Cop Arrested After His Own Body Cam Refuted His Report, Shows Him Pummeling Teen

[Liberal_in_LA]

In his report, Fraser wrote that his victim, 19-year-old Michael Roquet “struck me with his left elbow in my chest,” and later “he hit me again with his elbow…. so I struck him [with a baton] in the leg and upper body” and then handcuffed him.

However, according to the body camera footage of the incident, it is clear that there is no violent struggle, and only a drunken college kid serving as an outlet for this cop’s rage. At no time in the report did Fraser mention that he struck Roquet in the head. Nor did Fraser mention that Roquet fell to the ground after the devastating blow and that he proceeded to pummel his inebriated victim as he curled up in the fetal position to protect himself.

“He [Roquet] is not resisting at that point, he is on the ground,” said Police Chief Scott Freeman as he watched the video of this beating.

Amazingly enough, when the department investigated themselves, they actually found wrongdoing. In the report investigators issued to Fraser after the incident they stated that “You violated… policy…. You used hard control strikes from an impact weapon… on an individual who was actively resistant, but was not assaultive…. a strike to the head from a baton is considered use of deadly force…. You used more force than necessary.”

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/cop-arrested-after-his-own-body-cam-refuted-his-report-shows-him-pummeling-teen

[Kablooie]

1. I wonder when these cops will realize that the game has changed?

They can't just indiscriminately do what they want to anyone as they have always done in the past.

Boy do we need these body cams. There's a whole ocean of evil that needs draining.

[NutmegYankee]

2. I'm actually shocked the teen wasn't charged with resisting arrest for the fetal position.

Because believe it or not, they've actually charged people for reflexively responding to painful stimuli with resisting arrest.

At least this Dept actually gave a damn about justice versus corruption.

[tk2kewl]

3. Evil and stupid

Did he just forget that he was recording himself?

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. usually it takes a lot of pleading and work from the victim's lawyer to get the video

[JDPriestly]

19. I think that a lot of the brutality is due to the fact that emotionally immature people in the polic

force just lose control of themselves. That was what I saw in the Sandra Bland video. An emotionally immature cop who lost control.

[Arugula Latte]

4. "Filled with Irrational Male Rage" seems to be the number one qualification to be a cop these days.

[FuzzyRabbit]

22. Roid rage

About 25% of police officers use illegal steroids. 'Roid rage is an everyday occurrence with police these days.

From http://www.menshealth.com/health/scandals-cops-and-steroids :

Officer Jimmy, however, is less constrained. "Steroid use is very pervasive in law enforcement," insists the 26-year-old cop. "I'd say, of the cops I know, 20 percent to 25 percent of them are using."

[7962]

23. I've been wondering about that. Are cops tested when they're involved in an incident?

If not, thats another step that should be taken

[FuzzyRabbit]

26. In Seattle they are not tested for steroids.

The city contract with the police officers union prohibits testing police for steroids.

[4lbs]

28. Well, that definitely needs to change. If all sorts of athletes are tested for steroids and PEDs,

then so should all law enforcement.

[7962]

34. Especially after they've been involved in a shooting. No brainer. nt

[truebluegreen]

5. I don't intend to inject levity where none is appropriate

but I remember Aasif Mandvi on the the Daily Show once, during a particularly bigoted interview, exclaim: "you know we can hear you, right?"

It is ample evidence of just how corrupt police culture is that this officer thought his bullshit would fly, despite the evidence of his body cam.

[jberryhill]

30. It's more about how people's minds work

What fight between any two people ended with one of them saying "I started it."

The difference with cops is that since a defendant is rarely going to take the stand, their version of "he started it" is the only one that the jury hears.

But people's memories are set up in such a way that self-justify.

[truebluegreen]

32. That makes more sense

and would certainly explain the ability of cop perpetrators to justify their actions in a convincing way: they've already convinced themselves.

[Phlem]

7. Oh come on now, Cops don't lie.

They are all virtuous beings that are flawless.

been there done that, and yes, they lie as good as any politician could ever hope.

[mythology]

8. Oops

Maybe he will try claiming the footage was doctored.

[chknltl]

9. I hope things have reached rock bottom...

...that this is evidence of the change the citizenry rightfully yearns for.

[Beartracks]

10. This make me wonder: just as eye witness accounts can sometimes be faulty...

... is it possible that cops, too, can mis-remember things about their own adrenaline-charged encounters with suspects?



Otherwise, why bother lying about the episode? Of course, that would actually imply that the cop could have been in some sort of "blind rage" -- which is exactly the kind of loss-of-control cops should be trained to NOT have.

The other option being that the cop simply forgot about the camera and just defaulted into doing his "normal" thing.

In either case: Body Cams are a definite necessity!

=========================

[jberryhill]

29. You make a good point

Memory is not objective.

[Lee-Lee]

37. That's one thing many people forget

Generally they expect a cops memory to be flawless and have the benefit of perfect recall and perspective- while at the same time allowing any other witness or the suspect be be human and have imperfect memory.

Cameras are always great. The protect good cops from bogus complaints. People behave better and are less likely to lie or resist or be belligerent when they know they are on camera. And cameras expose bad cops.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Direct link to the YouTube video.

For some reason, these websites like alter net and raw story never display for me om ipad.

https://m.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. Victim is white

or else the cop would have received a medal.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. That thought had crossed my mind.

And/or the cop has enemies in the department.

Yeah, I'm cynical.

[7962]

25. Jeeze, even when they get it right some folks STILL gotta whine.

If it wasnt for the camera, he'd have gotten away with it. THESE are the cases people need to SEE so they can believe that it IS happening everywhere.
What about the cop charged after his cam showed him shooting the guy in the car? That guy was black. Video is making a difference. be happy about it

[awoke_in_2003]

27. When cops start actually going to prison

and serve real time I will be happy.

[Brickbat]

12. Body cameras clearly don't prevent bad behavior.

Different solutions are needed.

[7962]

14. But WITHOUT the camera, he'd get away with it with no questions.

The cameras are another piece of the puzzle

[markpkessinger]

21. Exactly . . .

. . . Nobody ever said body cams would be the total solution. But they are a valuable tool.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

16. Nothing prevents bad behavior but if enough are caught and punished we can deter it.

[sub.theory]

17. Are you kidding?

The body cam WORKED! It showed the cop was lying. He would have gotten away with it otherwise. The body cam did its job perfectly.

[jberryhill]

31. And medical ID bracelets don't prevent car accidents

But if you are allergic to s medication, and are in a car accident, the bracelet is going to help.

The body cam, in this instance, is very likely to prevent this cop from doing the same to anyone else.

Prisons don't prevent crime either.

[Democat]

33. Yes they do

They prevent the cop from doing the same thing again the next day.

[Brickbat]

36. This post should have said "body cameras clearly don't always prevent bad behavior."

And "other solutions are also needed." I support the use of body cameras, but don't think they will end police brutality.

[7962]

13. I guess he figured no one would ever LOOK at the video?? idiot. nt

[aikoaiko]

18. I'm convinced that body cameras on cops are absolutely necessary.

They will reduce violence and they will help bring justice to some who are violated by police.

A while back I was skeptical because I wouldn't want a camera on me while I was doing my job for 8 hours a day, but clearly they are needed.

[malaise]

24. Technology always changes the dynamics

Truth will out.

[Lee-Lee]

35. Good- cameras get rid of bad cops and help good cops

They are a win-win for all.

[gratuitous]

38. And maybe we're finally on the long trek to that point

We've all heard for years about how good cops are supposed to help rein in bad cops, for the good of the community and the integrity of force. But we've also seen how that doesn't work out so well in real life, as a cadre of bad cops can rule an entire force through threats, intimidation, and outright violence against their brother and sister cops.

Here's a tool that will help those good cops identify and weed out the bad ones. Let's use it, and get our society working toward that more perfect union I hear so much about, with the promotion of the general welfare and stuff.