Comments on: The Latest Tasering News

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:27:16 +0000

The big question for me is, will Rybak make a campaign platform to take the MPD thug tactics statewide?

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:13:33 +0000

Sorry Cubbie, there’s no way from the video that Ruiz was out of control at any time near the tasering.

Resistance stops, the force stops. Simple as that. Otherwise, you’re talking about extrajudicial punishment.

By: cubbie

cubbie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:49:10 +0000

say it till your blue in the face. you can’t exhibit out of control behavior and the second before a cop reaches you, you stop, then expect the cop to treat you how you wish to be treated. this isn’t a children’s game.

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:07:12 +0000

WTF?

“Right before” the tasing, he was standing with his hands on the car. The only thing “unpredictable” was he moved his head as the cop (who already had the taser out) walked by.

It was a personal attack ON Mr. Ruiz for allegedly tossing a paver into the personal car of another cop. Cops don’t get to be judge and executioner. If the suspect is co-operating, not resisting, there is no justification for any kind of force to be used.

I’ll say it again, the cop should be charged with felony assault.

By: cubbie

cubbie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:15:53 +0000

sounds like rolando exhibited highly unpredictable and violent behavior right before the tasing. this was definitely a personal attack by mr. ruiz.

By: Cristina Cordova

Cristina Cordova — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:38:18 +0000

Update from WCCO: “Eighteen-year-old Rolando Ruiz spoke publicly for the first time about the incident last April on Wednesday.”
http://wcco.com/local/teen.tasered.talks.2.1292663.html

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:36:42 +0000

Looking like this is personal:

“Ruiz is charged with a felony count of first-degree damage to property in the incident, outside the 2nd Precinct headquarters, on 19th Avenue NE. near Central Avenue.

According to the criminal complaint, Lappegaard saw Ruiz standing on a planter in a corner of the precinct’s parking lot. The 18-year-old took a landscaping brick and threw it at a vehicle owned by another officer, the complaint said.

The car had large dents in its hood and its windshield broke, causing $2,135.14 in damage, according to the complaint.”

http://www.startribune.com/local/69009197.html?page=2&c=y

In the same article there is this howler from RT’s Jeremy Hanson:

“Dolan “shows he holds very high standards when it comes his officers,” Hanson said, both in taking them to task when needed and defending them.”

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:01:33 +0000

I’m just saying that the cop will be entitled to a defense. And for a lot of people that sue, that’s what the cops are going to pull out.

I’m not convinced the pendulum has swung that much.

By: noodleman

noodleman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:08:59 +0000

I agree. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Well, if we applied that logic to everything in life, we’d never have invented fire. Because it MIGHT hurt someone.

My perception is that the pendulum has swung now in the other direction. People are not as universally supportive of law enforcement in each and every situation. Clearly, having video admitted as evidence in a case like this would demonstrate to a jury that the police went “above and beyond the call of duty.”

By: swandog

swandog — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:43:38 +0000

That goes a step to far. If the guy was not compiling fine kick his ass but he was not moving in an aggressive manner. That guy is going to get a big payday, no question about it.

That said how many people do you think would take a job of being a cop if they had personal liability? My guess is very few.