Report Deems Student Tasering Justified

(AP)  University of Florida police were justified in using a Taser against a student who refused to stop questioning Sen. John Kerry on campus last month, according to a state investigation released Wednesday.

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.

"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.

Meyer 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.

[sftodd]

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.
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.

[prinzowhales]

Our forefathers stood up and made themselves "free to create disturbances" in the empire of a demented king and corrupt Parliament set upon taking their rights as Englishmen, who denied them representation, taxed them without their leave, set troops and mercenaries upon them, confiscated their property and imprisoned them.

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?

[mcvett]

It was a liberal student at a liberal univeristy asking
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.

.

[whatithink-2009]

I can''t believe they found it justifiable to taze an upper class white college student. I would have expected that the police would have been disbarred and spent time in jail and sued for 30 million dollars or something like this.

What is this world coming to?

[brianbwb-2009]

So, the state investigates their own, and "deems" their abuse justified. If you are a "Black" man, this is generations-old news, only in the media because it is one of those relatively rare instances where the victim was a "white" person.

[robertkjjj]

I was happy when he got zapped. The only mistake the officers made was NOT pulling out their clubs and beating him into the next zip code. This punk was so annoying they should have shocked him more just for fun. What a complete di*ck he was.

[dixxson-2009]

I have to agree with the statement
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!

[tiredofthebs]

Rudy654 .... thanks for the defense. Notso9 probably still believes the Rodney King beating was a hoax.

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.

[sftodd]

"Usually, an authoritarian government is undemocratic and has the power to govern without consent of those being governed."

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.

[sftodd]

"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.

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!!!!