The video below is causing a great deal of public anger showing St Paul officer Jesse Zilge macing, kicking, and hitting suspect Eric Hightower, who is slammed face first on to the hood of a cruiser.
Hightower was being sought on suspicion of threatening the life of another person. In August 2011, Hightower greeted an acquaintance with, “What up, boy?” and the man took offense at the term “boy.” That produced an argument during which Hightower punched the other man in the face, knocking out his two front teeth.
In defense of the Zilge, St. Paul Police Federation President Dave Titus struck out at the mayor’s statement of concern over the treatment of Hightower and his demand for an investigation. Titus objected that “[t]his cop was dealing with a very dangerous individual in a very dangerous situation . . . Back-up was not immediately available. And maybe our officials shouldn’t make comments about their concern until the investigation has run its course. This is a good cop.”
Hightower was arrested on suspicion of making terroristic threats, obstructing legal process and criminal damage to property.
Source: Twin Cities
Waldo, if you ever get arrested, I presume your comment implies you will have no problem with being slammed against the hood of a squad car, having your hair pulled, and being dropped to the ground when they are putting you inside the car. . . .
this officer needs to be fired for what he did to this guy and he also needs to have someone do to him what he did to this guy and see how he feels i feel we are in a vigalante state and this is what taxpayers are paying for no respect everyone of the officers involved in this should not be on the streets tonight there is no justice anymore police officers can just use excessive force all day long and break every law known to man and get away with it it just makes me sick i live in saint paul and this is what kind of police force i have to witness just sick i tell you
And many wonder why so many have instinctive animosity toward police officers. What message does this send to all those who witnessed, especially young children about police?
In one of the articles above, Lindsey Graham laments some idea of a lack of angry white guys. The Klan up there in Minnesota does a pretty good job. Put a badge on them and take off the hoods. Every cop there on the scene who did not arrest the cop who kicked the guy when he was down needs to be arrested and charged with the assaults as well. Please send the tape to a grand jury and indict the federal prosecutor if he does not bring charges.
There’s no logic or rational reason for abusive police behavior. They apparently feel entitled to act through not their cool, rational sides, but their hot-headed, power-hungry, angry, emotional, adrenaline-soaked sides. And then when they get no more than a slap on their wrists, they find their arrogant entitlement justified, and the whole ugly cycle is allowed to be perpetuated. It’s an unholy alliance among many parties.
Again, trying to look on the bright side. The Twin Cities have a large Hmong population and I believe the Asian cop is Hmong.
I reckon it would be very un pc to bring up the hilarious and quite pertinent Chris Rock bit titled: How Not to Get Your Ass Kicked by the Police.”
These officers are pussies. cowards and racists. more clear views of our police state and how they do not respect the people they are supposed to serve. No telling what kinds of health problems this man has that will be aggravated by being mistreated in this way.
You will never see this done to a big older man in white suburbia, never ever.
This is part of why I stopped blogging much. I just can’t keep seeing stuff like this and not want to encourage people seeing such situations to try to take out the cops.
And, yes, I understand that one day, when I interfere with police officers acting like animals against a fellow citizen, I’m going to possibly get hurt.
The kick in the chest looks pretty bad to me. The rest . . . not so much.
“Titus objected that “[t]his cop was dealing with a very dangerous individual in a very dangerous situation . . . Back-up was not immediately available. And maybe our officials shouldn’t make comments about their concern until the investigation has run its course. This is a good cop.”
Hightower was arrested on suspicion of making terroristic threats, obstructing legal process and criminal damage to property.”
Darren got it right by leading off with the kicking of the suspect on the ground.
That to me was the tipping point of excessive brutality. The officer was in no danger from the man who was prone and rightly should have let him lay there until backup arrived. Once backup did arrive the man was then controlled by two officers (with four others present) who slammed him onto the hood of the police car further demonstrating brutal behavior. Were I a police officer I would definitely ensure my own safety in a dangerous situation, however, this officer was clearly not in danger when he kicked the defendant in the chest.
The kick was an act of anger and professionals are paid to control their anger.
What I also find revealing about this is that the charges don’t reflect the supposed assault that led to the arrest. That in itself seems suspicious.
If this is a good cop, St. Paul is in real trouble. The video is one of the better quality ones that we have seen and it makes one wonder if this defendant/victim was not black, would he still have been mistreated. This cop brutally kicked him in the chest and then continually pulled his hair. This is a disgusting example of what is wrong with police forces. How many crimes did these officers commit that they will probably never be charged with?
A taser is a deadly weapon. Video cameras are deadly in a different respect. God made rifles. They need to be used on all eight pigs that are in this crime scene. Saint Paul people need to do their duty to rectify this situation. There needs to be some funerals.
St. Paul Police Federation President Dave Titus:
Maybe Titus shouldn’t make a comment until the investigation has run its course.
Everyone of those kids at the birthday party got a lesson in how the police treat Black kids. One lesson on the street providing punctuation for the discussion when they got home.
btw, It’s not a good idea to tell a Black man “atta, boy”. There is no connotation that is likely to be appreciated.
https://www.commondreams.org/further/2012/08/29-2 08.29.12 – 11:50 PM LAPD, Again by Abby Zimet
“Los Angeles police chief has censured a commander for his “severely deficient response” after video surfaced of him and another officer stopping Michelle Jordan, 34, for driving while talking on a cellphone, brutally bodyslamming her twice to the ground while she was handcuffed, and then celebrating with a fist-bump. Isn’t it about time someone house-trained these beasts?”
I don’t see what the justifiction could have been for kicking him on the ground. To me it did not appear the suspect was trying to get up or attack the officer. Just keeping him on the ground until backup arrived would have been enough. I don’t know what caused the suspect to be pepper sprayed or tased though. I would have left the Taser darts inside of him and waited until another officer got there. That way if he became violent or attempted to flee, he could have been lit up again and that would be it. Just kicking him, didn’t seem necessary.
He could have been just as easily walked back to the side of the trunk and frisked there, then put into the car.
What thugs …
We are living in a Police State….. Give his family members night-sticks, and let them distribute the punishment….
One right set at a time…