Police Officer Attacks Eric Bush

A veteran Baltimore police officer was suspended after a video appeared on YouTube showing him manhandling a 14-year-old skateboarder.

The video, which was reportedly shot during the summer and just recently appeared on YouTube, begins with Officer Salvatore Rivieri approaching a group of teens on skateboards.

"You're not allowed to ride your skateboards here," Rivieri tells two teenage skateboarders.

"We were just rolling by. ... I didn't hear him because I had my iPod on," said Eric Bush, the teen who bore the brunt of Rivieri's wrath.

Don't Say 'Dude'

On the video, Bush is seen referring to Rivieri as "dude," and the officer responds with force, shoving Bush to the ground.

"I was scared. I didn't know if he was going to punch me," said Bush.

He wasn't scared speechless though, as Bush continued to refer to Rivieri as "dude."

"I didn't do anything dude," Bush says again on the video, this time inciting a rant from Rivieri.

"Obviously your parents don't put your foot in your butt quite enough, because you don't understand the meaning of the word respect. You better learn how to speak. I'm not 'man,' I'm not 'dude.' I am Officer Rivieri!" he shouts.

Reactions

"I was very upset," Bush's mother, Peggy Miller, said of watching the video.

Although skateboarding in the area wasn't allowed, she says the officer was out of line. "If I were to go to my job and I were to get upset with someone who called me dude three times and tackled [them], I'd be terminated immediately."

The Baltimore Police Department partially agreed. Rivieri, who has no complaints on his record, was suspended with pay.

"We don't know what happened before the video clip. We don't know what happened after. But there are obviously some things to be concerned about there," said Sterling Clifford, a spokesman for the Baltimore police.

Was Rivieri's Complaint Fair?

ABC News showed the video to Harris Stratyner, a psychologist who deals with confrontation.

"You watch the video and you say, 'Gee that kid was disrespectful.' And then you see the police officer and you forget all about the kid calling him dude, because his actions were so outrageous," Stratyner said.

As for his actions, Bush says this could have all been avoided. "I would have left if he had been nice to me, but he just kept on going and yelling at me."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• eric
• bush
• rivieri
• police
• brutality

[dunnmaggie23]

you dissrespected my badge, my name ,and my small dick thats y my wife i mean hokr left me

[cofelice]

no doubt in my mind the firing of this police officer was the right thing to do. This was totally uncalled for. Police Officers are suppose to be someone you trust not someone who verally abuses you. Sorry or not, he was in the wrong and paid the price.

[oakand]

Look at how Mr. Police Office is dressed and what he is driving. Cops are sooooo tough with kids and so chicked with real men. this cop would just shoot this kid if Barney gave him his one bullet to put in his gun.

[212avez4159]

0:51 "I'm not a dude!"

So you ARE gay lol

[212avez4159]

@skaterkrazed1 who, Rivieri or Eric?

[skaterkrazed1]

I have him as fb friend :p

[trex24680]

pity this guys kids they need protecting from this scum control freak lord help them and his wife. what a derty no good power freak cop

[FROZENCH0SIN]

I'm not man, I'm not dude..... and now you're not officer hahahaha

[megatron123ful]

imagine eric said my name is george bush lmfao this officer will fuck him so much lol

[bowlchamp411]

no no he didnt get suspended HE GOT FIRED suck it riveri you got what you diserved

[Molo6899]

Haha "I AM OFFICER RIVIERI!" "STOP CALLING ME A DUDE! A DUDE IS SOMEONE WHO WORKS ON A RANCH!"

[mimekiller17]

who is this guy, the white fat angry urcle??? if he puts his pants any higher they will get stuck in his vagina.