Posted on 01/11/2012 11:27:08 AM PST by Altariel
When Jermaine Green and his fiancee Violet Roberts got on a Metro bus in Bellflower Monday night, they took notice of another passenger.
"The lady got on the bus with a stroller full of pillows, she was very polite, said hello to everyone and sat down," Green said.
At the next stop, two LA County sheriff's deputies, one male and one female, boarded the bus and called the passenger by name.
"They said get off the bus. She then started cursing at (the female deputy). You could tell she had special needs. After that they grab her, she curses him out, calls him a big shot, next thing you know he gives her a big shot," Green said.
Green captured the incident with his cell phone's video camera.
****
Green claims the deputies then tried to intimidate him when he refused to hand over his cell phone.
"He comes to me and says you can be under arrest if you don't give me that video," Green said.
Green said the deputy then asked if he had any warrants.
"I said no, I'm a veteran, I just came back, I have six years, I have no record, and he said 'We'll see about that.'"
Why didn't Green want to hand over this video to the deputies involved?
"I think they would try to cover it up. I think a lot of things get covered up and people need to come forward if they see something, report it because it can't be fixed unless it's brought to the public's attention," Green said.
A sheriff's department spokesman told NBCLA over the phone the department would not comment on this case and would not look at the videotape, but the spokesman said the department does investigate all use of force claims.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbclosangeles.com ...
Isn’t the new mantra “If you see something, say something?”
LA County Sheriffs tend to recruit a lot of lowlifes, not the least of which is Sheriff Lee Baca.
At first I thought two buses were fighting.
Well hell, at least they didn’t shoot the dog. Oh yeah, there was no dog. Good thing for the dogs ‘cause sure as shootin’ if one had been around they would’ve been shot.
.
These things are always reported out of context.
It looks to me like the deputies are being very patient with the lady while she verbally abuses them with curse words bleeped out and finally they take appropriate action to stop her and are still very careful in the apprehension and the arrest.
The context, I would speculate, is that the bus driver called the police perhaps because of a history with this lady being disruptive before.
Also, as the poster above noted, a stroller full of pillows might make some people uncomfortable in these “see something, say something” times we live in.
Does she have a right to make life uncomfortable for the people around her? The L.A. area has too many “mentally ill” crazy people and folks are tired of being held hostage to their threatening (and often outright violent) behavior.
People who work for the government have rights. The people the government works for, eh, not so much.
All assumption you could as easily assume that the deputies just wanted to hassle her. If they are not arresting her then she does not have to get off the bus.
Also, as the poster above noted, a stroller full of pillows might make some people uncomfortable in these “see something, say something” times we live in.
Being uncomfortable is not a reason to allow police brutality or illegal restraint or searches. If being uncomfortable is a valid reason then the country is too far gone and there will be a civil war. Verbal abuse is not reason enough to strike someone.
Does she have a right to make life uncomfortable for the people around her?
Just like you and I have no right not to be offended no one has the right not to be uncomfortable.
They are not supposed to respond to insults with force. Unless the passenger grabbed the male deputy’s genitals or went for his weapon - no excuse. He had his hand on her arm; the female deputy had her hand on the passenger’s shoulder; I didn’t see any sudden motion of the passenger’s arm. He just let go of her arm and punched her.
Pillows? If this woman is mentally ill, developmentally disabled or homeless, she probably travels with her pillows. If she’s not leaving them behind, she’s no more suspicious than anyone with travelling with their baggage. “DHS, there’s a crazy-looking fat lady here with some pillows? I’m worried about a foam and feather attack?”
If she’s non-threatening (quiet and polite) she has every right to ride that bus, and I’d have no problem riding with her. If she smells, I’d go upwind.
How can YOU assume the “the deputies just wanted to hassle her?” They do not routinely board public buses without being called. The stroller lady was the one acting up, not the deputies.
And look at how quickly you allege “police brutality” when there is no evidence of such in the video.
Please tell me about the society you envision where we have no law enforcement.
As I said, you don’t know the context. The bus driver could have had a history with the lady. They’re out there several hours a day and become familiar with the clientele. Something may have occurred on a previous bus trip the same day.
The video doesn’t give you before and after, and it is an all-too-typical “gotcha” which local media loves to air, especially the most leftist of all, the NBC station. They want us all to become judge and jury without knowing the facts.
Striking the women was police brutality. If I just hit someone then I commit a crime, for police it is called police brutality.
Leo Terrell, is that you?
Manuel Ramos, is that you?
Maybe the bus driver did call the cops. Maybe every time there’s a red light she takes out her watch and if they stop for more than sixty seconds she pisses in her seat.
But I did not see her do anything that would justify that punch. Maybe her left hand did something we didn’t see but if it didn’t, no excuse. I’ve gotten cursed and called names doing my job - I don’t get to punch anyone for it.
And the deputies threatening Jermaine Green and telling him he had to give up his cell? The department spokesman saying there are no plans to use that video in the mandatory investigation? That doesn’t make the sheriff’s department look like it knows it’s on the side of truth and justice here.
You make me uncomfortable. Get to the back of the bus.
Typical of you to come in and paint all law enforcement with a broad brush.
When you slander ALL of Los Angeles law enforcement, you are also slandering HUNDREDS of military veterans and active duty military officers. May I assume that you are also anti-U.S. military?
L.A. Law Enforcement is notorious for being among the worst municipal police departments in the USA in terms of corruption and criminality.
And boot licking slime who circle the wagons around corrupt Police who beat women in public and try to steal the evidence of it don't help the situation.
What does that mean exactly? What did you do in the Air Force?
As usual, it seems you have some kind of grudge due to an experience or two you have personally had with law enforcement. It seems to be a personal thing for you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.