Comments on: Pastor brutalized by police at “border” checkpoint http://justinholmes.com/2009/05/pastor-brutalized-by-police-at-checkpoint/ Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:37:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Justin http://justinholmes.com/2009/05/pastor-brutalized-by-police-at-checkpoint/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Justin Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:56:16 +0000 http://justinholmes.com/?p=585#comment-178 I think you are mostly right, and I appreciate your comment, but I do disagree with your conclusion. To me, it doesn't matter that Anderson is a whackjob. Nobody deserves to be brutalized by the police. Period. There was absolutely no need for any kind of physical force. He was not resisting or physically engaging the police at any time. Also, and I'm less firm on this point, it's a tough swallow to say that he'd be able to sue the officers later for violating his rights if indeed the search was illegal. Cops are pretty much granted to blanket immunity from suits now under qualified immunity doctrine. Thus, a degree of active resistance, non-violent of course, is warranted and appropriate in my mind. At very least, answer me this: What is the possible justification for deploying an electro-assault weapon here? I think you are mostly right, and I appreciate your comment, but I do disagree with your conclusion.

To me, it doesn’t matter that Anderson is a whackjob. Nobody deserves to be brutalized by the police. Period. There was absolutely no need for any kind of physical force. He was not resisting or physically engaging the police at any time.

Also, and I’m less firm on this point, it’s a tough swallow to say that he’d be able to sue the officers later for violating his rights if indeed the search was illegal. Cops are pretty much granted to blanket immunity from suits now under qualified immunity doctrine. Thus, a degree of active resistance, non-violent of course, is warranted and appropriate in my mind.

At very least, answer me this: What is the possible justification for deploying an electro-assault weapon here?

]]> By: Zaphod http://justinholmes.com/2009/05/pastor-brutalized-by-police-at-checkpoint/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Zaphod Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:04:48 +0000 http://justinholmes.com/?p=585#comment-177 "Pastor" Anderson brought this on himself. If he had answered their questions he would have been on his way soon after. I he didn't want his car searched, he should have told them that the search was against his will, and that he thinks they need a search warrant, but he should not have interfered with the officers. If they did need a warrant but searched his car without one, he would have cause to sue the officers. I don't know how the case ended, but I hope he was convicted and did a little jail time. This is the same "pastor" who has been calling for the death of President Obama. The secret service knows about his "sermon", because I called and reported him to the secret service. I doubt one of his wackjob congregants would be able to harm the president, but they could harm others in their attempt. Check http://YouTube.com/watch?v=u4-JieEI-0Q “Pastor” Anderson brought this on himself. If he had answered their questions he would have been on his way soon after. I he didn’t want his car searched, he should have told them that the search was against his will, and that he thinks they need a search warrant, but he should not have interfered with the officers. If they did need a warrant but searched his car without one, he would have cause to sue the officers. I don’t know how the case ended, but I hope he was convicted and did a little jail time. This is the same “pastor” who has been calling for the death of President Obama. The secret service knows about his “sermon”, because I called and reported him to the secret service. I doubt one of his wackjob congregants would be able to harm the president, but they could harm others in their attempt. Check http://YouTube.com/watch?v=u4-JieEI-0Q

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