Document drop: The Andrew Meyer Taser Stunt police report
Update: Heh.
Here it is…the police report detailing goofball University of Florida student Andrew Meyer’s taser stunt during John Kerry’s visit (thanks to Tyler Antar). I’ve redacted Meyer’s personal information from the first two pages. My sources were right all along about this putz being a professional taunter and publicity-seeker. Take away: “Meyer was laughing and being lighthearted in the car, his demeanor completely changed once the cameras were not in sight. Meyer did ask, at one point, if the cameras were going to be at the jail.”
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I’m excerpting the reporting officers’ full narratives description of the incident. Let this be the last three minutes of Meyer’s 15 minutes of infamy:
CAD INCIDENT DISPOSITION CODE: [ 13] [ Y] [] []
On the above date and time the defendant Andrew Meyer was being lawfully detained for inciting a riot and disrupting a school function, (Accent productions presented Senator John Kerry) at the University Auditorium. Upon contact with Meyer, he began acting in a violent manner pushing the officers involved, including lifting me off the ground and screaming obscenities. Meyer was told on several occasions to comply with the officers and stop resisting, in which Meyer did not. Meyer was arrested and transported to AC/DC.
9/17/2007 14:33 INITIAL MALLO, NICOLE LYNN 048 JVINSON 9/18/2007 15:24
On 09/17/07 at 1015 hours, I was working an overtime function at the University Auditorium for Accent presents Senator John Kerry. There were approximately 350 plus people in attendance. At approximately 1245 hrs., Ambassador Jett informed the audience that there would be a question and answer session and that Senator Kerry would only be answering about 6 questions, 3 on each side of the room where there were microphones set up. Senator Kerry told Ambassador Jett that he might be able to answer a couple more, time permitting. Senator Kerry was answering questions during the “question and answer stage” of his presentation when the audience was told there would only be one question left to be answered. After the question was answered, Senator Kerry stated the question and answer was over and thanked the audience for asking their questions. The approximate number of people in line asking questions was about 20, and Senator Kerry answered about 8 questions. All of the people standing in line started to dissipate and either sat back down or started to leave. As Senator Kerry was ending his speech, a man disrupted the senator by screaming, yelling, and flailing his arms. The man moved his way down the aisle yelling, “Why don’t you answer my questions, I have been waiting and listening to you speak in circles for the last two hours.”
“These officers are going to arrest me”. I didn’t see any officer directly next to him until I noticed Officer Wise walking down trying to get his attention. The man was screaming and yelling obscenities until Senator Kerry told him to calm down and that he would take his question, but he needed to calm down. At that point, the man stated, “You will take my question because I have been listening to your crap for two hours”. The man at that point turned to his friend and said, “Are you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?” The man was talking to a woman who was there to film him. Before asking the question, I had a chance to ask the man if he was a student and he stated, “I don’t have to tell you.” I the asked him if he knew the rules to the student code of conduct and he said, “What?” I informed the man that after he asked Senator Kerry the question that I needed to talk to him outside. After asking the question, the man would not let Senator Kerry finish his statement and kept badgering the senator about his beliefs, talking about “blow jobs”, and yelling as loud as he could as to sensationalize his presence. At that moment the Accent Director, Max Tyroler, asked us to take him out of the auditorium and had his microphone turned off stating, “He had said enough.” Officer Wise and I grabbed both of the man’s arms and asked him to come with us out of the auditorium to speak with us. The man then lifted me up and pushed Officer Wise to avoid being taken into custody. As he pushed and kicked Officer Wise, Sgt. King grabbed him and escorted him out of the room, but the man pushed Sgt. King out of the way and was yelling and trying to get back down the aisle. At this point Officer Sexton, Officer De Jesus, and Officer Lamb tried to assist Officer Wise and Sgt King in getting a hold of the punching and kicking irate man while Officer Dean, Officer Passero, and Officer Spurlin were present trying to assist.
The man continued to scream and yell as well as push, kick, and elbow the officers attempting to take him into custody. After multiple attempts to tell him to stop resisting, the man said, “No” and continued to push and elbow the officers. Only one handcuff was placed on the man as he continued to punch his way out of the hold. The officers could not get a hold of his other arm as he was kicking, punching, and elbowing into officers. After many attempts to get the man to comply, he chose to continue actively resisting the officers. I obeyed the command from Sgt. King to utilize the taser for the continuation of non-compliance by the man. One contact tase to the man’s left shoulder was deployed for the duration of its cycle. After the cycle ended, the man was asked to comply and stop resisting and for a brief moment he did, at which time he was placed in handcuffs. After he was lifted to his feet, he kept screaming and yelling to let him go by continually pushing the officers. I read the man his Miranda rights and explained why he was being placed under arrest. As the man was escorted down stairs with no cameras in sight, he remained quiet, but once the cameras made their way down stairs he started screaming and yelling again. Some of the comments that the man made were “You can’t kill me.”, “They are giving me to the government.” and “They are going to kill me.”
The man was identified not only by the people there filming for him, but also by a business card he had on him that had his picture on it. The card read, “TheANDREWMEYER.com
“Speak my mind.” I asked him if he was Andrew Meyer and he said, “Yes, I am.” Meyer was transported to the Alachua County Detention Center by my myself and Officer Vinson. Meyer stated he just wanted Senator Kerry to hear what he had to say and that he was upset when he ended the questions without being heard. Meyer stated, on the way to the
jail, “I am not mad at you guys, you didn’t do anything wrong, you were just trying to do your job.” Meyer was laughing and being lighthearted in the car, his demeanor completely
changed once the cameras were not in sight. Meyer did ask, at one point, if the cameras were going to be at the jail.
Meyer was charged with disturbing the peace (interfering with a school function) and resisting with violence. A use of force report was filled out and Meyer was sent a Judicial
affairs form for his actions. None of the officers injured needed to seek medical attention and the injuries sustained from this incident were digitally documented.
9/17/2007 14:38
SUPPLEMENT
DE JESUS JR, PABLO
052
DEJESUS
9/18/2007
12:52
On September 17, 2007, at approximately 1352 hrs, I was working an overtime assignment at the University Auditorium in reference to Accent’s guest speaker Senator John Kerry. I was
located on the west side of the stage area providing security for Senator Kerry. The event consisted of Kerry’s speech and a question and answer session. Before the question and
answer session commenced, it was stated that they would limit the number of questions to at least 6 questions due to Kerry’s limited time. Kerry answered approximately 8 questions
when it was stated that there would be one more question taken after Kerry finished answering the current one. At this point there were approximately a dozen other subjects
that did not get to ask Kerry their questions.
Shortly thereafter an angry white male in the line for questions, Andrew W. Meyer, forced himself on the microphone, displayed his agitation with Senator Kerry for making him wait in
line, stopping the question and answer session, and not allowing him to speak. He stated in a loud disorderly manner that he was “sick of listening to Kerry’s crap for the past two hours”
and demanded to be allowed to ask his question. He also excitedly stated as Ofc. W. Wise #501 and Ofc. N. Mallo #48 approached him, before making contact or exchanging words,
that they were going “to arrest me for trying to ask my question”. I also approached Meyer from my posted location to possibly assist Mallo and Wise if Meyer behavior escalated any
further.
Meyer was told that he would be granted the opportunity to speak by Senator Kerry after he finished answering the question that Meyer interrupted. Before I returned to my post I
observed Meyer hand a digital hand-held camera to white female he was present with, and it appeared that he instructed her to film his interaction. When Kerry permitted Meyer to
speak, he began ranting without asking a specific question to Senator Kerry. He shared a book with Kerry and congratulated Kerry for winning the 2004 election. He became
inappropriately vulgar when he asked Kerry why he is not for impeaching Bush; after relating Bush’s conduct in office to President Clinton’s impeachment based on a “blow job”.
He also accused Kerry of being a member of the “Skull and Bones” society. Shortly after that statement, the Accent staff cut off Meyer’s microphone and Mallo and Wise attempted to escort Meyer out of the building. Meyer became actively resistant by pushing and flailing away from Mallo and Wise. The potential for officer injury was present based on the locations of Mallo and Wise in the auditorium isle next to fixed wooden folding seats; I drew out my department issued X-26 taser to respond to Meyer’s active physical resistance and/or to possibly gain compliance from Meyer. I gave Meyer verbal commands to “put your hands behind your back,” but he continued his active physical resistance. I was promptly non-verbally directed, by shaking his head no, to re-holster the X-26 by Sergeant King #32.
Sgt. King then responded to Meyer’s resistance by attempting to control and escort him out of the building. Meyer continued to struggle and got tangled up with Sgt. King. It appeared that they both lost their footing and fell to the floor at of the top of the isle in between the fixed wooden seats on the west side of the auditorium. Once Meyer was on the ground, Sgt.
King and Wise attempted to restrain Meyer. He continued to resist by bucking and trying to roll away. Ofc. Sexton #73 and Ofc. Lamb #65 attempted to restrain Meyer’s legs which were
flailing about. The struggle continued before compliance could be gained.
I managed to take control of Meyer’s right hand and restrain it into one side of my handcuffs. Due to Meyer’s erratic flailing, the inability to attain Meyer’s left arm from his resistance,
and increased potential for injury with one cuff on, Sgt. King attempted to deploy a contact tase to no avail. He then instructed Mallo to apply a contact tase to gain compliance in order to place Meyer’s left hand into the other cuff. Mallo gave verbal commands and informed Meyer that he would be tased if he did not comply. Once Mallo applied the tase, Wise
assisted Meyer’s left arm to where I was able to apply the other cuff. Once he was restrained, he was escorted out of the Auditorium where I checked the fitting and applied the
double-locked function on the cuffs.
Ofc. Wise and myself returned to the auditorium to provide security for the duration of the
function and assist Ofc. Dean #86 and Ofc. Passero #54 in escorting Kerry to his vehicle.
9/17/2007
14:53
SUPPLEMENT
LAMB, JEFFREY W
065
JWLAMB
9/18/2007
12:33
UFPD07OFF002274
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UFPD07OFF002274
OFFENSE REPORT
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA POLICE DEPT
Printed On: 09/18/2007 @ 17:25
On 09/17/07, while working an event featuring Senator John Kerry, I was located by the West entrance of the University Auditorium monitoring people coming into the event. I heard over the radio that there was a disturbance in the auditorium. Ofc. Sexton (#73) and myself made our way up the stairs and into the the auditorium. Ofc. Sexton entered the auditorium
through the door to the right (West) of the stairs and I entered through the door to the left (East) of the stairs. I observed a white male on the ground by the West door struggling with
police officers. The suspect was violently kicking his legs as he struggled against the other officers. Ofc. Sexton attempted to restrain his legs as I made my way through the
photographers to assist the other police officers. The suspect’s left leg was not restrained and it was rapidly moving around as he struggled with the officers. I gripped his left leg with both of my hands to keep him from kicking one of the officers. Ofc. Sexton was still gripping the suspect’s other leg. The suspect continually pulled against my grip and jerked his leg in
attempts to resist my efforts to restrain his leg. Sgt. King was immediately in front of me attempting to gain control of the suspect. I did not have time to individually identify the other
officers involved due to the fact that I was concentrating on maintaining control of the suspect’s leg. My goal was to keep him from kicking one of the officers.
I heard an officer repeatedly tell him to stop resisting in a loud authoritative voice. The suspect continued to yell,” Do you see what they are doing to me? I am being arrested.
Someone do something. Help me.” He continued to disrupt the event as he physically struggled against our efforts to place him in handcuffs and remove him from the auditorium.
He was told numerous times to stop resisting or he would be tasered. The suspect yelled,” Don’t Tase me.” However, he continued to actively resist the efforts to handcuff him. I heard
an officer give him verbal commands to roll over on his stomach. I also heard an officer give him verbal commands to place his hands behind his back. The suspect did not comply with
the commands and continued to struggle and resist. I also heard one of the officers taser the suspect. He was then placed in handcuffs. He was then assisted to his feet and taken out of the auditorium. I picked up the suspect’s book that had been dropped. Once he was outside of the auditorium he became very upset at the thought of taking the elevator. As a result of this he was walked down the stairs to the lobby of the University Auditorium. As he was walking down the stairs he stated, “People know I am here. You can’t kill me.” Once in the
lobby I heard the suspect say, “They are giving me to the government.” He also stated, “They are going to kill me.” I never heard anyone threaten the suspect’s life. When Ofc.
Mallo was attempting to identify the suspect I heard him say, “I’m scared to tell you.” in response to her asking for his information. I handed the suspect’s book to Ofc. Mallo. I then
went outside to direct a patrol car to the location so the suspect could be transported to the jail.
9/17/2007
15:16
SUPPLEMENT
WISE, WILLIAM L
501
SEXTON88
9/18/2007
12:18
On the 9-17-07 at 1352 hours, while on assignment during a special event in the UF Auditorium (Senator John Kerry). Towards the end of the event Senator Kerry was going to answer questions from the audience. The UF Ambassador stated to the audience that time was going to be limited due to other commitments for Senator Kerry. The Ambassador stated
that not everyone would be able to have their questions answered by the Senator. Senator Kerry also stated to the audience that if the time limit was reached, he might answer a few
more questions, but time was very limited. Once the time limit for questioning was reached UFPD07OFF002274
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OFFENSE REPORT
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA POLICE DEPT
Printed On: 09/18/2007 @ 17:25
(approximately 30 minutes), I noticed the ACCENT supervisor talking to the individuals left in line on the opposite side of the auditorium where I was positioned. I noticed him talking to
an individual in line (later identified as Andrew Meyer). This conversation caught my attention due to the student’s some what aggressive posturing towards the ACCENT
Supervisor. At this point I noticed the ACCENT Supervisor walking halfway up the aisle on the side of the auditorium and I was signaled by the ACCENT supervisor (sponsors of the
event) in reference to the individual. I was stationed at the rear corner of the auditorium during the event. When I approached the area where the microphone was placed for
questions for the Senator, a young man was causing a disturbance by shouting loudly at the Senator. The individual began to shout that the Senator needed to answer his question and
stated that he was going to jail. These statements were made before I reached the individual in question. The individual was later identified by his Florida driver license as Andrew
William Meyer (DOB 09-15-86). I proceeded to Meyer’s location and advised him that he needed to stop yelling and causing a disturbance or he would be escorted off the property.
Meyer was stating that he had sat in the auditorium for two hours and demanded that he ask his question to the Senator and everyone else in the auditorium that still had questions be
allowed to speak. The sponsors of the event had advised the individuals in the question line that the Senator would not be able to answer anymore questions from the audience. Because
of this, the question and answer session would be over before Meyer could ask a question.
Meyer would not comply with my directions or the staff from ACCENT to leave because the session was over. I grabbed Meyer’s arm in a transporter position and began to escort him
up the aisle. Meyer was still shouting at the Senator to answer his questions as he was being escorted. Senator Kerry asked me to let Meyer ask his question. At this time, he was brought back to the microphone and I stood beside him on his left side and Ofc. Mallo on his right side. Meyer handed a camera to the girl who was also in line to ask a question (this student was actually in front of Meyer’s)
Meyer began to yell towards Senator Kerry concerning a book he read, stating that Senator Kerry actually won the elections in 2004. Meyer did not give Senator Kerry an
opportunity to answer his question during his disorderly behavior. Before Senator Kerry could attempt to answer his first question/statement, Meyer advised there were two more
questions. I leaned over to Ofc. Mallo and we made the decision that Meyer would be escorted out of the auditorium after his statements/questions due to his overall demeanor and
actions.
Meyer continued his disruptive behavior at the microphone and made a statement concerning why President Clinton was almost impeached for receiving a “blowjob”, at this point
ACCENT staff cut the sound off to the microphone. Meyers threw his hands up in the air in disgust of having the microphone turned off. At the end of Meyer’s questions/statements to Senator Kerry, myself and Ofc. Mallo began to escort the individual up the aisle. Meyer’s previous actions merited two officers to do the escort. We started up the aisle with Meyer in a dual transporter position, myself on the right side and Ofc. Mallo on the left side. Meyer started screaming and causing a disturbance.
Students and other patrons were sitting near our location when Meyer began to struggle with myself and Ofc. Mallo causing a safety concern. He attempted to break our grips on his arms and began to actively resist by struggling, twisting and pushing. We attempted to keep him moving up the aisle when he pulled away and headed back down the aisle. Ofc. De jesus came to assistus. Due to Meyer’s behavior and actions, Ofc. De jesus drew his taser. Meyer was given a warning to stop resisting or he would tasered. Meyer still resisted, but Ofc. De jesus did not deploy his taser and reholstered it when Sgt. King arrived to assist myself and Ofc.
Mallo.
Sgt. King grabbed Meyer from behind and was able to pick him up and started to escort him up the aisle. Meyer was still actively resisting Sgt. King by jumping up and down. Sgt. King
was able to escort Meyer to the top of the aisle way. At this point, Meyer broke free form Sgt. King, pushing Sgt. King backwards and had to be taken to the ground. Myself, Ofc. Mallo,
Ofc. De jesus and Sgt. King struggled with Meyer on the ground where he continued to actively resist by twisting his body and attempting to stand up. Due to his actions, Ofc. De
jesus pulled out his handcuffs and attempted to put Meyer into custody. Meyer continued to resist while we attempted to put him into custody on the ground and would not comply with
orders to turn onto his stomach and place his hands behind his back. Meyer continued to resist and Sgt. King drew his taser and put it onto Meyer’s chest. I advised Meyer several
times to comply with our instructions and to stop resisting arrest. Sgt. King did not deploy his taser and reholstered it. Ofc. Mallo drew her taser when Meyer continued to resist.
Meyer was instructed to put his hands behind his back, but he continued to try and get back on his feet. Ofc. Mallo at this point deployed her taser into the shoulder of the subject.
During the struggle, Ofc. De jesus was able to get one of Meyer’s hands into the handcuffs.
While being tasered, I was able to grab the other hand and assist De Jesus. Meyer was in custody at that time and was picked up and escorted downstairs and out of the auditorium.
Officers Lamb, Spurlin, Sexton, Dean and Passero assisted in the arrest. Meyer was escorted to a patrol vehicle and taken to the Alachua County Detention Center to
be booked on criminal charges. Due to the struggle, I had red marks on my left knee with a slight pain and also started feeling pain in one the toes of my right foot.
There is no further information available at this time.
9/17/2007
15:44
SUPPLEMENT
SEXTON, SAMUEL D
073
SEXTON88
9/18/2007
12:01
On 09/17/07 at approximately 1352 hours, I responded to the second floor of the University Auditorium in reference to a white male subject that was causing a disturbance. Upon
reaching the second floor, I heard a man yelling something to the effect of get off of me, do you see what they are doing to me. I entered the auditorium and saw a white male subject
actively resisting/fighting with fellow police officers. The white male subject was later identified through dispatch by his name and date of birth as, Andrew William Meyer, DOB of
09/15/1986. Meyer was laying on the ground swinging his arms and kicking his legs while other officers were attempting to handcuff him. Due to the fact that both of Meyer’s legs
were kicking freely, I grabbed his legs to prevent any injury to my fellow officers. Meyer continued to fight with the police while Ofc. DeJesus ID 52 attempted to handcuff him.
Meyer continued to pull against my grip and kick his legs in attempt to resist my efforts to restrain his legs so he could not kick one of the officers.
UFPD07OFF002274
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OFFENSE REPORT
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA POLICE DEPT
Printed On: 09/18/2007 @ 17:25
I heard an officer repeatedly tell him to stop resisting in a loud verbal command. Meyer continued to yell and disrupt the event as he physically struggled against our efforts to place
him in handcuffs and remove him from the auditorium. He was told numerous time to stop resisting or he would be tasered. Meyer continued to actively resist the efforts to handcuff
him. One of the officers administered a contact tase to him to gain control of his arms.
Meyer was then able to be placed into handcuffs. Sgt. King ID 32 and I assisted Meyer to his feet and escorted him out of the auditorium as he continued to yell and disrupt the event.
While escorting Meyer out of the auditorium, he began yelling something to the effect of, please don’t kill me, they are going to kill me.
Sgt. King ID 32 and I then escorted Meyer out of the north side of the University Auditorium into patrol car UF #6. Officer Vinson ID 89 and Officer Mallo ID 48 transported Meyer to the Alachua County Jail for processing.
I then re-entered the University Auditorium to reunite with my fellow officers. Once inside, I met with a white female subject who stated that she saw the whole thing from a close distance. The white female subject was later identified through dispatch by her Florida Driver License as Rachel Brooke Speisman. Speisman stated that she was in fear for her safety as Meyer walked closer to her and became increasingly disruptive. Speisman advised that she was glad that the University of Florida Police Department was on scene to handle the disruptive subject.
9/17/2007
16:00
SUPPLEMENT
KING, EDDIE J
032
EKING
9/18/2007
11:33
On 09/17/2007, I was scheduled to work as the Officer in Charge at the University Auditorium, on the University of Florida campus, for a speech given by Senator John Kerry.
The speech was scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm and the doors were opened at 11:00 am. Senator Kerry was asked to speak at the University by the student group ACCENT.
While the speech was going on, I was outside of the Auditorium dealing with a suspicious backpack that was in the grass next to the building. I called Ofc. Davis to bring his bomb dog
to search the backpack. No explosives were detected. I then took the backpack inside and searched it and finding nothing that would considered contraband. I placed it on a bench for
the owner to find. At that point I walked upstairs to where the speech was going on. When I arrived upstairs I observed Meyer being very loud and yelling while Officers Mallo
and Wise were attempting to walk him out. While they were walking him out Senator Kerry asked them to allow him to ask his question. The officers allowed him to go back to the
microphone. He was loud and would not ask a specific question as he was asked to. His microphone was turned off because of his use of profanity. Because of his disruptive behavior,
he was asked to leave by officers. He refused to comply and continued to yell. Officers Mallo and Wise tried to escort him up the ramp and out of the auditorium. He refused to walk and
began to struggle with them. I was standing at the back of the seating area observing what was going on.
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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA POLICE DEPT
Printed On: 09/18/2007 @ 17:25
At the point, where the officers where having a problem getting him to leave, I walked down to them to assist. I grabbed him around the back of his waist to physically force him out of
the seating area. As I was pushing him up the ramp, he was jumping up and down yelling incoherently. At the top of the ramp he stopped, began to struggle and twist forcibly to get out
of my grasp. He broke free from me and appeared to try to get back to the seating area. As he went around me towards the seating area, I was able to get a hold of him again. At that point, Officers Mallo and Wise came up and we took him to the carpet in an attempt to handcuff him. While on his back he continued to struggle, push and kick his legs in an attempt to get free. Officers Sexton and Lamb arrived on scene and held his legs to keep him from getting
up. He was told numerous times to stop resisting and to roll over onto his stomach. He
continued to struggle and yell “help!!”.
A crowd began to form and yell at us. Some were yelling, let him go, he didn’t do anything. I pulled my taser, turned off the safety, dropped the cartridge, put it against his left chest and pulled the trigger. It do not activate after several attempts. While my taser was still against his chest, where he could see it, he was told several times to stop resisting and turn over or he would be tased. He still would not comply, continued to struggle and yell for us to let him go.
I instructed Ofc. Mallo to utilize her taser, which she did. He yelled in pain several times while being tased. We were then able to gain control of him, get him to turn over and handcuff him. We assisted him from the floor and out of the seating area.
I had his left wrist in a bent wrist lock in order to continue control of him while escorting him. He continued to struggle but not as violently as before. He would yell that we were going to
kill him to the onlookers and ask them if they were watching. He also asked them if they witnessed what was going on. Some in the crowd said they did and would be a witness for
him.
Because of the crowd, he was taken to a back office to wait for a patrol vehicle. Once the patrol vehicle arrived, he was escorted out and placed into the back seat. He was then taken
to the Alachua County Detention Center.
During the altercation, several officers sustained bruises. My pair of sunglasses were destroyed and my hat was knocked off.
9/18/2007
07:49
SUPPLEMENT
VINSON, JASON B
089
JVINSON
9/18/2007
08:02
I arrived at Union Road, north of the University Auditorium to transport Meyer. Three officers were escorting Meyer to my vehicle, who was already in handcuffs. Once Meyer was
in my patrol vehicle, I began recording from the DVR system in vehicle UF6. Meyer was transported to the Alachua County Jail. Officer Mallo, ID#48 rode with me to the jail.
9/18/2007
11:16
SUPPLEMENT
SPURLIN, AMANDA
047
ASPURLIN
9/18/2007
15:27
On 09/17/2007, I was assigned to the University Auditorium for an overtime event featuring Senator John Kerry. During the event, I was assigned to the ground floor doors for security.
Officer Lamb and Officer Sexton were also assigned to the doors during the event. Officer Sexton and Officer Lamb and I were informed of a disturbance that was occurring inside the
auditorium. They went up the stairs to assist while I remained to watch the doors. A few moments later I heard yelling coming from upstairs, I then proceeded up the stairs. As I
walked through the door, I observed a male subject on the ground with several officers near him. I observed the subject resisting the officers. The subject was yelling and refusing to be
placed in handcuffs. Officer Wise was giving the subject verbal commands which were not being followed. The subject was then Tasered. I then assisted with crowd management while
the subject was escorted from the building.
After the incident, I remained in the lobby while attendees left the building. I was then approached by a female subject, Clarissa Jessup. She stated that she had been in line in front
of Mr. Meyer when he asked her to videotape his exchange with Senator Kerry. She stated that she did not know Mr. Meyer. I obtained her contact information for any further
questions.
END OF NARRATIVE
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- Neocon News » I condemn you to be the “don’t tase me, bro!” guy for the rest of your days.
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- Common Sense Journal » Blog Archive » Don’t Taze Me, Bro T-Shirts
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- What did the UF student ask John Kerry before he got tazed?
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- Scout Labs » Blog Archive » “Don’t Tase Me, Bro!” and the other Most Memorable Quotes of 2007
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All of this trouble to get a youtube up and get people to watch it? This kid should be filed under, how to manipulate the media…it worked.
Now everybody knows he is stupid
You watch, this punk will be making the talkshow circuit within a week.
OT-
I’m hearing reports O.J. was arrested anyone else hear about this?
reason number 4 for not being a cop:
TOO much paperwork.
Exactly….this low bred creep actually had the gall to ask the officers transporting him in their patrol car to jail if there would be cameras there…..he is nothing but a self absorbed,ill mannered clown
I heard and read a lot yesterday regarding how the police used excessive force by tasing him ‘when he was already handcuffed’.
It now appears, after the officers were allowed to submit their reports, that he was not fully cuffed - only one hand had been secured.
Anyone ever trained in handcuffing knows that a suspect who is only 1/2 cuffed is twice as dangerous as without cuffs because they now potentially have a very deadly weapon attached to one wrist.
A handcuff can be used as a blunt instrument as well as a bladed weapon, with the jagged ratchets being extremely dangerous.
If this guy had only one hand cuffed, given how hard he was struggling, they could not take the chance that he would escape their grasp and potentially use that open handcuff as a weapon.
They had every right to tase him in that instance, in order to gain control.
Did anyone hear Dick Morris on H&C last night? He was furious at the officers, excessive force, stifling free speech, and all that. Colmes was laughing at the stupid kid’s pathetic yelling, obviously once again embarrassed for liberals everywhere, and Morris referenced the protests at the Democrat convention, Chicago 1968. I could not believe what I was hearing. Totally hysterically defending this punk idiot, who planned to get himself into trouble for his stupid website. Hannity disagreed with him for a minute, then Morris says to him, “Let’s talk about Hillary, Sean.” They moved to Hillary.
This morning on Fox&Friends First, Judge Napolitano said the officers had no basis to arrest this moron, and his free speech rights were violated. More absolutism on free speech, regardless of the circumstances.
In my non-expert constitutional analysis, the Bill of Rights does not mention that you have a right to crap all over other’s free speech, make a complete ass of yourself, resist and assault law enforcement personnel, then use your own conduct to further promote your insane ideas. What was that about yelling fire in a crowded theater?
I like what Rush says about that:
“You, as an American, have a constitutional right to speak. However, you do not have a right to be heard.”
When I think about this some more, maybe next time Michelle gives a speech at one of our esteemed centers of higher learning, she can discuss the benefits of on-the-spot electroshock therapy for Unhinged, moonbat idiots. Behavioral Science experiment, we need a study.
As i watched the videos yesterday I was unable to determine positively that the supsect had been placed in handcuffs before he was tasered. I didn’t think he had been but I couldn’t be sure. In fact, I was pretty sure that I had seen his left hand and arm moving freely after the taser had been discharged.
After reading the reports, it now seems that my vision isn’t quite as bad as I thought.
Jrlingreenbay, I agree with your last statement. Could there have been other was to secure him, perhaps but I am going to give the benefit of the doubt to the officers who were actually involved in making those split second decisions.
I also noted that the officers acted in response to a directive from someone in authourity. They did not initiate the action on their own.
Well, the Constitution does say “make no law.” If one were to take the First Amendment literally, it would appear to be quite absolute.
Obviously this moron was trying to get himself on the news, but it surprises me (and saddens me) that the university would cut his mic and have him arrested for asking fair questions that Senator Kerry was willing to answer. I’m sure Senator Kerry has heard the word “blowjob” and/or been asked about Skull and Bones a thousand times.
Obviously resisting arrest is a whole ‘nother can of worms and the UF cops had little choice at the end of this unruly mess…but shouldn’t we be able to ask controversial questions of the people who run the country without fear of being removed from the room?
As many of you know, I took some heat from several others because I felt that the arrest was proper and the taser was proper if the suspect had not yet been handcuffed. Late last night I was told that he had been hancuffed but now it seems that statement was only half right.
The taser was used for compliance, not punishment, and he had been repeatedly warned to comply without success. I think the officers will be alright as the investigation unfolds. But, we’ll see how this works out.
Just my opinion, so have at me. I’m a big boy and I can handle the criticism. In fact, I kind of enjoy it.
Handcuffing a compliant suspect is a relatively easy task.
Handcuffing a struggling suspect is another matter.
I’ve done both in my lifetime - and anyone who sees the TV cop jump on the bad-guy, tackle him, turn him over and cuff him are seeing fiction.
It sometimes DOES take 3-4 officers to get a violent suspect handcuffed. The thing to remember is that by using several officers, there is actually LESS risk in anyone getting hurt. Each officer subdues a different area of the suspects body, allowing 1-2 officers to manage the arms and handcuff the individual.
Also, as Trinitytim pointed out - the officer’s report states that they responded to the event coordinator’s request to remove the individual. It’s clear in the videos that the officer attempts to talk him into leaving first - but he refuses.
Step 2 - gentle hand on the arm and a request to leave. At that point he wiggles away from the officers, disobeying their request for him to leave.
Step 3- more direct contact and hold of the individual in order to escort him out. He resists - starts pushing away.
He is, by step 2, breaking the law and resisting a peace-officer’s lawful order.
What is Napolitano and everyone else seeing? Good Lord.
The question the punk asked concerned Skull and Bones at Yale and Kerry’s possible connection with GW as a result of that….assuming it actually was a ‘legitimate question’,what did he expect Kerry to say?…”Oh yea,George and I are really in cahoots with all the other Skull and Bones members to secretly rule the world”….the question was oafish and borderline demented….he has a right to speak…but no right to be heard…and even less of a right to have such infantile questions answered
You don’t have a right to hijack a public proceeding, engage in behavior that is inappropriate for a public forum, to be heard. Besides, what he was saying was not a “fair question”. He was intentionally disrupting the event, which infringes on the rights of all the other people who took the trouble to attend, including Senator Kerry. Were the officers not reasonable in restraining this jackass when there is a U.S. Senator not 25 feet away from him?
The idiot in question has not had his rights violated. He will be able to speak all he wants, we are not obliged to pay attention, and that is what he doesn’t like.
He wanted his fame as he wants to work in the national media. This was a stunt like many others he is known for at UF.
I don’t know if this helped his career or not, as he seems to be an immature loose cannon.
I wish the Capitol Police would be quicker on the draw with their tazers in Congressional hearings. The Code Pink disruption campaign is technically against the law too, but it suits the political agenda of enough libs in Congress they always are allowed in, despite a record of nothing but disruption when they show up.
Those code stinko’s were crying whiplash at first touch, they would have loved to have been tazed. The outcry from the left if that happened would be enormous to mythical proportions.
Yes. You are right, but I want to laugh at them squirming with voltage. Just my personal comedy sketch, in my head:)
Megga dittos to infinity and beyond!!!
Their screams of brutality would bring down bridges. It is a nice visual though.
Well, well, the tone is a bit different today than yesterday. But still there are the hanger on ers who think the cops were out of line. I wrote this yesterday:
Well let me see what politically incorrect comments I can add to this overwhelming collection of opinions. As a person involved in law enforcement my judgment is there most likely was an order given that the individual’s time was up and that his refusal to back off was the signal for police to escort him off. A reasonable person would have complied and stepped down. He didn’t and from all visual evidence immediately assumed an agressive and combative demeanor. This does several things. First, it creates a threat to the citizens in his immediate vicinity and second to the authorities charged with maintaining civility in a public place. The police escalated force to meet his. Instead of walking out he chose to resist vigorously while under arrest and being ordered by the authority (responsible for the protection of all the people there)continuing the escalation. He was warned and chose to escalate. Normal procedure would be not to taser a cuffed person. However, a cuffed person can kick, maim, and deliver a lethal blow to a human while in the cuffed position and fighting to free themselves from the grip of police. If he had done so to one of the students who do you think would be screaming that the police didn’t do their job properly? If he had kicked or head butted a cop..well it can go on. I’ve seen them in the back of a patrol car kicking out door glass and cutting themselves—yes taser or pepper spray is, in my judgment necessary if one is cuffed and still a viable threat, which this little buttercup was. Now for a politically incorrect statement. Some of the cops I saw were small women and obviously were incapable of subduing a man who grew rapidly violent in resistance. A medium sized man most likely, if properly trained, could have used arm bars after he was cuffed and quickly ushered him out. The student chose to thrash and fall to the floor making it harder to control. I’m confident he has had issues with authority and society in general prior to this incident.
I think the cops were right on and this bozo is a sociopath.
This clown was infringing upon the free speech of others, he crowded to the front, used foul language, and resisted the efforts of the police to stop him., all after the function had been brought to a close…NO MORE QUESTIONS. It was an act, his rights were not violated…this clown got just what he wanted except maybe for the tasering.
Oh, judge Napolitano, was a judge in New Jersey, nuff said.
Rusty said:
You were correct at the beginning of your statement about this guy being a moron, however, you seem to ignore the fact that the question portion of the talk was over, but this bonehead decided he was not going to abide by that. Classic liberalism at work. The rules don’t apply to ME! Cause I am..well….me! I can be vulgar and disruptive and an attention seeking idiot.
By your estimation, Rusty, anyone should be able to go to an Obama, Clinton or Edwards function and scream questions at them and demand answers to whatever questions I ask. No format, no civility, just anarchy and idiocy. Is that what you want??
Of course not. However, Sen. Kerry said he would stay and answer all questions. Free speech applies to even the rude and to those using foul language.
I don’t think the UF cops did anything wrong here. They weren’t given much of a choice. I’m just a wee bit uneasy with the idea of his mic getting cut off and being told to leave because he said the word “blowjob” (which was what an eyewitness suggested happened) or because he was asking a question that made a public official uncomfortable.
I suppose it’s a moot point since this was all for attention. But I hope that I wouldn’t get in trouble for asking an especially pointed question at a public official.
On the arrest report under ethnicity, it says “Not of Hispanic Origin”
Can’s we say Caucasian or White anymore?
I want a t-shirt that says,
An especially pointed question is not what got him in trouble. His out-of-control conduct meant to disrupt the event, and the possibility he was up to something more dangerous is what got him in trouble. If you cannot conduct yourself with any respect for others while expressing yourself, you deserve to get tazered, and embarrassed, and hauled off to the nearest detention facility. The Constitution is not a suicide pact.
Look people, the STUNT was heckling the Senator which is his right under FREE SPEECH. The CRIME was what the police did.
Here again I hate to harp on this because I detest this person. But arresting someone for resisting arrest is a slippery slope.
You arrest someone for committing a crime. Police are there to ensure the SAFETY of everyone. If he issues a THREAT, by all means tackle, tase, heck even shoot the guy dead is fine.
If he just screams, let him scream BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC FORUM SOLICITING RESPONSES FROM THE AUDIENCE. His comment ‘they are going to arrest me for asking a question’ rang true - and is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I think he was saying that in sort of disbelief that it was actually going to happen because this is after all AMERICA.
If the police do nothing, he says his peace, his mic gets cut, Kerry drones some idiotic answer, the town hall ends. When the police step in, this IDIOT’S RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED! When he asks why he’s being arrested, he has every right to know. . . and if they say ‘you’re being arrested for resisting arrest’, he needs to be getting arrested for SOMETHING ELSE ILLEGAL first.
I guess these cops could have planted some weed or cocaine on him and you guys would have said - yeah just another druggie. How hard would that be? You don’t think it happens because these are ‘America’s finest’? You are kidding yourself.
Be careful how much authority you give to someone with a weapon on behalf of the government. He better use his authority when there is a threat, but the ‘authority’ shouldn’t BECOME the threat or he’s a problem of the government.
I guess we’ll just have to disagree here. I know that makes everyone (including and especially MM) hate me, but the police messed up here. And he’s got a strong case against them if he wants to pursue it BECAUSE he wasn’t a threat to anyone.
I hate when I don’t get in everything I want. . . but how is what this guy did different than everyone here HARRASSING your congressmen and women over the phone and ‘ambush journalism’ WHEN THEY DON’T VOTE HOW YOU WANT THEM TO? After all, your HARRASSING PHONE CALLS could be considered a crime. If the police came to arrest you and didn’t like you they could just punch you all the while asking ‘are you resisting arrest?’. How much leeway are you willing to give these police who aren’t elected?
Criminy Jicket’s website sumed it up so perfectly, and I would recommend people read his one paragraph. I do not know him in real life, but he gets it.
In addition, in what had to be a pure coincidence, John Kerry walked out of a Senate hearing yesterday in the middle of testimony where the person briefly mentioned tasering.
What is it with Kerry and tasering?
The sad part about the incident that everyone is buzzing about is that it makes Kerry look like a moderate in comparison.
http://blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/john-kerry-the-other-taser-incident/
Respectfully,
eric
Thacker - you live in a different world….seriously.
First off - The Police were requested to remove this individual from the room by the event coordinator.
When they attempted to do so, they first, according to the video tape and reports, approached and simply told the individual that he needed to leave.
He refused.
At that point, by refusing a lawful order, he was breaking the law. Plain and simple.
He was given several opportunities, from walking out on his own, to being lightly touched on the arm as an attempt to get his attention and get him to move on, to finally having an officer take hold of his arm to escort him out.
IF - he would have, at that point, simply allowed himself to be escorted out - following the lawful order of the police officer - he would have been released outside ( most likely ) without any charges or problems.
BUT - HE chose not to do that - instead he chose to physically pull away and push the officers ( assault ).
You neglect the fact that it wasn’t the police who initiated his removal - it was the coordinator of the event.
If you have a problem with his removal - take it up with him.
The police did their jobs.
As for comparing this to phoning your congressman - there is no ‘disturbance of the peace’ in a one-on-one phone call. They are public phone lines for an elected public official, and if someone chooses to gather support and flood those lines about an issue - where is the harm?
Most offices just hang up or pretend to listen, then hang up, anyway.
If you think that is illegal - what say you to the crowd that wants to flood Military recruitment offices with false applicants?
Should they be arrested as well?
Thacker…
Well written posts you made.
Wrong, but well written.
Your implication that nothing would have happened if the police did nothing is your opinion and not one based on anthing more than speculation. How do you know that his yelling and flailing, and charging the microphone would have been the end of his antics. Anwser, You don’t.
Unlike you, police are not afforded the luxury of hingsight. They must act on the information before them and when this young man began to act in a disorderly manner and the forum was declared over, the police were requested by the authority present to escort the man from the premises. The instant that he pulled away, began screaming, and throwing his arms about, he was guilty of resisting arrest.
You can disagree and I respect your right to do so, but keep your suggestion of planting evidence to yourself or OJ’s attorney unless you can prove it. If you can, bring it on but please don’t insult the 99.99999999% of police officers who do great work to keep you safe and allow you to express your opinions freely. And do not insult the memory of my friends who died in the line of duty by implying that we plant evidence.
That t-shirt is hilarious.
I concur the tshirt is pretty funny. But why are you even giving this loser the time of day?
I’d shorten it to just a picture of his face with “If you see this man - Taze Him!”
trinitytim
I agree with you on the use of force.
After careful review of the reports, they acted properly in using the taser to handcuff him provided they are allowed to use if for pain compliance.Probably the best tool in their kit in this situation.
The videos I reviewed did not show that they only had one cuff hooked up and it appeared they had used the taser inappropriately.
I also agree that having a guy only half hooked presents a severe danger to the officers and others present.
You were correct yesterday when you thought he was not cuffed.
I also agree they were acting on the supervisors orders to make an arrest which is subject to debate.
The only thing that I still maintain is that the officers are not well trained in the use of force and need some additional training on take downs and arrest techniques.
One note, since I do not have to be politically correct is the physical agility requirements of their officers specifically the female that told him he is under arrest for “inciting a riot”.
She is a danger to her fellow officers-IHMO due to her size and apparent lack of physical fitness.
I enjoyed our exchange and kudos for getting it right yesterday.
Remember the good old days when Democrats like Mayor Daley would’ve cracked this putz upside the head with a nightstick, not tickled him with a sissy stungun and proclaimed him a martyr?
Good times.
Scotty,
I think we are now in complete Agreement.
I appreciate your remarks and I agree with everything you said, especially regarding the training, the inability to take this guy down, and the limited strength issues.
The issue of the arrest is indeed debatable. Time will tell on that point.
Thanks again for your kind words. If you ever get to southeast US, let me know. I’m buying dinner. Take care my friend.
Funny stuff….the guy sounded like a little girl squealing away….what a wimp…but wait, he WAS at a DEM function, so screaming girly men are ok…..WHO CARES about this…it’s a non story…a nut job at a nut job function….you never see these wailing bastards getting tazed at Republican functions do you?…no that’s ok to scream down a conservative..but get rude with Kerry and zzzzap!…but I loved it…anytime a wacky liberal gets tazed..it’s a good day….
Funny thing, where I used to work, he would have been put into a PR24 come along before we would have utilized the Taser.
Believe me when I say with the PR 24, he would have been yelling at the top of his lungs; “Yes Sir… Yes Sir”.
An Aluminum PR24 baton hurts like hell when pressure is applied to the appropriate nerve bundles.
Do not be a stranger, I post over at HotAir too mostly on the Immigration threads. I hang out here too although not as much.
BTW-I live on the west, coast just near Palm Springs.
Thanks my friend, and be safe.
As someone who is responsible for analyzing and entering police reports and data into the computer for a Campus Police Department, which is ultimately used for the FBIs National Incident Base Reporting [NIBRS] , I think I can answer that question. NIBRS gathers data from over 17,000 Police Departments nationwide.
Incident reports are submitted with 2 classifications: Race and Ethnicity.
Race can be White, Black, Indian, or Asian. Hispanic is not considered a race. Hispanics can be W, B, I, or R, based on their family origins. Many races settled in areas where people are considered “Hispanic” today. As an ethnic subcategory, you have 3 selections, Not of Hispanic Origin, Hispanic, or Unknown.
It’s just one of the statistical elements used by the FBI, and state authorities such as SLED here in South Carolina.