I haven’t discussed the event in McKinney, Texas because, sadly, stories of police abuse are so frequent that it’s hard to say anything new about them. But idiots rising to defend badged abusers have managed to piss me off enough to write a post. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the situation this video will explain everything:
Thank the gods for people who record the police.
The officer who threw the girl to the ground and kept her pinned is Eric Casebolt. He recently resigned from the force in the hopes of dodging any consequences for actions. That hardly seems necessary though when so many neocons are willing to rise to his defense. Believe it or not there are a lot of people justifying what Casebolt did.
What could possibly justify an officer rushing into a crowd of non-threatening teenagers, run around like a rabid dog, and toss an obviously unarmed girl to the ground? That depends on which idiot is defending him. One of the most common justifications given is the number of teenagers present.
Apparently there is some number, one that none of these abuse apologists will provide, of people present where an officer can transition from a calm and collected professional into a psychotic abuser. It doesn’t matter that the teenagers in the video are obviously non-threatening. It doesn’t matter that the attire of most of the teenagers, especially the girl thrown to the ground, makes it almost entirely impossible for them to conceal a weapon. The simple fact that there are so many of them gives the officer justification to abuse that girl according to these boot lickers.
A lot of abuse defenders have been making a point of the teenagers failing to cooperate with the officers. Failing to cooperate in this case must mean failing to kowtow immediately because none of the teenagers appear to be engaging the officers. Standing idly by as a psychotic nutball runs around screaming threats of violence is not failing to cooperate; it’s actually an exceptionally polite way to deal with the situation. Those teenagers had every right to tackle that officer to the ground as soon as he began assaulting that girl.
“Totality of the situation” is a phrase being favored by these boot lickers. What particular aspects of this situation when combined justify this situation? Who knows. I honestly suspect “totality of the situation” is code for “too many black youths being present” because I can’t see any justification for the violent displayed by the officer in that video.
Simply put, everybody who has been defending Casebolt is an idiot. They are the reason for this country has become a tyrannical police state. Coldbolt should be arrested and tried for assault just as anybody else not wearing a badge would have been in that situation. He should compensate the girl he assaulted an amount agreed upon by a jury because she is the victim and deserves redress. Unless the law applies to everybody equally and wrongs are expected to be righted as much as possible a society cannot consider itself free.
I actually had someone argue that the one guy looked like he was going to pull a gun after the cop was beating the girl up, so it was justified.
I tried patiently to explain that SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE SHOT THE COP in that situation, and he would have none of that. Apparently, it’s entirely unreasonable to have the desire to defend a diminutive teenage girl in a bathing suit from a hulking brute on a power trip.
She clearly deserved it, since SOMEONE ELSE was maybe possibly trespassing at the pool.
Or was it suspicion of being a smartass. Also justifiable.
Your stupidity amazes me. I’ve read your blog for years and regarded it highly as a source of unbiased well informed gun industry information. I’ve never posted on your site befor, but this piece convinced me that the overwhelming time amount of time you’ve spent behind a computer has blinded you from the real world (and I thought you should know). As a cop, the first time I watched this video I was terrified at the moment that punk approached the office arresting the girl began reaching in his waist band If your at all in tune with firearms training standards you know hands reach for wespons in less than 1 second, which leaves a responding police officer just the same amount of time to assess and act. Clearly a feat you’ve never performed under stress.
To underestimate a gathering of juveniles as harmless based on their age is a potentially fatal mistake. Did you consider Michael brown a lovable harmless kid who just made a mistake? I could go on buy it’s unlikely you’ll allow this post since it didn’t fit your narrative but I still thought you should know.
I try.
Honestly, I’ve never strived to be unbiased. I kind of treat this site like my personal opinion column.
I’m surprised you lasted this long as a reader!
It wasn’t based on their age, it was based on their demeanor. None of them were acting aggressively. They were just standing there watching the feral cop run around.
Since you’ve been reading for years you already know my opinion on Michael Brown as I’ve posted it.
Nah, I love controversy. It get’s the page hits up and therefore boosts my ego.
As a cop, the first time I watched this video I was terrified…
Is there anything that does NOT terrify you cowardly cops?
I was terrified at the moment that punk approached the office [sic] … If your [sic] at all in tune…
You are illiterate. And you think the world does, and should, revolve around you and your inarticulately-expressed fears. Pathetic.
This nation needs to be rid of scum like you. You, and all like you, should be fired immediately and made to find productive employment. Even having 100% of former cops on welfare would be preferable to what we have today: at least they wouldn’t be murdering people while shitting their pants.
Casebolt was wrong.
Is Casebolt a mustache twirling villain, cackling evilly as he attempted to perform his duties?
Nope. He was a veteran officer with all the relevant ‘right’ training.
However…
From the 3 different videos I’ve seen of the incident, Casebolt made a bad tactical judgement of the size of the partycrasher group.
which led to a slippery slope of more and worse tactical judgements.
when an officer is seen RUNNING from spot to spot attempting to control multiple groups … he is doing it wrong.
Casebolt lost his cool, his tactical perspective, and behaved like an untrained rookie.
Deploying his weapon when the group of boys did a bluff charge to his flank … understandable, but because he was so far behind the 8-ball, totally wrong.
Is Casebolt an evil, racist villain? I dont’ think so: he was a public servant who screwed up.
Casebolt was wrong, and it was wrong of the police department to let him Resign. They should have put him thru a disciplinary investigation and then FIRED him. At least then, there would be lessons and an AAR to learn from.