Denver Deputies Cleared from death of Inmate Booker - CLOSED

[sic_semper_tyrannis]

When your dealing with an old drunk coke head, maybe you shouldn't use a "standard choke hold". Maybe you should use your head. If they would have shown one sliver of compassion, the old dude would still be alive. They are above the law. I'm done.

The first logical error here is that you're assuming the deputies have life bios on all the prisoners. As if they knew that this guy was a coke head with heart problems, and that if he resists they can only use such-and-such restraint. In fact, the onus is clearly on the prisoner to know his own medical limitations and not put himself into a situation where his heart might core out.

As for the choke hold, it might surprise you that it is one of the safest techniques available for restraining actively resisting people (not just in a law enforcement context, but in any physical confrontation you might encounter on the street). A choke hold puts both the choker and chokee at less risk of injury. Going fist-to-fist with someone is actually a HORRIBLE way to fight, and often leads to broken bones, bleeding, fractures, and long-term injuries. Same thing when impact weapons become involved. A choke hold on the other hand, when executed properly, can end a fight quickly and with minimal potential for injury to everyone. Obviously this was not the case with this particular incident (and similar incidents), but that does not change the fact that the results were both unlikely and unintended. Surely you wouldn't prefer that the officers would have whipped out their batons and started clubbing him? Or just start throwing fists and elbows at the guy? Maybe a couple knees to the jugular? Are these methods more "compassionate" than a choke hold?

The video was extremely tame. There was no brutality there. No fight ever looks pretty. It's not a dance competition. Hell, even the Denver Post ultimately conceded that nothing was done wrong (which would be like Obama admitting that he's actually been a Republican this whole time).

[sic_semper_tyrannis]

The koolaid has become some good over the years, most don't even know it when it's shoved down their throats. I would be willing to bet that 50% of the inmates in this facility should not even be there but they are. You can bet that there is some hotshot DA that is boasting about his or her conviction precentage. BUT EVEN, if you are there, you would deserve better than that old drunk dude got. I can't believe that many LEO's jumped on top of a dude that my 12 year old could have handled. Then they proceeded to choke him for several minutes. Then they act like they did nothing wrong when he died. It's a bunch of bullshit and the Federal, State and local government needs an enema.

So a 50% false arrest rate? That is a pretty serious allegation. You'd think that in a city with as much crime as Denver (and there is plenty plenty PLENTY of crime here) the police and DAs would have better things to do with their time than to trump up false charges on people just to fill the jail with warm bodies. Also, for what its worth, this incident happened in the general seating area of PADF (Pre-Arraignment Detention Facility), so actually there was not a single person in the room that had even been in front of a judge or DA yet (thus, they haven't yet had the opportunity to be wrongly convicted by the corrupt nothing-better-to-do DAs).

As a counter-bet, I would actually argue that a good 75% percent of the people at the jail would be completely open about admitting their guilt if asked. Many have been there numerous times, and understand that it is just part of the game. No hesitations, they know the results of their lifestyle and don't waste time trying to minimize it.

You may be underestimating the strength of long-time crackheads. Especially angry ones.

As for your last statement about all levels of govt needing an enema, finally there is something that I can completely and happily agree with you on... only for different reasons.

[Colorado Luckydog]

It's not about a false arrest rate. You just don't get it and probably never will. This country is going down hill fast. Their arrest rates aren't false! They are putting people in jail for any fucking thing they want to put them there for. I know all to well, that I can't undo the effect of thousands of gallons of koolaid in one thread.