everyone be saying about the police in this case if they had let the kid go and he had attacked the Senator?

Kerry could have put the Swift Boat Veterans for Truthiness in their place by beating the kid up, maybe?

[OAKS]

Kerry could have put the Swift Boat Veterans for Truthiness in their place by beating the kid up, maybe?

"It's bad enough when politicians turn their backs on a war they voted for and supported when it was popular," Cheney said Monday. "But no one in politics, regardless of party, should hesitate to object when an American soldier at war is mocked and insulted."

In his defense, he did say "at war". Kerry and Max Cleland (and even Bush) don't count since they're veterans and not "at war", so we may proceed with the mocking.

[Campbell]

I didn't read the article about the Kerry attendee being tased, but I will say this about tasers...they're great.

Seriously, they are. There are several sources where you can find statistics in regards to tasers, and the most fascinating stats reveal that departments that have implemented the use of tasers see a drastic reduction in medical bill cost for injured officers, man-hours lost to injured officers, and man-hours lost to suspended officers.

Here's another thing people need to understand about cops: they're people. Once they've had some years on, they're people with kids and families, and all the stressors and time-robbing activities that come with families. Cops learn self defense, and some take-down moves, but so few are rarely martial arts masters that are going to painlessly and effortlessly disarm a drunk or high idiot. Even when cops have the numeric advantage, there's still a drunk idiot in the center of the fracas, that may or may not be past the point of feeling any pain. When that happens, even if you outnumber them 5 to 1, why not pull out the taser and give them a shot? In 10 seconds they won't feel it anymore anyway. Especially when the alternative is taking some renegade elbow to the face as you're going hands-on. Anyway, a few random thoughts from a fan of tasers.

good points!

[StrykerFSU]

What would have happened if the police had not intervened and some of our politicos were left to their own devices, hmmm....

Kerry probably would have just tasered himself and then told Congress he shouldn't have been in Florida in the first place.

Bush would have been answering questions from school children in another state entirely but only on days he decided to show up.

Clinton would have dodged the Taser by running to England and he definitely wouldn't have inhaled.

Gore would have eaten the Taser and then blamed his heartburn on global warming and the Supreme Court.

Hillary would have given the Taser free health care, all with a southern drawl not realizing that Florida is not really the South.

Edwards would have bemoaned the fact that poor children don't have the opportunity to be tasered because there are "Two Americas" and only in the rich America can you act like a jerk and be zapped...and then he would be zapped. Amazingly, his hair escapes unscathed.

Tancredo would have sent the Taser back to China where it came from!

[Adam Gamradt]

Is it now against the law to be smarmy and rude?

No, its against the law to disrupt a public speech. The rest of the folks want to hear the fine Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

I love how some of you are already making him out to be a victim. Priceless. Looks to me, he got what he was deserved.

Sonny, you misunderstand my point. If he was a threat, I don't think the Senator would have tried to answer his question.

From what I see, his actions didn't rise to the level where the police should have been involved.

He seemed spirited, and more than a little wound up, but hardly threatening.

I'm simply trying to find out if there's more to the story.

It isn't illegal to act like a jerk, if it was, most of us who involve ourselves in these discussions would be tasered. Or is it tased? Yar, maybe he should have been forced to walk the plank? Yar.