There is a disturbing video out of Skokie, Illinois where Cassandra Feuerstein is shown being thrown face first into a concrete bench by officers after her arrest for DUI. Feuerstein, 47, is suing for the alleged abuse, which included four deputies stripping her and leaving her in a cell without her clothes. Several bones were broken in her face.
Feuerstein was arrested for DUI after officers found her pulled over at the side of the road and asleep behind the wheel. The video below shows a calm Feuerstein who asks to call her husband and kids. Officer Michael Hart calls her out of the cell, and less than 20 seconds later, the video shows Hart throwing the 110-pound woman back into the cell — face-first into a cement bench.
A police report says that Feuerstein was not looking at the camera when being processed and then charged her with resisting arrest while being brought back to the cell. The subsequent charge raises obvious concerns. We have previously seen where, after an abusive arrest or seizure of property, police will add charges against the alleged victim. Notably, in this case, the State’s Attorney later dropped the resisting arrest charges and Feuerstein pleaded guilty to drunk driving. What is not clear is if the prosecutors saw this video and failed to take any actions. There is no report of any discipline for the officers.
The police report states that the resisting arrest charge was based on the grounds that Feuerstein “knowingly resisted … in that she pulled away from (the officer) and placed both her hands on the sides of the cell door all in an attempt to not be placed into the holding cell.” That charge appears entirely spurious and abusive and reads like a transparent effort to coerce a victim into silence in hopes of a plea deal. Yet, again, the officer does not appear to have been disciplined and the prosecutors took no action other than dropping the obviously baseless charge.
Neither the police chief nor the city would make any comment. The pictures and video below however speak for themselves.
Source: NBC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXC-w_gw … plpp_video
“Just to keep perspective, these incidents are isolated. This kind of behavior is not tolerated in any of the law enforcement agencies I consult with.”
OS
OS, I don’t doubt you but I ran across this video a year or two ago and it was hard not to vomit. Granted some of the attacks were from other countries but most were here in the USA. The attacks extend to school security; private security for shoplifters, etc.
Another “Village” police department adding additional charges to cover the fact that the woman received extensive injuries while in custody. I wonder which supervising officer approved the arrest and the additional charges. I wonder how long it took to provide medical treatment. I wonder how many officers saw the naked woman with the broken face in her cell before she was released. Did it take more than one officer to strip her? The Chief is refusing to comment.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/23062429-418/suit-claims-skokie-cop-used-excessive-force-on-woman-accused-of-dui.html
It’ll all come out in depositions and, if correctly handled by her attorney, might even travel up the ladder to the State’s Attorney .
It is perfectly normal. This is exactly what happens when a society has a breakdown of the rule of law. We now have rule by law. From top to bottom law enforcement is uparmored and ready to kick around our citizens. They well understand that the DOJ and this administration, like the one before it, will do nothing to protect citizens from abuse. That’s why we don’t have prosecutions for torture and abuse overseas or at home.
There are many good police people, but like other good people in these difficult jobs, their voices of sanity are being ground to dust.
Humans…. the lowest form of life on the Planet.
Here, there was one officer who used a ridiculous amount of force, and a couple more officers with information suggesting that no such force would have been needed as the woman was basically cooperative. In the agencies I represent, each of those officers would have written a report concerning this incident. I wonder what they say. Until both the misbehaving officer and untruthful observing officers are disciplined every time, the abuse by law enforcement officers will continue.
It is perfectly human to get irritated, but there are certain jobs in which such irritation cannot be permitted to affect how the person responds on the job. Law enforcement officer and judge are two of those jobs. Officers who lack the control necessary should be moved on to careers which are more appropriate for them.
“Just to keep perspective, these incidents are isolated. This kind of behavior is not tolerated in any of the law enforcement agencies I consult with.”
OS,
I don’t doubt you, nor do I think most police officers act like this. The problem though remains that the “blue wall of silence” extends to the good police officers everywhere who don’t speak up when stories like this come to pass. Like any profession that gives one instant authority, judges perhaps, a certain thuggish element is attracted to it and those that care to do their jobs correctly must speak out against those who besmirch their profession.
ddickerson2013 –
“It is on video, undeniable! Fire and charge each one “
Do you mean fire them out of a cannon at a brick wall? Sadly, we can’t. But if they got the longest sentence possible for aggravated assault and attempted murder, to be served consecutively, that would suffice.
If “cops” expect civilians to get longer sentences for crimes committed against “cops”, then the boys with blue balls should get longer sentences too. They know what the law is and are supposed to uphold it, so when they violate it, they’re worse than the criminals and should be punished similarly.
If you or I get a year for something, give the “cop” five. If we get eight for manslaughter, the “cop” should be executed. Fair’s fair.
Ron –
Don’t call them animals. Few animals act vindictively or deliberately try to cause harm to other animals for amusement. Most harm that animals cause is for food and territory, not because of sociopathic behaviour.
http://youtu.be/57R_yETYgWU
The world’s largest and worst street gang of thugs commits another crime. And the gang members who did it won’t see a day in prison because they have undeserved immunity from prosecution.
If the woman has managed to throw one of the pi…uh, “cops” into that concrete bench and caused the same damage, she wouldn’t have survived the night.
Steve Fleischer – not cynical with democracy Steve, just those who abuse it. One day we may learn not to put animals in positions of power and authority, right up to and including the White House.
When this is over, she has my personal permission to shoot several Cops… in the BALLS!!!!!
What would it hurt to use gentler launguage when trying to get someone’s co-operation?
Idiots in uniform.
Just to keep perspective, these incidents are isolated. This kind of behavior is not tolerated in any of the law enforcement agencies I consult with. Just this week, a local deputy sheriff was arrested and charged with violence. Two weeks ago, a correctional officer was arrested. New hires are warned there are cameras everywhere, and if they do something stupid, there will be consequences.
It is said a fish rots from the head down. Some agencies are a moral pigsty from the top down. We only have to look to Oakland for a horrible example, where it starts in the Mayor’s office.
so such disgusting things are happening in u.s.a.too!..not just in india…
Too many unworthy people are deemed “authority”. Peace officers are not meant to create laws, they are paid to abide by and encourage others to do the same. I am so disgusted with the frequency of this happening! Imagine how the cops that are doing their job correctly feel.
It is on video, undeniable! Fire and charge each one of these wolves in sheeps clothing immediately!
Yep.
No one cares about what happens to people who are in jail or prison, because “they deserve whatever they get.” It is sickening that officers can behave this way with impunity.
The war is home. These are tactics used on detainees. No charges is also SOP. We are a police state where the weak are harmed and the strong do as they please.
Disgusting.
We all express outrage and then nothing – silence, or at best a small payment with taxpayer money and the cops stay on the street (with guns).
Starting to feel cynical about the democratic process.