E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSView more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.
Lawyers for a medical marijuana dispensary worker allegedly hurt in a police raid at a Long Beach shop filed a claim on Thursday seeking $1 million in damages from the city of Long Beach.
The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, alleges that a police raid of a pot shop June 19 was illegal and that the officers involved used excessive force.
"In terms of the excessive force claim, we will investigate that aspect of it," said Long Beach City Attorney Robert E. Shannon.
See the original report at NBCLosAngeles.com
Shannon said that the Long Beach Police Department is also mulling whether to open a criminal investigation into the activities of the medical marijuana dispensary and that police are considering an internal investigation into the officers’ conduct during the raid.
The claim, filed Thursday with the Long Beach City Clerk’s office, alleges officers injured a volunteer employee, violated his civil rightsand violated the state’s disabled persons act.
It also alleges officers "engaged in conduct that violated various provisions of the state and federal constitutions," the claim alleges.
The claim stems from a YouTube video that shows officers smashing surveillance cameras and stepping on a suspect at THC Downtown Collective in the 300 block of Atlantic Boulevard. The video was posted by user "Long Beach Raids" on July 1. Officials said they learned about the video on July 3.
An advocate for medical marijuana dispensary owners and workers criticized the officers’ conduct.
"That behavior is so blatant it cannot be the first time," said Steven Downing, a retired Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief and current board member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition."It was arrogant. It was unnecessary and it was brutal."
The claim seeks damages in excess $1 million for medical treatment and mental counseling.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
Leave a Comment:
I hope he wins
He can at least get a doctor's certificate that allows him smoke pot to ease the pain.
The camera evidence will bury these Cops, they look like someone on the World's Dumbest Criminal show......whoops there is a camera dude!!
I hope he wins too. I also hope the cops involved have their genitals rot right off their bodies, as this nation has MORE than enough of their type already.
The police used excessive force??? Weird. I didn't think that officers ever used excessive force. Oh, wait...
This is a good good good thing 8)
Nobody is above the law and hitting LBC for a million should make them think twice about this gestapo behavior...
QUOTE: "Shannon said that the Long Beach Police Department is also mulling whether to open a criminal investigation into the activities of the medical marijuana dispensary"
If they had not already started an investigation into the supposed "criminal activities" of the dispensary, why were the police there in the first place? Sounds like a veiled threat to the shop owner, and a poor one at that. I hope he wins every dime.. if I were him I'd want all of the involved cop's badges too, as souvenirs.
Wait, wasn't George Zimmerman looking for $1 million to post bail?....
I GET IT!
@Derek - he already posted bail. Nice try...
Pathetic A-types with small weewee's going for the lowest hanging fruit. A once noble profession appropriated by these blue suited losers. Makes me wanna light one up!
If you read up on it, it was in the back of a kitchen of a resturant that was making it in brownies. If you watch the film ask yourself this. Does this place look anything like a legel and licenced Pharmacy? Nope, not by any sense of the word. Just another dope dealer to me. I got nothing against anyone who smokes weed, but I won't work with one who does and I make good money doing a dangerous job. If you don't have a clear head I don't want you near. If you are one of these guys that say I am so much better when I'm on Pot. You are so full of youself it's rediculas. When pot becomes legel(and it will) all you responsible people can show us how irreponsable you are. Just like a drunk Driver. Well, that all I got for you Crumb Grabbing Rug Rats.
Is it just me or do the two cops look very familiar? Times must be tough around the greater LA area. That bald one looks like the Sloth from Goonies and the other one looks like an overweight Robin Williams from the lost scenes of Popeye II "Popeye Gets his Donuts".
@6dogs,
Last I checked coffee shops are not pharmacies either and the kitchens in "bars" where they sell deadly alcohol to people that will drive home later is not a pharmacy either. Caffeine and alcohol are far more dangerous than Marijuana.
Wow; 6 dogs... before you spout all of those insults; perhaps you should learn to spell. Is that our good old fashioned education system at work, or did you just sleep through classes?
I personally don't smoke... or use; and I work for a company that fabricates steel. I can understand the safety factors at risk here, but I don't think that companies have the right to use people's urine, blood or hair against them. And yes, I do think marijuana laws are stupid. More people die every year from alcohol than all the other drugs combined. If you're over 21, you can get however much you choose. Just seems a little "double standard" to me.
Learn to spell before you start putting people down.
wrong story 6dogs lol in any case no one has any authority to tell me what i can and cant do with my life and that includes my body, if i want to smoke myself into oblivion then that is my choice and right, if i want to kill myself for whatever reason then that is my choice and right. as long as my actions do not result in harming another then i am free to do as i wish without government interference.
this guy has a strong case due to the destruction of the video camera and other private property (evidence) and the attempted destruction of video recoding (evidence) along with the excessive forced used to detain the defendant, there were also some other info that eluded to conspiracy to bribe, bribery and official corruption. keeping marijuana illegal is very profitable for a lot of people and we will be seeing more of this unless there is a drastic change -or we just forget it happened due to lack of media coverage.
6dogs you are so ignorant you make yourself look like a zombie. Now go read some more media garbage and fall for all their ignorant propaganda. brainwashed noob. Your job is dangerous because obviously you don't have the brains to do anything without it being dangerous. Now I'm going to go smoke one and make good money at my job that isn't ran by a bunch of ignorant brainwashed zombies who cant stop sucking on the govt tit which is in fact us the citizens back pocket. Here's a tip to even though you think its illegal and people will start showing you how irresponsible they are, There is already over 50% of the population smoking weed daily so if it was legal its not like those numbers would change much and things in the real world wouldn't be much different from what it is now. but what would you know you get your info from paid news journalist who have no talent at anything except following orders.
No wonder the cops don't want us to have automatic assault weapons!!!!
There is no doubt that the one cop deliberately stepped on the guys neck. With this evidence there is no way that cop should be keeping his badge, he should be facing criminal assault charges and assault acting under the color of authority, which carries even stiffer criminal penalties. The fact that the city is violating state law by not allowing the dispensaries at all is going to sink the city as well. They have the right under the state law to regulate the dispensaries, but they do not have to right to ban them outright. The security guard who was arrested also seems to have a pretty solid case for wrongful arrest, particularly since the officers did not have any warrant to arrest him. Their claim that is was for failure to appear does not hold water because a failure to appear would have resulted in an arrest warrant being issued by the presiding judge. Since there was no warrant, I can only assume that this claim is bogus. The cop smashing the surveillance camera is also pretty telling. There is no justifiable reason for him to be doing that. The only reason to smash the camera would be to keep it from recording illegal actions on the part of the officer. Too bad for him the recording equipment for the camera was off site and he got caught on tape. As a minimum he is guilty of illegally destroying private property and deserves to lose his badge permanently. It is likely that he committed other illegal acts after the camera as destroyed and hopefully they have some evidence to nail him for those actions as well. I fully support honest, hard working police officers - they have a tough and often thankless job. I also feel that police like these officers who think they are above the law and act far outside their authority and violate people's rights need to be prosecuted like the criminals they are. The city of Long Beach and their police officers have really stepped in it this time and it is going to cost the city a fortune in judgements for their illegal actions and violations of people's rights.
gamer, if you're going to throw around stats, make them at least close to the truth. "50% of the population uses daily"? lmao
I'm all for legalization, but this sounds like another bs suit. they gave him a noogie and now his scumbag lawyer wants to sue, and we're going to pay for it.
"Are racists dumb? Do conservatives tend to be less intelligent than liberals? A provocative new study from Brock University in Ontario suggests the answer to both questions may be a qualified yes."
"The study, published in Psychological Science , showed that people who score low on I.Q. tests in childhood are more likely to develop prejudiced beliefs and socially conservative politics in adulthood."
I just found this on Liberation Frequency, I had been saying for many years that conservatives populated the bottom half of the IQ scale. They are the reason we rank 19th in the world in average IQ, if we could ship all the conservatives to the moon we would increase the average IQ of the entire planet by 20 points, but it would lower the moons IQ by 30 points.
The Police force and Officers had to know this would happen after the Officer's over zellous actions. It serves them right for abusing their authority and using excessive force for a simple Pot Dispensary bust.
This Officers must be extremely arrogant or not too bright. They should have known before entering, there was security camera's on the premise. And attempting to destroy evidence of their actions, will hold it's own consequence.
I have a great respect for Law Enforcement who protect and serve. These Idiots did neither.
Serves them right if the victims of excessive force sue and win. And the Officers be brought up on criminal charges for destroying evidence against themselves. Hard to lie you're way out of a situation when it's on tape....
@bodydouble: It's awesome that there is a study that supports the theory that conservatives are generally less intelligent than liberals and that racists are dumb, but I've known that for my entire life.. all you have to do is look at the groups (which overlap heavily) and observe how they think/act. Conservatives are well known for running away from and even trying to suppress knowledge on "moral" or "religious" grounds.. THEIR morals of course, and THEIR religion.. the idea that there are more people on this planet than those who share their beliefs is lost on them and it is not an issue to them. The idea of respecting and honoring the beliefs of others is lost on most religious types no matter if the benefits of the knowledge could improve the quality of life greatly for all mankind.. If a piece of knowledge supposedly "violates" the values/ethics of their specific religion that is all that matters. They show little concern for others because of this behavior.
Conservatives are generally followers, they prefer it if they are told what to do and believe as opposed to thinking outside that box as many liberals do.
Of course these theories are somewhat generalized, there are exceptions of course, but they do describe the characteristics of a majority of conservatives.
At the end of the video there is a cop walking up behind the news reporter Michelle. The report ends probably just in time. This cop looks as if he doesn't like her reporting.
6dogs are you sure you weren't stoned when you posted #1.10 . . ?
"legel" . . . "licenced" . . . "rediulas" . . . "irresponsable" whoa dude . . . back up the spelling cart . . .
6dogs what a reet man you have no idea at all. By your spelling you are not educated enough to make that call, move along.
Police brutality is continually proliferating in our country, practically unabated, because most of these lawsuits are turned down as criminal cases by the government prosecutors (who are in bed with law enforcement) and are forced to be tried as a civil matter.
The taxpayer (you and I) get left holding the bag to pay off the victims of the wrongdoers, the wrongdoers get promoted or transferred and nothing changes.
Until this system changes, police brutality will remain the same.
I want a bong hit, my pain doctor won't let have one till i get him a clean sample. It's been 75 days now, man how much was stored in my body. And yes it's true, their test, independent test and a blood test.
other news Arkansas is going to have Medical Marijuana on the ballot this year, fingers crossed.
Burn those @!$%#s in the PD and why only a million?
Pussies with badges need to be fired (upon)
For those of you just learning about this, the raid was for not having a LBC business permit. A PERMIT violation.
I love how people who dont smoke marijuana call people who smoke marijuana "irresponsible" when they have no clue. They are so engulfed in what the gov and the DEA puts out that they believe everything they tell them!
They need to open their eyes and learn something!
Tylenol is worse than marijuana...if you take tyleonol for a headache then you need to shut your trap, because your medicine is more harmful than mine! And mine is free....(that why it is illegal) you morons!
I hope this guy gets 2 million, and gets these police fired, and jailed! And i hope he embarasses the whole damned police department!
Well hey, maybe this will spark a new industry "How to protect yourself from the police". Our government seems to be getting even scarier than the criminals!
Personally I think that a million is to low. And I hope he wins it, and the cops involved pay the price Wait for it...... the new reality show " the worlds dumbest cops caught on camera.
HA HA.....what in the world is this person thinking? Makes you wonder what they've been smokin...oops - my bad....lol
Ya Killroy, Worlds Dumbest Police, Videos;-)
He is filing a civil lawsuit and has two of the best lawyers in the country. He will win :)
Looking like the city could be spending a chunk of money no matter what lol!! I love it when the true colors of the majority of law enforcement come out on recordings, just wish there was an audio tape to go with it I am pretty sure that would bring real context knowing their conversations. I hope they get something out of it for the needless aggressiveness of the police, but I really hope this serves notice to law enforcement nation wide that we the people are not going to tolerate the continued, unprofessional, and intimidation tactics they have been using forever it seems. They obviously are trying to intimidate the owners by stating they are opening an investigation into the criminal activities of said dispensary, which is a little late, that is like serving a search warrant and doing a search, then saying now we will get the evidence to back up the search warrant. Nothing like advertising to criminals that Long Beach is the place to go to make money the police are just asking for some people to come there with the sole intent to get their officers in boatloads of trouble for their tactics. As another guy said, who was a former deputy chief in LA, it is obvious they had acted in this fashion before, they seemed comfortable with what they were doing! Good Luck Y'all, I will work for ya anyday!
Get what you can.... unfortunately, the mistake of one will usually come at the expense of others. Too bad it won't come out of the cop's pay.
It should - not just out of his pocket, but out of his and the other camera-destroying cops' freedom as well. The destruction of evidence (which is even more reprehensible than the brutality) is clearly criminal.
But since cops and DAs are usually butt buddies winking at each other's corruption all the time, it's unlikely that any of these cops will get prosecuted criminally.
It is apparent their are people high up in Long Beaches legal system that are not ethical or qualified to perform their jobs. The simple fact that their thug police department acts like this and the DA and the rest of them appear to be on the same unethical track would lead one to believe a number of heads need to roll and they aren't the pot heads. This is plain old gestapo tactics in 2012 in Long Beach. And cops wonder why they get a bad reputation. Right here in my small town we have cops that think every arrest is a Taliban threat, muscle heads want to beat you up and throw you around, break all the laws themselves but don't you dare. Our local PD lost money in their pensions to the market crash so they re-imbursed their pensions out of tax funds because it wasn't right their pensions lost ground. How does that work? I wish my 401K was insured to be guaranteed two digit profits or be backed by someone elses money to make it so. Friggin crooks enforcing our laws, go figure.
I hope he wins too - that's a lot of doobies!
I hope don't win, aren't you getting tired of your taxes going up to pay off nothing more than a drug dealer. They should have shot his Ass dead. A pine box and a $100 head stone is cheaper.
Mike VL! I've been meaning to ask you, what is that the lady in your ID Mug Shot is putting in her mouth?
6dogs if you are tired of your taxes going to pay off a "drug dealer" you claim(its a dispensary but in case you didn't know what that is because you are too ignorant to look it up, Its a place that only serves people with doctors prescription you know like the pharmacy in a save on or wal greens near your house.). But yet you support the same people who are violating our constitutional rights. Then you have the nerve to say to shoot the guy dead and a headstone and pine box is cheaper. You are a traitor to our country and that's why you and your lap dogs have to pay. Now go vote for your next puppet traitor.
@alfred...that is one helluva sausage. Wish I could fit all that in my mouth too. I'd have friends for life.
Ahhhhhhahaha...wise one...you're like the guy watching a dog lick his junk saying, "if I could do that I'd never leave the house".
6DOGS: "They should have shot his Ass dead. A pine box and a $100 head stone is cheaper."
Wow! You need to smoke a fat doobie man--and get some peace (and intelligence) into your system!
6dogs: "I hope don't win, aren't you getting tired of your taxes going up to pay off nothing more than a drug dealer."
No. Actually I'm much more sick and tired of NOT collecting all the taxes we can from legalized marijuana. If you care about $ so much--tax legalized pot and bring down the deficit.
Alfred,
That's Michelle Bachmann teaching her husband how it's done. Here: http: //sdrv.ms/Pmg0bP
6dogs.....our drug war costs us over 40Billion....you think 1 million is the problem? SO now we should shoot doctors? Oh i get it...only the FDA or the government can determine who has more knowledge? When the system itself is so corrupt, the politicians support doctors who support the pharmacueticals who sell drugs that kill more people ...in fact prescription medicine (drugs) is the 4th leading cause of death...yet his is OK???? You're an idiot and need to open your eyes to the truth! Are you aware that since it has been studied...marijuana has killed ZERO people....not in one year....in all time it has been studied! Get your facts straight before you open your mouth to blab nonsense!
mqira
Oops, better smoke more of that 'medical' dope, you losin it dude.
lol it is obvious 6dogs has no idea what medical marijuana and the dispensaries are all about, the original article said that dispensaries had to pay their taxes in advance I think I am not from Long Beach so I am going by the article. But the key words are "the dispensary has to pay taxes 1 year in advance" I don't see anywhere where it says tax money is paid to the dispensary. Good thing he is collapsed, not only does he know not what he says, but doesn't sound like he even knows where tax money comes from or goes to lmao
If you conduct illegal business, you may get hurt.
Frustratedcops know that most crime is drug related. While they should have been more professional, I can understand why they were mad.
Really? Does that apply to bankers too?
I would say that what the cops did was illegal. Its called ASSAULT.
And marijuana is not a big deal, like it or not, and the U.S. is more at fault for marijuana related violence than anyone else in this country.
And it wasn't an illegal business like a street dealer, he just didnt have the proper permits, which is a MINOR OFFENCE.
Not to mention the victim was completely complicit in his behavior.
A cop doesn't go smashing security cameras unless he too has something to hide.
They failed to get a city permit and for that the place is trashed and a person gets manhandled. I'll bet there are hundreds of businesses that failed or were late in getting permits that were treated much gentler than this. These were rogue cops and this had nothing to do with frustration with drug crime. They saw an opportunity to kick some ass and bust a place up. Thankfully they were caught on tape. Think how many other people they have roughed up where there was no camera to catch them. Cops don't get to go Rambo on somebody just because they are "frustrated" or "mad". Again it appears the biggest crime here was a lack of a city permit.
Still a FEDERAL CRIME
That's exactly what's wrong with our corrections system these days, too, Tumbleweed -- the amount of people being locked up for non-violent drug offenses - specifically pot - is astronomical, both in sheer volume and cost to the tax payer.
The only way poor police work is going to be changed is if the officers that commit it are held accountable, something that rarely happens in this country.
the fine for what they were doing is the same as a jaywalking ticket. tumble weed, next time you blow across the street and aren't at a light i hope the police treat you're ignorant butt the same way. they can be mad all they want but they aren't supposed to take it out on citizens and the worst part is you're condoning them doing this to a disabled person. you're pathetic.
Tumbleweed, are you talking about getting hurt financially? If not, then you could be facing a personal restraining order by everyone on this blog...you sir, are a threat to society, a danger, a firecracker waiting to go off, an accident waiting to happen...You really do scare people with your banter....quit making threats you cannot possibly back up and by the look of your Avatar you need to start getting to your bucket list ASAP...Oh, and if you would allow someone to stomp all over your back, let us know how THAT went for you...
did someone really use the phrase "marijuana related violence"? seriously? that is funny. about the only violence ever caused by marijuana is from a$$hole cops like this....or possibly someone steals your doritos....
marijuana is the antithesis of violence.
I remember a cartoon in Playboy from close to 50 years ago.
Two cops walking down a street together. One of them says to the other, "I tried marijuana once. It made me want to rape and kill."
@Arizona Tumbleweed: Your logic is right on par for Arizona, the state that brought you Joe Arpaio. Thank God you've got him and not any of the rest of us. The rest of us tend to believe that things like human rights and constitutional rights are among the most important things in America and should be preserved, not trampled just because a person can.
I am disabled and live in a state without medical weed laws. My doctor has recommended finding a source and buying it myself. He has the same disease as I do and he says it works wonders for him. Screw the feds! Look into the history of WHY weed was made illegal in the US and you will understand why;
1) Pot is less destructive to society as a whole than alcohol.
2) Pot causes LESS destruction to the body than alcohol.
3) Pot actually has MANY good medical properties that are ignored by the FDA.
4) Pot is NOT a gateway drug to more insideous drugs no matter how much the FDA wants you to believe it.
5) The main reason that weed is currently being outlawed is there is no easy way to tax it and the drug lobbiests would rather make you buy addictive narcotics from them. It doesn't get the name "weed" for nothing. The stuff grows wild all over the country no matter how much they try to get rid of it.
6) Pot is not normally physically addictive unlike alcohol, vicoden, percocet, oxicotin (more addictive than heroin), and most other street drugs.
I soundly wish this state would pass med. weed laws so my wife would allow me to grab some. I have a buddy that grows his own and would have no problem letting me have it for free. I haven't smoked weed in 34 years but if my health declines more feds, states, and wife be damned, I am trying it out to see if it helps.
Back to story topic. In rare cases, juries will award more in punitive damages than asked for. I hope this guy gets $20 mil. and these cops get canned without severence or retirement benefits.
Are you that stupid?
Marty, I hear you loud and clear. I hope that soon the Illinois and Iowa legislatures bring this to the house floors again, and seriously consider the benefits of legalizing a plant!! Instead of fighting and lobbying against medical marijuana, you would think that big pharma would get in on a potential windfall of profits! More and more research indicates that cannabis in a variety of forms can be so beneficial to the human race! Hemp grown for industrial use can power our vehicles in the form of bio-diesel, pulverized into pulp for paper, made into fabric for clothing, etc... I am sure that Dupont, Dow, Exxon, just to name of few would hate this! Why try fighting this plant and embrace it for all that it can do!!
In addition, humans that choose to, will always find a way to "self-medicate". Managing addiction as a criminal act has only cost our society, in blood and treasure!
It will take federal and state governments some time and convincing, however we need to start getting our elected officials to pay serious attention to their constituents. Last I checked WE can tune out the ads, research a little, and VOTE! Marty, that is the only way that your wish may come true. Things have come along way, but WE need to let THE PEOPLE choose to grow what they want in their gardens!!
I think the reason that pot is illegal is that it makes you mellow. Not violent. Less willing and able to commit a crime. Therefore the cops wouldn't have any reason to arrest you. I think if we all smoked one every now and again, the world would be a better place.
Gfgfgf
Still a FEDERAL CRIME
yes, it is which is why if they were raiding the place, then it should be the FBI. The fact that it was some overly aggressive LBPD officers over a permit is ridiculous. they could have fined this place to get the permit, the city gets the penalty $ and shop owner learns a lesson, nobody hurt. This looks more like some angry white guys who need some reefer for their own use.
Tumbleweed - drug related crime, GMAFB! where's the crime? you're talking about apples and oranges. they arent the Cartel, they were working at their shop for the cops to get them at their leisure, yet the cops resorted to violence. they werent shooting AKs in the street making deals and trying to get away like in "Heat". its these kind of general comparisons that do nothing but justify reckless behavior. so, the cops are frustrated and mad, then they should get a new line of work if they cant perform their duty professionally.
az tumble: "If you conduct illegal business, you may get hurt"
Medical marijuana is LEGAL in CA! States rights!
I believe these are Long Beach cops. Long Beach is a city in California where medicinal pot is legal.
All of the medicinal pot raids in CA have been performed by DEA or Federal Marchalls because they are breaking federal law. Local cops can't bust them because they are breaking no laws in the state.
Walking Raw milk across state lines is illegal too!!! Some laws are just plain stupid, and the marijuana prohibition is one of them! Wake up...the only thing (really) illegal about this was the assault on the employees committed by the criminal men in uniform! They are mad, because they are scumbags who think they can hide behind their badges and get away with murder! Glad they got caught....i wish the he had a gun and shot the offficer in self defense!
That would be justice!
Not having a permit is a federal crime? Wow, I would have sworn that permits were something that the locals handled, not the feds. Thanks for teaching us all something that it seems as though the majority of us never knew.
The failed law on commonsense and free choice causes far more harm than that evil weed could accomplish in the next thousand years. Only the haters, those who are intelligence challenged, those who benefit from the failed attempt to force their view of morality on everyone else, and those who are so filled with fear of drugs, will believe the obvious mountain of lies that authorities use to try to justify their greed and their hatred.
When you have to fabricate lies to bolster a law that you support, you cause people to justifiably question everything else coming from your mouth. Few people with intelligence will fall for those lies unless that lie plays onto their fears. Your fear should not cause me to have to pay for your fear either financially or through loss of rights, freedoms, or liberties.
Criminal actions by police are not justifiable for any reason let alone for something minor like a permit. The ends justify the means excuse is just that, an excuse. The people who back that type of failure are far more responsible for the crime associated with weed than any pot smoker is. When the consequences of a law are worse than the evils purported to be caused by weed, then the law has to be considered more criminal than what smoking weed is.
Its sad to see how people are treated by law enforcement.
I mean we are the tax payers right?
It takes a strong person to resist being corrupted by the power a badge and a gun carries.
Not only should long beach county be sued, the cops should be charged with perjury, aggravated violence, tampering with evidence etc. The fines the county pays should be garnished from the officer' pay.
All of the above is wishful thinking, the city/law protects its own and these officers would be strutting about free and proud at the end of the day.
Hey, it was cop, all of this is redundant.
"In terms of the excessive force claim, we will investigate that aspect of it," said Long Beach City Attorney Robert E. Shannon.
WHAT IS THERE TO INVESTIGATE??? They have all the evidence on camera. I saw the boot on the back of the neck, after the victim complied perfectly and calmly and went down without any resistance.
Cops=SCUM (99% of them anyway). They are the people in society who like to use power over others. That is what attracts them to that field.
Any cop who smashed a camera should be fired, charged, and convicted of tampering with evidence. If I were to walk over and smash the police dash cam during a traffic stop, do you think that would be okay? Why do the police think it's okay for them to do the same?
This is why their called PIGS !!! Time for some pork sausage !!
Styro -
Cops hate being filmed. Try pulling out your phone during a traffic stop and watch a cop go apesh*t (uh, you'll probably have your phone smashed though). At least this time they didn't find a retarded homeless person to beat to death. By cop standards they're pretty well behaved here.
fallout: that already happend to me. A belliegerant cop rushed over and threatened to take my phone into evidence because I had snapped a photo of a car they had just shot to pieces (news crews were already on scene). I was tempted to make some whitty comment like, "Oh, well, if you don't have a camera, I'm happy to take some more shots for you," but I didn't feel like going to jail just then on some made-up charge.
Ah the USA, the place where the slightest insult or injury entitles people to millions of dollars. Pathetic.
First I'm guessing that if you were the victim in this case you wouldn't be so cavalier about this man's mistreatment.
Secondly the real purpose and justification for a large reward here will be to serve as a deterrent to future misbehavior by future cops (these should be fired).
I speak as someone who worked in law enforcement for 15 years.
you ask for a million so that 50,000 doesn't sound like much in the end.
But I suppose it's O.K. for cops to assault people?
Don't get me wrong, the sue-happy mentality of most people in this country is ridiculous, but this guy was abused by the system who is supposed to protect and serve.
He deserves 100% of that money. Think of it as a fine against the government for breaking their own laws.
I don't condone the officers actions but the value of lawsuits in the US is crazy, and the things people sue over is just as crazy. A million dollars because he got mistreated, no wonder your city governments are so broke.
I used to have so much respect for the police. There were several in my extended family. Lately, however, every time I get near a cop for whatever reason, he's being a belligerent jerk to everybody.
Yeah, we get it, you have to deal with scum all day, and I guess that puts you in a bad mood sometimes. But as a cop, you should know when it's time to turn off the damn attitude.
Its not about the money, its the principal make this a example of what happens to rouge cops who abuse their power, I think he should also sue them individualy as well
Thats where we disagree the most john, its all about the money. People in general seem to seek out injuries or situations where they can sue, obviously this person did not but a million dollars is excessive, and I doubt anywhere but the US would that type of judgement be awarded. Injury in the States is like winning the lottery.
It's nice to know that you don't condone the police committing FELONY offenses because that's what willful destruction of evidence is - a FELONY. I'm assuming that you since you do not condone it that you have no problem with these officers being tried in a court of law as felons just like any other citizen would be. As far as the lawsuit goes, as I pointed out in a previous post, whatever the settlement will be it does not come out of the city's coffers. It comes out of their insurance policy. Yes, their premiums and their deductible may go up as a result, but the insurance company is the one who pays the settlement.
No Kristina, It's to let these pigs know that they don't break laws and abuse the tax payers of this country ! and if and when they do they will be held accountable !!
Dear Kristina,
How much would he be entitled to had they paralyzed him by snapping his neck or his family be entitled to had they killed him?
Sorry, but here in the USA we don't like Nazi's.
Amazing .. Do you even bother to look and see what you are saying? I think the truth is you just go around looking for anyplace you might be able to show your hate for Americans. Please tell us all what country YOU live in ... if this abuse is all OK with you people .. I want to make sure I never visit your country .. or buy anything from it .. and make sure we close our doors to people from where ever you live. I do NOT live in the USA .. I am born and rasied in Canada.
Now go and wallow in your blind hate Canada nor America needs your kind.
Kristina,
The reason the cities are so broke is that they are making big payrolls to useless thugs and spending money housing harmless people in their jails.
That is fine, that money comes out from the taxpayers in that city. So funny.
Actually it doesn't. It comes out of the city's insurance policy.
and who puts the money into the insurance policy???....the taxpayers !!!!! Oh I forgot, you must think money grows from trees and insurance polices are free
@jla1125 And were do you think the money come from to pay for the premiums for the insurance? It works just like any other insurance, any claim makes the premiums go up, which means more money out of the tax payers pocket.
Yes, and if the city and its citizens don't want higher premiums than maybe they should do a better job of holding its police officers ACCOUNTABLE for their actions. You know, like, actually firing them and actually trying them in court for the willful destruction of evidence which is a felony. Oh, and let's not forget that maybe they should also grow a backbone and start standing up to their police unions which seems to protect every one of its members regardless of how corrupt they are. If they started doing that then their premiums and their deductibles would go down.
Well, had this organization not been violating federal law they probably wouldn't have had this problem.
States Rights, and the Federal government almost never puts these people in jail because they are almost always operating within the law, they fine them and then drop the fine but only after they raid. The local cops are conscripted in by DEA to bust up the plants and raid the cash drawers to put these businesses out of business.
They take the money and then do enough damage to the property and whatever products they can find they destroy. This leaves the owner short on cash that they will never get back without hiring a lawyer and dragging themselves through the courts and leaves the business in shambles because the facility is a wreck and they have nothing to sell.
It is abuse of power on a level never seen in this country. The government is taking specific actions to take advantage of the slow courts and citizens have no recourse. Most dispenseries just give up and close up shop after a raid and that is exactly what the Fed wants. They can't legally close them, so this is what they do.
The fact that anyone would condone this type of behavior really does make you wonder where people are at in their belief and understanding of what freedom and democracy really are. This country is dying and it's because we don't stand against actions like this.
please shut up
Funny, Kristina. Let me change that for you a little. Ah, the USA, where the people whose salary you pay to protect you step on your neck.
Well, if the cop had been following the law, he wouldn't have cost the taxpayers the need to defend a lawsuit on his behalf.
Well....sure as HELL wouldn't want my tax dollars going to pay the salaries of these thugs with badges.
Whatever your personal feelings about the legality of marijuana is irrelevent. Fact is he was doing something illegal and got caught. Sounds pretty clear cut, open and shut case to me.
Caught?
That lawsuit is about getting STOMPED, dude.
The only thing that is clear cut in this case is the willful destruction of evidence by the police which is a FELONY.
Lets see here, the police ASSAULTED a person. Keep in mind even the lowest of criminals STILL HAVE RIGHTS. The VICTIM was obviously NOT resisting.
Then they broke a security camera, destruction of personal property is also ILLEGAL. As is tampering with evidence.
This guys only crime was not having a permit, he was only selling to people with a license to buy, which is 100% LEGAL. Not having a permit is in the same legal category as speeding.
People like you are the reason cops get away with crap like this.
Kinda just pickin' and choosin' the points of the story that suit your agenda, eh Cameron? Convenient.
It is also LEGAL under CA State law, which trumps local laws, and as for it being a Federal crime, then it should have been a Federal agency and not local cops. One cop smashes a cam, destroying evidence, and another is seen purposefully stepping on the back of the neck of a non-resisting suspect. The only crime the collective did was to not have a proper license, something the city will not issue in violation of State law. So the cops and the city of Long Beach are both guilty of crimes, whereas the members of the collective should have received no more than a ticket/fine. Doesn't even amount to a misdemeanor under the law.
Once again, the cops (being Irish, I have had many in my own family) abuse their power, as does an elected board simply because they do not like something that is lawful. Just look at how Bloomberg in NYC has his Gestapo Leader, Kelly, attack protesters in disregard for the Constitution. Or that jackass in Oakland. Cops need to be taught restraint. This video should be shown in ever police academy campus in all 50 states as an example of what NOT to do.
You are talking about the jerk who smashed the camera right ? Or are you ready to accept the fact that we don't need honest police just thugs !! You don't step ON people and trash their business because their permit lapsed !! What are you on dope ?
Yes, doing something illegal - correct. Operating without a license/permit. Oh, and don't forget that coverall charge of obstruction. That must've been when the perps said "But I don't know where the recorder is..."
It's not a matter of them "getting caught" it's a matter of the conduct displayed by the LOCAL cops responding to a minor infraction - which is how this is all played out as.
If they came in calmly, confiscated the contraband, kept the cams rolling, chained the doors and brought those horrible law breakers to jail so they could post their $100 bond, it would be a different story.
People don't attempt to destroy video evidence of their actions unless they don't want their actions to bite them in the @$$ after the fact. Some actually see it as a way to CYA during the event.
Yes, they were responding to an illegal activity but their response certainly does not fit the crime. It's like if they broke your right leg because you were speeding. Heavy handed and unwarranted. They overstepped their boundaries - plain and simple.
Like that retired cop said - they did it with such ease it can't be the first time.
Fact? I don't see any information in the article that definitively PROVES he was doing anything illegal. From the information in the article, it was pretty obviouos he WASN'T doing anything illegal. They said they were considering a criminal investigation AFTER the raid happened. Why weren't they doing it BEFORE? The cops destroyed the camera videotaping the incident. Why would they do that? That's evidence. They would only want that destroyed if THEY were the ones doing something wrong.
BEAUTIFUL!
Unfortunately, thanks to forfeiture laws, the Police State that is law-enforcement in our country now, has money to burn.
They'll give up the Million bucks and still have more than enough to purchase tanks and drones, and train more law-enforcement agents to be mindless goons.
These are the type of cops that give police officers a bad name. Their colleagues should be mad at them for contributing to the anti-police movement that is sweeping America. How stupid can they get? It is one thing to enforce the law but another to beat disabled volunteers. The city will settle this lawsuit to save on legal fees as it is pretty hard to dispute a video. I feel sorry for people that were assaulted and had property destroyed or stolen by the long beach police. The problem isn't with drugs it is with the laws that prohibit them and the officers that enforce the laws. If drugs were made legal and dispensed and regulated by industry and local governments, the crime rate would shrink to half of what it is and we could out all those savings into health care. Wake up America, what we are doing isn't working and it is time to treat addiction as a health issue not a legal issue. America can't afford mistakes like this anymore.
Ever ask yourself why cops invariably cuff, lead away, process, fingerprint, photograph and detain?
People seem to forget that prisons have been, and more will be, privatised, receiving payment from the government for each prisoner. Inmates are forced into unpaid work for prison owners: road repair, farm harvesting, even prison-owned companies, adding to the profit.
This means several powerful lobbying entities will be focussed on even more laws that allow arrests for an endless list of ridiculous "violations" in order to increase revenue from prison populations. How many millions do we currently have in jail? More than every other country combined, I suspect.
And now detention centers can perform body cavity searches.
This threatening trend to incarcerate and abuse is big business and a lot of perverted fun. It's going to be difficult to stop and I, for one, have no idea what to do about it. I mean, whose bloody idea was it to privatise prisons? Next steps will be, of course, private cops and courts. Oh, lordy .
Ice T had it right the first time with Cop Killer. What a GREAT song!
No, Suge should have let go.
and now he's playing a cop for a buck. sounds like a sell out to me.
Are you out of your mind, praising the lyrics to that song. I DO NOT condone the actions of the officers in Long Beach, they went way beyond what was required of the circumstances. But for you to say that a great song is one that condones going out with a 12 gauge shotgun and killing an officer is beyond understanding.
Who do you think responds when you are mangled in an accident, normally arriving before paramedics? Who responds in the middle of the night, when someone is trying to break open your door? Who responds when some idiot is driving drunk, the wrong way on the freeway? Oh, that's right, it is the same person that you enjoy being the target of the song.
Grow up, realize that what these officers did is wrong, but also realize that other good officers are there for you when you need them, because nobody else wants to put their life on the line for you.
way to go police
on top of burning up those extra taxes bravo
bring in extra tax revenues to spend on idiot police force who bust legal stores lol
burn the store only to get burned back lol
gj keep it up
and with all those extra taxes gone to the wind
no more paychecks to the boys in blue
exactly who do you think pays your salary????
santa?
big duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh for the hard asses
the police will bust themselves out of pay
keep it up
Whoever gave the go-ahead for a raid instead of a simple citation by one officer also has much to answer for.
How many times have pigs done something like this and then taken or destroyed the DVR that was recording the cameras? No doubt they "needed it as evidence".
Must have been an "oh, $h!t" moment for these pigs when they couldn't find it.
Off site-internet recording is the way to go.
Aaron,
Probably didn't pay the big boys their protection money.
Medical marijuana,what a joke.We have one of these dregs selling next door.The entire neighborhood is worse off so this guy can peddle his crap.This guy deserves nothing and i hope that's what he gets.For the rest of you,when you have a drug dealer move into your neighborhood,do whatever you have to, legal or otherwise to get rid of him.If you don't,your WILL be sorry,and have only yourself to blame.
giving advice that you haven't taken? if you have one living next door then you are in no position to give advice, especially since this was not a criminal enterprise like your neighbor's.
Hey Joe,why don't you move next to a local bar than you can watch your friends come out drunk and get in their cars and drive around town!! Or maybe just have a few shots before they go home and beat their wives !!Yes sir those pot smokers really are nasty listening to music and talking to each other . Maybe you should get educated on the subject before you shoot your big mouth off!!!
Hmm joe I have a friend who has a tumor the size of a golf ball in her head.
It helps her cope and it makes her hungry so she can eat & the nausea is diminished from the radiation treatments.
Do a little bit of research before you go spouting off on how this plant helps people.
Joe - Okay, so let me get this straight. "Do WHATEVER you have to, legal, or otherwise to get rid of him"...wow, I guess I'm the only one that sees that for what it is. Do anything, even if illegal, to get rid of a legal mmj dispensary. I bet if you were in charge of the neighborhood, all crime would be wiped out. One way or the other....
Shut up Joe.
Guess you'd prefer a bar next door?
The cops should be fired, charged as criminals and thrown in jail, then made to pay for damages to the store, then taken out into public and stepped on and kneeled on then slapped in the face, then kicked, then shot. these cops are nothing more than two bit criminals with a badge and obviously this is not the first time judging by the experience that they have acted like this. it might be the first time it was videoed though. your busted.
Bit psychotic reaction?
I would say appropriate reaction except for the killing part.
Law Enforcement needs to be held to the absolute highest standard. Which means their punishments need to be more severe for breaking the law's they are suppose to enforce.
no it is not i really said it. your psychotic. eye for an eye, i live by that rule so if your thinking about it you might think twice.
See? This shows how much violence this stuff causes. If it weren't for him carrying firearms then the police didnt have to use 'excessive force'. Seriously, it just causes crime and cancer and pre mature death. WE DONT need it WHATSOEVER! Trust me
you ddn't read the article and it shows. go back to it and quote the part where it says he had a firearm. i'll wait.
Absolutely right! It cause the cops to kick the cr@p out of some unresisting guy.
excissive force idiot!!
Hey John, next time read and view the video. The security guy wasn't the one that was assaulted. It was a volunteer INSIDE that was attacked by the police, while NOT resisting, as the tape clearly shows. Don't like medical marijuana, then don't use it. I know cancer patients who couldn't deal with the Chemo if not for it.
Perhaps if you posted over on Faux "News" you would find people more willing to ignore your ignorance, willful ignorance at that.
I thought I smelled ignorance, its just John though.
Do you know what causes more "pre-mature" death and "cancer" than marijuana?
Here's a list:
-Tobacco
-Alchohol (destroys liver/ liver cancer)
-Many prescription drugs (destroys liver)
-Food (obesity) (processed foods cause colon cancer)
-Automobiles (car accidents)
Everyone of these individually causes more death than all marijuana related death.
John, WTF causes cancer and violence ??? It sure as hell ain't pot !! Medical Marijuana can cure some cancers and it helps with dealing with the effects of kemo treatments ...damn read up on the subject before you open your mouth and let everyone know how uninformed you are !!!
John, your a class A jackass and have no idea what the hell your talking about. This is the stupidest thing I have ever read. Grow the eff up and try to use your head if thats possible.
Inanimate plant matter caused police to engage in criminal acts? What firearms? I didn't read anything about firearms. Cancer, premature death? Nope, doesn't happen. But you just keep listening to the DARE cops who tell lies to you.
Trust you? I'd be a fool to trust an idiot.
Hope he wins! and for petes sake, legalize medical marijuana already! This is just stupid, I mean do the cops need to come in and do this kind of stuff? Pot is the most harmless drug, with some of the most laid back users. So legalize and leave harmless pot smokers alone!
What! No billyclubs in the ribs?
The fact that these guys didn't have a permit is no excuse for the thug-like behavior portrayed in that video. Unprofessional and no better than the common street hood. A man's position in life does not define their character. Their actions do. I hope they burn their a$$.
Oh? So that justifys the excessive use of force and smashing of property? I'm so glad you cleared that up for everyone. It turns my stomach to know that there are people like you out there and some of those people are actually deciding the fate of some. "Derp, you broke the law so I get to abuse you and break your stuff, derp.."