GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 24, 2007
Report Deems Student Tasering Justified
Investigation Of Incident At Univ. Of Florida Kerry Event Finds Police Acted Appropriately
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Play CBS Video Video Student Tasered At Kerry Q&A
CBS News RAW: Police tasered a University of Florida student who has been accused of disturbing the peace and resisting arrest at a talk with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
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Video Call For Inquiry Into Tasering
The president of the University of Florida is calling for an investigation into why campus police used a Taser gun on a student after a speech by Jon Kerry. Kelly Cobiella reports.
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(AP)
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Interactive Crime Beat Statistics and specifics on crime in America.
Some had questioned the use of force in using the stun gun against student Andrew Meyer, leading to the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A summary of the agency's report was released Wednesday.
"In short, the FDLE determined that our officers acted well within state guidelines," university President Bernie Machen said in a letter to students, faculty and staff.
Two officers who were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation were reinstated Wednesday, Machen said.
Rob Griscti, Meyer's attorney, said he had not yet reviewed the report and had no immediate comment. The journalism major is known for posting practical jokes online on his Web site.
The scuffle between Meyer and police started during the Sept. 17 speech by Kerry when Meyer refused to leave the microphone after his allotted time was up, police said. The videotaped altercation and Meyer's cries of "Don't Tase me bro!" were played frequently on the Internet.
The report says the officers' intent was to escort Meyer from the auditorium, but he broke away and refused to follow the officers' instructions.
"Officers decide not to escalate to hard empty hand strikes, kicks, knees or baton ... (it) would have looked like the officers were beating Meyer into submission," the report said.
The report, which has Meyer's name and that of other students blacked out, said the officers did what was necessary to control the student.
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"Our purpose is, and has always been, to ensure a civil and safe environment where the many types of campus activities and open discourse can occur," said Police Chief Linda Stump.In short, the FDLE determined that our officers acted well within state guidelines.
University of Florida President Bernie MachenMeyer has been charged by police for resisting an officer and disturbing the peace, but the State Attorney's Office has not yet decided whether to file formal charges.
Spencer Mann, a spokesman for the State Attorney's Office, said the decision may be made some time next week.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 100 Commentswith the concept of "political correctness"
It was liberals who adopted that concept from Chairman Mao.
Posted by MCVett at 10:36 AM : Oct 26, 2007
MCVett, the fact that you are not the least bit concerned about the suppression of free speech in this country, regardless of who''s speech is being suppressed is a sign of your infinite stupidity. All Americans should be horrified by what happened in Florida. The chilling effect on free speech is felt everywhere when our government uses violence to suppress it anywhere. You are no less culpable than the "politically correct" liberals and you should be ashamed of your short-sighted stupidity, but that would require you to understand the grave danger that your petty attitude poses. I doubt you are capable, but try to think about it.
Today, the pathetic trash of 21st Century America, glory in the torture of innocent Iraqis...and even the tasering of college students who dare ask a difficult and embarrassing question and insist on an answer from the Skull&Bones lodge brother of the psychopath-in-chief. This student asked a real question...not the ''what''s your favorite colour, Massa Kerry''-type of question favored by those ever so appropriate people who will calmly stand in line for their own execution and ''dare NOT disturb the universe,'' for the sake of anything that demands... a disturbance.
A million-plus are dead because appropriate people did not ''dare disturb the universe'' and more will die because of the intellectual sterility of ''very liberal persons generally''.....the neutered remnants of a once great Republic.
Why, indeed, did Kerry betray the trust of those silly enough to vote for him and surrender the stolen vote in Ohio? Why did John Edwards remain silent in the face of this stolen election?
a liberal question to a liberal politician at a liberal forum
And liberals want to blame Bush !?!?!?!
BwaHahahahahahahahaha
Oh God, Oh God, can''''t breathe, can''''t breathe.
BwaHahahahahahahahaha
It WAS NOT the Bush administration or conservatives who came up
with the concept of "political correctness"
It was liberals who adopted that concept from Chairman Mao.
.
What is this world coming to?
cowardly Kerry. A millionaire whom not
only served, but not in the rear or sky,
but a swift boat, that has got to be second in danger to Helicopter gunner!
And now in the face of excessive force, blalant savagery, he waffeled
like a wet waffle.
The people investigating the incident were the ones that created it
as in all police departments throughout
america, the inmates are running the asylum, they are not going to report on
themselves!
I am a well educated (MBA) law-abiding minority who was CONSTANTLY harrassed & abused by police officers in my youth. Countless times have I been pepper sprayed, slammed against the hood of a squad car and various other injustices that don''t occur in Notso''s neighborhood. Law enforcement officers have tremendous power. Though human, they MUST rise above petty human faults when executing their duties. To use excessive force when not necessary warrants ANY retaliation they receive in my opinion. Notso, get at me when your civil rights are violated ! Sicko ?! Label me how you must.
Oh, that''s right, I keep forgetting that Florida is not a democracy. They hold fake pre-determined elections as some weird sort of ceremonial tradition in honor of our former democratic government. Sort of like Great Britain and the Queen, except the opposite.
Right, when you are infrining upon a person''s civil rights and beating him into submission for exercising the freedom of speach, the last thing you want is for it to "look like you are beating him into submission." Another job well done by our authoritarian government!!!! Soon Americans will learn to keep their f''ing mouths shut!!!!
Screw you, I''m a very liberal person generally. Perhaps some time in the military WOULD have helped you and that Yahoo understand the word restraint. A free society does not mean free to create disturbances.
Have a good day, ''ToolMangler'',
Until next time.
ToolMangler,
Re: "Feely, he continued to struggle with the officers, how long should they take his abuse?"
The officers grabbed this man from behind, with no warning, and with no justification. That was the only abuse that I saw during this event, besides the Tasing.
The only threatening presense during this event were these dangerous abusive officers, and they would have been far more appropriately Tased/clubbed by the audience, as opposed to the abusive treatment used against this man for questions that Cowardly Kerry was willing to answer.
Posted by FeelFree1 at 02:49 PM : Oct 25, 2007
At this time they are, and I support that. A tazer will not stop a over the top, pcp addict. I have seen that also. I am able to take a 25.000 volt, low current transformer that throws a 1 inch Arc and run the Arc around my palm with only minor discomfort. Compared to some people physically, I am not much. In life there are risks,
ToolMangler,
This student posed no threat to anyone. There was no justification for using any weapon against him at all.
ToolMangler,
Re: "My point is, "If tasers are outlawed, then Billie clubs rule" I personally am capable of making every stroke of a club, kill. The hard part is "Hitting and not killing"
You seem to be implying that one has replaced the other, and this is not the case. Both continue to be routinely used.
Feely, I just answered that. when it comes to be hit or be shocked, I''ll take the shock every time. If one of my children were to get the attention of authorities enough for that I still like the shock over the crippling/killing blow. Ever seen an eye knocked out of its socket? I have.
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