We have discussed cases of the use of tasers or pepper spray as first responses by police when alternatives seem obvious. This video shows a confrontation between an officer and a squirrel where the officer pepper sprays the squirrel over the objections of onlookers.
It is not clear what danger was presented by the squirrel but I expect that it is fully recovered. It would seem a fairly common occurrence for students to encounter squirrels outside of buildings.
This is really not about the squirrel is it?
@Feyd…Really! Loud music? That cop needs a bit of attention deficit help, if that were the case, which is wasn’t.
What a wimp. Using OC against a squirrel? If the squirrel had to be chased off wouldn’t just walking over to it make it run away, or was it so fearsome he had to jump up the Force Continuum to address the threat the squirrel presented?
To the hammer addict, everything is a nail.
I study and work on a large college campus with 30K students. Our squirrels can be approached as close as 3 feet before they move away. They, rightly, do not seem to view college students as a threat – I suspect the squirrels are given treats by some of the students. Hard to judge by the brief video, but the squirrel does not appear to be attacking the officer or otherwise displaying aggressive signs. I think he pepper-sprayed it because he could, and if no students were around he might have unlimbered the .40 Glock for some live fire target practice. After all, cops shoot dogs, don’t they?
A statement from the Hawthorne Police Department detailed his alleged interference: “This interference included loud, distracting music (from the individual’s vehicle), and his intentional walking within close proximity to armed officers, while holding an 80-pound Rottweiler on a long leash-line,” the statement said.
LIES! watch the video
Oh, I love bustin’ chops, but I was called a troll when I first got here. I didn’t know what that meant. I laughed my ass off when I learned what it meant because I am the anti-troll, as I believe you and most folks are here. We did have a sockpuppet here last week however, lame and stupid.
nick:
you dont like bustin chops? I wont give your secret away.
Lynch mob? This place makes lynch mobs look like a rational exercise in justice.
I know those damn things tear up my cushions for my lawn furniture, but I’m not sure they need to be pepper sprayed.
Bron, I expect to be considered a “fly in the ointment” on this. However, I NEVER write a comment trying to be an instigator. I gives caveats. But, I know this can be a lynch mob @ times.
Hope the little guy’s friends ambush the cop and take his nuts (though they’re obviously not very big…)
nick:
get with the program, we are bustin the cops chops over the case of the pepper squirrel. Do you want onions with that?
Sadistic cop abuses, tortures squirrel. Charming.
With wild animals, including squirrels, one must be concerned w/ rabies. I’m not saying that’s the case here. But, it is a possibility and a 30 second clip w/o context makes definitive conclusions quite difficult. Why was the cop there? Was he called there by someone saying there is a squirrel acting “squirrely? Have there been reports of rabies in the area? Was he simply trying to disable the squirrel until animal control arrived? There are many more questions than legit conclusions. It’s noteworthy the squirrel kept advancing although being sprayed. Hell, just think about when you’re walking in a neighborhood or woods. As soon as you get close to a squirrel it’s up a tree in a second. Maybe the truth is the guy is just in love w/ his pepper spray. But, having videotaped people for over 30 years I know you get NO context from a 30 second clip. If I went into a courtroom and showed simply a 30 second clip of a plaintiff bending over a couple times when they were allegedly disabled, as proof they were lying, I would be laughed out of court.
this big-man cop was just bored…torturing something the size of his bicep was a bit of entertainment. a peek inside at some of what drives certain small-minded men (and women, albeit not as commonly) to engage in cruelty and torture of other human beings…
Bron…Good thing it wasn’t a ‘Black’ squirrel… he might have been shot!
This Cop’s new nick name….. ”WORM”
at least he just pepper sprayed the little guy. Was it a black squirrel or grey?
He is going to be abused by fellow cops. Oh, I would have a field day yanking his chain.
I guess Boris Badinoff really does exist and it looks like Rocky got the best of him. Did you see how quickly he backe away from the “perp”?
Or, if that doesn’t work… amputate his ‘trigger’ finger…………….
I’d say….. Force this ”butt-sucker’s” head into a barrel full of Pepper spray for five minutes…………….. or until he developes a little humanity