12 Scary Examples Of Police Misconduct Arrest
Have you ever been approached by a police officer who acted in an inappropriate or threatening manner? If so, you’re not alone. Every day, people across the U.S. are subjected to police misconduct, which can include verbal abuse, excessive force, and racial profiling. While it is of utmost importance that citizens find alliance with, and come to trust, their law enforcement agencies, unfortunately, this type of misconduct is all too common, and victims often have little recourse.In this article, we will showcase12 scary examples of police misconduct or examples of police harassment.
George Floyd
Among the cases that made it to the news, the most recent and renowned example of police misconduct/ brutality was the death of George Floyd. The sad incident saw how Mr. Floyd was held down and pinned beneath three police officers, through video footage and eyewitness testimony, in spite of him begging for his life.
According to video footage of the incident, the police officers violated the policies of the Minneapolis Police Department a number of times. Officer Derek Chauvin was caught on video with his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, even after Mr. Floyd lost consciousness.
In consequence, the officers were fired from their respective police departments and charged with various crimes, including second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
Philando Castile
In this incident, Philando Castile was driving with his girlfriend and daughter through Falcon Heights, Minnesota, when Officer Jeronimo Yanez initiated a traffic stop.
Mr. Castile informed the officer that he had a legal firearm in his vehicle but agreed not to reach for the firearm. He told the officer he would reach for his identification, but when Mr. Castile reached for his identification, Officer Yanez fired 7 shots into the car, resulting in the demise of Mr. Castile in front of his child and girlfriend.
Officer Yanez was acquitted of charges of manslaughter.
Walter Scott
Walter Scott was a black motorist in North Charleston, South Carolina, who was unarmed at the time of the incident. The police officer, Michael T. Slager, stopped Mr. Scott on account of a broken taillight. After a traffic stop, Mr. Scott was seen getting out of his car and fleeing on foot.
The two struggled over the officer’s taser, after which Mr. Scott was seen running away from Officer Slager, unarmed. Officer Slager shot at Mr. Scott’s back 8 times.
In an alleged attempt to plant evidence, Officer Slager could be seen dropping his taser beside Mr. Scott’s body. The Officer in question is presently serving 20 years in prison on charges of murder.
Rodney King
This incident dates back to 1991. Rodney King was driving with friends through Los Angeles when 2 officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop for speeding. Mr. King refused to stop as he feared a DUI charge after drinking earlier in the night.
Following an eight-mile chase, police officers cornered Mr. King and attempted to arrest him and his friends. Mr. King resisted the arrest attempt.
The officers on the scene tasered Mr. King twice, which knocked him to the ground. When he tried to stand up, he was struck to the ground by a baton. The police officers continued to strike Mr. King until they handcuffed him. He was kicked a total of seven times and hit with a baton 33 times.
John Spencer
John Spencer was a suspect in a homicide case being investigated by the New York State Police. The officer in charge believed that the state did not have enough evidence to prosecute Mr. Spencer, so he, along with another officer, lifted Mr. Spencer’s fingerprints from items he touched during booking. They then added the fingerprints to evidence cards for prints found at the crime scene.
The charge of fabricating evidence resulted in a prison sentence for the officer in question.
Eric Garner
New York Police Department officers were attempting to arrest Mr. Eric Garner for selling illegal cigarettes. They tackled Mr. Garner to the ground before one of the officers used an illegal chokehold on Mr. Garner
Mr. Garner could be heard repeatedly stating that he could not breathe. Despite his pleas, the officer did not release him from the chokehold. As a result, Mr. Garner died.
The officer was fired from the force for his actions.
The Case Of Racial Profiling
Reports revealed that police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, regularly stopped and searched men of color without probable cause or a warrant. The officers lied about their interactions with the men to investigators looking into the racial profiling allegations. The officers were only suspended for a short period for their misconduct.
The Case Of Sexual Assault
2 New York police officers arrested a young woman on charges of possession of marijuana. After placing her in their police van, they raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on them. They forced her to do these acts by threatening to charge her with a crime.
Rachelle Jackson
When Ms. Rachelle Jackson witnessed a traffic accident, she ran to the burning car and pulled one of the two Chicago police officers to safety. She was assisting the injured officer when other officers arrived. The officers accused Ms. Jackson of stealing the injured officer’s weapon.
Ms. Jackson was arrested and held in jail for ten months. During that time, she was subjected to repeated threats and coerced into signing a statement.
A judge dismissed the case when it came to trial. Ms. Jackson sued the officers and the City of Chicago for malicious prosecution, coercive questioning, and false arrest. She was awarded $7.7 million.
The Case Of Witness Tampering And Theft
Officer Anthony Maldonado stole a large amount of cash that he noticed when he pulled over a driver in Maui, Hawaii. The officer tried to bribe the victim when the victim reported the theft to the police. Eventually, Office Maldonado was fired and sentenced to two years in prison for theft and tampering with a witness.
Daniel Shaver Execution By Mesa Police
In 2016, Daniel Leetin Shaver from Granbury, Texas, was fatally shot by police officer Philip Brailsford in a hotel in Mesa, Arizona, U.S. Shaver was unarmed at the time.Not only was Shaver on the ground with his hands behind his back when police were yelling commands at him, but he was also apologizing profusely, crying, and begging the police officer not to shoot him. The entire incident was caught on camera.
The police were reportedly responding to a report that a rifle had been pointed out of the window of Shaver’s hotel room. Said rifle was later found to be a pellet gun.
During the incident, Daniel Shaver had been subjected for a number of minutes to a long string of confusing commands from Police Sergeant Charles Langley. Mr. Shaver was then instructed to crawl to the police. During this, Mr. Shaver tried to pull up his falling pants and was shot five times by the officer.
The Case Of Cops Stealing Over $225,000
In 2013, as part of an investigation into illegal gambling back, Fresno police brought a search warrant and raided properties owned by 2 businessmen Micah Jessop and Brittan Ashjian, who run an ATM business.
According to the police, they seized $50,000, in spite of the fact that neither businessman was charged with a crime.
However, as per Mr. Jessop and Mr. Ashjian, the officers confiscated a total of $151,000 in cash and another $125,000 in rare coins and “stole the difference” between those amounts and what was officially listed.
What is Police Misconduct?
The term ‘police misconduct is an umbrella term covering a number of actions by police officers and law enforcement agents. This inappropriate conduct violates police guidelines for performing their duties or breaks one or more laws.
Police misconduct may consist of witness tampering, police brutality, malicious prosecution, false arrest, assault, tampering with evidence, theft, coerced confessions, and many other actions.
Types of police misconduct include, but are not restricted to:
- False Arrest
A false arrest refers to an arrest made without probable cause or warrant. A false arrest violates a citizen’s Fourth Amendment constitutional right against unreasonable search and seizure.
- Falsifying Evidence
This includes presently false, fabricated, or tainted evidence. It is characterized by a criminal intent to knowingly present false evidence in a legal proceeding to wrongly acquit someone.
- Coerced Confession
Police-induced confessions can result from a misstep in procedure and can involve persuasion, intimidation, or other psychological coercion. In other words, a false confession is an admission of guilt for a crime for which the confessor is not responsible.
- False Imprisonment
False imprisonment takes place when an officer intentionally restricts the movement of another within an area without legal authority, justification, or consent.
- Police Perjury
This refers to when a police officer gives false testimony to “make the case” against a defendant they believe to be guilty.
- Police Brutality
This form of police violence includes the use of unjustified force, verbal assault, cause of intentional harassment, mental injury, property damage, or in extreme cases, death.
- Illegal Surveillance
This refers to the use of surveillance methods or technology to monitor an individual or group of individuals without the legal authority to do so, or a warrant.
- Witness Tampering
This points to when police attempt to cause, through methods like use of excessive force, an individual to testify falsely, wrongful conviction, withhold testimony or important data, or pressure that individual into not attending a proceeding to which he or she has been summoned.
- Racial Profiling
This takes place when police suspect or target a person of a particular race on the basis of assumed characteristics or behaviors of a specific racial or ethnic group.
- Sexual Harassment
Police-initiated sex crimes, including sexual harassment, assault, or exploitation involved when such instances are subjected to both victims and offenders in custody as well as juveniles.
- Unwarranted Arrest
This is when a member of the police department carries out a search and arrest without a search warrant or probable cause or evidence. The Fourth Amendment specifically limits the power of police to make arrests, search people and their property and seize objects and contraband without the authority to do so.
8 Tips For Dealing With Police Harassment
Examples of Police Harassment can range from verbal abuse to illegal searches and seizures. These incidents can cause physical harm and emotional distress. If you have been a victim of police harassment, it’s important to know your rights and seek help from harassment attorneys. In this article, we will provide tips for dealing with the police and discuss the different types of police harassment, including stop and frisks, abuse of power, medical malpractice, and more. Whether you have been involved in a car accident or facing criminal charges, it’s crucial to understand your legal options and how to protect yourself. Below are 8 tips for dealing with law officers who might have violated your rights.
- Know your rights: Familiarize yourself with the definition of police harassment and civil rights violations. Educate yourself on reasonable suspicion and illegal searches and seizures.
- Stay calm: Do not react aggressively or argue with the police officer. Keep your hands visible and follow their commands.
- Document the incident: Take note of the officer’s name, badge number, and patrol car number. Record the time and location of the incident and gather the contact information of any witnesses.
- Seek legal help: If you are facing criminal charges or are a victim of police misconduct, hire a criminal defense lawyer or civil rights attorney. They can assist you in filing a civil lawsuit and help you understand Title VI programs and statutes.
- Report the incident: File a complaint with the police department’s internal affairs division or your local government. You can also reach out to a police reporter to share your story.
- Stay safe: If you feel threatened or unsafe during an encounter with the police, ask for a supervisor or request to speak with an attorney before continuing the interaction.
- Avoid making false statements: Do not lie or give false information to the police officer, as this can result in additional criminal charges, such as obstruction of justice.
- Preserve evidence: If you believe the police mishandled evidence or tampered with it, document and report it to your harassment lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sexual Misconduct By Law Enforcement Officers A Common Form Of Police Harassment?
Yes, unfortunately, sexual misconduct is a prevalent form of police harassment, and it can happen during traffic stops, arrests, or other interactions with law enforcement officers.
What Should You Do If You Are A Victim Of Police Harassment?
If you are a victim of police harassment, you should report the incident to the police department’s internal affairs division, hire a harassment lawyer, and file a civil lawsuit. You can also seek help from civil rights attorneys or criminal defense attorneys, depending on your situation.
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