TV Schedule

Update: Taser arrest witnesses in Eugene, Oregon want police prosecuted


  3. jubal
  4. related topics
Three witnesses to the controversial stun-gun arrest of anti-pesticide protester Ian Van Ornum say a pair of Eugene police officers should face assault charges for roughing up the University of Oregon student after breaking up a downtown rally.

Eugene residents Josh Schlossberg, Samantha Chirillo and Amy Pincus Merwin announced Wednesday that they had filed a formal criminal complaint alleging that police Sgt. Bill Solesbee and officer Jud Warden assaulted Van Ornum on May 30 near Kesey Square.

Brian Michaels, a Eugene attorney representing the three residents, said he hopes the complaint spurs investigators toscrutinize the actions of Solesbee and Warden.

“These police officers need to be held accountable,” Michaels said during a news conference held at City Hall to announce the complaint’s filing. “We’re hoping this keeps the light shining on these officers … for assaulting and nearly killing” Van Ornum.

+++++++++++++++

This started out as a peaceful protest in a free speech square. Its called Kesey square.
jubal

37 responses // Update: Taser arrest witnesses in Eugene, Oregon want police prosecuted

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gr4RsI2V6Y
    Here's a video of participants and witnesses describing the incident by YouTube's PictureEugene.
    Hawkmang
  • How do you expect them to practice using their tasers if not on people?
    Marilynn_Murray
    1 response to this
  • Tasers should be reclassified as lethal weapons, and the police should be psychologically screened before being issued with a Taser, as there is far too much abuse of that weapon.
    recommended by  huntre
    Vierotchka
  • People from the USA are always looking for attention and "playing important".
    petarro
    3 responses to this
  • This is the redundancy department of redundancy....fix your title.
    SilenceNoMore
    1 response to this
  • Almost died?

    Sure.

    Overly dramatic?

    Yes he is. He should just be a girl from Mean Girls. Like omg I almost died...

    People whine that police shoot instead of detain in a manner that doesn't kill.

    Now that they do...omg I've got discomfort let me cry.

    The human body can withstand tasers. It's the amount of times that matters. Last year a man was hit (supposedly) 13 times with a taser and died.

    I couldn't find how many times they used it on him...what twice? Not even a lot. The human body can withstand it and therefore I don't make much of him being shocked.

    However, if he was truly slammed into the ground without provocation then I understand the complaint.

    If he was being difficult during the arrest and causing problems then this was brought upon himself.

    I am not up for automatically believing that a man was assaulted by the police just because an article uses words that try to imply such.

    This idea that people are randomly picked to beat up is also whacked.

    Something more happened and I don't believe his side of the story. I don't believe that they acted totally right. But if he provoked them in any way he paid the price and if I were on the jury he'd get no empathy from me.
    J_Jammer
    7 responses to this
  • Yes, there is always more than one side to a story..But I think tasers are used too much.Personally, I HATE being shocked.I don't care how much a body can stand.That doesn't mean it's ok..More cops are now carrying tasers w/ them.You might feel differently if you or someone you know had a taser used on them.
    inapickle
  • Being tasered after you are already cooperating and on the ground is not right.
    recommended by  Marilynn_Murray
    jubal
  • Down with the man. This terrible abuse of "power" is insane. I'm so fed up with it. Pricks got picked on in school so they're overcompensating by being bullies later in life. Buttholes.

    For every one non-corrupt cop, there are 500 dickhead powermongers... Just like old Georgie wants it.
    recommended by  jubal, Marilynn_Murray
    onechance
  • Jammer, Do you have one lucid fair bone in your body?
    Marilynn_Murray
    1 response to this
  • Here are a random grab of quotes from a google search on "taser death:"

    "july 30, 2005 - A Chicago medical examiner has ruled that shocks from a Taser were responsible for the death of a man in February..."

    "Nov 25, 2006 ... The county coroner found no evidence of alcohol or drugs in his system and ruled that Ryan's death could be attributed to the Taser shock,..."

    "Jun 26, 2008 ... After Gray’s death, the department reviewed its policies and Taser use was deemed for use only in situations of active resistance."

    OK: So the internet has spoken. Tasers CAN cause death. They are not fun toys to give the police to play with. We give our police guns as weapons of deadly force; force to be used only when necessary. Tasers deserve the same respect.

    A verbal assault to an officer will never be met with a gun shot. This needs to be the same rule for tasers. Period.

    Shooting a man on the ground is a crime. Tasing a man on the ground or in handcuffs should also be a crime.
    recommended by  jubal
    jahbini
  • Since police are allowed to wield/use any weapon openly on citizens, they must change the education requirements and testing of the individuals that are allowed to be "peace officers." Police job requirements are a joke and it shows in the forces we have.
    Denica_Cassandra
  • Let's just arm police officers with pez dispensers so when they repond to calls they can give an illegal with a gun a sugar high.

    On another topic, and in another lifetime, I once went to a prison confrence in Eugene. One of the state officials was trying to recruit my black co-workers. He said Or. has a high incarceration rate of black's and they do not respond to whites.

    Mariylnn,

    I suggest you apply as a counselor and move to Or.
    Go do some good, since you accuse me of not.
    mrburns
    1 response to this
  • "Let's just arm police officers with pez dispensers so when they repond to calls they can give an illegal with a gun a sugar high."

    mrburns: Your racist rants are disgusting, and your talking points are all straight off of Fox "news".
    onechance
    3 responses to this
  • Speak english jahbini? what were you trying to say?

    "However, you can best bring forward your ideas and share your beliefs with us with some facts, persuasion and maybe a little hope."

    Here is the big difference from you and me.
    Hope, hope, hope,

    You can hope, and I will work for results. When your hope fails in the end, you can always rationailze, use excuses, and say "it was a good idea". I keep working and not whining

    God bless america
    God bless big oil

    What is the deal with my screen name? It's just a fricking screen name onechance
    mrburns
  • Wow this is a crazy story. Apparently the courts did drop the charges against the three activists arrested. Hopefully Mr. Omum has realized it’s not smart to taunt the guy with a taser.

    Americans really need to do something about this pain compliance policy. If you’re not resisting and a cop tasers you that sounds like assault. With any luck the police officers involved will be charged in the investigating this altercation.

    Ultimately I think its about time we outfit police officers with portable cameras and microphones.
    Ricky84
  • Maybe these cops were inspired by their friends at U of F. Don't tase me bro. Don't tase me.
    bishopobispo
  • Where are the good cop stories?

    That's right....keep the people down by making cops look bad.
    J_Jammer
  • This is just more reason to belive that freedom of speech is bullshit in the eyes of the law.But the lady in the you tube video is right if thay tased him for what he said to the under cover cop.Then why didn't the under cover take sooner action to see that there was only water in the sprayer?
    HuantedWorld
  • This is just another example of the stinking police abusing their power over the little guy. I'm glad it was caught on tape. I hope the asshole officers do get prosecuted. The people were having a peaceful rally and the officers totally screwed it up for everyone. A couple of questions were all the cops needed to ask and they didn't have the time for some common courtesy before they took things way too far!!!!
    owner1

Add your response

Login/Registration is required to add a response.