... No drugs were found!
Posted on 03/02/2005 7:09:34 AM PST by esryle
AURORA, Colo. -- Aurora police have reviewed a weekend incident in which a man accused of stealing salad from a Chuck E. Cheese salad bar was hit with a stun gun twice by officers and said that proper procedures were followed.
The incident began at 4:05 p.m. Sunday when officers were called to the restaurant on a report of a larceny in progress.
Police talked to the Chuck E. Cheese manager, who told them that a customer had refused to show proof that he had paid for food. The manager said the man was seen "loading" his plate at the salad bar.
The officers confronted Danon Gale, 29, who was at the restaurant with his children, aged 3 and 7. Patrons said the popular kids pizza parlor was packed with children and families at the time.
According to police, Gale was asked to step outside to discuss the incident.
"According to witnesses (Gale) refused to cooperate with police and a struggle ensued," said Larry Martinez, a police spokesman. He said that Gale became argumentative and shoved one of the officers, a fact disputed by another patron.
"One of the officers kept poking the gentleman in the chest," Felicia Mayo told the Rocky Mountain News.
She was there with her 7-year-old son. She told the newspaper that Gale told the officer "You don't have to do that." She said Gale never put his hands on the officer who was confronting him
The argument escalated until Gale was shoved into the lap of Mayo's sister, who was sitting two booths away, holding a 10-month-old baby. That's when police pulled out a Taser stun gun to subdue him.
"They beat this man in front of all these kids then Tased him in my sister's lap," Mayo told the newspaper. "They had no regard for the effect this would have on the kids. This is Chuck E. Cheese, you know."
Gale's two children were "screaming and hollering and crying" as Gale was hit two times with the stun gun.
Police arrested Gale as his children and other customers watched. They took him outside, leaving his children inside the restaurant.
Gale was arrested for investigation of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and trespassing.
His two children were picked up by a relative.
The manager of the restaurant declined comment and Gale said he couldn't talk about it, after hiring an attorney.
An Aurora Police spokesman said that the sergeant on the scene wrote a report on the incident and forwarded it to his commander who determined that proper police procedures were followed relating to the use of the Taser gun .
Even if we don't have all the facts, these cops are incompetent.
Chuck E. Cheese is going to loose a lot of business with this story. It just wasn't necessary.
What about the fathers actions, you think they were responsible?
... No drugs were found!
I think we are close to agreement, I think the only thing we disagree about is what really happened there. You (I assume) believe the account from a witness (who most likely has a bias), I prefer to give the benefit of doubt (not knowing anymore then we do here) to the police and that it may not have occured the way it was portrayed.
Since it is unlikely we will ever know what really happened, we will agree to disagree.
LOL
Or promote him to great leader of the universe.
That's what he wants anyway.
The manager couldn't handle a simple situation like this himself? Honestly.
You don't know how argumentative he was or how difficult it was to restrain him. You don't know how big the guy was. There were obviously only two officers. Like I said in my previous comment, I've been involved in incidents where it took 5-6 officers to restrain an inmate. If the officers felt that they could get the guy restrained quicker and with less damage to him and themselves, they had every right to use the taser. If they'd used their batons, someone would have bitched then too. Maybe they should have said "pretty please." I'm sure that would have made him more compliant.
Why should the manager have to jump through hoops to determine if the guy paid? He simply asked him to show proof that he had paid and the guy refused.
Ok. Them you would have retreve it from a trash can instead of your pocket.
"I don't have a receipt for the shirt I am wearing either. I supposed someone could claim I stole it and my lack of recipt would be proof of theft."
They could indeed claim that. They could also claim that you are causing voices in their head.
"I often throw them away immiedately after getting them. "
I do the same, and probably so did he. If the manager told me to go looking for a wadded up receipt for 2 dollars, I would tell him to look for it himself!
You believe everything the press writes? And you call yourself a Freeper?
We've had our hands stamped at the CECs we've been to also -- in KS, TX and AL.
Gee, I was thinking the same thing. Only I'm surprised that more here are not.
I guess if it's only a salad it's ok to steal? How about the pizza? Would it be ok to steal a pizza?
THe guy was being beligerant in front of children so we must not arrest him? I wonder what would have happened if he showed the damn reciept!
Two choices here;
Swat team with machine guns to properly subdue and apprehend criminal, OR
Pay the $2.50 for the salad and everyone goes home peaceful.
If the guy does it again and there is no proof then don't let him in the place again.
Pretty ridiculous situation.
A little testy there, are we?
The manager is so dumb, he is a walking invitation to more litigation : )
I've never had my hand stamped.
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