U of F Tasering Incident: AFTER the Drama

[piesRsquare]

I know there are a bunch of recent threads about the University of Florida student (Andrew Meyers) being tasered at a Kerry forum, but I thought this particular point (subject?) needed its own thread.

The following link is to a rather different You Tube video, in that the majority of it shows the cops dealing with the kid AFTER the incident--outside the auditorium. Skip to 1:22 if you don't want to see the tasering-drama (again).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7NWukZhsiBw&mode=related&search=

I'm not sure the tasering was necessary; I'm inclined to think it wasn't. What I do believe, however, is that the cops--particularly the female officer--dealt very well with Mr. Meyers outside of the auditorium while they were escorting him out of the building.

The kid seems to be a very high-anxiety--almost paranoid--person. I keep hearing him saying something along the lines of that he thinks they want to kill him, like he's afraid he's being "taken away" to be "disappeared" or something. He says himself that he's very scared.

Point of all of this: More information in terms of cops' response and the general behavior of Andrew Meyers.

My perspective: Mr. Meyers' behavior in the forum was inappropriate; I agree with his being removed. I'm wary about the Tasering--my understanding (perhaps misunderstanding) is that it's not intended to be used as a type of "tranquilizer gun" (could any cops/ex-cops here clarify the types of situations in which Taser use is appropriate?). However, in video of what happened AFTER all the drama, I'm seeing good work on part of the cops. I'm also seeing a bit of psychological instability on part of Mr. Meyers. I think this was more than "an obnoxious student wanting publicity" and "out-of-control cops".

Thoughts?

[piesRsquare]

1. *crickets chirping*

Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller? ;)

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. UCLA case still fresh in my mind. It wasn't necessary to taser the student.

[piesRsquare]

4. What was the UCLA case? n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. Nov, 2006. UCLA student didn't show his ID in library. Incident ended with tasering. Vid shown world

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2662158

Cops Taser UCLA Student
U.S.-Born Student of Iranian Descent Alleges Racial Profiling in Videotaped IncidentA video shows a UCLA student of Iranian descent being Tasered by campus police, sparking student outrage and claims of racial profiling. (ABCNEWS.com) By BILL BLAKEMORE
Nov. 17, 2006

Share There is painful six-minute video that has suddenly spread all over the world via YouTube and "click here to watch" buttons on campus newspaper and TV station Web sites and on countless blogs.

It shows part of what happened in front of students who had been studying in the UCLA library when an Iranian-American student reportedly did not show

[Texasgal]

2. Tasering is better

Than shooting.

The kid does sound upset and perhaps delusional.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

6. Police are only seen as "jack booted thugs" by some around here

No matter what, they will always be seen as automotons with a badge. No matter how many children they comfort after they witness domestic violence in the home, or how many times they go to someone's home in the middle of the night to tell them their loved one has died in an accident.