Things aren't as they should be here, but I'm bloody glad I don't live in the States, where the police themselves appear to be one of the biggest threats to citizens, and completely devoid on human decency, and out of control. Sometimes it doesn't surprise me to see these events being accompanied by people declaring we're witnessing actual demons in human form.
Here we have a case where witnesses had supposedly rung the police to report someone who was intoxicated.
In response to this, according to multiple witnesses, a gang of 8 or 9 police officers arrived, launched themselves at him - he was said to have been sitting on the ground, and not resisting, but instead begging for his life to be spared - and proceeded to beat him to death with their night sticks.
They then forced all witnesses to stay in their homes for hours while they got warrants to invade and search them, so that they could confiscate their mobile phones, on which they'd filmed the act of unprovoked savagery.
One of these recordings has slipped their net though and appeared on the internet. It's on this link, along with a 911 call from an observer. It's dark & grainy, so not very clear.
That woman who reported it has got guts! And thank heavens there are still people like her around who have the gumption & courage to stand up and make their voices heard, because while others there filmed what happened, I don't think anyone tried to put a stop to it. Not that I blame them for being afraid to intervene.
www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/911-cal...t-killed-david-silva
And that the victim's attorney hasn't been allowed to see the videos speaks volumes!
Attorney: 'Show us the videos' regarding arrest, alleged beating of Bakersfield resident by deputies
Videos 'confiscated' in way to suggest 'cover up'
Posted: 05/10/2013
Last Updated: 7 hours ago
Christine Dinh
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - "Show us the videos." That's what Attorney David Cohen said over and over again during the press conference regarding the death of David Silva, a man who was allegedly beaten to death by deputies.
David Silva's family was there but did not make any comments, letting their attorney do all the talking.
And he had some pretty choice words for the Sheriff's Office.
"If the Sheriff's Office doesn't have anything to hide, why aren't we being shown these videos? Why were they confiscated in a way that suggests a cover up," said Attorney David Cohen.
Cohen said investigators have used strong arm tactics to obtain cell phones from witnesses.
"To the point where they imprisoned people in their own residences, wouldn't let them leave for many hours until they obtained a search warrant," said Cohen. "If there's nothing to hide, then show us the videos. Our community and this grieving family is entitled to know the truth."
Cohen claims the Sheriff's Office has stonewalled everyone including Silva's family, who have been relying on the media for information.
"The Sheriff's Department won't tell the family anything. The Sheriff's Department wouldn't even let Mr. and Mrs. Silva see their son until after the autopsy," said Cohen.
Cohen said he's grateful to residents who filmed the incident.
"It's a situation where citizens are having to police the police. Why is that taking place? Is this Rodney King all over again but in Kern County," questioned Cohen.
Cohen said he has filed motions requesting all videos be released and preservation of evidence for independent review.
"We want to make sure that those videos are not destroyed," said Cohen. "We want to make sure that those videos are not altered. It's a major concern of this family and should be a major concern of this entire community."
Cohen said the Silva family plans to file a civil lawsuit in federal court claiming Silva's civil rights were violated.
There is no justifying what happened to Rodney King - NONE! - but at least the set of low-life who set about him could
pretend to be motivated by fear because of his alleged bad-ass reputation. I've not encountered any information claiming Silva had committed any crime beyond being pissed.
