Taped beating leads to civil rights probe

[Sean]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/10/11/ta...ngs/index.html

A 64-year-old retired teacher allegedly beaten by New Orleans police is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday as federal authorities investigate whether his civil rights were violated. Robert Davis faces an array of charges, including public intoxication, battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. His attorney, Joseph Bruno, told CNN that Davis his client had not \"touched a drop\" of alcohol Saturday night before the alleged beating. He added Davis has been sober since completing a rehab program 25 years ago. The alleged beating was captured on tape by news crews Saturday. The videotape shows Davis\' face and shirt soaked with blood after he was pummeled by police. Federal officials launched a civil rights investigation Monday as three white New Orleans police officers pleaded not guilty to battery charges.

[Allas]

Thats appaling. We certainly dont have all the facts. But the video speaks volumes about whats going on. The beating he took was way over the top, regardless of if the old man did provoke it.

I wonder though, regarding the man being drunk, where are his shoes?

[ForwardMotion]

I do know that sometimes the police must use physical methods to restrain those that they are against...I mean it is not always a shock to see that police officers do hit the people that they are trying to restrain, as these people often to not go down peacefully...however, yes...I do wonder as to if what they did do was nessesary. It seems to be that it wasn't.

[brien]

Quote by: ForwardMotion I do know that sometimes the police must use physical methods to restrain those that they are against...I mean it is not always a shock to see that police officers do hit the people that they are trying to restrain, as these people often to not go down peacefully...however, yes...I do wonder as to if what they did do was nessesary. It seems to be that it wasn't.

Fwd: I think you can bet your supper that what the cops did here was not only illegal but brutal and unwarranted. The victim claims he wasn't drunk at all. He claims he wasn't read his rights and was broadsided by the arresting officers without warning. The video tape doesn't lie with regard to the beating of this 64 year old man. Boy, I am sure he was over powering these four or five cops. :rolleyes:

What makes a bad situation even worse is the cop threatening and intimidating the producer of the video. These cops were out of control and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I don't care if this school teacher was drunk or not, this is no way to detain and arrest a citizen of the United States.

I think this school teacher can now retire after he files all of his suits in a court of law against the CIty of New Orleans. What's worse is that this behavior taints all law enforcement officers, especially those in New Orleans. Another Rodney King case, just what we need in our delicate race relations today in America.

[blibbka]

Bastards, that's what those people are. There's no excuse for it. The man is pinned down by what, 3 or four police officers? And they proceed to beat him?

Physical methods might be necessary somtimes but that is criminal. The worrying thing is, how often does this happen when cameras aren't around?

That combined with charges of resisting arrest and battery of a police officer? If several guys ,police or not, manhandled me like that I'd want to defend myself too. Disgusting.