Cops Beat and Tase Driver For Speeding

MINNEAPOLIS Did police use excessive force during an incident with a Minnesota man after they pulled him over for speeding?

Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan told the Star-Tribune that he plans to ask for help from the FBI in investigating a disturbing police video that shows 42-year-old Darryl Jenkins being beaten by as many as six police officers. Jenkins was Tasered several times and beaten so badly he defecated on himself and officers, according to his lawyer, Paul Edlund.

"The kicking is troubling to me," Dolan told the paper after watching the video early Monday. "The public will want an investigation."

What caused such a strong police reaction?

Officer Richard Walker told CBS affiliate WCCO that Jenkins smelled of alcohol and was uncooperative, but the nuances of the case are hard to make it out in the grainy police video.

Jenkins says he was headed towards a friend's house after a late-night dinner and three beers at Rudolph's Bar-B-Que when he was pulled over for allegedly speeding Feb. 19 in north Minneapolis.

In the video, Officer Walker can be seen approaching Jenkins car and after a brief exchange, Walker opens the door. When Jenkins gets out, Walker wrestles him to the ground.

Jenkins is then seen being held on the ground face down in a snow bank. When several other officers arrive at the scene, they start punching and kicking Jenkins, who appears to offer no resistance.

"They punched him kicked him, elbowed him, they Tased him several times. He was beaten to the point where he literally defecated on himself and on officers. He was also beaten to the point of unconsciousness," Jenkin's attorney told WCCO.

Photos of Jenkins after the incident show that his face was badly bruised, and he had to receive seven stitches.

But Walker and his fellow officers' actions were deemed appropriate for the situation after the tape was reviewed by a supervisor, a watch commander and internal affairs officers.

According to the police report, Jenkins resisted arrest; he was charged with assault and refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test. Those charges have since been dropped "in the interest of justice," according to court papers.

Both Jenkins and Walker are African-American. "This is not a hate thing, this is just a people issue and it needs to be dealt with," Jenkins told reporters.

Did Minnesota police go too far? You be the judge.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/17/crimesider/entry5246958.shtml

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• police
• brutality
• assault
• tase
• tased
• tasered
• Jenkins
• arrest

[AdNoctum007]

Absolutely ridiculous that police officers can get away with assault like this. That officer was probably just having a pissy night 'cause he found out that his wife is cheating on him or something and decided to take it out on this guy....

[zk92000]

Yeah this is crazy. And here is the thing, ALL the Charges were dropped by the Police. Why? becasue they knew they were wrong! Police dont drop charges unless they know they are in the wrong.

[jmarcy1234]

you should be able to fight back.

[Pumpedmuscle]

The only good thing about this is the peice of shit cops got shit on.

[WickedDesmadroso]

this right here is just like gang beat down

[toejampictures]

The suspect clearly was threatening the officer and is at fault...I love the police.

[mermer1229]

Take a look folks.....this is what $253,000 looks like. What idiots. They deserve to be beaten

[RayAir1]

Pick up a RIFLE and you instantly become a CITIZEN instead of a subject.

The police are NOT your friend. They are not here to protect and serve us. Keep this in mind when dealing with them.

[jackwolf131]

I hope the guy recovers

[blax82]

The scariest thing about this is the officers behaviour was deemed appropriate for the situation. Are you kidding me ? gtfoh with that shit. This is something you'd exoect to see in China, Way to go for so called democracy . Welcome to the New World Order They protect us from eac other ? Who protects us from them? That's some bullshit

[ganmu2009]

 i thought he said 42-year-old leeroy jenkins at first