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 .
Police officers are authorized to KILL PEOPLE and DENY RIGHTS - citizens are not.
Fair-minded people don't make snap decisions about credibility based on simplistic labels they stick on people.
You mean labels like "Salad Bar Thief"?
I don't leave my kids unattended either.
There is nothing in the article to justify your claim of "sans evidence."
If there was evidence of theft, he would have been so charged.
In fact, given that the manager somehow singled out Mr. Gale in what was most likely the chaotic atmosphere typical of a Chuck E. Cheese, suggests to me that there was a fairly obvious basis for the accusation. As for the "lack of charges," I suspect the cops decided it wasn't worth pursuing the salad theft charges, given that they have him dead to rights on assault charges.
Actually, they can't let a bona-fide theft charge "go" because he (allegedly, but not corroberated by any patron) assaulted him. It would be an additional charge.
I just wish these Quickdraw McGraws would wait until all the facts come out before they decide what actually happened. None of us were there. The only info we have on the whole incident is what was written in a local newspaper. And based on that short article, conclusions have been drawn as to what happened, who saw what, who did what and who was right or wrong. I'd like to know all the facts and see how this all ends up down the road.
He could have used a Salad Shooter to pop him with. Isn't that what those things are for?
Or did they outlaw those too?
Your overreaction and mistating of what was said is what I said was knee-jerk.
Indeed, and the gentleman also has an attorney. I'll bet that he will be levelling some charges himself, especially since the available witnesses support the story of the customer.
But, it would have looked alot more legit if they had booked him on shoplifting charges. Obviously there was sufficient evidence. At least there better be, or that man may end up owning a Chuck E. Cheese and turning it into a strip club.
Agreed there. However, I personally have been on the ground with a gun pointed at my head just because my jeep looked like one they were looking for. The last words the LEOs told me after they figured out I could not be the perp, was "have a nice day". (Not even sorry, go figure)
For stealing $2 worth of withered lettuce the Big Cheese had him shocked.
Good line, love it...LOLOL
Take a hike, idiot.
As for your contention that the man was tasered merely because he stole a $5.00 salad, you might want to read post #76
The only problem is that the witnesses interviewes said the exact opposite of what you are saying. Being that they were there, and you weren't, I am more inclined to believe them until I have probable cause to think otherwise.
and get hauled alone to the Naughty Corner for a well-deserved timeout.
We really don't know how deserved it was. Do we?
For otherwise he would have gotten his little citation and moseyed on with his life.
Citation for what? I didn't see any charges leading to the incident in the fist place.
Yeah, I think we'd all like to see that statute.
Yikes!
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