The deaf man needed to use the bathroom. He went into store bathroom. The store management called the police. Why? Is it illegal for a Black man to use a public restroom in Alabama?
The family of 37-year-old Antonio Love has filed a formal complaint over the incident.
Police spokesman Christopher Levy says police didn’t realize Love had a hearing impairment until after he was out of the bathroom. The officers’ conduct is under investigation.
Love was tased three times. He said police didn't realize he was deaf until they got him outside the store. That's when they looked in his wallet and found a card detailing his handicap. Love said an EMT was dispatched, and after he was checked out, he was then put into the back of a police car and taken to Metro jail where he sat until police finally took him home later that afternoon.
The incident happened around 11:00 a.m., and when he was returned home, it was 4:00 in the afternoon. He was never arrested. Love's mom doesn't understand.
"He asked them to stop. He tried to say, 'I'm deaf. I'm deaf,' and they still did it. Looking at my son now it hurts. I just want justice. I want them to pay for what they did to my son," said Phyllis Love.Villager's View: I'm looking through the use of force continuum and it seems that the police didn't need to use 50,000 volts of taser juice on this deaf man in the bathroom. Why are police officers so taser-happy in America?
What say u?
9 comments:
The video locks up. But we get the picture. Taser International is out with the new X3, multiple shock gun.
hmmm....little biased aren't we. seems that the story on CNN is a little different. you'll notice his mother conveniently "forgot" to mention that he is MENTALLY handicapped as well withe the MENTAL capacity of a 10-YEAR OLD. so what was he doing in a store on his own in the first place??? Just because someone is african american or handicapped doesn't mean they always need to be portrayed as a victim
Uhh.. Nathan...
Let's say his mom let him wander around by himself. If he's got the mind of a 10 yr old, make me understand how that's his fault and so he's not a victim? Don't worry... I'll wait.
He's still a victim. The poor guy was (maybe) neglected by his mother and tased by police. What the hell else needs to happen before he's a victim per your definition?
Eddie - I've been reading about the new taser gun with the triple-shot feature. It is remarkable how hell-bent Taser Int'l is to become the darling of worldwide police with their new toys...
Nathan - Are you blaming his mother for the taser-happy actions of the Mobile police department?
A. Smith - Amen!
I got a great idea for a funny t-shirt with a message. On the front of the shirt is the cops wearing gas masks and a tasers in their hands and behind the bathroom door is Antonio Love(deaf man) gagging. On the back of the shirt is Cambridge Officer James Crowley saying "don't forget to ask for I.D." and Henry Gates saying "At least I wasn't tasered." I think cops have a tough job, but they need more sensitive training and less gun ho.
he is mentally challenged, but another report I read also said that he had a job working in the garden center at Lowe's...
many mentally handicapped people can live with minimal supervision.
It seems to be that police officers are going a little wild with the tasers. It's as if the (false) notion that tasers are non-lethal weapons is tantamount to a license to taser at will. It seems that the traditional rules of engagement simply are not being applied when it comes to the use of tasers.
Nathan....are you kidding or what? If you knew sign, you would realize there's a good chance he's been mislabeled by people who know nothing about deafness and confuse deafness with lack of mental intelligence. Secondly, he worked - INDEPENDENTLY - pretty sure he has a right (and the ability) to go to the bathroom solo. Don't confuse the ignorance of the police with the intelligence or functioning level of the victim. Hope you never have an upset stomach and happen to be carrying an umbrella....
Robert - I appreciate your ability to see humor in many situations. However, I must admit that the situation with Mr. Love is too tragic for jokes at this point...
Rich and WorksintheField - At the end of the day this young brother was just trying to use the bathroom ... and that is no reason to be gassed and tased. I wonder if the 911 call that brought the police will be released to the public?
Ajuan - I agree ... the number of taser-deaths is getting out of hand ... and the fact this taser attack occurred against a deaf Black man is troublesome as well...
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