Officers indicted in police brutality (Beaumont)

[sonias]

Beaumont Enterprise 8/13/09
BREAKING: Officers indicted in police brutality

A Jefferson County Grand Jury has handed down indictments against two Beaumont police officers accused of beating a man during a routine traffic stop two years ago.

Officers David Todd Burke and James Guedry are charged with one count each of official oppression, a misdemeanor offense, in the arrest of Beaumont resident Derrick Newman.

Recent news reports about the incident prompted District Attorney Tom Maness to launch an investigation into the Aug. 24, 2007, traffic stop.

Burke is charged with "acting under color of his office and employment, intentionally subjected Derrick Newman to mistreatment, to which: by striking complainant with a club and he knew such action was unlawful," according to the indictment.

If a Beaumont jury indicted these cops - they probably used excessive force on Newman. Beaumont is not an easy place to make that kind of case.

Sonia

[sonias]

1. Related story about the video

Beaumont Enterprise 6/27/09
Video shows Beaumont cop hit man with wooden club 13 times

Jefferson County District Attorney Tom Maness has launched an inquiry into the alleged beating by Beaumont police officers of a Beaumont man who had been awarded a default judgment against the officers involved.

While the default judgment Beaumont resident Derrick Newman was awarded was overturned this month, Maness did see the videotape from the Aug. 24, 2007 traffic stop and resulting arrest.

"There's stuff on the tape that sparked our curiosity," Maness said. "We need to dig into this a little bit."

Newman and some friends were driving back from Cheddar's Casual Cafe when police stopped them. After arresting a back seat passenger, police officers searched Newman. While being searched other officers drove up.

Upon arrival, one of the officers started hitting him with a wooden club 13 times on his arm and leg.

Too bad that the default judgment was overturned. Sounds like these two cops are not fit for the force. :grr:


Sonia

[flamin lib]

4. Remindes me of the civil ritghts worker who was shot twice and

run over by a police car in 1965. Coroner ruled the death by natural causes. It's only natural that you die after being shot twice and run over . . .

[sonias]

5. Very hard to make a case against the police

Juries are always willing to give the police the benefit of the doubt - no matter what.

I agree with your sentiment that it is only because these cameras mounted on the police cars that we get the truth.

Rabid cops behavior - or pack mentality. Once one of them pounces they all gang up.

Sonia

[Citizen_Penn]

8. Texas Supreme Court

bought and paid for by the Republican money team.


God help us in Texas, there is no justice.

[Aragorn]

2. what a shock

you'd think they would have turned the video off, huh?

[flamin lib]

3. Can't turn the video off. It's hard wired into the car's electrical system.

The recording isn't accessible to the police officers either.

That's the only reason we see ANY of this.

I defy you to find statistics on Police shooting civilians, Police tazing civilians or police being charged with any of the above. No records are kept at any level; local, county, state or federal.

On the other hand if you want to know about fallen officers . . .

[mammon82]

6. Similar one from Lubbock

This guy is a 1st Sgt in an Army Reserve Civil Affairs Battalion. Here is an article referencing it http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=10841298 and a youtube video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFy2vh1KitY. Civil affairs...wtf!?

[sonias]

7. Welcome to the Texas forum of DU mammon82!

:hi: mammon82!

I really wonder what happens to these cops in their line of work. Do they become sadists on the job or were they savages before they took the job that gave them this power? This cop Marsh Blackmore sounds like another man who should be out of a job. He is unfit for the force that is supposed to "serve and protect".

Also note that it was not a jury who found for the defendant in this case but a federal judge. A judge that doesn't have to worry about the police union endorsement in an election. A judge who is secure enough in his appointment to make the right call.

Good for the federal judge! :applause:


Sonia