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In reply to the discussion: Sandra Bland's Death Now Being Investigated as a Murder [View all]Akicita
(1,196 posts)1) According to the Bland family lawyer, the incident escalated from a warning ticket for failing to signal to an arrest for assault on a public official and resisting arrest and ultimately Sandra's death by murder or suicide because Sandra refused a command to put out her cigarette. This was the pebble that started the avalanche. My question is, given the dangers of second hand smoke, is the cop legally allowed to order her to put out her smoke? Or was she within her legal rights to refuse the command?
I think we all could use an education on what is and is not legal for a cop to command. I wish the government would issue clear guidelines and educate the citizenry(especially the cops) so citizens and cops would know exactly where the line is between standing up for your rights in a legal fashion vs risking arrest for not cooperating. The feds should strictly enforce these regs against any cops crossing the line.
2) In the bystander video the cop is heard telling the filmer that he must leave. The filmer appears to be quite a distance from the scene as does not appear to be in any way obstructing the cops. I don't believe that was a legal command.Clear guidelines need to be issued and enforced clarifying citizens' rights to record police from a safe distance. Citizens and cops should all be educated by the fed gov so we all know the rules. Cops should be held accountable by the feds for violating the rights of bystanders to film police actions.
3) Why did the cop order Sandra out of the car? Was he arresting her? For what? Refusing to put out a cigarette? Is that legal? She ended up being arrested for resisting arrest and assault. What was she originally being arrested for when she resisted and was that arrest legal?