St. Louis cops apologize for beating wrong black man bloody in chase after suspect - not the onion

[Jesus Malverde]

The chief of police in St. Louis County, Missouri has issued an apology to a 22-year-old student who was brutally beaten by police officers who were pursuing another man.

According to KMOV Channel 4, officers were in pursuit of a suspect named Anton Simmons on Interstate 70 outside St. Louis on Thursday when student Joseph Swink lost control of his car and crashed as he attempted to make way for police vehicles.

As his car began to fill with smoke, Swink ran from the vehicle, only to be tackled and beaten bloody by officers who mistook him for Simmons, who had 17 separate warrants out for his arrest.

“They ended up grabbing him [Swink], tossing him to the ground, and were trying to handcuff him,” said St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez in a press conference on Friday. “All the sirens and lights were going off. It was very loud and they couldn’t hear anything the citizen was saying.”

Swink suffered serious injuries to his left ear and his vehicle was totaled. He is an accounting student at University of Missouri – St. Louis with no criminal record. He was on his way home from an internship when he accidentally became involved in the police chase.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/st-louis-cops-apologize-for-beating-wrong-black-man-bloody-in-chase-after-suspect/

[MohRokTah]

1. He's lucky they didn't blow him away on the spot.

Of course, none of the assaulting cops will be charged.

Nor would they have been charged had they murdered him.

[uponit7771]

28. +1

[TexasTowelie]

35. See his photo downthread.

He even had on a nice shirt and necktie.

[Cal Carpenter]

2. So first they endanger innocent people's lives on an interstate

by chasing this guy for warrants (not even, apparently, for immediate danger?), they cause this other guy to crash in the pursuit, and don't notice it's a different fucking guy and they beat the shit out of him?


Fucking great at their jobs, these cops. Holy shit.

[cstanleytech]

23. Thats not what the article says. It says he lost control when the police were chasing the guy

it doesnt say that the police caused it and no pulling over does not = "cause" as its like if you are pulling over for an ambulance or for a fire truck in that unless your hit by them you will be found at fault if you cause a wreck not the ambulance or fire department.
The physical damage he suffered when they tried to mistakenly arrest him is another story altogether and he should sue the fuck out of them for that because they screwed up big time.
Not saying 10,000,000 but around the area of a 500,000 to 1,000,000 is imo warranted and thats only if the police department doesnt resist paying it, if they resist then I would go for 10,000,000 if I was in his shoes.

[TeamPooka]

31. your facts are based on police reports. nt

[cstanleytech]

41. First, its my opinion not my "facts" and its based on what "this" article said as I clearly stated.

If you want to post a link to this other article wherever it is I welcome it of course.

[TeamPooka]

47. You think KMOV Channel 4, did an investigation? They reported what the police told them

plus a quote from the victim.

[cstanleytech]

48. So does anyone here other than TP see where I said that KMOV did an investigation at all?

[Cal Carpenter]

39. Another article I found indicates that Swink's car crashed

after being hit by Simmons' car. http://www.policeone.com/chiefs-sheriffs/articles/8141759-Mo-police-chief-apologizes-after-officers-cuff-wrong-man-after-chase/

He wouldn't have crashed if the cops weren't in high speed pursuit of Simmons on an interstate.

Unless there is some detail missing to indicate that Simmons was an immediate threat to the public (wielding or firing a gun, for example), there is no excuse for risking a highway full of innocent lives in pursuit of him. I'm not going to parse around whether the cause of and/or responsibility for the crash lands on Simmons or the cops, but it sure as shit isn't Swink's fault, and it sure as shit wouldn't have happened if the cops hadn't pursued the suspect on an interstate.

Car chases are cool in the movies. In real life they are generally unnecessary, reckless, and end with a high cost to taxpayers.

[Jesus Malverde]

42. What crappy luck!!

Minding your own business and end up in a hornets nest.

[cstanleytech]

43. I agree it looks Swink wasnt at fault according to that other artcile rather Simmons is

the one who is unless of course it comes out later that he hit Swink after the police hit him then it will be the fault of the police though Swink should still sue the shit out of the police for the pain and suffering they put him through imo.

[Oklahoma_Liberal]

51. I blame the criminal for fleeing not the cops for chasing.

One is a crime one is lawful.

[cwydro]

3. I'm so glad

he wasn't killed.

Amazed he wasn't actually.

[Ed Suspicious]

4. Idiots wish they were as competent as the keystone cops.

[Brigid]

5. The St. Louis PD . . .

had better be prepared to shell out a handsome settlement to Mr. Swink. He won't have to worry about paying off his student loans, that's for sure.

[liberalhistorian]

16. Except that the PD

Last edited Sun Jan 18, 2015, 02:35 AM - Edit history (1)

won't be paying anything, the taxpayers will. Make the police pay for their incompetent murderous brutality out of their own pension funds and you'll see this shit end yesterday.

[oneview]

19. A good idea. Or maybe require them to pay for malpractice insurance the way doctors do? /nt

[NBachers]

6. Well, this was a pre-beating for sometime in the future when Swink actually does do something wrong.

[jwirr]

7. Sue the hell out of them.

[jeff47]

45. Can't.

Police officers have immunity. In virtually all situations, as long as the act was done during their official duties the police can't be sued. The government the police were working for is liable, and can be sued.

The worst the victim can do is make St. Louis county pay him a lot of money. Meaning the St. Louis county taxpayers get to pay for their police, and then pay for their police beating him.

In theory, St. Louis county could discipline the officers, up to firing them. Not likely to happen, if history is any guide.

[gopiscrap]

53. I think anytime a cop causes their employer (government agency) to lose a lawsuit

because he/she was negligent or malicious he/she should be fired.

[ND-Dem]

8. that poor kid.

[Chakab]

9. "[They] were trying to handcuff him."

No, they beat the living shit out of him. If you're going to apologize, give an accurate account of what happened.

[Taitertots]

18. It's embarassing to see outright lies go unquestioned in the media

Hitting and handcuffing are mutually exclusive tasks.

It's like getting caught masterbating at work and saying "it's ok, I was just trying to map a network drive".

[oldandhappy]

10. Sick. They wanted to beat someone, just got the wrong one.

Sorry we got the wrong one. Sick. Really sick. The police need to pay all his medical bills, buy him a new car, and pay all his school expenses until graduation. Sick.

[livingonearth]

11. Wait a minute...

even if they had got the right guy, they're not supposed to beat him!

[uponit7771]

27. +1

[blkmusclmachine]

12. Cops suck

[frylock]

13. these guys feel underappreciated for doing their job..

you can't even make up this level of incompetence.

[Blue_Tires]

14. Well, at least he wasn't shot on sight, merely beaten

Swink should consider himself fortunate

[christx30]

17. Read this story on policeone.

That's pretty much their position. "You don't know what it's like being a cop. You should accept the handcuff and beating and sue Simmons for your injuries."

Because I guess the cops did nothing wrong.

[Ramses]

15. Fire every last of of those incompetent pigs

and sure the department into oblivion. Bankrupt that corrupt ass city and the entire police department

[lpbk2713]

20. The Chief only issued an apology because that's part of his job.

No one in that dept really GAF. The predators involved in
this beating will do it again and again. Nothing will change.

[beam me up scottie]

21. Kid must have been scared to death.

Dwb gets you beaten to a pulp but hey, they apologized so no biggie.

What are they doing to make sure it doesn't happen again?

[hughee99]

22. The only reason I'd think it was from the Onion was that they apologized. n/t

[uponit7771]

24. +1

[uponit7771]

25. "..when he accidentally became involved in the police chase..."!!!!!!!!!!!

[Enthusiast]

26. This is one fucked up country.

[TexasTowelie]

29. Photo of the man beaten up:

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/01/17/3612876/police-beat-wrong-person/

My apologies for the graphic content.

[malaise]

30. But but but

don't yah know all black people look alike!

They are pigs

[Jesus Malverde]

32. The lights and the sirens, so confusing....

[TexasTowelie]

34. Agreed wholeheartedly.

I'm referring to the cops involved being pigs, not that all black people look alike.

[malaise]

36. That part was sarcasm

Didn't think I needed the smilie

[Hassin Bin Sober]

33. To the people that are OK with extra-judicial beatings of "perps who deserve it" - pay attention.

[Scuba]

37. The cops in this country are out of control. It's long past time the President speaks up about it.

[brer cat]

40. I agree, Scuba.

But you know he will be skewered if he does, like the beer summit with Henry Louis Gates. Of course, at this point in his administration he probably doesn't give a fig. I am in hopes that Holder will drop a bomb on St. Louis County leos before he leaves office.

[pintobean]

44. These were St. Ann cops, not St. Louis County.

St. Ann is in St. Louis County. The article is very poorly written.

[Scuba]

46. Yeah, I'd hate to have Obama say anything that would result in the right criticizing him.

[JI7]

50. it's not just the right

[Glimmer of Hope]

38. I hope he sues their ass.

[cstanleytech]

49. Agreed. nt

[gopiscrap]

52. Hope he sues the god damn shit out these fucking cops

they're all like that..pumped up rage aholics with anti social personalities.

[Logical]

54. How in the hell does someone not get fired for this? Fucking police unions! nt

[markpkessinger]

55. An "honest mistake?

The article at Raw Story states:

"Chief Jimenez said that his department made an honest mistake and has apologized for the incident. The force is currently updating its radio system to assure that all officers are receiving up-to-the-minute information during police pursuits."

Pursuing the wrong person was an honest mistake. Police who believe it is their job to beat people to a pulp represent everything that is wrong with American policing today. Even if he had been the correct suspect, he would still be entitled to a presumption of innocence. Guilt is for a jury to decide, and punishment for a judge to impose, irrespective of how angry police may be with a given suspect. When police take it upon themselves to determine guilt and inflict punishment, at that point they are no better than any random vigilante.