"I can't breathe" Asheville NC

[brer cat]

Last edited Tue Apr 3, 2018, 02:24 PM - Edit history (1)

‘I can’t breathe.’ Asheville police video shows white officer beating, choking black jaywalking suspect

Johnnie Rush was just trying to get home from a long shift at the Cracker Barrel.

Then he got stopped for jaywalking — an encounter with the Asheville Police Department that ultimately left Rush with a bloodied face after an officer punched him multiple times, Tasered him and put him in a chokehold on the ground.

On Monday, the City of Asheville, N.C., released nine videos from the officers’ body-worn cameras showing the encounter and ensuing assault from various angles while Rush screamed, “I can’t breathe,” and “Help!” The officer who repeatedly struck Rush in the head, Christopher Hickman, resigned from APD in January just before he was terminated for violating the use-of-force policy, according to city officials. He was charged in March with felony assault by strangulation and misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury and communicating threats for the August 2017 incident. His lawyer says he’s going to trial and that a jury will acquit him.

“What happened in these recordings is unacceptable and does not meet the standards of the Asheville Police Department, the values of the City of Asheville, or the expectations of Asheville residents,” city officials said in a written statement posted with the videos Monday. “Christopher Hickman’s actions violated the Asheville Police Department’s vision that all people are treated with dignity and respect. These actions have damaged the progress that the Asheville Police Department has made in the last several years in improving community trust.”

"What happened in these recordings..." drives me crazy. Why can't they say "what happened to Mr. Rush was unacceptable" or "what this officer did was assault and a felony"? Leaves me wondering...if the recordings didn't exist, did it happen? Nothing was done until the recordings were leaked to the city newspaper, so I guess that answers my question.

Asheville is a liberal city, so I think there is a good chance to seat a jury that will convict Hickman and keep him from just moving on to another PD.

Lots more detail at the link. Sorry for the paywall.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/04/03/i-cant-breathe-asheville-police-video-shows-white-officer-beating-choking-black-jaywalking-suspect/?utm_term=.22343b4986b1

[duforsure]

1. Where's the study that was done?

By the FBI about hate groups infiltrating our police forces around the country?

[kaotikross]

2. You didn't have to make me?

What is that, a three year old's excuse? He "made" them use excessive force? Over jaywalking? I think not. I think it was two bored cops looking to play big shot on a slow evening, and when the victim didn't kowtow quick enough to their egos, violence ensued. Nobody "makes" police get out of the cruiser and go 2-1 on a guy. What bored a-hole of a cop even writes jaywalking tickets anymore? I see our local cops here jaywalking themselves, cutting corners across a parking lot to reach their own station, they don't go to the crosswalk! It's patently stupid to go to the crosswalk if there's no traffic. Like other stupid tickets- such as writing kids biking on the sidewalk a ticket when there are absolutely no pedestrians about. It's all about gathering revenue. They don't want you to question them, they want you to just pay the ticket, fearful of repercussions/lost time at work/hassle if you fight it, and go on your way until the next time. For there to be an actual crime, something or somebody has to suffer damages. What damages were suffered by jaywalking? Did the police use the crosswalk to interact with this fellow, or did they cut across, thus "jaywalking" themselves?

[marble falls]

3. "You made me do it." - what every wife beater and abusive cop says as a defense.

[sheshe2]

7. Bingo.

[Sam McGee]

4. Not to worry . . . .

The police officer ". . . Christopher Hickman, resigned from APD in January just before he was terminated for violating the use-of-force policy, according to city officials. "

He'll be employed by the county sheriff or by an adjoining municipality where he can slide over to Asheville and thump on Johnny Rush some more.

These scumbags always land on their feet. I don't recall the details, but, a few months ago the lying, fake news Washington Post did a survey of cops who had been fired or who resigned after charges of beating the shit out of people . . . almost 100% of them wound up employed by another law enforcement agency.

[heaven05]

5. theboypotusPOS

told the ameriKKKan police they could get tougher on minority clear and present dangerous Jay walkers and anyone else of ameriKKKan minority status. DAMN I feel sorry for the pain suffered by Mr. Rush at the hands of these ameriKKKan SS troopers.

[Odoreida]

6. And yet Asheville has a reputation as a "liberal" town. n/t