Viral video of traffic stop shows New Mexico police breaking driver's window

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Hill


BY JOHN BOWDEN - 08/11/18 01:17 PM EDT

A viral video shot by a New Mexico woman shows a police officer using a baton to shatter a car's window after the driver was reportedly initially pulled over for a seat belt violation.

New Mexico State Police told the Albuquerque Journal that a roughly 45 second video released on Facebook this week does not show a nearly half-hour long traffic stop that occurred prior to the incident, in which police say the driver refused to roll down his window.

The Journal reported Wednesday that 41-year-old driver Phillip Page and his passenger, 29-year-old Angela Fisher-Herrera, were arrested after the incident and charged with resisting or obstructing a police officer, concealing identity, and making a false 911 call along with the alleged seat belt violations.

“I’m standing by my officers,” police chief Pete Kassetas told the newspaper. “At some point after a certain amount of time of noncompliance, something has to happen.”



Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/401394-viral-video-of-traffic-stop-shows-new-mexico-police-breaking

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New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas


N.M. State police chief faces claims of misconduct
Posted Friday, June 15, 2018 11:17 am
Thom Cole
[e-mail]


A former top deputy to New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas and two others have filed a lawsuit alleging Kassetas "mooned" staff members, referred to female staff members as "bitches" and sent a photo of a man's testicles to the deputy Cabinet secretary for public safety, a woman.

The lawsuit also alleges Kassetas has used his position to promote and protect women with whom he was interested in having personal relationships.

The complaint, which also names the state Department of Public Safety as a defendant, was filed Tuesday in state District Court in Santa Fe by former state police Deputy Chief Ryan Suggs, former Lt. Julia Armendariz and Sgt. Monica Martinez-Jones.

Gov. Susana Martinez in February appointed Suggs as a magistrate judge in Otero County. Armendariz once headed the state police security detail for the governor. Martinez-Jones works for state police in Roswell.

More:
https://www.taosnews.com/stories/state-police-chief-faces-claims-of-misconduct,48987

[alphafemale]

1. Bullshit. Mail them a ticket.

The exact same thing that would be done if such a minor violation had bee caught on camera.

Crap, I hadn't even scrolled down to see what a massive A-Hole he is.

[justgamma]

13. Mail who the ticket?

Without seeing an ID, how would they know who was driving? And yes, he's an a-hole.

[alphafemale]

14. You've heard of red-light cameras?

Owner of the car gets the ticket.

You have a problem with that?

More than out of control raging cop?

[justgamma]

18. Didn't sound as if he were "raging".

He gave them plenty of warnings. Do you think that everyone should just ignore the police when they are stopped? Just for the record I hate sovereign citizens with a passion. You know the people who think the laws don't apply to them.

[janx]

21. In Taos County?

That's funny.

[FiveGoodMen]

48. Declared unconstitutional (or whatever the state equivalent is) in Minnesota

Specifically, because the camera can't ID the driver.

[christx30]

25. Maybe the car was stolen.

Maybe the owner was murdered by the driver. Maybe the driver is drunk. Maybe one or more of the occupants have outstanding warrants. Maybe there's a dead person in the trunk, and they're on their way to dispose of the body?
If someone doesn't open up during a simple traffic stop for a seat belt (and who the hell doesn't want to wear a seat belt, anyway?), a cop is going to think the worst. No cop is going to just think, "Oh, that person's probably just not sociable. I'll just mail out a ticket. It'll be fine."

[Nitram]

31. No, the cop got pissed off because he wouldn't roll down his window.

Not wearing a seat belt is not probable cause to search a vehicle. the driver may not have wanted the cop to smell marijuana smoke, but unless the cop has probable cause, he has no right to search the vehicle. The driver can hold his license up to the window for the cop to read it.

[christx30]

34. So the driver didn't want to let the cop know

he was driving under the influence of pot. Yeah, that’ll go over well during trial.
If a cop asks you to roll down your window, and you refuse, neither of you are going to come out of it looking reasonable. And the cop isn’t going to end up worse for it.
This driver should have rolled down the window. Now, he’s really screwed. Hope he has a good lawyer.

[Nitram]

35. Christ, that was pure speculation on my part and none of the cop's business.

Surely such a speculation is not admissible in court. Is it the law that a driver must lower his window when stopped for a suspected seatbelt violation?

[christx30]

36. There is no clear cut law on this.

But you have to roll it down enough to pass documents and communicate with the officer. Just a crack, maybe. But if he or she asks you to do something, and you refuse, it could escalate things, make the cop suspicious that you’re trying to hide something. You have the right to not answer questions, and you have the right to refuse a search. But if the cop has reasonable suspicion, they can do a search. “He barricaded himself in his car” would probably qualify.

[Nitram]

37. As a white person I feel safe enough to smile and comply with the requests a cop makes.

I empathize with people of color who can't predict what a cop might do.

[EX500rider]

41. Actually not following the officers commands are how trouble starts.

[JonLP24]

46. Usually they are playing a deadly game of Simon Sez

Especially with confusing and/or contradictory commands like the Mesa shooting at a hotel.

[Nitram]

47. You mean like reaching for your driver's license when commanded and getting shot?

[EX500rider]

49. One incident out of almost a million arrests a month does not prove much.

In fact compliance with a armed officers orders is the best way to not get shot.

[Nitram]

50. If you think this is just one isolated incident among millions, you haven't been paying attention.

Study after study is finding that people of color are treated more rudely and aggressively by both white and non-white cops. Studies show that cops fired by one police force for serious infractions are easily hired again by a police force in another jurisdiction. These are issues nation-wide, and we have to address them before more unarmed people are killed or injured by cops during simple traffic stops.

[EX500rider]

55. Studies would also find polite compliance with officers would..

...eliminate many stops that turn violent. For instance if you don't want your window smashed in then open it and talk to the officer when he pulls you over.

[jberryhill]

53. I'd like your take on this one

[alphafemale]

39. So wild imagination waives the right to not be unlawfully detained.

And seat belt laws.

[petronius]

2. Sovereign citizens, maybe? (nt)

[Tribalceltic]

3. I don't see that anywhere in the link

Do yo have any information or are you just guessing?

[petronius]

6. Guessing/wondering, hence the "maybe." Refusing to provide

ID at a traffic stop seems like a pretty SC thing to do...

[janx]

7. Quite possibly:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1206581/nmsp-officer-broke-drivers-window-after-lengthy-negotiation.html

[Locrian]

30. indeed

There is now an arrest warrant out for Page and Fisher-Herrera after they missed court appearances in the incident.

[jberryhill]

52. That's what it sounds like

[gopiscrap]

4. fucking pigs are all like this

[duhneece]

29. You paint with too broad a brush

There are good, caring law enforcement officers.

[Nitram]

32. the problem is that good, caring law enforcement officers don't report misbehavior by their

Last edited Tue Aug 14, 2018, 10:44 AM - Edit history (1)

colleagues. They are part of the cover up for abuse of power, so they are not really good or caring enough.

[duhneece]

40. Often, criminal investigators do most of their work with no observation of patrol officers

The folks they work with may see, experience, participate even, but still painting with too broad a stroke.

[Nitram]

54. Even judges are reluctant to find cops guilty. It is an issue from top to bottom.

[gopiscrap]

38. Cops become cops because they have authority complexes or can't fi nd work anywhere else

even if they don't committ the exact violent or illegal act they cover for their peers which makes them just as quilty

[duhneece]

42. My daughter investigates the constraints of Sex Offenders

That is her passion. You won't find a more caring person.

Her brother, my son, has been to prison twice and will probably be back soon. I've seen motherfucking assholes on videos, but our small town has several officers well-respected for over 30 years.
BTW, I live in a military town and recently took the knee during the anthem at a 'Red, White and Blues Festival' attended by 2,000 service (Air Force...Holloman AFB outside of Alamogordo, NM) and will do so for as long as I physically can (I"m 67 yrs old) and will raise a fist after that.

[gopiscrap]

43. I am sorry about your son that must hard for the whole family

I also will take a knee...I have been on the no-fly list twice for politicl activism and also had my natualization process as a citizen challenged

[duhneece]

44. Thank you

His father lost both legs in Vietnam but got his degrees in Wildlife Science and Ranhe Management. My son was 20 when his father committed suicide and son was in jail within 2 year for self medicating. Thank you for being willing to pay the price for activism

[gopiscrap]

45. my father is a deceased Vietnam vet

[Spartacus101]

5. Ah, Land of Enchantment, where you can see...

...A former top deputy to New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas and two others have filed a lawsuit alleging Kassetas "mooned" staff members, referred to female staff members as "bitches" and sent a photo of a man's testicles to the deputy Cabinet secretary for public safety, a woman.

...or, why you will never find me travelling thru AZ, NM, TX, etc...

Pillars of the community, folks.

But first, consider the community...

[panader0]

10. What state do you live in?

Az here......
I'd be interested to know what state you live in that is so cool.

[3Hotdogs]

11. Shows what you know. With Sheriff Joe protecting you, is there any place you would be safer?

[Devil Child]

17. Sheriff Joe is no longer sheriff of Maricopa County n/t

[janx]

19. , , ,let alone the state of AZ. n/t

[janx]

12. The community--

as in Taos County?

[ManiacJoe]

8. Love to see the police videos of this.

[SpankMe]

9. In most places drivers have certain rights

It's my understanding that a driver can barricade themselves in their car and request a supervisory officer be called to the scene to address certain problems, such as verification of the original officer's identity or some other basic procedural or conduct concern.

This applies to stops for basic traffic violations. If a more serious crime is suspected, then the original officer has more leeway to demand face-to-face contact with the driver.

In the case of a basic traffic stop, you're always better off just complying with everything the officer is asking.

I know a lot of us here aren't the biggest fans of cops these days. But 95% of the time, we're all better off working with them and taking the citation and moving on.

[FailureToCommunicate]

20. Really? Maybe if you're...white.

[Nitram]

33. My thought exactly, FTC. If you are not white, your life is in danger

no matter what you do, as multiple videos from all over the country have demonstrated. Look at the guy who reached to pull out his driver's license when ordered to by the cop, and he was shot. Even if a cop isn't a bigot, their lack of training can result in a tragedy when a cop gets scared of their own shadow.

[OnlinePoker]

22. Don't try this in Canada

Our Supreme Court ruled police can pull you over not only for a moving violation, but also to verify a valid driver's license and registration/insurance, sobriety, and vehicle safety.

As to this video, the police officer breaking the window was a supervisory rank (Sergeant) so I'm sure there was a lot that went on before the passenger started filming. He wouldn't normally be on the scene unless he was called in.

[janx]

15. Wait a minute. The video does not show an officer breaking a window with a baton.

He just pulled the thing off!

Oy. I hate these online news aggregates.

[ManiacJoe]

16. You weren't supposed to notice that.

[HuskyOffset]

23. Longer version of the video

I saw this " target="_blank">longer version on another channel yesterday. Longer version still isn't the whole encounter, though.

[HuskyOffset]

24. OK, apparently DU hates my YouTube link

Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Searching for r6WdeE7_x0w on YouTube should get you to the right video, is 13 min 16 secs long.

[ManiacJoe]

26. Corrected link to longer video:

[chillfactor]

27. I live in Bernalillo County in New Mexico....

I have always found the sheriff's deputies here to be courteous and helpful when I needed their help. I truly find this OP beyond the pale. If I am stopped I expect it to be for a reason and I am always courteous to the deputies as they are to me.

[roscoeroscoe]

28. That's right

We watch Live PD, and it's amazing how many people act like a-holes to the police. Soverign citizen types are the worst.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

51. Not enough video to see interaction

Sovereign citizens and first amendment auditors are rampant in trolling police officers for attention.