Check this arrest of February 2023 out:
The guy was arrested for making an obscene hand gesture and 2 counts of obstruction for refusing to provide ID as a result of the unlawful stop. It’s a violation of the man’s Constitutional rights to initiate a traffic stop because you don’t like his hand gestures. The fact that the cop even admits this as a reason for the stop makes this case a slam dunk, IMO. The officer even put this in writing in his arrest report, claiming that giving the middle finger isn’t allowed, as it is a hand gesture that is not being used to signal a turn. You can read the arrest report here.
He was held in jail for four days on a cash only bail. The charge for hand gestures was dropped, and one of the obstruction charges was dropped. I expect the second one will go away as well, since the entire pretext for the stop is unconstitutional and a violation of Mr. Lambert’s rights. There is a lawsuit pending.
This is the same police department that paid a $3.5 million settlement when they stopped a pedestrian for not walking on the sidewalk. They shot the man 22 times, and even though he had been armed with a knife, it was after he was incapacitated, not moving, and was lying on top of the knife, thus he was no longer a threat to the officers.
Of course, the cops tried to hide behind qualified immunity. Sorry, but that legal concept has to go. Force cops to buy malpractice insurance. It’s one area where I disagree with Trump. Cops don’t deserve more immunity, because this will only get worse.
There are some who are trying to make this about race, but I don’t think that police abuse of power is about anything other than power corrupting those who wield it. It’s time that cops lost a bit of that plenipotentiary power.
8 Comments
Dirty Dingus McGee · December 26, 2024 at 7:55 am
Huh. Thin skinned cops jacking somebody up for contempt of cop. Who would have thunk it? (other than anyone who has ever had to deal with one of said bitches)
Noway2 · December 26, 2024 at 10:05 am
The other day, in a different venue, I made a post discussing why I am opposed to not just cops, but the legal system as a whole. It was in response to someone making a comment about how some folks there just hate all cops and some love them. I stated my case, including how I think the founding fathers would be aghast at the ideas of both, standing, tax funded, career enforcers, and a prosecutorial system that is the State against the individual, where just being accused can send you into bankruptcy. Neither of these things existed in their time.
So, yesterday, someone made a post about a stupid cop going door to door looking for a suspect, entered someone’s (not involved in the alleged crime) yard where their dog rightfully was, and shot the dog. What’s more is that the video the pigs released looks like it has been obviously altered. I made the comment that I want the damned cops to stay away from me and keep the hell off my property. For this, I got called an ACAB. Let’s be clear, I don’t hate (any particular) cop, I hate abs despise what cos represent.
TakeAHardLook · December 26, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Sean Hannity irks me whenever he goes off on police support; he typically says that “99% of cops are fine, upstanding people, etc.” Of course, he’s either lying or ignorant because there are thousands of documented cases wherein entire police forces in certain municipalities are corrupt/covering for same, etc.
Occasionally I will see a police funeral cortege rolling along with dozens of cars–headlights on–in homage to the fallen officer. And, it is sad to see that the cop lost his life while on duty, performing lawful actions.
Yet, no one organizes a funeral cortege for numerous victims of SWAT raids gone terribly wrong (wrong address, wrong “perp” etc.).
Why is that, I wonder?
SoCoRuss · December 26, 2024 at 12:24 pm
I agree with the immunity. But the real thing to do is NOT settle this out of court. Take it to court and get a few extra zeros added on, now that will make these folks take notice. And no the money wont be taken from taxpayers. It must come from the cop budget and retirement pensions of this asshat and his union with no fill in allowed to make the shortage up.
Man, I would pay to be on one of these juries. Florida does allow jury members to ask questions, correct?
Chris Mallory · December 26, 2024 at 5:03 pm
I have often wondered why on these “Suspect with a knife/Club/any non projectile weapon” calls, we don’t supply the patrol vehicle with a riot shield and a longer riot baton. I concede sometimes shooting the suspect is the only option, but in many of these cases it is someone having a mental break and they do not have the ability to be a legit threat to anyone.
TakeAHardLook · December 26, 2024 at 8:45 pm
The original concept of “proportionate response” has been lost for a decade or more. It was replaced by the doctrine of “Officer Safety must go home unscathed.”
So, the inevitable is now the norm: a crazed, debilitated, slow-moving perp (usually with a mental health issue) threatens a cop with a 4″ knife.
And is promptly executed by a firing squad of six or more cops, all of whom mag dump with the rest of the cops, at least half of whom will piss/beshat themselves before the smoke clears.
F’n cowards.
joe · December 26, 2024 at 5:06 pm
been watching a lot of these vids lately…funny how some back down, others take it over the edge…they are tyrants…don’t ever trust them…they are not your friends…
Thomas · December 26, 2024 at 10:54 pm
All cop are not bad, just have not been able to find a good one in a long time.
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