UCLA Officers Use Taser on ID-less Student

Gemini Cricket · 11-16-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

The latest in a recent spate of cellphone videos documenting questionable arrest tactics surfaced Wednesday, this one showing a UCLA police officer using a Taser to stun a student who allegedly refused to leave the campus library.

Source

YouTube Video of incident

Infuriating.

First off, the guy seems to be having mental issues. He's not well. Second, they tased him for using a civil disobedience tactic. Carry the guy off, something, but tase him to make him stand? Tasers make you fall down. Thirdly, if these guys can't handle one student then they haven't been trained well. They need to be let go. Yes, the guy didn't have his ID. But tasing someone because they don't have an ID? And to add to the mess, word is is that the guy's Iranian.

Abuse of power. Period.

Prudence · 11-16-2006, 12:01 PM

I read the story this morning, but haven't watched the video yet so I don't have a real opinion on the specific story. But I've been concerned in general that law enforcement is getting a bit overeager in their taser usage. It seems like there's a perception that it's "non-lethal", so it's okay to use whenever. I know they have a tough job, but I thought tasers were supposed to be instead of shooting people and would be used in crisis situations where shooting the suspect would have been reasonable - not just to make people easier to subdue. Maybe I misunderstood.

Motorboat Cruiser · 11-16-2006, 12:11 PM

It isn't the job of campus security to administer punishment. That is for the courts. And yet, the actions that the guards took smells more like punishment to me.

I see no reason why this situation couldn't have been efficiently handled without a need to taser this person, not only once, but twice. Why were 3 guards not able to handcuff this person and remove him from the building? If he had been punching and kicking them, perhaps I could see the necessity but it was an act of peaceful resistance and shouldn't have been met with this type of force. Had they not had a taser, would they have shot him?

I think he was wrong to resist and should have had his ID card, but this just goes too far, IMO.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 11-16-2006, 12:34 PM

I was listening to KNX this morning and not to put a spin on it, since it "sounded" like the guy just didn't comply with what they wanted. Maybe that's so, maybe not - I don' thave all the facts. But the thing that got me this morning was that a rep from one of the Ismalmic/ American Councels was on the radio calling for a full investigation and when the DJ's asked why they were getting involved was because the guy had an "Arab sounding name." Then they asked if the "Councel" had talked to the authorities or the Student himself. They apparently didn't. I couldn't belive I was hearing this on the radio?

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 11-16-2006, 12:40 PM

http://www.knx1070.com/pages/126418.php?contentType=4&contentId=242403

Quote:

She said police tried to escort Tabatabainejad, 23, out of the library after he refused to provide identification. Tabatabainejad instead encouraged others at the library to join his resistance, and when a crowd began to gather, police used the stun gun on him, Greenstein said.
Tabatabainejad was arrested for resisting and obstructing a police officer and later released on his own recognizance. He declined to comment Wednesday night.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-16-2006, 12:49 PM

Ah, interesting. So it seems like this wasn't "he didn't have identification," but rather, "I refuse to show you my identification!" The plot thickens.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 11-16-2006, 12:52 PM

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/10325914/detail.html

NBC's take on it.

Moonliner · 11-16-2006, 01:58 PM

It sure looks like a sure case of two wrongs not making a right.

The student was being an arrogant pig-headed moron for not just following the rules and either showing his ID or leaving, while the campus cops were also bloody morons for letting a situation like that go on for that long.

As an officer you should only resort to the use of force to end a dangerous situation. I don't know that this situation called for the use of force, but you sure as hell don't taser, back off, taser, back off etc... If as an officer your choice is the use of force then you taser until he can't move cuff him and drag his ass out.

CoasterMatt · 11-16-2006, 02:44 PM

It happened at UCLA, 'nuff said...

Ghoulish Delight · 11-16-2006, 02:57 PM

Poor guy was probably just sick of people looking at his ID and butchering his last name.

11-16-2006, 12:01 PM	#2
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	I read the story this morning, but haven't watched the video yet so I don't have a real opinion on the specific story. But I've been concerned in general that law enforcement is getting a bit overeager in their taser usage. It seems like there's a perception that it's "non-lethal", so it's okay to use whenever. I know they have a tough job, but I thought tasers were supposed to be instead of shooting people and would be used in crisis situations where shooting the suspect would have been reasonable - not just to make people easier to subdue. Maybe I misunderstood. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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11-16-2006, 12:11 PM	#3
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	It isn't the job of campus security to administer punishment. That is for the courts. And yet, the actions that the guards took smells more like punishment to me. I see no reason why this situation couldn't have been efficiently handled without a need to taser this person, not only once, but twice. Why were 3 guards not able to handcuff this person and remove him from the building? If he had been punching and kicking them, perhaps I could see the necessity but it was an act of peaceful resistance and shouldn't have been met with this type of force. Had they not had a taser, would they have shot him? I think he was wrong to resist and should have had his ID card, but this just goes too far, IMO.
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11-16-2006, 12:34 PM	#4
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	I was listening to KNX this morning and not to put a spin on it, since it "sounded" like the guy just didn't comply with what they wanted. Maybe that's so, maybe not - I don' thave all the facts. But the thing that got me this morning was that a rep from one of the Ismalmic/ American Councels was on the radio calling for a full investigation and when the DJ's asked why they were getting involved was because the guy had an "Arab sounding name." Then they asked if the "Councel" had talked to the authorities or the Student himself. They apparently didn't. I couldn't belive I was hearing this on the radio?
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11-16-2006, 12:49 PM	#6
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Ah, interesting. So it seems like this wasn't "he didn't have identification," but rather, "I refuse to show you my identification!" The plot thickens. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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11-16-2006, 12:52 PM	#7
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	http://www.nbc4.tv/news/10325914/detail.html NBC's take on it.
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11-16-2006, 01:58 PM	#8
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	It sure looks like a sure case of two wrongs not making a right. The student was being an arrogant pig-headed moron for not just following the rules and either showing his ID or leaving, while the campus cops were also bloody morons for letting a situation like that go on for that long. As an officer you should only resort to the use of force to end a dangerous situation. I don't know that this situation called for the use of force, but you sure as hell don't taser, back off, taser, back off etc... If as an officer your choice is the use of force then you taser until he can't move cuff him and drag his ass out. __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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11-16-2006, 02:44 PM	#9
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	It happened at UCLA, 'nuff said... __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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11-16-2006, 02:57 PM	#10
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Poor guy was probably just sick of people looking at his ID and butchering his last name. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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