The Horrifying Events that Changed A Young Man

Seriously, what's suspicious about someone waiting outside of a goddamn library?

The only way he could be less nefarious is if he was holding a puppy, while offering money to a homeless person.

Black male + hoodie obviously equals about to shoot some bishes up.

Also, fvck Eric Olsen, the prosecutor.
Specialists who have examined Mr. Latson describe him as a boy in a man
 
He is an autistic person who was under duress...

Sure. But this story presents a wildly inflated account of what happened, and skips some details.

Latson's own lawyer said that he hit the cop after the cop "took him by the arm", because "This is the sort of situation that an autistic young man simply cannot comprehend -- he had done nothing wrong and yet the officer was restraining him -- and the actions of the officer seemed threatening to Neli because he does not understand social roles the way others do".

Regardless of whether you are retarded or autistic or whatever, there are legal ramifications to striking anyone. After he hit the cop, the cop drew his pepper spray, and this guy wrestled the pepper spray away from the cop and used it on him, then stomped on his head and ankles several times before running into the woods, and beating up a second cop who tried to restrain him.

Since this incident, he has attacked several more guards and police officers. While I understand the guy is mentally handicap, he is also dangerous and can be set off easily. Its probably best he is in the system in some fashion before he seriously hurts someone.
 
Where is the issue with this story?

He assaulted a police officer and injured him. That's a crime. The jury found him guilty of that crime. Everyone seems to agree that the crime occurred.

He wasn't jailed for being "suspicious". He was jailed for assaulting a police officer.

You can say the cop shouldn't have arrested him, drew his gun,etc...but that doesn't give you a right to attack them. If he played this in the legal system, he'd have been free a few hours later.

The issue is clearly the treatment of people with disabilities as well as the kid possibly being profiled. Look through my link and you'll see a huge push by a lot of fairly big players in rectifying the situation. You'll also find that the DOJ opened up an investigation to review the case.
 
Also, he wasn't waiting for the library to open.

He was sitting on the grass at a library across from an elementary school watching the school. That's what prompted the call.

When the police showed up, he had already left (without ever visiting the library). They had to cruise the neighborhood to find him.
 
Sure. But this story presents a wildly inflated account of what happened, and skips some details.

Latson's own lawyer said that he hit the cop after the cop "took him by the arm", because "This is the sort of situation that an autistic young man simply cannot comprehend -- he had done nothing wrong and yet the officer was restraining him -- and the actions of the officer seemed threatening to Neli because he does not understand social roles the way others do".

Regardless of whether you are retarded or autistic or whatever, there are legal ramifications to striking anyone. After he hit the cop, the cop drew his pepper spray, and this guy wrestled the pepper spray away from the cop and used it on him, then stomped on his head and ankles several times before running into the woods, and beating up a second cop who tried to restrain him.

Since this incident, he has attacked several more guards and police officers. While I understand the guy is mentally handicap, he is also dangerous and can be set off easily. Its probably best he is in the system in some fashion before he seriously hurts someone.

If you read through the links he has attacked guards in jail because of them letting his situation deteriorate. He consequences most likely should have been to be put into a treatment facility immediately.
 
If you read through the links he has attacked guards in jail because of them letting his situation deteriorate. He consequences most likely should have been to be put into a treatment facility immediately.

That's the one part of the story I agree with. He obviously needs treatment and help.

I'm just objecting the incredibly dishonest original post, which acts like this was just an issue of a racist cop out to kill an innocent library goer. This guy is mental handicapped and violent, and wasn't visiting the library. His own legal defense admitted he attacked first, and the claims of "blow your head off" and "racial comments" came from his mother who said she he told her about it. It was not part of his legal defense.

The issue here is whether he should be in jail or a treatment facility. Not white vs. black.
 
That's the one part of the story I agree with. He obviously needs treatment and help.

I'm just objecting the incredibly dishonest original post, which acts like this was just an issue of a racist cop out to kill an innocent library goer. This guy is mental handicapped and violent, and wasn't visiting the library. His own legal defense admitted he attacked first, and the claims of "blow your head off" and "racial comments" came from his mother who said she he told her about it. It was not part of his legal defense.

The issue here is whether he should be in jail or a treatment facility. Not white vs. black.

Link? Because I can't find anything that says he wasn't waiting for the library to open and watching the elementary school. It's early so my reading comprehension may a bit off though. Everything points to him accused of possibly having a gun, complying to a search, and then resisting when the officer grabbed him when he tried to walk away.
 
That's the one part of the story I agree with. He obviously needs treatment and help.

I'm just objecting the incredibly dishonest original post, which acts like this was just an issue of a racist cop out to kill an innocent library goer. This guy is mental handicapped and violent, and wasn't visiting the library. His own legal defense admitted he attacked first, and the claims of "blow your head off" and "racial comments" came from his mother who said she he told her about it. It was not part of his legal defense.
The issue here is whether he should be in jail or a treatment facility. Not white vs. black.

I didn't get that from the OP outside of him possibly being profiled. That's an issue for the DOJ to try and figure out though. My main issue is with his handling considering his disability; however, it's a very real and unfortunate possibility that his race did play a ole.
 
Where is the issue with this story?

If he played this in the legal system, he'd have been free a few hours later.

This might come as a surprise to you, but people with severe mental handicaps are unlikely to think about the best way to play a situation to their advantage.
 
Among any of the Democrats and Republicans who want to be elected in 2016, for me personally, this kind of thing makes it so that any of them who can and will do anything about this will automatically rocket to the very top of the list of who I would consider electing. For that matter, I would consider campaigning for reelection of anyone in Congress of either Party who can demonstrate being able and willing to put an end to this. And if a Party like the Libertarian or even Green Party were to show proof they can get this under control, I'd even contemplate actively campaigning for them. That's just me of course.

What type of legislation do you think a particular political party or candidate could pass that could put an end to this?

Seems more like poor decision making/judgement by the individual police officers.
 
What type of legislation do you think a particular political party or candidate could pass that could put an end to this?

Seems more like poor decision making/judgement by the individual police officers.

forcing body cameras on all police officers is one way. Having police investigated by an outside agency is another. These would all be a good start.
 
Sure. But this story presents a wildly inflated account of what happened, and skips some details.

Latson's own lawyer said that he hit the cop after the cop "took him by the arm", because "This is the sort of situation that an autistic young man simply cannot comprehend -- he had done nothing wrong and yet the officer was restraining him -- and the actions of the officer seemed threatening to Neli because he does not understand social roles the way others do".

Regardless of whether you are retarded or autistic or whatever, there are legal ramifications to striking anyone. After he hit the cop, the cop drew his pepper spray, and this guy wrestled the pepper spray away from the cop and used it on him, then stomped on his head and ankles several times before running into the woods, and beating up a second cop who tried to restrain him.

Since this incident, he has attacked several more guards and police officers. While I understand the guy is mentally handicap, he is also dangerous and can be set off easily. Its probably best he is in the system in some fashion before he seriously hurts someone.
If you know about this, can you post a link of any kind that tells this part of the story?
if you have proof of this than we would need to see another write up. There would be a news post or a blog post or something if any of this is true. Some of the original stories in fact acknowledge that he did fight with the officer but they still make the case that even a rudimentary understanding of the situation with autistic kids could have prevented it. Even realizing that a fight with the officer occurred does not change the fact that this was an act of gross incompetence all around.
 
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If you know about this, can you post a link of any kind that tells this part of the story?
if you have proof of this than we would need to see another write up. There would be a news post or a blog post or something if any of this is true. Some of the original stories in fact acknowledge that he did fight with the officer but they still make the case that even a rudimentary understanding of the situation with autistic kids could have prevented it. Even realizing that a fight with the officer occurred does not change the fact that this was an act of gross incompetence all around.

Here's a little more information. And I'm sure you can find plenty more by just googling his name.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/10/AR2010071002633.html

You have to learn that blog posts by activists are not actually "news."
 
You can say the cop shouldn't have arrested him, drew his gun,etc...but that doesn't give you a right to attack them.

If the cop is abusing his authority then I say it does. False arrest should be met with a beatdown. If it could be shown in court the cop pursued the encounter (with physical restraint) past the point of seeing the kid hadn't broken any laws then I say too bad so sad for Johnny Law. If not then the kid sounds like he needs treatment far more than rehabilitation.
 
Here's a little more information. And I'm sure you can find plenty more by just googling his name.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/10/AR2010071002633.html

You have to learn that blog posts by activists are not actually "news."

Well, I read your post as well as looked through my stuff and it appears that he he did flee the scene after the altercation. However, it doesn't appear as if he attacked a second cop in the woods according to the link below. Also, I can't seem to find the verdict on whether he stomped on the officer's ankles and head.

If the second link is accurate, one has to wonder what the DOJ will rule in regards to the 4th amendment.

http://www.staffordsheriff.com/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=200

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...side-of-autism-/2011/03/11/ABYhoSS_story.html
 
Looks like not all courts support officer impunity.

http://news.yahoo.com/former-mexico-sheriff-serve-10-years-rights-violations-222112562.html

A former New Mexico sheriff was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a federal court on Wednesday after he was found guilty of violating a motorist's civil rights last year when he dragged the man from his car and threatened him with a gun.

Tommy Rodella, 53, was sheriff of Rio Arriba County but was in plainclothes and brandishing a pistol when he and his son confronted the motorist in March 2014. When the victim asked to see some identification, prosecutors said, Rodella slammed his sheriff's badge into the man's face.

Rodella was convicted in September. He had faced up to 17 years behind bars, but U.S. District Judge James Browning gave him seven years on a firearm charge, and three years and one month on a charge of violating the victim's civil rights. He was also ordered to pay a $200,000 fine and restitution.
 
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