August 04, 2006

This is stunning. sorry

posted by rocketman at 07:20 AM on August 05, 2006

This sounds pretty cut and dried. Davis screwed up large. He was asked to leave several times, and he refused. The law still allows a business to refuse service to anyone. There are limits on that, of course, but the cops have a very limited amount of authority when it comes to interpreting those limits. If Davis thought he was being racially discriminated against by the hotel management, he had every right to sue their asses into oblivion. We have no information as to what happened in the hotel that got him booted, but that's irrelevant to what happened afterward. The police got a request from a business to remove an unruly patron, period. It would be the place of the courts, not beat cops, to decide if that request was precipitated by racism. Davis may have had plenty of reason to be pissed at the hotel, and to do something about it. However, he has no excuse for how he acted with the cops. They simply broke up a confrontation and tried to prevent a further escalation between Davis and the hotel staff. If he wanted to go after the hotel with a lawsuit, more power to him, but to go off on the cops was wrong, and very stupid.

posted by ctal1999 at 10:13 AM on August 05, 2006

It has been my experience that how cops treat you is a direct reflection of how you treat them. Yes some do come on strong at first, but they don't know you or how you are going to react. The only thing they have to go on is what they were told when dispatched to the scene. Before it got to the point that they used a taser he was given a chance to back down. He was not targeted because he was black. He was arrested for being an asshole. For the most part street cops are just like everyone else. Regular people just trying to do a job. As for the hotel, yea most hotels are in the practice of throwing millionaires out.

posted by CB900 at 01:41 PM on August 05, 2006

I think he was targeted because he was supposed to leave and acting like an imp. I agree with The Black Hand, when cops say stop-it - do it stupid! Also ctal1999 has a good point: if the hotel was being discriminatory, sue them. Or in alternative, act dumb with cops and get shocked like a fool. Gosh, I wish there were a video of the incident.

posted by T$PORT4lawschool at 03:02 PM on August 05, 2006

Cop says stop, I stop. Cop says put up your hands, up mine go. Cop says you're under arrest, I'm off to jail. Cop is an asshole to me, I take it and sue his ass later, but at the time you just say yes sir cos he has the gun and you don't. I agree most cops are just out there doing their jobs, but some go out of their way to be real dickheads. Still it just doesn't pay to argue with them at the time. Take 'em to court cos most cities have a fund to pay out of court settlements. Then he/she gets a verbal asskicking from the mayor.

posted by commander cody at 06:37 PM on August 05, 2006

Saying he was targeted makes it sound like he was minding his own business and the cops decided to fuck with him for no reason. I totally agree.

posted by lakerfan2thend at 11:29 PM on August 05, 2006

I'm sick and tired of hear EVERY time a black person gets in trouble it was because they are black. It seems to me thatthat is the standard first line of defense most of the time. We,as human beings have to take responsibilty for our actions. Not look for an easy out.

posted by Rabbit504 at 09:11 AM on August 06, 2006

i agree that if a cop tells you to do something you should do it.even if you dont like that cop you should respect his authority in that situation.however what i dont like is the use of taser guns.we have no idea the long term effects of this electricity being shot into the human body.i know that alot of people say that it is non lethal but there have been hundreds of deaths by these things if not thousands.i dont believe that there is a such thing as a non lethal projectile being shot at you at over 60mph.a rubber bullet is non lethal untill it hits you in the right spot.i also agree that everytime a black celebrity gets in trouble they need to stop playing the race card.i think that it diluts the real struggle of people that do have racial conflict with others.these people have all this money and are used to everyone kissing there ass and always saying yes to them.then as soon as someone says no that person is a racist or an uncle tom.since when is standing up to other people a race issue?since when is standing up for what you believe in a race issue?maybe the hotel was full, maybe he wasnt dressed the right way,there are a whole lot of maybes that we could say,but if i had that much money and they would refuse to serve me.i would take me and my money to a place that would want to serve me.not make a scene so the cops could come out and give them a reason to use force.thats just f----ing stupid.

posted by 2005bmw at 10:48 AM on August 06, 2006

So, how long until Jesse Jackson gets involved? This is one right up his alley.

posted by t money at 07:25 PM on August 06, 2006

One for the wife, one for the girlfriend and possibly one for the crack dealer. Or, maybe he's just THAT busy.

posted by t money at 08:37 PM on August 06, 2006