Only in San Francisco?

[bshnt2015]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/crime/detail?entry_id=48696

A story of cop vs skateboarders, and the winner is?

Who's in the right here, commenters?


In the past two days, a video of a San Francisco police officer arresting a skateboarder named Zach Stow has gone viral, prompting an online controversy: Did Stow deserve to be handcuffed and arrested, and was the arresting officer out of line when he threatened to break Stow's arm "like a twig" if he resisted?


The video begins with an exchange between Stow and his friends and the officer, who later identifies himself as "Officer Schwab, (badge number) 2099." The police roster shows him to be Officer Noel Schwab, who works at Southern station.


It's clear that it's not a friendly situation to begin with, as Schwab is examining several pieces of identification belonging to Stow's dour-looking friends. Exactly when and where the incident is happening are not known.


The situation goes quickly downhill when Stow explains he is "pissed" because the officer is a "f-- d--." Schwab pulls him up, tells him he is being arrested for "skateboarding in the city and county of San Francisco," and puts him in handcuffs.


Sgt. Wilfred Williams, a Police Department spokesman, confirmed the arrest. He said Stow was going to be cited for violating the city's skateboarding code, but that the violation turned into an arrest after Stow could not provide identification, which the sergeant said is standard procedure. Our efforts to reach Stow have been unsuccessful.


As for the rest of what happened, Williams would say only, "We're aware of the incident. The officer has been assigned station duty and an investigation is under way."


Williams would not confirm the officer's name, explaining that it was a personnel matter.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...#ixzz0SnZwL6LM

[retired]

Please let the discourse on this incident remain polite, even if diametrically opposed. If it degenerates into leo bashing, the thread will be deleted. Thanks.

[Kicker0429]

Both Were At Fault

The police officer was wrong to threaten to break the skateboarder's arm and the skateboarder was wrong to use obscene and insulting language. Hopefully, both of them learned from their mistakes.

[Cpl. Haas]

I don't see anything wrong with the officer's threat... the skater looked like he was begining to put up a slight struggle, so rather than take the skater to the ground or wrench his arm further... thus injuring him... the officer gave the threat and the skater chose to comply. Had the officer threatened to shoot him in the face, I'd agree that he crossed the line... he simply warned the skater that he'd snap his arm; a very real possibility had the skater resisted arrest further and the officer been forced to use a more agressive control hold.

[slowjonn]

I have read a couple of threads on this video now. One thing I have noticed is a large number of posters stating the cop was wrong for threatening the kid about breaking his arm. Whether the cop was wrong or not in this whole incident is yet to be determined. I'll leave the commentary on that to the experts here.

My only observation has to do with the threat issued by the cop. Many have seen that as over the line. Maybe, maybe not.

I have known more than one cop who has issued similar threats, including the threat of deadly force, over the years. Just like the tools on his belt, these threats can and have been used as A TOOL to accomplish a peaceful and non violent end to a situation.

If a cop says "Don't move or I'll kick your arse/ beat you/ shoot you/ whatever" knowing full well that they have no justification for said threat, but it gets a suspect to hesitate and comply, I say thats a great tool. Granted, it looks and sounds bad on film/ video, but this mental mindgame has been used by cops forever.

I realize some cross the line and use force unnecessarily. They should be delt with. But if used correctly, it can actually diffuse and reduce injury. I'm sure some will not agree, but like I said, I have seen this used effectively more times than I can count.

[BigDogatPlay]

There's already two threads open on this in Off Topic, for what it's worth. I have replies in both of them.

Suffice to say, the complete video is not being presented. Without that, it's really hard to say what the story is.

[slowjonn]

I chose to post in this one because the conversation tends to be more level-headed in the LEO forum.

[Ishoot]

Unbelievable how some can view this video and support the LEO's actions. "To Protect and Serve" is still the prevailing motto isn't it? Seems to me that I need to invest in a hidden camera since no one's ever held accountable unless there's visual proof. Oh and that's considered "resisting" arrest??? Did we all even watch the same video? What a joke..my baby kitten puts up more of a fight that that.

[masameet]

Geez. Who cares?

Stupid skateboarders. Destructive and completely uncaring of how they lay waste to other people's property.

Both skateboarder and cop talked smack. Obviously one of them especially could have buttoned up and not gotten so emotional.

Kid will probably skate (Ha-ha! Like SF's DA is going to do anything about him) and the cop will get a nickname from his buddies. Probably "Scooter."

Here's a link to SF and CA skateboarding laws.

[Steyrlp10]

I'm on the cop's side and yeah, I'm biased. I've had my share of insolence in Benicia while trying to walk on the sidewalk to Raley's, but am forced to dodge the little jerks who skate and bike on the walkways when it's clearly posted not to.

What's so difficult to understand when an officer instructs you to quit doing what you're doing because it's against the law?

If that boy had shown some courtesy instead of cursing at the officer, the outcome may have been different.

[chickenfried]

Fixed it for ya .

I chose to post in this one because more people agree with me

[bshnt2015]

Having seen several skateboarders go after each other, I guess it was turf issues or whatever started the fight, but getting whacked on the side of the head with a skateboard is no fun. I've seen cops get bitten, their eyes, privates, and head gouged, so when a cop uses threats or perhaps "verbal judo", remember Teddy Roosevelt and carrying a big stick and all, I can only guess the perception of a violent act will make the other party think twice.

It's good to see everyones thoughts on this. It's the what if I see this and now what, or if it was my kid acting out, or lastly, the cop was in the wrong now what. There are 2 sides to every story and we are reading and hearing it here. Stay safe.

[IrishJoe3]

[Ishoot]

Egypt? You're comparing the UNITED STATES of AMERICA to Egypt in regards to citizen rights and LEO selection/training? I hope that we never come to that in this country. I understand that officers of the law have a hard and thankless job at times, (my uncle is a police officer and my cousin is an MP) but it's also a position of power that can easily be abused. It really all depends on what side of the line you are on. LEOs will never see what the general public has to deal with and vice verse. Well unless the military comes in... No disrespect intended to anyone involved in this thread since my uncle would kick my arse if he thought as much.

[Steyrlp10]

That seems to be the problem these days: there are people who don't know what respecting authority means. They feel it's their right to bully anyone who won't stand up to them.

Of course, a cop is going to stand up to a bully to defend those who need defending.

These are the people who never learned to tow the line, so they're always going to get themselves into trouble.