Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
OHIO OFFICIALS ARE investigating a violent arrest in which an officer was videotaped repeatedly punching a black man, the latest alleged case of excessive use of force by police against African-Americans.
More than seven million people had viewed an online video of the arrest, posted on Facebook by a bystander.
Police also released dashboard camera footage showing 25-year-old Richard Hubbard forced to the ground with an officer on top of him raining down blows.
In an initial report of the incident, which occurred last Saturday, police said Hubbard had been resisting arrest. He can be seen apparently struggling with officers, but not exhibiting violent force.
City officials said the incident raised questions and they were investigating, while advocates representing residents of the small city of Euclid, a suburb outside Cleveland, expressed alarm.
“Violence and use of force in any situation is disturbing and difficult to watch. The videos of the incident on Saturday morning raise some very serious concerns,” Euclid Mayor Kirsten Gail said in a statement.
Questions have arisen over the police department’s hiring practices and how thoroughly it vets officers.
The officer who punched Hubbard was not identified. But, the American Civil Liberties Union said one of the police at the scene was Michael Amiott, who was “forced to resign from his previous job” at another police department.
“We are appalled by the brutality seen in these videos,” said J Bennett Guess, head of the Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
This behaviour underscores a disturbing pattern of extreme use of force by police in our state and across our nation.
The incident was the latest to expose deep rifts between many African-Americans and US police – especially after recent high-profile incidents of police use of force captured on video.
Anger over police conduct and repeated failures to convict accused officers at trial has boiled over into angry street protests.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin – another US city with strained relations between police and African-Americans – violent protests erupted after a 23-year-old black man was shot by a black officer after a brief foot chase.
Earlier this summer, former Ohio police officer Ray Tensing walked free after a second mistrial, when a jury could not agree whether to find him guilty for shooting a black man during a routine traffic stop.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Eileen I have to agree with Lauren for the simple reason…..that she’s smoking hot.
Naw, fake tan and stretched plastic looking.
Well done once again to the bomb squad , amazing work !
One wonders though how long the Ministers of Justice and Defense are going to allow this increasingly dangerous situation to continue?
What would you propose they do? Set up search check points at every cross roads in the country?
What do you suggest Lauren ?
The Gardai and Army HAVE access to more information than you or I . The thing is there is only so much that so few manpower can do. There should be more Gardai .The Gardai and Army bomb disposal teams do great work and I am not criticising them , but the politicians who have reduced their numbers should be held accountable . It is worth noting that any number of Gardai can be summoned to Mayo , yet there are viable exploding devices being found , but who is panting them ??? . The Banks have access to Gardai and Army to protect their money in transit …..
As it happens Eileen the banks have to pay for the gardai and army when they need cash escorts
What would you propose we pay all this extra man power with? gratitude?
So the banks pay for private security from State police . Says it all there. By the way I have the utmost of respect for te majority of Gardai. They like the prison service have a thankless job. Maybe it is about time for the banks to pay for their own private security and this in turn would free up gardai and army personnel to carry out duties for the state and the citizens. Shell should also employ more security if they feel so much at risk. You seem to be very defensive. I have good time for the work of the gardai .
Gratitutde does not put food on the table so are you telling us here that shell and the banks pay Garda salaries ? Are you seriously implying that only for Shell and the banks Gardai would not be paid ? Lauren , maybe you should retract your comments , because what you are saying is actually accusing the government of offering preferential treatment and service for money …… I do not think the Gardai will like that .
How are finding life on the outside Larry? I thought you were in hiding.
Free travel. I can pop up anywhere.
Lucky for Lauren she’s not your type so.
Let’s not trivialise the greatest risk to the Irish State since the so ceasefire in Northern Ireland. Increased terrorist activity across the Border including shots being fired at PSNI last month and this sad total of 123 call outs with more than fifty viable devices in the Republic this year alone. This is alarming
and even more so when the National Press is ignoring the matter. Perhaps we should read something into the obvious lack of coverage and also lack of comment from the Department of Justice or Defence.
Mick Collins,
There are more Garda Stations to be closed next year and there is a green paper on Defence due for budget time there is another 12.5 billion euro to be taken out of this economy by the end of 2015, our troika masters have spoken and so it shall be.
Jesus, they call out BDU so often they have to replace the tires on the robot every year.
I believe it is ex-IRA members who are selling there wares and expertise on to criminal gangs now that the WAR! Is over….a leopard never changes it’s spots!!
They (guards) know who planted it,they know who it was intended for (local traveller fued). There’s a (want to be) traveller crime family intimidating the local wealthier families for land and cash and the guards can’t do anything about it. This is the third device that they’ve been called out too in rathkeale. The first one exploded when it was thrown into a house and the second failed to detonate.
Makes me wonder what kind of person is doing this. Is there an agenda? Making bombs for the craic because they can? Like hackers and their bragging rights. Just looking for attention. Hard to know. All these bombs being found yet none have gone off. Very strange.
Yes they have gone off…with one removing the hand of a young boy in Wicklow! A Nation Once Again,,me arse!
have your say