As many as nine Stockton police officers wrestled a 16-year-old to the ground after he was stopped for allegedly walking in a bus lane on Wednesday.
When an officer asked the teen to stop, reportedly to write a ticket, the boy allegedly kept walking toward his bus. A bystander recorded a video (above) showing the officer standing over the sitting teen, and hitting him with his baton—an action that the department’s public information officer described as a “weapon retention technique”—because the boy had his hands on the baton. The officer appears to call for backup. Officers advanced on the boy, who was sitting with his head in his hands, threw him onto the sidewalk and handcuffed him.
The boy was allegedly arrested on suspicion of trespassing and resisting arrest.
RT has the story. Here’s a clip:
…police say that the video doesn’t show the whole story. The teen wasn’t jaywalking, but clearly ignored signs that said he couldn’t walk in that location.
“He was walking in a lane that is designated only for buses to drive in,” Silva said. “It was a safety issue, and trespassing according to the posted signs and the Stockton Municipal Code.”
When the officer approached the boy and asked him to move to the sidewalk, “the kid immediately started using obscene language and said that he wouldn’t listen,” Silva said.
Witnesses said that before the camera started rolling, the cop was telling the teenager to sit down, but the boy continued walking to his bus.
The officer kept grabbing his arm, but the kid still went on, so the cop took out his baton.
A scuffle ensued, during which time the officer’s body camera was knocked to the ground, Silva said.
The teen then grabbed the officer’s baton.
“We cannot and will not allow anyone to take our weapons,” Silva said, adding that the officer then employed a “weapons retention technique” to gain full control over the baton.
BERNIE SANDERS AND US REPS INTRODUCE BILL TO SHUT DOWN PRIVATE PRISONS
On Thursday, alongside leaders from the House of Representatives, US Senator (and presidential hopeful) Bernie Sanders introduced the “Justice is not for Sale Act,” which would shut down the nation’s controversial for-profit prison industry, end the feds’ daily quota of 34,000 incarcerated immigrants (read more about those lock-up quotas: here), and restore the federal parole system, which was abolished in the 1980’s.
Over 41,159 federal and 91,885 state prisoners are housed in private facilities. The US Marshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold 20% and 62% percent of their detainees in for-profit detention centers, respectively.
The bill, co-introduced by Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Arizona), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) and Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Illinois), would also boost oversight of companies like Global Tel-Link and JPay that provide (costly) communication and financial services to inmates and their families.
“We cannot fix our criminal justice system if corporations are allowed to profit from mass incarceration,” Sanders said. “Keeping human beings in jail for long periods of time must no longer be an acceptable business model in America…Our focus should be on treating people with dignity and ensuring they have the resources they need to get back on their feet when they get out.”
CONDEMNED OKLAHOMA MAN RECEIVES STAY OF EXECUTION HOURS BEFORE HE WAS SCHEDULED TO DIE
An Oklahoma man on death row, Richard Glossip, was granted a stay of execution hours before he was scheduled to be executed on Wednesday.
Last week, Glossip’s lawyers announced new information casting doubt on Glossip’s already shaky murder conviction. In his final hours, Clancy Smith, presiding judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals gave Glossip’s legal team 14 days to present new evidence to the court.
As Glossip headed toward execution this week, lawmakers, activists, and the public spoke out against the state’s possible execution of an innocent man. A petition started by death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejean, and Susan Sarandon (who portrayed Prejean in the film “Dead Man Walking”) garnered 236,000 signatures.
The Washington Post’s Mark Berman has the story. Here’s a clip:
Glossip’s execution hour arrived amid renewed questions about his guilt and high-profile calls for the execution to be called off. The execution was so close that Glossip had already been given his final meal — including chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, fish and chips and a strawberry malt — which state protocol says must be delivered the night before a lethal injection.
This case case focused on the killing of a motel owner named Barry Van Treese. In 1997, Van Treese was beaten to death with a baseball bat. Glossip, who worked for Van Treese, was found guilty of paying another motel worker to kill him. Justin Sneed, who confessed to killing Van Treese, testified against Glossip, and he was sentenced to life in prison without parole while Glossip received a death sentence.
Glossip, 52, was convicted of murder and twice sentenced to death. He was first sentenced in 1998, but that sentence was overturned due to what a state court deemed ineffective legal counsel, and he was sentenced again in 2004.
But Glossip’s attorneys argue that executing him based on Sneed’s testimony “risks a wrongful execution.” They also submitted an affidavit from a man who said that while in an Oklahoma state prison, he heard Sneed say that Glossip hadn’t done anything.
It’s pretty simple, if you follow the orders given by the police, force will not be used upon you. I’m sure that 16 year had it coming.
Seriously, the Stockton scuffle was worth a post? It was nothing. The kid was an idiot who was resisting, the woman yelling was an obvious irritant who was attempting to cause people to intercede and thankfully no one did and the take down was easy. What a waste of space and for what reason? Post the video of the huge kid in school who attacked another kid, punched him about him about a half dozen times with huge blows to the head as he’s on the ground and than stomps on his head. Talk about tragic and not sure what the victims condition is but the suspects being held for attempt murder but social do gooders will make sure he’s treated like a “kid” while in custody…right?
Threw him to the ground?!? I see them guiding a clearly resisting subject to the ground.
Also, what is the point of bringing up the fact that 9 officers had to take down the teen? They were there to back up a fellow officer and the potentially hostile crowd. The author clearly has done this job before and can handcuff and arrest resisting and assaultive suspects all by themselves, I’m sure.
Re: Stockton Police Officer (detention?) The Officer had no techniques for proper control holds along with the truly suspect phrase of “stop resisting.” The officer needs to get in better physical shape. Many cops have lost their job behind that supposed “catch all” command of “stop resisting” when stated to non-resisting suspects and lost their lives not being physically fit.
The policeman still could not physically control the subject, even after striking the subject in the head..It have turned out worse for both, the cop and the juvenile student. Bottom line is that the student should have complied initially with the officer. This is only my perspective and perception based upon viewing video and being a former tactics instructor.
Somebody slap the girl yelling. 16 year olds are old enough to know better and old enough to injure/kill a police officer. Enough is enough, the #Blacklivesmatter movement is empowering stupidity and ignorance.
#BlackLies
The “kid’s” black life surely didn’t matter to the obnoxious slob who was cursing and yelling “he jus a kid!” That oaf was clearly trying everything in her power to make matters worse for the cop. I’m sure she would have been more than happy to see the cop overreact and really hurt the “kid” in question. (Luckily the cop did just fine) That way she would have the video and her 15 minutes of fame.
“But the heat came round and busted me for smiling on a cloudy day”
-Grateful Dead, The Other One
How many cops does it take to restrain one unarmed 16 year old? The first cop should be on the desk and not patrol.
I was raised in a gang area. My parents taught me to respect law enforcement, comply with their requests and stay out of trouble. I was worried more about the punishment from my father, then the police. Parenting is the main factor. Apparently this kid didn’t have any?
Fourtunately the chants of the growing BLM crowd in the background, was not recorded on camera during the incident. Interesting.
@ #8 As many as it takes to overcome the person’s resistance. Read up on Graham Vs. Conner there “seasoned vet” but I’m sure it’s more like “board troll”
@seasoned veteran… Is that just your screen name or have you actually worked in law enforcement? I work patrol and I can tell you age doesn’t mean a thing. Im not ashamed to say that I’ve had trouble with juveniles before and had to have a few of my partners come in to assist in handcuffing and controlling them.
You are correct re: age actually not being a factor.
For my statement, I should have said……”the unfit officer made the kid (whatever age) appear strong and uncontrollable”.
The outcome could have been different if the minor was under the influence of drugs or been a hardcore gangster.
He did not go after the cop but instead cried with his hands on his face.
Despite the verbal sideshow from the female. The video spoke for itself.
@seasoned veteran. As the old saying goes, Discretion is the better part of valor. He probably could have used more force to control the subject, but with cameras already rolling, police under fire for “excessive force”, why not wait for the calvary?
@ truth. Any ol’ excuse will do.
Ditto for emp 275323
First of all, I counted 4 with their hands even on this shit head ( not 9 ). He was showing his ass and got it to him(self) . It’s hard to be too critical of the lone cop for not controlling this asshole. he knew he was being baited, knew he was on camera. What exactly would you have him do ? The crowd was trying to get the cops to engage. And the cops didn’t bite. It looks like WLA presented this incident fairly. As opposed to the yellow rag which initially reported it.