FBD
04-12-2011, 07:22 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/04/11/2011-04-11_video_shows_cops_tasering_beating_unruly_fan_du ring_drunken_rage_at_pittsburgh_p.html
Pittsburgh cops have been caught on video clubbing and Tasering a drunk and unruly fan at a Pirates game in front of a horrified crowd.
Police said they feared for their lives after Scott Ashley, of Friendship, Pa., attacked an usher and then shook off a Taser shot and a flurry of billy club strikes when they tried to boot him from Saturday's game for being drunk.
In the video, an officer and a young usher escort Ashley from the stands while the crowd boos and defiantly chants "USA! USA!"
Moments later, Ashley nails the baby-faced usher with a forearm for trying to block a high-five from another fan.
The officer then fires the Taser, but it has little effect on the bald, burly fan.
Moments later, the bludgeoning begins, as two officers repeatedly club the enraged fan in the head, neck and legs.
Ashley tries to run(he ran??), but the cops eventually wrestle him to the ground and cuff him as shocked fans look on.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW
The "USA!" chants resumed as police drag Ashley from the stadium.
A video of the incident was posted on YouTube and soon spread to other blogs.
City detective Francis Rende wrote in a criminal complaint that the two cops "feared for our safety" after Ashley refused to leave the stadium and incited the crowd to taunt the officers, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.
"I then Tased (Ashley) but it had no effect on him," Rende wrote. "I then physically grabbed (him) to place him under arrest; (he) was a very muscular man and fought with both of us. I kept activating the Taser to no avail." (bullshit, you hit him with the club first on either side of the head and then went after his knees several times before anyone tried to grab him)
Rende also said angry fans were spitting and throwing drinks on him as he hauled Ashley away, the paper said.
A team spokesman said Ashley was drunk, bothering fans in his section and belligerently refused to leave.
At one point, Ashley asked the cops to step aside so he could see the game better, cops said.
"The PNC Park staff is well trained to ensure the safety of our fans … and followed PNC Park procedures last night when dealing with a disruptive guest," Warecki told the paper.
Cops took Ashley to the hospital before booking him on charges of public drunkenness and resisting arrest.
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Gah, where's the vid link. Its on nyDN's site.
I've seen too many cops who are hellbent on establishing and showing their authority...and if you dont bow down, their drive to establish it gets doubled.
...and then after the fact, they can always claim they were scare for their life!
Surprising the guy's reaction to the taser, though ;)
The "assault" they're charging him with on the Usher is bullshit.
Pittsburgh cops have been caught on video clubbing and Tasering a drunk and unruly fan at a Pirates game in front of a horrified crowd.
Police said they feared for their lives after Scott Ashley, of Friendship, Pa., attacked an usher and then shook off a Taser shot and a flurry of billy club strikes when they tried to boot him from Saturday's game for being drunk.
In the video, an officer and a young usher escort Ashley from the stands while the crowd boos and defiantly chants "USA! USA!"
Moments later, Ashley nails the baby-faced usher with a forearm for trying to block a high-five from another fan.
The officer then fires the Taser, but it has little effect on the bald, burly fan.
Moments later, the bludgeoning begins, as two officers repeatedly club the enraged fan in the head, neck and legs.
Ashley tries to run(he ran??), but the cops eventually wrestle him to the ground and cuff him as shocked fans look on.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW
The "USA!" chants resumed as police drag Ashley from the stadium.
A video of the incident was posted on YouTube and soon spread to other blogs.
City detective Francis Rende wrote in a criminal complaint that the two cops "feared for our safety" after Ashley refused to leave the stadium and incited the crowd to taunt the officers, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.
"I then Tased (Ashley) but it had no effect on him," Rende wrote. "I then physically grabbed (him) to place him under arrest; (he) was a very muscular man and fought with both of us. I kept activating the Taser to no avail." (bullshit, you hit him with the club first on either side of the head and then went after his knees several times before anyone tried to grab him)
Rende also said angry fans were spitting and throwing drinks on him as he hauled Ashley away, the paper said.
A team spokesman said Ashley was drunk, bothering fans in his section and belligerently refused to leave.
At one point, Ashley asked the cops to step aside so he could see the game better, cops said.
"The PNC Park staff is well trained to ensure the safety of our fans … and followed PNC Park procedures last night when dealing with a disruptive guest," Warecki told the paper.
Cops took Ashley to the hospital before booking him on charges of public drunkenness and resisting arrest.
----------------------------------------------------
Gah, where's the vid link. Its on nyDN's site.
I've seen too many cops who are hellbent on establishing and showing their authority...and if you dont bow down, their drive to establish it gets doubled.
...and then after the fact, they can always claim they were scare for their life!
Surprising the guy's reaction to the taser, though ;)
The "assault" they're charging him with on the Usher is bullshit.