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Cops "accidentally" soccerball kick crash victim in the head

What does "innocent victim" mean? Was that person involved in the crash? Was that person the driver of the vehicle? Or a passenger? Was that a bystander? Was it a person in another car?

There is literally no information in this video, other than cops roughed-up a guy who was already having a bad day. Not an excuse, by any means, but this is the first I'm seeing of the incident, and the headline is full of loaded language.

Cops shouldn't brutalize people. Period. But if it's the driver of the car, after a lengthy chase through neighborhood streets, putting people in danger, I would at least get it. But I think "Cops kick man already on fire" tells the story on its own.
 
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Gonzo Rodeo said:
What does "innocent victim" mean? Was that person involved in the crash? Was that person the driver of the vehicle? Or a passenger? Was that a bystander? Was it a person in another car?

There is literally no information in this video, other than cops roughed-up a guy who was already having a bad day.
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If you read the link provided:


Officials have “serious concerns” about a video of New Jersey police officers kicking and dragging a man who was an innocent victim in a fiery crash.

The incident came after a police chase Sunday night in Jersey City where officers tried to stop a vehicle driven by 48-year-old Leo Pinkston. Police fired multiple bullets at Pinkston’s vehicle, but the pursuit ended when he crashed into a utility pole and caused a fire, NJ.com reported.

In the video, another driver whose car was also wrecked in the crash emerges on fire from the burning vehicle. When he rolls on the ground to put out the flames, a police officer starts repeatedly kicking the innocent victim, as others stomp on him.

“Our investigators have reviewed the video and we believe with certainty that this man is the bystander from West New York who suffered burns, not Leo Pinkston, the individual pursued by police,” Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said in a statement.
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Gonzo Rodeo said:
What does "innocent victim" mean? Was that person involved in the crash? Was that person the driver of the vehicle? Or a passenger? Was that a bystander? Was it a person in another car?

There is literally no information in this video, other than cops roughed-up a guy who was already having a bad day. Not an excuse, by any means, but this is the first I'm seeing of the incident, and the headline is full of loaded language.

Cops shouldn't brutalize people. Period. But if it's the driver of the car, after a lengthy chase through neighborhood streets, putting people in danger, I would at least get it. But I think "Cops kick man already on fire" tells the story on its own.
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As stated in the article, the guy they kicked was not the man they were after.
 
It's hard to tell but after the initial take-down kick, it sort of looks like they were stomping burn clothing.
 
The initial kick looked pretty iffy at best. It looked to me as if the cop was trying to kick his arm out from under him to get him down, and the rest of the foot movements looked to me as though they were trying to help the guy. The dragging may have looked bad to some, but I think they might have been worrying about getting him away from a possible explosion?

Secondly, did they have any idea if he was a accomplice or not?

It will get sorted out soon enough I suppose.
 
I don't think they were kicking to help. They had their guns drawn on the guy when they started kicking so I'm pretty sure they thought he was in the car they were chasing.
 
Police are so used to habitually brutalizing and murdering innocent people that they probably did that out of habit. I'm surprised they didn't just shoot him too.
 
reinoe said:
Police are so used to habitually brutalizing and murdering innocent people that they probably did that out of habit. I'm surprised they didn't just shoot him too.
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:roll:
 
WCH said:
It's hard to tell but after the initial take-down kick, it sort of looks like they were stomping burn clothing.
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I agree with that. The first kick to the side was hard and not good but it is very believable that they thought he was the bad guy for a split second and wanted him down. After realizing he was innocent it looks like they were stomping burning clothing... but I could be wrong. They do drag him pretty hard at the end.
 
MaggieD said:
I think the officer(s) kicked out of horrific desperation.
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That first cop was kicking to get compliance. He was yelling at the guy to get down and put his hands behind his back and, for some strange reason, the suspect was more concerned with putting out the fire he was engulfed in.

If that's the bystander he's going to get a monster payday and I sure hope he's OK otherwise. I get it that the cops probably didn't know which person they were dealing with but you can always shoot the dude after you put him out. Sheesh!!
 
WCH said:
It's hard to tell but after the initial take-down kick, it sort of looks like they were stomping burn clothing.
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I was thinking that myself. If not, there is not excuse for it.
 
reinoe said:
Police are so used to habitually brutalizing and murdering innocent people that they probably did that out of habit. I'm surprised they didn't just shoot him too.
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That's ridiculous!
 
I expect cop cars will have fire extinguishers in them if not fire blankets to put out fires. Far more effective than stomping in someone.


These cops should be fired and charged with assault
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
I expect cop cars will have fire extinguishers in them if not fire blankets to put out fires. Far more effective than stomping in someone.


These cops should be fired and charged with assault
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They are not firefighters or EMT's.

They make way for firefighters and EMT's.

But you raise a good point in my opinion.
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
I expect cop cars will have fire extinguishers in them if not fire blankets to put out fires. Far more effective than stomping in someone.


These cops should be fired and charged with assault
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As per the link describing what happened, they probably thought he was the guy they were chasing through the streets endangering peoples lives and crashes the car causing an inferno. Doubtful they would worry about getting a blankie for the poor criminal.

That said, it really didn't look to me like they were stomping him, but maybe trying to put out the burning clothes. Don't know, I wasn't there, but there is that possibility. Plus there is the possibility they didn't realize it was an innocent bystander who was almost fried by previously said criminal. Thank goodness that didn't happen. Said stupid criminal would deserve a blankie around his head at that end.
 
Lutherf said:
That first cop was kicking to get compliance. He was yelling at the guy to get down and put his hands behind his back and, for some strange reason, the suspect was more concerned with putting out the fire he was engulfed in.

If that's the bystander he's going to get a monster payday and I sure hope he's OK otherwise. I get it that the cops probably didn't know which person they were dealing with but you can always shoot the dude after you put him out. Sheesh!!
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It matters not to the police if a helpless person is on fire. It was obvious to any person being that a human on fire is going to be more concerned about not being burned to death but most police are of a different breed. They don't care about life and death.
 
holbritter said:
As per the link describing what happened, they probably thought he was the guy they were chasing through the streets endangering peoples lives and crashes the car causing an inferno. Doubtful they would worry about getting a blankie for the poor criminal.

That said, it really didn't look to me like they were stomping him, but maybe trying to put out the burning clothes. Don't know, I wasn't there, but there is that possibility. Plus there is the possibility they didn't realize it was an innocent bystander who was almost fried by previously said criminal. Thank goodness that didn't happen. Said stupid criminal would deserve a blankie around his head at that end.
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It does not matter who they thought the guy was their first action should have been to put out the fire on the guy not kick him in the head. If he was the suspect it still would not make it better
 
RetiredUSN said:
They are not firefighters or EMT's.

They make way for firefighters and EMT's.

But you raise a good point in my opinion.
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They are a first responder and as such have an obligation to help when it will not put their safety and that of the public at risk.

The guy was burning they should have helped not kick him
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
They are a first responder and as such have an obligation to help when it will not put their safety and that of the public at risk.

The guy was burning they should have helped not kick him
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He crawled out of the wreck of the perp. I can't blame the cops for being defensive in this few seconds.
 
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