Police brutality at McCarran Airport
This is from Live Leak.
Operation Iraqi Freedom Hero Solider being beaten and tased by 2 officers at Las Vegas Metro Police Dept. while another Las Vegas Metro Police Officer stands back and watches with his hands in his pockets thru glass doors, then laughs and makes a little skip as he makes fun of the Soldier’s fall from the first of THREE tasings with a buddy TSA employee. This Soldier did NOTHING wrong and NO charges were filed against him~ Watch the ongoing investigation on ABC Las Vegas with Ben Deci reporting or on www.ktnv.com
The news report is pretty damn clear and the behavior of the TSA and Metro Police is abhorrent.
49 Responses to “Police brutality at McCarran Airport”
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That really pisses me off. But I do wonder what the guy said to make those idiots snap - not that it makes it right but I have a feeling he probably went off on them.
However, those people should be on some sort of administrative leave!
[...] June 12th, 2007 [link][more] [...]
[...] Police brutality at McCarran Airport This is from Live Leak. Operation Iraqi Freedom Hero Solider being beaten and tased by 2 officers at Las Vegas Metro […] [...]
This doesn’t look good at all. The thing that bothers me about this though is it doesn’t really tell you anything. They make it look like this soldier didn’t say or do anything. But we don’t have a statement from the officer(s). The officer as far as I know hasn’t gotten to tell his side of the story. The media is FAMOUS for making cops look bad and only showing the part that makes them look bad. There are many, many cases where the media ends up making something look like this one, and then later the cop is vindicated but they never update the story and show it on TV with the WHOLE story. Remember, in the end news channels sell advertising, and they’ll tell a story however they need to to sell it.
That said, if the cop was wrong and was just a violent a-hole, then I hope he fries times 10. He would deserve it. But I fear there is more to the story (the devil is in the details) that isn’t being covered.
The media is FAMOUS for making cops look
badgood and only showing the part that makesthemothers look bad. There are many, many cases where the media ends up making something look like thisoneor that, and then later thecopvictim is vindicated but they never update the story and show it on TV with the WHOLE story.See here, here, here, and here.
Took the liberty of fixing your comment. Winks and kisses.
Stiletto,
It doesn’t matter if the soldier was pissy. He admittedly was. (the f word comment seems to suggest pissyness) The fact is that the TSA agent tried to pull rank on a soldier, and that soldier refused to comply with an agent who, in fact, refused to display proof that he was a higher ranking officer.
According to the videos, the soldier did not become violent- even when he was beaten. No man deserves to be beaten for complaining about ill treatment from public servants.
(LadyLiberty knows first hand what the TSA can do. I was warned about jail because I said, under my breath, that an agent was stupid.)
Your comment seems to have nothing to do with the spirit of what I said. If the cops beat and tased the guy for no reason, then I hope they fry. But what’s the whole story? What is the cop’s WHOLE story. You can find 100 links that make cops look bad, but unless it shows the WHOLE story, it doesn’t matter. Just because it is printed online or off, doesn’t make it true or accurate. Especially online. I can create a blog or site and put whatever I want on it and put whatever spin on it. If you choose to take it as gospel truth at face value that’s just silly.
Chromerims,
If a picture is worth 1000 words, a video is nearly priceless. If there are 3 videos that show abuse, the police couldn’t obtain an umbrella policy big enough for it.
I’m not a total cop hater (see some previous posts), but servants of the people do not serve to abuse.
How do you know it shows EVERYTHING? What is being said? How is it being said? The video is so bad you can’t tell exactly what happened. Is the soldier complying with lawful orders? We don’t know. Maybe the cops are wrong, who knows? There’s been several cases where the media makes the cops look JUST LIKE THIS one, and then later when the WHOLE story comes out with ALL the facts and ALL the video, and ALL the statements, the cop is vindicated.
Again, if the cops just whacked this guy for no reason, then I hope they fry.
This just show’s how abusive police are. I’m embrased to live in this country. When the people who are “supposed to enforce air security” throw this to try to scare us off? I’m seriously considering moving out of the country.
Been around a lot of cops in my day. I vote for the Sgt. Even if he called the TSA guy a PF, I still vote for the Sgt. Mrs TWC always makes me shut my big fat mouth at the airport.
When Penn Jillette had a run-in with TSA in Vegas it ended differently and was more amusing.
Had one of my own in Sin City that went substantially better than this did. Worth clicking to see the sticker I got from Drew Carey.
I’m seriously considering moving out of the country
But Mark, where?
I live in Dallas, but have been through McCarran 9 times this year. It appears that the soldier is going through the D gates, which is a long security line and tram ride away. (AA gates) If a TSA agent tried to “pull rank” and abuse authority in an airport that is already chaotic, it is very likely that this man was upset by it. That point is not denied by the soldier, or myself.
The fact is (to your credit, I failed to express it in the body of the post), the TSA can arrest you for expressing displeasure in a discourteous manner. This soldier did nothing, according to the videos, to provoke a physical attack. Further demonstrating that point is the fact that there were no charges filed against him.
In the name of homeland security, the police are out of control.
TWC, Nice to see you babe! I’m losing what few friends I have @ H&R. ;o)
The doc tells me to shut up during every airport experience. I was nearly arrested for saying “stupid bitch” under my breath when a TSA agent wouldn’t believe that my husband’s shaving brush was a shaving brush. She x-rayed the 1 quart zip-loc 6 times before she said it wasn’t what we said. And then he had to be searched. He could’ve been searched (not that I’d like it) after the first x-ray.
Look At This
What you find here are hints of the WHOLE story. The soldier admits he didn’t want to take orders from a civilian. The soldier admits he was told to put his hands behind his back, and then pulls away from the officer when grabbed by the shoulder to turn him around. The soldier doesn’t get on the ground when told to by the officer. Hmm…. sounds like exactly what I was saying, there is MUCH MORE to the story than a poor innocent person getting brutally beaten for no reason.
Remember, the officer doesn’t know this guy. It appears the guy didn’t follow lawful orders. Pulling away when told to put your hands behind your back and that you’re under arrest is ILLEGAL. It is resisting arrest.
Once again, we still don’t know if this is the whole story. If the cops were wrong, then I’ll say it again. I hope they fry.
Thanks girl, happy to be here. Why are you losing friends at H&R? Yeah, I know, it’s a tough crowd. But still?
…was nearly arrested for saying “stupid bitch” under my breath… That’s great. You and me better never get in the same airport security line. Still LOL.
Right after it was reported that the NG at LAX had no bullets for their M-16’s were flying to Hawaii. I wanted to ask them about the bullets SOOOO OHHHH Dam Bad. Mrs TWC nixed that in a hot second.
You are picking and choosing. Read the full article. The soldier did nothing inappropriate and certainly nothing to warrant the abuse received.
I haven’t been over the H&R this week, been trying to drain the swamp but the alligators are chest deep. Now I guess I’ll have to go see why those boys are picking on you.
@ TWC
I took the “it’s not freedom to drive a 2300lb machine” argument to the horse level and pointed out that it is easier to man a machine than it is a beast. I suspect that people think I’m a nut for pointing out that horses can weight as much as cars (and up to 17k lbs with carriage and load) and yet we had no license to ride them.
Good points, tried to find it only to learn that you’re NOT a 54 Y/O housewife.
Nope, I’m a 35 Y/O grandma. Teach me to have kiddos too young. My girlfriend’s dad, an old Russian man, came to oversee some work at my house. He gave me a big kiss on the cheek, said congrats and then told me, “There’s an old Russian saying. Being a grandpa is not scary- the scary part is sleeping next to a grandma.”
/grew up too far south
//thank FSM that my daughter waited until adulthood to have a baby
///thank FSM the girls learned to struggle awhile, life ain’t easy on your own
[...] (h/t Ideas from free minds) [...]
Yeah, well that resolves one thing. I was pretty much thinking….grandma’s don’t look like THAT.
I read the link from the reviewjournal.com. Having worked for airports, albiet not security, I can say that he might have been in fault of airport procedure with the food and drinks. There was a paste, liquid, and jell scare in airports a few months ago. There was a ban on allowing those items being brought inside security points from outside sources. Some time after that some airports relaxed security. I know that around SFO there was signs that said, we allow x amount of pastes, liquid and jells at this airport, however, If you are leaving the secured area and reentering a secured area, then that airport may not allow these items, so not every airport will allow liquids being brought in from outside checkpoints. I know from working at multiple airports, every airport has different rules and regulaions. I don’t know about the Vegas Airport, but it could very well be that they do not allow liquids to be taken past checkpoints, for terrorism concerns.
While I hate to see this happen to anyone, (and I do think this was a little excessive, and thank goodness they had tazzers and didn’t resort to guns) I have to look at it like this. TSA has to be responible for the safety of every person who flies in and out of this country every day. Why did this soldier think that he was above the people working the security checkpoint? Because according to him, he didn’t like taking orders from a civilian, even though the TSA officers were legally in charge. I think that TSA is accountable if they broke the rules, but I also think that the soldier still has to follow the same set of rules as the rest of us Americans do on a daily basis.
OK, so we’ve got yet another case of a cop going off the wall for ne reason. Why are yuo surprised? this happens every day in the US, and ther eis absolutely no recourse for the victim. In this case, the victim was a soldier. Does that make the pigs behavior any worse? If the victim had been a civilian, would you still be outraged? would it be newsworthy?
Face it folks, we live in a police state. There is nothing you can do about it except so what you are told and shut up.
sphyrnatude,
I blog about this subject way too often, so no, I’m not surprised. What does surprise me is the number of people who say it’s ok.
You’re right. We live in a police state. It’s a hard problem to solve when most people think it’s A-OK.
I am a big supporter of the police. Many of my family and friends have been and still are on the force. That said, the police are human, and very often they do not need any help from the media to look bad. The sad part it is like any other organization, a few jerks can make the whole system look corrupt. I am not familiar with this situation but to taser an individual is an action you would think and hope is a last resort effort to stop a violent individual. Any other use would be questionable and or abuse.
Michelle, it is not ok at all. But as someone stated I would like to know the whole side of the story. Did he reach out and try to touch the security guy? Did he lunge at him? Do you see what I am getting at?
Trust me, I’m not a huge fan of cops, been done “wrong” by them a few times. Also been helped by them too though and I can tell from this interview that the soldier is not delivering all the facts.
Security people seem to be prone to…giving people a rough time.
BTW, dislike the Vegas airport. Always have trouble there.
If the cops are not in the wrong, why didn’t they charge him? Cops can’t just go around beating people for no reason. The guy wasn’t even arrested. This is police harrasment and brutality. It doesn’t matter what the soldier said - if he was in the wrong he should have been arrested. The fact that he wasn’t implies guilt on the police officers part.
if he said the “f-word”, it’s game over. AFAIK, in all states, the f-word is part of the legal definition of assault. it will get you beaten by a cop no matter if it’s a routine traffic stop or airport security.
what difference does it make that the victim was a Operation Iraqi Freedom Hero Soldier? this is a mostly sensational news story with a very short video, repeated several times, of police using excessive force. if there was any provocation leading up to the beating, we hear nothing about it — i suppose that we all know better than to challenge the integrity of an Operation Iraqi Freedom Hero Soldier.
I am completely in shock. This is so sad.
Yes, I think that there should be some answers from the Police Agency, and an apology. The McCarren, they should sue the hell out of the Police Agency. If you want the attention of the Police Agency when they are at fault, you must go this route.
http://stancelspencer.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/police-brutality-at-mccarran-airport/
This is so damn wrong. It happens all the time. Police think they are above us and they can beat us. Police are not above the law!
This doesnt shock me. It happens all the time, but usually to a minority so no one gives a crap. But in this day and age no one is safe. And it will only get worse.
My first novel deals with these issues, as well as the death penalty. See http://www.publishedauthors.net/lenny. “Lenny” ISBN# 1424163781 shows too much truth, I think.
Until people start standing up and pressing the isse these blatant violations will continue.
…the girls learned to struggle awhile, life ain’t easy on your own…
definitely something to be said for not having to sweat where the rent money is coming from when you are raising kids.
what difference does it make that the victim was a Operation Iraqi Freedom Hero Soldier?
It doesn’t but it makes a more compelling news story.
We have a similar but worse story here in my county where a cop shot a soldier point blank without provocation. It was caught on videotape and the cop is now on trial. Fortunately, the soldier lived. The video is a lot more dramatic than this one. A lot more shocking too. I’ll see if it’s on Utube later on.
Absolutely. The older one and her husband pay their own rent, insurance, all their little bills. She knows that I disapprove of welfare and that I hate people who don’t help themselves. She refused WIC just like I refused free lunch for them. A big frigging X across the form. (I swear they push those programs like drugs.)
They struggle and I know that for bdays and xmas, cash is the preferred gift. ;o)
http://www.local6.com/news/6652276/detail.html
That is the link to the story about the Berdoo Deputy (thought it was my county but it’s the next one over) that shot the Air Force Officer while the guy was complying with orders. It looks like an out and out assassination attempt because the cop was pissed. The Air Force guy was a passenger in a car that had been pursued by the cop, which is why the cop was pissed. However, the AF guy was not driving and totally complied with the cops orders. This is a chilling video to watch.
I didn’t remember it but H&R covered it at the time and came up when I googled it.
I didn’t do a u tube search because my hi-speed Inet is down and I’m on crappy dial up right now.
I go out to Vegas for conventions once a year and I invariably have problems.
http://mikeelliottsblog.wordpress.com
[...] question: how can someone be in favor of the impeachment of Bill Clinton but not of George Bush? A U.S. soldier was beaten and tased at McCarran Airport. And for your wonderful government sponsored action of the day: “The Army secretly dumped 64 [...]
As long as cops enjoy sovereign immunity this behavior will only get worse. About a month ago I got a link to a story on Lew Rockwell where a young ex-Iraq stationed US soldier was Tazered multiple times and then shot when he didn’t comply to get on his knees WHILE HE WAS BEING TAZERED! Supposedly they thought he was involved in a drug deal and he had a switchblade knife on him (probably planted) when they searched his corpse. This site documents this violent behavior (for all the good it does anyone). http://copwatch.com/
Crime is getting worse because of our policies of the drug war (the biggest cause of crime in America) and our socialist policies of inviting criminals to this country (amnesty) and empowering irresponsibility (welfare). The police take more and more heat (but can’t be everywhere) and are taught to learn more offensive tactics in order to quell crime as well as being told to be more aggressive resulting in more police violence against innocents in a no-win situation of mounting tension. The violence committed by cops is only going to escalate.
Apparantly without drugs the american economy wouldn’t survive anyway. Look it up — some cop blew the whistle on it on youtube. won’t stop it happening tho
This is just like when the police beat up a girl at Reagan National Airport in DC. They assaulted this girl and gave her a serious brain injury and made her entire body black and blue. Then they arrested HER and charged her with a made up crime. You can be beat up by police and then have them charge you with a slew of imaginary crimes to cover up the beating, even if you are a law abiding citizen. You don’t think things like this happen in America until it happens to you.
[...] read more | digg story [...]
I am not a U.S. soldier. My experience at McCarran Int’l Airport may be trivial compared to this. It is nevertheless bad and should not be tolerated. I was flying out the airport this evening on a Southwest Airlines flight. Security inspection was relatively not busy. After I passed through a person, who checked my I.D. and boarding pass, I stood in the back of an inspection line, where there only about four people ahead of me. At that line, however, there were no available empty trays of any kind. I walked over to the next inspection line and moved about 7 or 8 large, grey trays to our line and used two of them. In one of them, I put my laptop computer. In the other one, I put in my cell phone, about 15 coins, my home key set, my office key set, my car key, and a ball point pen. The conveyor belt was moving slowly and stopped a few times even though there were only four people who had to pass through the bomb detector door for humans. When I was waiting till my two treys, laptop computer case, brief case, and a pair of shoes to go into the scanning machine, a female TSA inspector came over to me and put a small, round trey between one of my large treys and my briefcase. She said I did not have to use a large trey to put my small items in because I could use a small, round trey. I did not respond to her statement because I did not know I was required to find and use a small, round trey if my small personal items could fit into one of the small, round treys. I was anxiously waiting for my stuff to get inside the scanner so that I could present myself for human detector door. She then said, “Didn’t you hear what I just told you? Put them (pointing to my small, personal items in a large trey) in this (pointing to s small, round trey she just put on the convey belt). I said, “I will do it next time.” She then took the large trey that had my small, personal items and emptied the content into the small, round trey. I moved on and was waiting for my stuff to come through. The small, round trey tipped over when it was pushed by larger items, and some of its content spilled out. I had to bend down to reach a ball point pen to retrieve it from under the conveyor belt. My car key also fell out of the small, round trey. A passenger, who was behind me found the key for me. I wanted to point out the danger of using small, round treys by the example of my small, personal items spilling out the trey when the trey gets tipped over. She would not listen to me. When she heard about my comment about some items falling through the cracks in the conveyor belt and falling to the floor, she said I could just bend down to reach them.
I don’t know if there is a law or even a policy recommendation for passengers to use small, round treys when their pesonal items could fit into one rather than using a large trey. I did not even see a small, round trey until she put one in front of me. when there are long lines of passengers trying to clear inspection to go to airport gates to get on their flights, looking for and waiting until a small, round trey is available means wasted time for everyone in line. I think she was just imposing her own personal belief on me regardless of the disadvantages of using small, round treys and treys are not always available. She would not give me her name when I asked her for it. She was very rude and was acting as if I was at her mercy.
But don’t you know? We are at their mercy and TSA is generally quite nasty. Say something about it and you risk arrest.