Videotaped on April 20, 2009 in El Paso, TX, on the shoulder of the I-10, across from the scene of an accident involving a tractor-trailer, CBS 7 News reporter Darren Hunt & cameraman Ric Dupont attempt to conduct an on-site report, when they are confronted by Texas police sergeant Raul Ramirez, who demands that Darren "get into [his] vehicle & leave". Darren attempts to ignore the illegal order, walking towards a witness to the accident, telling Ramirez of his intention to engage in a quick interview. Though he is only excercising his First Amendment right to Freedom of Press, the Ramirez aggressively advances on Darren, telling him, "no; negative, sir" while physically blocking him from access to the witness. As Darren stops in his tracks & begins to turn towards Ramirez, the officer begins ushering him in the opposite direction, back towards his truck, again demanding that he leave. As Darren walks with Ramirez towards his truck, he explains that he & Ric are only trying to do their jobs. An agitated Ramirez stops walking & points directly into the camera."You press that trigger, boy!" he challenges, threateningly. Ramirez then addresses both news crewmen, demanding that they leave. Darren continues walking towards his truck, responding, "he can shoot if he wants to." In response, Ramirez more forcefully repeats his vacate order, still pointing menacingly at the camera. Darren responds by also forcefully repeating his assertion that his cameraman can film. With this, Ramirez drops his hand & breaks into a sprinting charge towards Darren. In the ensuing assault, he grabs Darren from behind, by the waist of his pants & his right arm, & asks him, "do you want me to arrest you, sir!?", while forcing him towards the hood of his nearby truck. "No, I don't," Darren replies, holding his hand up at shoulder level, with fingers spread & palms out. Ramirez pulls on the waist of Darren's pants, pressing his body against the right side of Darren's back, pinning his waist against the truck, again asking, "do you want me to arrest you? then, you get in your truck & you move; plain & simple!" As Darren turns & says, "is he alright, at least?" inquiring about the accident victim, Ramirez responds, saying, "I don't care. I'm telling you something. I'm giving you an order!" As Darren begins to speak again, the officer says, "you know what!?" & begins pulling Darren's right arm towards him & behind Darren's back. Darren physically resists the officer, replying, "I didn't do anything!" Ramirez stops pulling & again asks him, "do you want to get arrested!?" "No," replies Darren. "Okay," says Ramirez, nodding, as he begins pulling Darren's arm towards his back a second time. Again, Darren resists, saying, "I just want to go. I'll go. It's fine; I'll go. I'm not resisting" Telling Darren that he is "not going," Ramirez applies more force & sucessfully pulls Darren's arm behind his back. "I'm not resisting," Darren states again, as Ramirez begins fumbling at his belt for his walkie talkie. The camera is then shut off . When it comes back on, the camera man is no longer behind Darren & Ramirez, but in front of them. "Look, I can get in the truck & pick him up," states Ric. "Go get in the truck before you go, too," Ramirez replies, while he begins pulling Darren away from the truck using the same right arm he has secured behind Darren's back. "Can you let him go? asks Ric, as he turns his camera away from the two men, & at the truck. At almost the same time, Ramirez suddenly begins assaulting Darren for a second time, yelling, "get your hands off the truck!" Just as the camera focuses back on the two, Darren is now facing Ramirez, who is still holding his arm, & pushing his back into the hood of the truck. As he yells his new order a second time, he pulls Darren towards him, spinning him around to face the truck again, & then pushing him back up against the hood. Confused at the officer's aggression, Darren repeatedly states that he is "not doing anything," all while being handcuffed by Ramirez. He is then pulled away from the hood of the truck, & towards the I-10 highway divider fence, where Ramirez spins him around & shoves him into it twice, by way of his chest, then abdomen, yelling for him to "sit down!" Ramirez then turns his aggressions towards Ric, who is in the process of telling Darren that he is going to leave. As Ramirez advances upon Ric & grabs him, the camera is jostled & his camera ends up on the ground. However, Ric can be heard telling Ramirez "wait, wait wait. What are you doing? You can't do that. I didn't do anything!," as the shadows on the ground indicate that he, too, is being assaulted by Ramirez. As Ric is thrown against the fence, next to Darren, Ramirez twice yells, "put your hands behind your back!"
Police sergeant Raul Ramirez was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation into this incident.
Darren Hunt & Ric Dupont were not charged with any crime.
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Police dash cam footage of Sgt. Chesnut shootingby tndotcom571,523 views
Police officers having a bad day, week or month dont give them the right to be asses. So what if i have a bad day at work i go fighting with my co-workers, come on. Police have the power and some abuse it.
ElCoyotefromTexas 7 months ago 6
Wow....all you need is a GED to be like this stupid idiot cop. lol
neckarsulme 4 months ago