Deserves a six-figure settlement (minimum)

[IDIOT] Cincinnati officer faulted for using stun gun on [INNOCENT] teen [LINK]

CINCINNATI (AP) -- A police officer responding to a burglary alarm at a restaurant acted inappropriately when he used a stun gun on a high school student who didn't respond to the officer's commands to stop walking away from the scene, according to an internal investigation. Officer Andrew Mitchell fired the stun gun on Chris Bauer Jr. without first warning him, the report released Thursday by the city's police department said.

Bauer, 19, was walking in a parking lot with his hands in his pockets and his head down. He showed no signs he knew the officer was there nor displayed any signs of aggression or resistance, the report concluded. Bauer, who fell to the pavement and chipped a tooth, didn't hear the officer's commands because he was listening to his iPod, his attorney John Helbling said. Earphones and a portable audio device were found next Bauer, but Mitchell told investigators that he didn't think Bauer had been wearing the earphones. The issue was inconclusive [*], the internal report states.

[* No it isn't. If kids have iPods, then they're listening to them unless the battery is dead. This flimsy excuse is stupid, nonsensical and a flagrant attempt to find a reason to blame the victim. Yeah, good luck with that one.]

The review faults Mitchell for not verifying if a holdup had taken place and for failing to get a description of any suspects before telling Bauer to stop. A disciplinary hearing was scheduled for April 10. Kathy Harrell, a spokeswoman for the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police, said Mitchell did what he felt was necessary. "This officer at the time had information that there was a robbery in progress," [**] she said. "There's an individual that's leaving at a quick pace, not obeying their orders."

[** No he didn't have information that there was "a robbery in progress". He had information that there was an alarm. He should arrive promptly and investigate with an open mind. Not start shooting off his weapons like an idiot. 'Quick pace' is probably normal walking speed for many people. Lunatic excuses. Hey Harrell, why not stop being an apologist for the idiot officer that made a very serious mistake?]

Bauer, who also suffered cuts to his face in the fall, has memory loss and other problems, his attorney said.


I recommend a minimum 6-figure settlement simply because we need to get the point across to the thick-headed that such behavior is not tolerated. Even $1 million wouldn't be out of line; and would certainly get their attention. A token settlement in the 5-figures range would simply fail to convey the seriousness of this incident.

This incident also reveals the lies and propaganda regarding the all-too-common real-world application of tasers.

Lie: "They're only used against violent criminals"
Truth: "...nor displayed any signs of aggression or resistance..."

Lie: Just obey and you won't get zapped:
Truth: "...didn't hear the officer's commands because he was listening to his iPod..."


These sorts of outlandish examples are coming out faster than Taser's stupid press releases about the occasional success stories.