UCLA police brutality towards student

Videotape has been released showing University of California, Los Angeles, police using a Taser on a student who allegedly refused to leave the campus library. The video, recorded by a cellular phone, shows Mostafa Tabatabainejad being stunned by police and falling to the ground while crying out in pain, The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday. Campus police report said community service officers were doing their nightly sweep of the library to ensure that all users after 11 p.m. are students or authorized patrons, the Times said. Tabatabainejad allegedly refused to show identification to an officer and the guard called in campus police. A statement from the UCLA Police Department said Tabatabainejad was asked to leave 'multiple times'. "He continued to refuse," the statement said. "As the officers attempted to escort him out, he went limp and continued to refuse to cooperate with officers or leave the building." However, witnesses have disputed that claim, saying Tabatabainejad has begun walking toward the door when police arrived but was grabbed by an officer. Tabatabainejad, who was stunned multiple times, was charged with resisting and obstructing a police officer and was released.

A UCLA student was using a computer in the library. During a routine security check he was unable to produce his ID. This led to him being tazed 5-6 times and handcuffed.

Video: Warning-This may be difficult to watch.

As difficult as is, I'd have to side with the campus security on this one. If someone refuse to show his/her ID, you should be able to refuse admission or ask the person to leave. If the individual has a complaint, he or she can file it with the school administration, or call a lawyer.

One problem with non-lethel weapons like pepper spray and tasers is that, unlike deadly force, the officer may be tempted to use it more often.

..........

Come to the think of it, having attended college here, I had to admit that college-age kids are some of the biggest jerks you'd ever have to deal with. I can think of more than a few people at my school who should've been beaten with a stick and zapped a dozen times over. One of them almost caused a fatality on the 5th floor by pushing someone on the patio as a joke.

Wow, that guy sounds like a complete nutter. adeptitus is right that this was a difficult situation for the security guys. If someone is as irrational and aggressive as that, what are you supposed to do? Wait until he pulls a knife?

Given that non-lethal force was used and the guy seems completely fine, I think this isn't much of a story. crazy, I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill by calling this "police brutality".

well there are some "less" non-lethal weapons than a tazer. For one, they could've carried him out in a similar manner to the Taiwan police to end those political protests. It's obvious the security guards had an advantage in manpower. Of course, it all depends on how many times they tazed him...

T-U-P said:

well there are some "less" non-lethal weapons than a tazer. For one, they could've carried him out in a similar manner to the Taiwan police to end those political protests. It's obvious the security guards had an advantage in manpower.

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It rather depends how many of them there were. If someone is kicking and struggling - the guy was not going quietly - you need a lot of people to carry someone out. Also this isn't Taiwan, and I doubt these people are trained in anti-riot techniques. You can't expect them to do something they had no training in.

Part of the problem was that they tazed him repeatedly after the first time. It is arguable that he was simply unable to walk to the door as ordered to do so afterwards and was obviously not a threat to anyone's security, therefore the excessive tazer use was simply abuse of authority and power.

The_Zergling said:

... therefore the excessive tazer use was simply abuse of authority and power...

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Where do you think people like the ones who beat on Rodney King go when they're kicked out of law enforcement?

Campus security, guarding warehouses and other security gigs not requiring sworn law enforcement officers!

It's no real surprise when "rent-a-cops" go overboard. At the wages they're usually paid, you don't exactly get a bunch of highly-trained, highly-intelligent folks with the patience of hostage negotiators... Campus security might pay a little higher than the poor guys who guard empty warehouses all night, but dealing with the unpredictable, authority-hating loonies that occupy many campuses would cause most of us to be quick on the tazer as well. After all, there's not a lot of monetary motivation to risk one's life and limbs putting up with somebody who doesn't want to peacefully cooperate.
:nono:

lucky the guy didn't go into cardiac arrest after being tazed soo many times

I'm not sure about UCLA, but at my old school (CSUF) our Campus Police is a professional and nationally accredited Law Enforcement Agency:


My school didn't hire "rent a cop" like some shopping mall. @_@

Hehehe...I have this rent a cop jacket with a patch on the side and stuff...I've always wanted to wear it and go to the mall and mess with people