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Jury reaches verdict in former officer's beating trial

danarhea

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HOUSTON - Jurors reached a not guilty verdict Wednesday in the trial of a former Houston police officer who has been accused of beating a teenage burglary suspect.

Andrew Blomberg was found not guilty of misdemeanor oppression. Jurors began deliberations Tuesday after lunch. They reached the verdict Wednesday shortly before 11 a.m.

This was an all white jury in Houston, TX that found the officer not guilty. Mayor Anise Parker has told Houston citizens to remain calm, but racial tensions are now running very high. I wouldn't be surprised to see acts of revenge against white people or police officers here, or even a riot. The last major riot in Houston happened in the late 1970's, when police officers were acquitted by an all white jury in a case where the officers threw a handcuffed Hispanic man named Jose Torres into Buffalo Bayou and remarked "Let's see if this wetback can swim". Torres drowned.

For those who believe that the officers acted properly, and cheer this decision, here is the raw video, courtesy of Channel 13 in Houston. Look at it and then tell me that the officers who were charged are innocent.



Yea, I know, the suspect that these cops were beating was wanted for burglary. He deserved to be punished, but that is for a court to decide, and not the decision of rogue cops who want to take the law into their own hands. I just heard that the FBI is now investigating, and I wouldn't be surprised if Federal civil rights charges are leveled against these officers.

Article is here.
 
I have no tears for teen criminals. It's to bad the cops have to face additional legal action in the future, and that this teen couldn't find a way to get himself shot or ran over by that white police car.

Yes, I watched your video link in it's entirety. This was not a 'brutal assault'. Frankly I'm ashamed those cops couldn't land even 1 decent kick.
 
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I have no tears for teen criminals. It's to bad the cops have to face additional legal action in the future, and that this teen couldn't find a way to get himself shot.

People have the right to trial. This kid should not have been beaten like this. He was down on the ground. He was no threat to these officers. I dont know if it is a civil rights violation or not (just because someone is black doesnt mean thats why) like the OP is pushing. i cannot see how these guys were not found guilty of assault. Does anyone know the jury's reasoning?
 
Nope, I can't agree with you this time Jerry. What they did was wrong. The kid tried running away, got tagged by the car and gave up. He should have had one cop pounce on his back to make sure he didn't try anything and one cuff him. And then stuff him into the back of the squad car.

I don't care what race anybody is, however. This is just wrong.
 
People have the right to trial. This kid should not have been beaten like this. He was down on the ground. He was no threat to these officers. I dont know if it is a civil rights violation or not (just because someone is black doesnt mean thats why) like the OP is pushing. i cannot see how these guys were not found guilty of assault. Does anyone know the jury's reasoning?

Nope, I can't agree with you this time Jerry. What they did was wrong. The kid tried running away, got tagged by the car and gave up. He should have had one cop pounce on his back to make sure he didn't try anything and one cuff him. And then stuff him into the back of the squad car.

I don't care what race anybody is, however. This is just wrong.

Why do you think the officer and 3 others were fired over this? You folks think that when someone does something wrong you can just toss any charge at them regardless? This cop was charged with a rather unusual crime: TEX PE. CODE ANN. § 39.03 : Texas Statutes - Section 39.03: OFFICIAL OPPRESSION

Oppression? Seriously? Oppression? What a bunch of bull****. Charge him with assault, or battery, or similar. But oppression? Who would even think of that?
 
Let's see, I think for this media meme I'll name the cop "Boots" and the teen...hmm...Hoodie has been taken.....hmmm....
 
Why do you think the officer and 3 others were fired over this? You folks think that when someone does something wrong you can just toss any charge at them regardless? This cop was charged with a rather unusual crime: TEX PE. CODE ANN. § 39.03 : Texas Statutes - Section 39.03: OFFICIAL OPPRESSION

Oppression? Seriously? Oppression? What a bunch of bull****. Charge him with assault, or battery, or similar. But oppression? Who would even think of that?

They were charged and found not guilty. With this video I am trying to understand how.
 
There seems to be a lot of this in the news lately.

Did you read the horrible story of a mentally handicaped homeless beat to death by police? I heard the sound clip and the man is crying out for his dad while they beat him to death:/
 
They were charged and found not guilty. With this video I am trying to understand how.
It simply wasn't intentional oppression. This is something very specific.

Oppression is not assault, is not battery, is not misconduct. If you want to argue that the police were wrong in their actions, even their own department would agree with you because their police chief fired them imediatly.
 
This was an all white jury in Houston, TX that found the officer not guilty. Mayor Anise Parker has told Houston citizens to remain calm, but racial tensions are now running very high. I wouldn't be surprised to see acts of revenge against white people or police officers here, or even a riot. The last major riot in Houston happened in the late 1970's, when police officers were acquitted by an all white jury in a case where the officers threw a handcuffed Hispanic man named Jose Torres into Buffalo Bayou and remarked "Let's see if this wetback can swim". Torres drowned.

For those who believe that the officers acted properly, and cheer this decision, here is the raw video, courtesy of Channel 13 in Houston. Look at it and then tell me that the officers who were charged are innocent.



Yea, I know, the suspect that these cops were beating was wanted for burglary. He deserved to be punished, but that is for a court to decide, and not the decision of rogue cops who want to take the law into their own hands. I just heard that the FBI is now investigating, and I wouldn't be surprised if Federal civil rights charges are leveled against these officers.

Article is here.


Ok....

Once the cuffs are on....thats it. You stop
 
There seems to be a lot of this in the news lately.

Did you read the horrible story of a mentally handicaped homeless beat to death by police? I heard the sound clip and the man is crying out for his dad while they beat him to death:/
Translation:
I want to make this thread into a general cop-bashing rant instead of staying on-topic.
 
Why do you think the officer and 3 others were fired over this? You folks think that when someone does something wrong you can just toss any charge at them regardless? This cop was charged with a rather unusual crime: TEX PE. CODE ANN. § 39.03 : Texas Statutes - Section 39.03: OFFICIAL OPPRESSION

Oppression? Seriously? Oppression? What a bunch of bull****. Charge him with assault, or battery, or similar. But oppression? Who would even think of that?

Why is oppression bullsh? Oppression means: "unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power." The way I read that statute, it does cover assault and battery. If you ask me, based on the video, these officers did abuse their power. Now, they did go through the process of the justice system and were found not guilty and I have to accept that and move on and give our justice system the benefit of the doubt that these men were tried fairly. Rioting in the streets however will not solve anything and if any individuals were to engage in such activities, they should be ashamed of themselves because in my mind, they are no better than the officers.
 
Why is oppression bullsh? Oppression means: "unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power." The way I read that statute, it does cover assault and battery. If you ask me, based on the video, these officers did abuse their power. Now, they did go through the process of the justice system and were found not guilty and I have to accept that and move on and give our justice system the benefit of the doubt that these men were tried fairly. Rioting in the streets however will not solve anything and if any individuals were to engage in such activities, they should be ashamed of themselves because in my mind, they are no better than the officers.
Meh, the kid deserved what he got. Live like a thug, die like a thug. I hope the cops have a few negligent discharges while facing the riot.
 
Yes we should all stick to discussing your rant against the use of "oppression" to charge the police.


How you would have handled this situation. Also, while you are at it, let me know your experience, heck training too, as it relates to encounters of these types.
 
Meh, the kid deserved what he got. Live like a thug, die like a thug. I hope the cops have a few negligent discharges while facing the riot.

What do you know of this kid??!! Do I agree or believe the kids actions should be defended? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! But what if this kid just made a bad choice that day? Does that action mandate a beating from authorities?
 
Meh, the kid deserved what he got. Live like a thug, die like a thug. I hope the cops have a few negligent discharges while facing the riot.

Am I think only one who is mortified that you are a soldier with an attitude like this? Wow, I'd hate to see what you would do in a time of high stress.
 
The statute clearly lists "mistreatment". Repeated kicks, punches, and attacks by several officers once the guy placed himself in the prone position would, to me, classify as "mistreatment."

I am unsure how the jury came to the verdict it provided given the details I have available. Unless I'm missing something I simply can't agree with the verdict.

Anecdote: I once requested PO assistance with a customer who was theater hopping. When I confronted him he refused to leave and started running around the building, slamming into other patrons and causing a disturbance. When the PO got involved, the kid panicked and took a swing at the officer. The officer grabbed the punching arm, swung it behind the kid's back while simultaneously using his other hand to grab the kid by the "scruff" of his neck. In this position the officer swept the kid's feet and he went down relatively hard onto the pavement.

The kid's father managed to stir up an investigation of the officer's actions on claims of excessive force. When I was asked to provide my statement I relayed the above observation almost verbatim. The officer was cleared of the accusations and the kid ended up with a conviction for his attempted assault on the cop.

What the cop did in my scenario was instinctive and forceful, but it was done in response to a direct thread from the kid, who was about 16. The cops in the video in the OP far exceeded any necessary response to a threat that didn't, at the time of their assault, exist.
 
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The last major riot in Houston happened in the late 1970's, when police officers were acquitted by an all white jury in a case where the officers threw a handcuffed Hispanic man named Jose Torres into Buffalo Bayou and remarked "Let's see if this wetback can swim". Torres drowned..

Uhh, The officers involved in the Torres case were both tried and convicted in state and federal courts. Why are you lying about this?And the riots were organized by the american communist party.
 
Maybe this ass whoopin will dissuade Chad Holley from his evil ways and his wicked doings

Amen
 
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