Video Shows Cop Making Unprovoked Attack On Homeless Man

[Judi Lynn]

Video Shows Cop Making Unprovoked Attack On Homeless Man
by Carimah Townes Posted on February 24, 2015 at 9:59 am Updated: February 24, 2015 at 11:28 am

Cell phone video captured at a bus terminal in Ft. Lauderdale shows a police officer throwing a homeless man to the ground and slapping him for trespassing. However, the incident is not an isolated one.

In the video, which was posted to YouTube on Sunday, Officer Victor Ramirez grabs Bruce Laclair by the arm and pushes him to the ground. Laclair tells the officer that he needs to pee, as Ramirez repeatedly tells him to get up. Then, Ramirez slaps Laclair, saying, “I’m not fucking around with you. Don’t fucking touch me,” before proceeding to handcuff him.

Ramirez was “relieved of duty with pay” on Monday. Laclair was released on bail hours later.

Watch the video:

Florida’s effective criminalization of homeless people has been widely publicized in the past year. During National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November, a homeless man was arrested for protesting Ft. Lauderdale’s discriminatory policies at a meeting to honor the special week. The city prevents homeless people from displaying their possessions in public, and sleeping on public grounds. A 90-year-old man was also arrested in the city for feeding the homeless.

More:
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/02/24/3626244/officer-pushes-and-slaps-homeless-man-for-trespassing/

[GreatGazoo]

1. a law against "displaying their possessions in public" ?!

what ??

[The Wizard]

2. When a culture treats its most vulnerable

like stray animals the fall can not be far. We've turned a blind eye to dehumanized police who act with impunity. The honest cops have to protect the thugs as they might be needed in dangerous situations. The question is: What is the tipping point where the good cops will no longer tolerate the inhumanity imposed by the dehumanized police on the general public?
Police have to remove themselves from the concept of us against them with the them being everyone not carrying a badge.
When police see themselves as part of the greater community everyone benefits.

[janlyn]

3. What is really frightening is the fact

that the person filming felt the need to hide their action. We Americans are smartening up, and know that the cops are becoming the real criminals!

[mikeysnot]

4. That is why we call it FloriDUH

so glad my grandparents our out of that stupid state.