The Power Of Video

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Contact_Therapy

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This is what happens when you forget your student ID card:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AyvrqcxNIFs

UCLA Police Department spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein said police tried to escort Tabatabainejad, 23, out of the library after he refused to provide identification. Tabatabainejad instead encouraged others at the library to join his resistance, and when a crowd began to gather, police used the stun gun on him, Greenstein said.
Is that what happened? If there was no video of the incident, this would have been promptly swept under the rug. Makes you think about the power of the medium to right wrongs.

More:
http://www.blakeross.com/2006/11/17/on-the-ucla-tasering/
 
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yeah, I saw this. Kinda sucks, police abuse, even worse knowing the kid was a Muslim and Arab looking that got asked about his ID. Its a matter of time before there are protests.
 
Was Tabatabainejad wronged? Seems like 'whoops; forgot my ID, I'll go home and grab it'* would have saved everyone a lot of trouble. Handing uniformed officers a load of crap about 'the Patriot Act' etc etc etc seems intended to provoke an escalation.

It's too bad that most of the footage is of desktops and the backs of people's heads. You never see enough of Tabatabainejad or the officers, until the end, to have much idea what's going on with them.





* assuming that the regs there require you to have and show an ID when you're in the building.
 
OK, folks -- this thread has the potential to turn into a flame war. It'll be shut down at the first sign of it.
 
No flame-provoking intended. Maybe this is as bad as ProjX and FilmMakerr think it is. I don't know if there's enough on the tape to say, one way or the other.
 
I agree, he did spark something. But, the fact that the kid was yelling "I'll leave this place, just let me go" was enough for me, and the cops to just let him leave the campus without causing all that stir. Even the students were upset, and asked for the cops badge number, there was alot more we didn't see.
 
I've noticed that with law-enforcement people, once you cross a certain threshold, the walk-away option goes away. Even if that would probably be better for everyone involved.
 
The link provided was a totally intersting read especially the feedback from differing POV's on the matter by responders to the post.
 
Sad Max said:
Was Tabatabainejad wronged? Seems like 'whoops; forgot my ID, I'll go home and grab it'* would have saved everyone a lot of trouble. Handing uniformed officers a load of crap about 'the Patriot Act' etc etc etc seems intended to provoke an escalation.

It's too bad that most of the footage is of desktops and the backs of people's heads. You never see enough of Tabatabainejad or the officers, until the end, to have much idea what's going on with them.

* assuming that the regs there require you to have and show an ID when you're in the building.

No flame-fanning intended, but I concur.
 
Yeah, the guy was smarting off to the cops, but still, tasered five times seems like a bit of overkill. The chancellor of UCLA launched an investigation into the whole issue. The Patriot Act comment was pretty dumb though, police brutality existed long before the Patriot Act.
 
Yeah, given that a taser's purpose is to incapacitate...

BZZZZT! AIGGGH! *thud*

Get up!

BZZZZT! AIGGGH! *thud*

Get up!

BZZZZT! AIGGGH! *thud*

Get up!

seems kind of counterproductive...
 
As part of the taser training police go through they must get tasered themselves so they have first hand experience of what it feels like.

Yeh it pretty much shocks the crap out of you but its not leathal force, its meant to get your attention so that you'll comply with the instructions you are being given.

Its really quite simple get shocked -- shut up.
 
When I worked for B&B Group in LA some of us got curious, and took turns trying out the stunners in the back room.

Did I say 'curious?' Sorry, make that, 'stupid.'

No one screamed, but then again we were expecting it, and hadn't worked ourselves into a self-righteous hysteria like Tabatabainejad did.
 
ChuckS said:
Yeh it pretty much shocks the crap out of you but its not leathal force, its meant to get your attention so that you'll comply with the instructions you are being given.Its really quite simple get shocked -- shut up.

I think you mean Less than lethal force. I dont think tasers were intended for situations like this, or like when they are used on sitting down protestors. Im all for police protecting themselves and the community, but I always thought tasers were an alternative to using a firearm not an alternative to patience and hand cuffing/hog tying.. Best part is when the guy asks for a badge number and the officer tells him to leave or he will taser him...:eek: But I also agree, do what they say...
 
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