Ah yes, the letter of the law! Take refuge in it; but don't evade the central question: excessive force. Assuming that the arrest was justified, could it have been made less violently, more dignifiedly? "I arrest you in the name of the law", not "Now you're going to jail"! with all that pulling and hauling.
Remember - law and justice are not always synonymous.

The speeding and leaving were her fault; but that is not the point. Did her actions justify his? The excessive force and  the unprofessional conduct were his fault and only his fault. No matter the provocation, other than physical danger, the dignity of the law should be paramount. Brutality is not likely to engender respect for law and order.

---

veritas

It is probably none of my bussines ,(since I dont live in your so call country of freedom, and it is ironic 'cause you are like a bunch of lost and scared 3 year olds.) It is so sad to see how american cityzen, the same  who pay taxes so people to the public service could bring food to their table, It is so sad to see how city police officer all over your country abuse the ones they areay to protect. 

I feel sorry for the ordinary poeple, you live in a land where the dog bights the hand that feeds him. But you what's worse IT WILL NOT CHANGE, IT WILL NEVER CHAGE,   cause you the normal family man that goes to work and built houses and furniture,etc. YOU GOT NO POWER and they can easely pull out their gun and point it at your face, BUT NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE A TREAT, it is BECAUSE THIS KIND OF OFFICER ARE COWARDS. 

My appologies to the one or two good officer still in THE FORCE.

Don't use the video from the news story but the raw footage from the dashcam. There was PLENTY of time for the office to check her story (three minutes) before she pulled away. The vidoe in the news story looks like she pulled away immedaitely, which she did not.

dfrancois:

Did the Deputy use excessive force?  Was suspension the appropriate punishment? What do you think?

This is disgusting. He should be fired. He must have no respect or love for his parents to not see the urgency here. He should have at least checked out the story. This is the very definition of excessive force. I bet the cop has a small penis and that is the real fury behind this.

I've watched this video a couple times.  I hate to say it but my first instinct is FIRED.  IMMEDIATELY.
If the guy overreacts this much in a situation, imagine his emotions being caught up in something that involves him using a firearm or nightstick.    I have had dealt with good cops, decent human beings.  This one wasn't acting that way.

I wonder what would have happen to him or her if she had been Black.

Those with comments like papales, really have no clue.  There is NEVER an excuse good enough for fleeing from an officer.  If she would have waited until the deputy ran her information, and if she did not have any warrants, he may have just let her go.  The worst of it would have been 5 minutes and a ticket which probably would have been dismissed.  Regardless of the situation, it does not justify her wreckless and careless driving which could have killed someone and it certainly does not justify her fleeing from an officer and refusing to put the car in park and exit the vehicle.  Have you forgotten how many officers who risk their lives daily for the welfare of others have been shot or severely injured by idiots who flee?!?!?  If she would have ran over someone in the parking lot would she have been in the right then, I don't think so.  There are crazy and dangerous people of all sorts out there who will say anything and if your stupid enough to flee, chances are you are one of them.  I am extremely dissappointed in our Sheriff and the deputy should never have been suspended (the woman must be related or know someone important!!!).  Apparently, some of you think that it is up to an individual to decide if they have to obey the law.  I can't express how angry I am about this, it makes my blood boil.   

How was the officer to know if he was in iminent danger or not?  All of those officers who have been shot or ran down by someone fleeing from them knew as much as this guy.

elise:

It did not appear that she was trying to run.  When you have a medical emergency you do not think right.  The officer should have used common since and followed her to the ER and confirm her story.  If she was lying, take her to jail then.  He abused his authority in this case. 

You think our Officers/Deputies should follow up on every crazy thing they hear during traffic stops? There's already a shortage of LEO's and you just want to make them even less effective at their jobs? I'll admit this: the Deputy really screwed up by loosing his temper with his comments at the end. But to those who say he used excessive force? Forget about how he ended up getting in (what he believed) a pursuit. The lady took off - and not all police chases are at 90+ mph/10+ mins long. She made the Deputy believe (for good reason) that she was running. It's as simple as that. So the Deputy got out, pulled her out of the car, slammed her down on the car to neutralize her: because he thought she was a threat. He didn't taser her, throw her face-first into the ground, and pummel her with his nightstick. I don't see anything excessive about how he arrested her. I don't see what else he could have done when he believed this lady was trying to get away. 

The fact is - she disobeyed a police officer and took off. It's natural for us to feel pity and anger because of what this lady went through - but at the same time, I can't blame the Deputy for the way he acted. It's far to easy for us to know ALL the facts and judge people based on that. The fact is that he didn't have ALL the facts and probably (truly) believed she was lying. I tell you, go ride along with a Deputy or Officer just once. Have them tell you their stories about the crazy excuses/stories people make up for speeding. See all the crap they have to put up with on a daily basis. Then come back here and say that the Deputy was insane not to believe her. If you blame him for that, why stop there? Why not blame all the people who make up stories/lies when they've been pulled over - since those experiences in the end probably weighed heavily on why the Deputy didn't believe her. You all might say, "Oh she was sooo emotional and was near tears." Guess what. A whole lot of women tear up and make up random stories when cops pull them over just to get out of tickets. Why would he believe this was any different?

The discipline he received was enough. And the Sherriff's Office apparently thinks highly of this Deputy if they held onto him - especially after this negative attention. The Sherriff is an elected official after all. Politics and public opinion play a much greater role in the operations of a Sheriff's Office. In the end, both sides are at fault for what happened.

"I don't see anything excessive about how he arrested her."

Nothing excessive?  You are full of crap.  Really.

yes he did  i dont agree about the punishment but he should have put his self in that positionas that woman and thought about ,What if that wouldve been my dad? he wouldve done the same thing too All he had to do was have compassion and said this right here "ok maa`m please follow me i will cut on my lights and follow me to the hospital,make sure she made it on time and check to see if HER "DAD" was alright and then gave her a ticket for speeding!IF!!!she was lying then BOOK HER!

There are many of us -- who are very passionate about this and never, ever would nor should tolerate ANY KIND of police abuse. Ever.  This guy totally lost it. She was not thinking straight; but this was induced by emotions. She blew a fuse thinking her father was dying/might be dying/was dying. These are serious EMOTIONAL triggers! No doubt. However, even as ANGRY as I am seeing this kind of think over, and over, and over again, it is a fool who'd want to settle the score with any kind of physical approach or act out against all affiliated with this jack-ass of a cop (he was that night).

All can make serious lapses of judgement, but unless ONE sees or is witnessing or aware of a cop abusing or physically abusin ANY CITIZEN or ANYONE for that matter, only then should interaction be used and FORCE. I promote the use of force to protect the innocent.  If this happened to me, I assure you, Mr. Woman Abuser would have surely gone down - But there's more power in using THEIR own system against them. For those really, really upset -- and some of you we've chatted about this, and there are some very intelligent people out there it turns out (some will just see it the cops way - their father's a cop, they're a cop or rent-a-cop, etc., and no matter what, then, it's futile to even reason with such non-sense thinking.  Anytime you surrender all your power; you surrender all YOUR FREEDOM.
Many of my relatives have died fighting for this notion. I will do nothing less than my ancestors.

In any event, if you're angry and mad -- join the fight; the good fight, and use THE SYSTEM, and although I think physical force is always an option if a citizen is being violated by a 'trusted member of society' - even MORE SO, because the citizen will be weaker, psychologically, due to the assumption of trust -- and respect. ALWAYS question authority, but never directly go after any member of society, unless, of course, you're being attacked, or abused, then ATTACK at all costs.

I hope more and more people will take up this notion, of using their own system agaisnt them, and although, there might be ONE or TWO good people at that station, I assure you, the rogue cops' supervisor, has the same mentality and mindset, and what makes this really bad.. I mean, really bad, is that fact, they're attitude is not that of any kind of detectable empathy, but instead, anger, pure anger, that they got caught -- and you know, if that video were not available, you know, and you do realize this, that he'd of GOTTEN away with it because she would never, ever, be able to prove it in a million years -- ever try to win a traffic ticket. I do. And have. But that's because I can articulate myself better than about 99% of lawyers and cops and often have left them speechless in debates.
...truth is; this kind of person and mind-set -- is all about NEEDING power, not wanting. They are two completely different elements in the equation. The NEED for it, is what is very disturbing, because
there are undertones there... Serious ones. Serious implecations. Serious cause for concern for the ones that can't hide their agendas, like that cousin of mine in Denver, who became a cop to 'arrest Mexicans' -- and the cop who wants to take out their life's frustrations on 'us' -- and you know, I've purchased meals for cops on many occassions, when leaving, so they don't know who bought it,
but just do it for the shear fact, that there are VERY GOOD ones out there, but, I assure you, friends that I co-habitate with in these United States, they are truly FEW and FAR BETWEEN -- but when you see a good one, tell them, and try to give them a break. It's a terrible job.... and it would be so cool if we could have it US with THEM instead of their US against THEM (from my Sgt. Officer 'Cousin' in the Denver police department -- and you know, this is an educated, 'compassionate' man, but you have to ask yourself, why be a cop -- it can never be to protect, but rather, instead, the much more cynical tone of, I need to be respected; I need power. I must have power.

So, yes, if you see something wrong do ANYTHING to stop it -- you will be in the right if the cop is abusing a citizen, and if this ever happened to me, like that, I'd completely have attacked and probably seriously hurt someone - cop or no cop, YOU DO NOT have to take abuse from ANYONE. Ever. Period! Use the legal system -- it works. Trust me ~ and trust in only yourself, your spouse and one best friend -- That's usually all you get in this life ~

Best -- Channel the anger and energy into change. Never break the law doing it -- unless you're being violated -- abused, especially by someone you're paying to protect you. The worst kind of abuse.

A good weekend to the good people of the US. A country I still would die for; but not so readily at this time -- A veteran. Someone who would never let a woman or child take a hit or abuse and would be there... But if you treat on this Texas; it's gonna get weird.

Question authority. ALWAYS!!

:)
Vent here.. and use the 'system' to take 'em down. Some must go down!

james pettersson

Wow, do I have some dirt on Mrs. Langston!  She is a very wealthy woman who's daddy is best friends with the old Hillsborough Sheriff.  Sheriff Henderson hand picked Sheriff Gee to replace him.  That is why all charges (reckless driving 30 miles over the limit and fleeing a traffic stop) against Mrs. Langston were dropped.  This entire situation was routine until she pulled away from that traffic stop. You have to see the entire video to understand that she didn’t go 100 yards and stop.  Mrs. Langston made 3 right had turns and was not slowing down.  As deputy Stabins was approaching the car she did not follow the demands to exit the vehicle and she was resisting and not putting the car in park.  Plus, the crazy lady reached for her purse!  The deputy has no idea why she would be reaching for her purse. Gun?  As you all have seen, when Mrs. Langston is forcibly removed from the vehicle she has her purse in her hand!  Why would she reach for her purse?  That just makes the deputy more concerned for his own safety!  Watch the non edited video and you will see how Ms. Langston made crucial errors in her judgment which lead to her being treated like a dirty criminal. 

  Ask yourself, if Mrs. Langston father was not in the hospital and she made up the story.  She was caught driving 30 miles over the limit and drove away from the traffic stop. This video would be on "America's most stupid drivers" and not all over the news as "excessive force"  One can't assume the deputy knows everything and as a DUI cop he hears every excuse. Everyone is saying, "why didn't he call the ER and find out if her father was there" just think if she would have called while waiting for her ticket (for speeding), she could have put the nurse on the phone with the deputy to prove she wasn't making up the story.  Instead she drove away.  Shame on her.

Let me address the comment about a nurse lying to cover for the lady. I work in an ED and we do receive calls to verify a loved on in the hospital. Most occassions, the patient is not there. But I assure you, we do not lie for people. We are here to save lives. So next time you or a loved one is in the ED, I hope you remember that they are good people and your comments are in insult to them.

Jeep Girl -- you are right. That guy needs to get a girl-friend! -- ER/ED people and many others that serve the public or very good and will go above and beyong the requirement to get the job done.

I've never really seen a nurse lie. Doctors will though. Now there you have very evil people.
Doctors have WAY TOO much power and respect. Nothing special about a doctor. Nothing.

It amazes me what people will bow down to. Amazing.
Like cows.

Doctors are nothing special. They just sat in a college chair a little longer than I or anyone else has!

In any event, the whole police thing and the way they police themselves is TOTALLY OUT of control
and is going to change!!!!! THEY ARE on notice.

Take care - Jeepgirl ~ you were right on the money.
Nurses, in my opinion, are more often than not the real Doctor!!

James Pettersson - Brady, Texas