Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Escalation

One of the worst aspects (and there are many) of “law enforcement” in Late-Empire America is the unwarranted – rapid and violent – escalation of response by police, often out of all proportion to the original “offense” and when the “offender” is clearly no physical threat to the cop or anyone else.

For example, there’s the infamous case of Audra Harmon, who was pulled over for a minor traffic violation; ordinary speeding. The woman – a mom with her kids in the car – argues with the cop, asking that he show her the radar readout, rather than being immediately servile and submissive. The cop – a large man – begins to scream at her, then physically assaults her for “resisting,” ultimately Tazering her, forcing her to the ground and handcuffing her in front of her kids. Here is the video of that incident:



More

16 comments:

Dave P. said...

The woman should not have opened up her door and gotten out of the vehicle. It doesnt matter what the initial offense was, once she stepped out of the vehicle, she has violated one of the cardinal rules of being pulled over. In my opinon, she got what she deserved and I dont feel sorry for her.

Anonymous said...

Yea I think that police brutality is a real issue and I think that it needs to be dealt with; however, she should not have gotten out of the car. DUH! Common sense should tell everyone to stay seated while being pulled over unless they ask you to step out of the car.

Anonymous said...

I think the cops did the right thing.
Disobeying a lawful police order in both cases. Resisting arrest inboth cases.
Everyone seems to forget that a woman can shoot or carry a knife.
Get over it , thanks for the cops!

Cathy said...

lots of people do bad things in front of children. that officer didn't know if she was a psycho or not. who in their right mind gets out of the car during a traffic stop unless you are asked to??! it seems to me he gave her plenty of opportunity to stop being difficult. if you weren't speeding, plead your case in court. i bet she won't get out of the car during a traffic stop again.

Anonymous said...

32 & 38 are right. she got what she deserved!

Anonymous said...

Cops are not here to police anymore, they are here to raise funds for their local departments.
It is more important to write tickets, so the governments have a steady cash flow.

Check it out, The truth hurts !

Anonymous said...

Wow are YOU GUYS FREAKING SEROIOUS?
I have seen cops allow people who get out of the car to get back in and no harm no foul. This lady has her kids in the car and gets pissed because of a ticket so decides she wants to see what she is receiving the ticket for. He could have easily just placed her in handcuffs he is twice her size. I have a very,very, very hard time believing that some of you who thinks she "got what she deserved" would feel the same way if it were your sister or your mother on that video tape, especially infront of her kids. I hope the cop was fired.

Anonymous said...

Oh and by the way if you were wondering, plenty of people wahve died from being tased, because if she had died then that police force would be facing a lawsuit.

Anonymous said...

won't get out or ask questions next time will she?

Anonymous said...

Who the hell deserves to be tazered for such a thing as that?!

Agreed she should NOT have gotten out of the car, and should have gotten back in when it seems that he instructed her to do so.

But using a tazer? Come on. And I do believe she has the right to see the reading of her speed.

Anonymous said...

Only within the last 20 years have cops NOT wanted you out of the car. Before then they wanted you outside to see if you were drunk, a potential threat, and to profile you for any problems. That's now apparently over with, today they figure they (the cops) are safer with you inside the vehicle. This cop was apparently wanting to use his tazer on someone, anyone that day. He was over the top for the situation and made all of it happen. Smart cops use their head and maintain control and use moderation in all things, because they're safer. This jerk of a cop should be fired and his department/town will be sued, just as they should. A jury will award, just on the merits of this tape only. I support all law enforcement, right up until the time that I see something like this, so far off base taking place. All of it was entirely unnecessary.

Anonymous said...

12:07 you are an idiot. Further up in the posts is a story about an accident because of SPEEDING. Don't speed. It is the law. Who the heck are you to determine what laws can be broken?

Anonymous said...

Seriously, guys! Within about 20 seconds after the moment she opened her car door to get out, this cop had already pulled out his tazer, pointed it at her and seemingly threatened to use it on her! This guy has no people skills at all and is dangerous. If this were to have happened pre-tazer era, would he have been so quick to "throw down" on an unarmed woman? Would he have tried to talk a little more? ...or would he have shot her? I guess in your collective opinion, she's a lucky woman she "just" got tazed. Hope she's suing. Hope she wins!

Anonymous said...

Outstanding use of force against a resisting and combative women. Exactly what the taser was meant to be used for.

Anonymous said...

12:07 you are an idiot. Further up in the posts is a story about an accident because of SPEEDING. Don't speed. It is the law. Who the heck are you to determine what laws can be broken?

August 2, 2011 5:15 PM

I'm not 12:07 but what the heck are you talking about? 12:07 said nothing about speeding or anything remotely connected to which you accuse.

"Don't speed, it is the law". lmao.

rookie

Anonymous said...

Wow. Seems like most of the comments on this one were made by cops dyin' to taze someone!