Officials in Livingston Parish, Louisiana are reviewing a video from a traffic stop by Deputy Chris Sturdivant that resulted in the broken neck of Adam Stogner, 42. Sturdivant believed that Stogner might be hiding drugs in his mouth when he wrestled him to the ground.
Stogner died from “severe coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, and a fracture of the hyoid bone in his neck.”
The video begins with Sturdivant suspicious about what Stogner had in his hand:
Sturdivant: “What you got in your hand? “Give me your hand,”
Stogner: “I don’t have nothing in my hand, I swear to you.”
Sturdivant later believes that he saw the man put what was in his hand into his mouth.
The Department believes that the deputy acted appropriately despite the rapid escalation of force:
“He was appropriate in his actions. He followed departmental protocol in trying to arrest a subject who tried to resist,” Ard said. Only after two more deputies arrive on scene is Stogner completely cuffed. Keep in mind, the baggy is still in his mouth. It’s then that one of the deputies notices Stogner is having trouble breathing and calls for medical help. “Is he breathing?” one of the deputies asked. “I don’t know,” another answered.
For the full story, click here.
Buddah.
Sorry for your loss. Be aware that I will miss you until you wander back to the professor’s porch light.
Carl.
This story is very disturbing. Many police officers get ‘power trips’ and think that they are above the law. Then there are the ones that have little or no value for human life. (Except their own).
If this officer was dealing with his brother and his brother had something in his hand that the officer wanted, I would bet that this would have ended differently. This cannot be chalked up to an accident involving an officer doing his job.
Ok does anyone that has posted a responce even live in Livingston Parish? Do any of you know that officer or knew the man that died? I have lived in Livingston Parish for 16 years. I have family that works for Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Livingston was on the front page of the Advocate newspaper for being the parish with the most meth! Yea that made me proud…not! Yes the officer was wrong for what he did but that doesn’t mean his neck should be broken. The guy was an idiot for having drugs on him and then tring to ingest it. Who’s not to say that if the officer hadn’t have tried to get him to spit it out that the bag wouldn’t have busted and the man die from that. Drugs only have one ending: Death. There are just many ways for that to happen. So people need to put themselves in that officers place. He’s on a road at night that isn’t used much, with no back up, and it’s dark. That officer was lucky. I know exactly how his family feels. You never know if they are coming home or if you’re going to be getting a call or a knock on the door from their fellow officers. Yes there are many MANY crooked cops in this world. But Livingston Parish only has Deputy Do-Rights and Brown-nosers. This officer was simply doing what he thought he had to do so that he could go home to his family.
“there is still a hole in my heart I’m not sure will ever heal. It will become livable, but I don’t think it’s ever going away.”
Buddha,
You made me tear up again because you attached meaning to your loss. Yes it will never go away and if you think about it you wouldn’t want it to, because T was your buddy and you carry him now. At best, as you say, it will become livable and that is the lot we mortals face. By talking about your loss you are participating in the human mourning process and beginning the healing part. The loss is never healed, but our mourning allows us to go on in our lives and still find meaning in living.
With Love,
Mike
Buddha,
Oh fat, maybe not so Jolly Green Avatar One. It is good to see your Avatar appear on Turley land. Your presence has been missed. Your wit has been been absent. Though the thoughts of your wit have not.
It appears that we have had a lot of post on a lot of things on this site that are in dire need of wit, as you sit, remember that everyones ideal is as invaluable as the next.
A loss is still a loss. I cannot express any words of assurance to anyone but I feel the mothers pain in the way that only I can feel. I know what it is like from a fathers perspective and that is enough said.
If the professor has time you too can ask for my email address and I gladly consent to the availability of the same.
R
CM and Lottakatz,
Your kind words carry the value of experience. As much as I thank you both for you friendship, I must also convey my most sincere condolences about your losses. It is somewhat easier to loose an older relative, especially if they lived a full life and dies as happy as one can. I miss my grandfather every day. But I didn’t feel his loss the way I feel the loss of T. I don’t have children of my own and at this rate I’m unlikely to, but of the children in the extended family a try to spend my “dad time” with them when I can.
T was my buddy. Smart as a whip and always first in line to help his mom. Loved animals and there wasn’t a mean bone in his body. His heart was so big it was astounding. But at a scant five years old . . . senseless is the only word that comes to mind. What could a five year old have possibly done to deserve this? Nothing, I know, and before Bob beats me to it, “Deserve ain’t got nothin’ to do with it.” It is just so wasteful and unjust and painful. I worry little about my pain though. I’m built of stern stuff. But his poor mother . . . that woman has had enough misery in her life without this. She’s had enough heartache for 10 lives and he was her beacon of joy. She’s so heartbroken it’s almost incomprehensible. I am both angered that she has had this sorrow inflicted upon her and amazed at her strength. I would trade 100 IQ points if I could make her happy right now. If I could do ANYTHING to help fill that void. If I could do anything to bring him back.
He had the sniffles and a cold or so we all thought at first. Nothing out of the ordinary. Kids do get sick. But Saturday you could tell he was down. Sunday night he said he wanted to see the doctor on Monday. He hated going to the doctor. But in he went like a brave little warrior.
He never came out.
It wasn’t the flu or a cold. It was a massive infection. The doctor’s said even if he’d been brought in on Friday that they still probably would have lost him.
The bit I’ve written here today has helped a bit, but there is still a hole in my heart I’m not sure will ever heal. It will become livable, but I don’t think it’s ever going away. Senseless deaths never leave a man.
Buddah.
Sorry to hear about your loss. Nothing anyone says can help ease the pain.
Over a period of 2 days less than a year between 2007/10/15 and 2008/10/13 I lost both my parents and my wife. the loss of my parents was bearable since they were aged 97 and 95 respectively and had good health up to the last few months and I can not say that life cheated them of anything, but my wife was only 43 and died after 8 months of anxiety and worry about ovarian cancer. I do not think I will ever get over her loss. One thing that distracts me for a time however is making sarcastic posts on blogs.
Buddah you may have lost what you see as your normal motivation for posting but rage and pain can serve as another motive, and at least it might distract you for a while and may help your normal motive to recover a bit.
Buddha:
Buddha,
Good to hear from you. Hang in there.
Thanks, mespo. Your offer to breach anonymity was much appreciated. I couldn’t stay away from my friends for long. They are the yellow sun to my kryptonite of Neocon fascism.
I am very glad you checked in with us Buddha. My thoughts are with you and the rest of your family.
I ‘m not one to believe in ever-flowing blessings, but I’m coming around after your post today. Welcome back.