Cop Punches Girl's Face

This is what the news reports about the incident:

According to Seattle police, the incident began when an officer spotted a man jaywalking in the 3100 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S. at approximately 3: More..10 p.m. The man was some 15 feet away from a pedestrian overpass, police said.

The officer was talking to the man when he saw four young women jaywalk across the same street at the same spot. The officer asked the women to step over to his patrol car, but the women were being "verbally antagonistic toward the officer," according to officials.

One of the women, later identified as a 19 year old, began to walk away from the scene despite the officer's instructions, prompting the officer to walk over to her and escort her back to his patrol car.

The girl then "began to tense up her arm, and pull away from the officer while yelling at him," investigators said. The officer told the girl to place her hands on his patrol car, but she refused. When the officer tried to grab hold of her, "she pulled away and twisted, breaking free of the officer's grip several times," the blotter report said.

When the officer tried to handcuff the girl, another girl, this one 17 years old, intervened and placed her hands on the officer's arm, "causing the officer to believe she was attempting to physically affect the first subject's escape," police said.

The officer pushed back the second girl, but the girl came back at him. The officer then punched her, police said.

The officer then handcuffed the 19-year-old woman. Other officers arrived and helped handcuff the second girl.

Both teens were cited for jaywalking. The older suspect was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of obstructing an officer. The 17-year-old girl was booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of assault of an officer.

You can read the whole story here:
http://uticadailynews.com/utica_video_of_the_day/14971-Caught-Video-Seattle-cop-punches-girl-face-during-jaywalking-stop.html

They were cited for jaywalking, meaning they wouldn't have been arrested had they simply complied with the officers instructions when he asked them to step over to his patrol car. They were arrested because of their actions, not for jaywalking.

 

As someone who lives in New York, the notion of even being ticketed for jaywalking is mind-boggling to me. However, that doesn't change the fact that it's never appropriate to resist arrest.

 

Yep, makes sense.

 

I noted that the other 2 girls with them didn't even get cited, nor does it mention the man the officer stopped first as being cited for jaywalking. That would lead me to suspect that they would have all received verbal warnings had the 2 women not got out of hand. Regardless of why he wanted to speak to them, I cannot imagine anyone refusing to comply with such a request, it's just asking for trouble.

 

That's it. Being a smart-ass gets you nowhere!

 

Absolutely. There's a time and a place for everything, and that was neither the time, nor the place to be a smart-ass. I really don't know what the hell those girls were thinking?

 

Eben though I *still* opine:

The women were DEFINITELY in the wrong for acting like they did.


Full Stop.




'Nuff Said!!!!





































OpinionsCartoonStudios@Yahoo.Co.UK

 

Yup

police officers in Philly and in any other city get shot just like anyone else.


Just don't put your hands on a cop for fucks sake

 

I don't know about other states but in Colorado after a police officer identifies himself, if you touch him or try to assault him it will be felony charges for you.

 

Go Colorado!
I honestly think she thought because she was a girl she could get away with it. No male in his right mind would ever do that. We learn very early on don't put your hands on someone if you don't want to get punched. I'm sooooo happy this happened and it was caught on tape.

 

Everything I've read so far indicates that they are considering the officer's actions to be appropriate. I know that other states have similar laws about touching a police officer, and I would think it would be common sense not to... but then neither of those women seemed to have much of that.

 

I was outraged at first.. but then I got over that and think the officer is in the right. Why on earth would you resist arrest - especially for the jaywalking... and putting your hands on an officer?? really???
If you look around on the bystanders, it looks to me there are a few phone recordings going on. I bet the girls were egged on by that and thought they were gonna get the officer in trouble. If there were no bystanders, would they have acted that stupidly?

 

That's a really good question FG. Some people like to act tough for an audience. But regardless it's ridiculous to turn a conversation over jaywalking into a fight with a police officer that ends in you getting arrested.

 

We live in reality TV and youtube society.

 

Sad isn't it.

 

First of all why is jaywalking considered a law? Second the cop was power tripping to even stop somebody for jaywalking. But I guess it is Seattle so they don't have much crime going on there, so they have to do something to earn their pay. Thirdly the girls should have not resisted arrest, but the cop did not have to punch her. That was a serious punch. He should have pepper sprayed or tazed her. Both methods are considered non-lethal. A punch could do serious damage if hit the right way. Lastly the entire situation could have been avoid by both parties.

 

Jaywalking can cause an accident that's why its illegal. Dude she's lucky it ended with a punch her ass should have went to jail too.

 

First off, in some cities they police jaywalking in areas of high traffic to prevent injury to pedestrians. If you have an intersection where you've had a lot of auto-pedestrian accidents, they try to discourage jaywalking since the pedestrian tends to come out of those worse than the car.

Second, that also answers why the police officer asked to speak with them, it was for their own good.

Third, he had two girls on his hands and a crowd developing, he really didn't have time to break out the pepper spray. A punch to the face is actually a technique they teach police officers to use, it's also non-lethal as he knew how to employ it without causing her serious harm, and it was effective.

Fourth, I don't see what the officer could have done to avoid the situation. He was doing his job, the girls were way out of line in the way they acted towards him. The girls on the other hand absolutely could have avoided this, this whole incident was caused by their own actions.

 

You mean we only have to follow the laws we agree with?? :smt042

 

I lived in Seattle for 1.5 years and I can tell you they have way more crime than you seem to think.
I lived close to Rainier Beach so I know, there isnt enough police officers in Seattle - this is a constant discussion in Seattle. I can tell you stories of stuff that was never reported to the papers so yes - its not some sleepy happygolucky city w no crime.

Besides of that - they do have an excessive amount of homeless youths that create a lot of petty problems that forces the police to deal with bullshit they shouldnt have to.