By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, September 14, 2007 at 7:59 AM
An off-duty Arnold police officer allegedly put a gun to a 21-year-old black man's head in the parking lot of a White Castle's in Florissant yesterday. The man said Officer Chris Hoelscher called him a nigger and threatened to kill him. Following his report, the Arnold police chief suspended Helsher. He resigned a few hours later.
Five Deputy Sheriffs from Jefferson County were suspended this week after being involved in an off-duty bar fight Wednesday night at the R-Place Bar & Grill in House Springs. According to the bar owner, the fight began between two women — one of whom came with the officers.
From the Post-Dispatch:He said all of the officers were escorted out of the bar and a bartender observed them removing their rear license plates in the parking lot.
And of course, a St. George police office was caught on tape this week by a young white guy threatening to trump up charges on him and "ruin your life" for not showing the officer the proper respect as he violated the young man's civil rights.
Moments later they came back into the bar, Gaulden said.
Anna Rankin, a bartender, said, "I told them 'I'm going to call the cops,' and they said, 'We are the cops.'""Do you want to go to jail for some fucking reason I come up with?"
"Ever get smart mouth with a cop again and I'll show you what a cop does."
"Talk back again and I'll say you were resisting arrest or something. You want me to come up with something? I can come up with nine things."
"You want me to lock you up and show you that I'm right and you're wrong?"
Had a bad night? "Don't ever take it out on a cop. We'll ruin your career and life and everything you've got."
9 Comments:
No comments? Hmmm. Some people can't be honest enough to admit that police officers sometimes abuse their power. They are human too and subject to thinking that their badge and gun make them a cut above the rest.
I believe that there are officers who take seriously the vow to "serve and protect". However, for some the power of the badge is heady. Police officers are held to a different standard than the average citizen. Too often officers abuse power, and no matter what witnesses to an incident tell of excessive force, planting of "throw down" guns or downright harrassment by officers, the officer usually gets away with it.
I am glad that the young man had a camera or noboby would have believed him.
9/14/2007 5:38 PM
Ohhhhh, I don't know about that. I might've believed him. Union, Missouri, 30 years ago. Same thing, and I was about the same age. Too bad we didn't have those gadgets back then.
Maybe I'll have to remember to just hit the voice recorder button on my cellphone during any encounter with the police. Hmmmm.
I guess we'll see whose night was ruined and whose career is over.
9/14/2007 6:10 PM
This is not anything new for African Americans. This happens far to much in black communities. The only things he did to this young guy is yell at him and maybe scared him a little. They usually kill our babies....
9/15/2007 11:02 AM
A high number of pigs have drug,alcohol,sexual and anger issues!Every car should be equipped with a recording device to catch them doing wrong!
9/15/2007 2:51 PM
Cops have issues because they scrape bodies off the highway and deal with the scum of society on a daily basis. That is why they drink and get divorced. I have issues with cops but lets have some understanding. Violating civil liberties isn't acceptable but the other things they do should be taken in context of their high stress job.
9/16/2007 10:44 PM
Doug is right, we have not created a situation where police can effectively do their job. However, it would be nice to have protection from a licensed man or women with a gun. Arnold aside, the city of St. Louis under the team four plan has created our own crime zone. I would like to place the blame for the murder rate, crime wave associated with city development and the lead epidemic squarely as a result of this legislation produced by the board of Alderman.
9/17/2007 6:31 AM
I understand what the st george officer may have been out of line. But due to the fact the kid goes around looking for trouble what do you expect. If you put a red sheet infront of a bull he'll get angry.
Also you can not see the demeanor, body language, or eye contact made by the kid driving the car.
For the arnold officer, there is always two sides to every story, even on the news they stated the victims statements were wrong due to witness statements.
I don't really know to much of the JCSD. I don't condone violence unless it is in self defense.
Officers have a high job. Maybe one of the highest. I support my area officers just like our troops in Iraq.
9/18/2007 12:03 AM
Gee, Just imagine the psychological problems that society is going to have to deal with coming from our soldiers having duty over in Iraq. Very scary.
9/19/2007 12:59 PM
I know this guy. He’s a fucking piece of shit!
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