Dover officer who kicked prone suspect in the face found not guilty of assault - Polidicks

[url]http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Delaware-Dover-Officer-Not-Guilty-Police-Officer--360982541.html[/url] [quote]A jury acquitted a police officer Tuesday of assault after he kicked a suspect in the head, breaking his jaw. Jurors deliberated for about 16 hours over three days before acquitting Dover police officer Thomas Webster IV of felony assault and misdemeanor assault. Webster testified he didn't intend to kick Lateef Dickerson in the head in August 2013 and instead was aiming for his upper body. Webster also said he feared for the safety of himself and others because officers were told Dickerson was armed with a gun, and Dickerson was slow to comply with repeated commands to get on the ground. Prosecutors argued Webster acted recklessly and used excessive force. [/quote] [quote]"He was getting down to the felony-prone position," said Brennan, referring to the term used by police when a potentially dangerous suspect is flat on the ground with his arms extended. The defense had argued that Dickerson was in a "sprinter's position" from which he could have lunged at the officers, pulled a weapon or fled with a gun.[/quote] Here is the full dashcam video. The assault in question occurs at 1:10-1:15 [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPg68oW-kIE[/media]

Fucked up, but why was he being detained?

[QUOTE=agentfazexx;49276696]Fucked up, but why was he being detained?[/QUOTE]Suspect in a robbery at a local store I think.

Potentially armed parolee that refused to comply, whats the issue.

[QUOTE=agentfazexx;49276696]Fucked up, but why was he being detained?[/QUOTE] He was a criminal. Had already run from police that night, was on probation, and was even suspected of having a weapon. I'm not gonna paint the dude as being innocent or loveable, but the officer's use of force there was completely fuckin' overboard. Dude was almost fully prone, complying completely with the officer's demands, and the officer kicked him in the face hard enough to knock him unconscious and break his jaw. I can't disagree strongly enough with the jury's findings in this case. That was a clear example of unnecessary and excessive force, and the officer is getting off without any charges. This is why people protest for more police accountability.

[QUOTE=-nesto-;49276707]Potentially armed parolee that refused to comply, whats the issue.[/QUOTE] That he got kicked in the face hard enough to break his jaw when he was almost fully prone and completely complying with the officer's orders? The guy being a criminal does not give police officers license to beat the shit of him without provocation.

[QUOTE=RichyZ;49276719]idk he fucking kicked the dude in the face as he was complying with their directions[/QUOTE] No he wasn't

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;49276718]He was a criminal. Had already run from police that night, was on probation, and was even suspected of having a weapon. I'm not gonna paint the dude as being innocent or loveable, but the officer's use of force there was completely fuckin' overboard. Dude was almost fully prone, complying completely with the officer's demands, and the officer kicked him in the face hard enough to knock him unconscious and break his jaw. I can't disagree strongly enough with the jury's findings in this case. That was a clear example of unnecessary and excessive force, and the officer is getting off without any charges. This is why people protest for more police accountability.[/QUOTE] Cops are scared, man. "Fuck da police" is being publicized a lot lately. Maybe they knew he had a history of anti-cop behavior or something, I dunno. Can't watch one video and call them pings.

Definitely seems unnecessary. [editline]8th December 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=agentfazexx;49276723]Cops are scared, man. "Fuck da police" is being publicized a lot lately. Maybe they knew he had a history of anti-cop behavior or something, I dunno. Can't watch one video and call them pings.[/QUOTE] It happened in 2013, current events are irrelevant in this case.

[QUOTE=-nesto-;49276707]Potentially armed parolee that refused to comply, whats the issue.[/QUOTE] Did you even watch the video? he was complying and they kicked his head into the pavement. This officer should have been convicted.

[QUOTE=RichyZ;49276719]idk he kicked the dude in the face as he was complying with their directions[/QUOTE] Well his jaw could have been loaded so the police really had no choice but to break it. They were fearing for their lives. You can see the fear in the video, as they deliver a swift kick to the potentially dangerous jaw of a man in the process of laying down on the ground.

[QUOTE=OvB;49276726]Definitely seems unnecessary. [editline]8th December 2015[/editline] It happened in 2013, current events are irrelevant in this case.[/QUOTE] Lol 2013 was really that long ago?

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;49276718]He was a criminal. Had already run from police that night, was on probation, and was even suspected of having a weapon. I'm not gonna paint the dude as being innocent or loveable, but the officer's use of force there was completely fuckin' overboard. Dude was almost fully prone, complying completely with the officer's demands, and the officer kicked him in the face hard enough to knock him unconscious and break his jaw. I can't disagree strongly enough with the jury's findings in this case. That was a clear example of unnecessary and excessive force, and the officer is getting off without any charges. This is why people protest for more police accountability.[/QUOTE]It was excessive force yes, he claims he was aiming for his torso and not his face although why he couldn't put his knee on his back instead I'm not sure, heat of the moment I guess. And he wasn't fully prone, he was "felony prone", you even quoted it in the OP. You can see it in the video, he starts to get down yet slows up and ends up kneeling on one knee, the officers weren't exactly sure what his next move may have been. I agree it was excessive, but Dickerson has a criminal record stretching back to 2002, so yeah like you say he isn't innocent and that is correct. Dickerson was also charged with assault, theft, and resisting arrest from this incident but the charges were dropped.

[QUOTE=agentfazexx;49276723]Cops are scared, man. "Fuck da police" is being publicized a lot lately. Maybe they knew he had a history of anti-cop behavior or something, I dunno. Can't watch one video and call them pings.[/QUOTE] The actual event took place in 2013, before the Mike Brown case ignited full blown nation-wide protests for police accountability. Actually, they initially refused to even indict the officer. The only reopened the case due to massive pressure to do so.

I still don't agree with the officers actions but it's blatantly false to say he was prone. The defence was definitely correct to state that the position of the guy when he was kicked was very similar to the stance of a sprinter, though I seriously doubt he had any intention to run

The defense lawyer is full of shit. Moving his hands so he reacted in fear? The dude was on his hands and knees.

[QUOTE=Killer900;49276746]It was excessive force yes, he claims he was aiming for his torso and not his face although why he couldn't put his knee on his back instead I'm not sure, heat of the moment I guess. And he wasn't fully prone, he was "felony prone", you even quoted it in the OP. I agree it was excessive, but Dickerson has a criminal record stretching back to 2002, so yeah like you say he isn't innocent and that is correct. Dickerson was also charged with assault, theft, and resisting arrest from this incident but the charges were dropped.[/QUOTE] Funny how all these "victims" have decades of criminal history..and all local police know about it. But when they are "mistreated" after probably evading arrest, off camera, or something... they are treated like gods. Fucking PC shit has got to die.

[QUOTE=Killer900;49276746]It was excessive force yes, he claims he was aiming for his torso and not his face although why he couldn't put his knee on his back instead I'm not sure, heat of the moment I guess. And he wasn't fully prone, he was "felony prone", you even quoted it in the OP. I agree it was excessive, but Dickerson has a criminal record stretching back to 2002, so yeah like you say he isn't innocent and that is correct. Dickerson was also charged with assault, theft, and resisting arrest from this incident but the charges were dropped.[/QUOTE] Just for clarification, "felony prone" is the state of being fully laid out on the ground with your arms outstretched or on your head. He was in the process of transitioning to felony prone, but had both knees and both hands fully on the ground when the officer kicked him so it simply wouldn't be accurate or fair to say that the suspect wasn't complying with the officer's demands that he get down.

[QUOTE=Mattk50;49276734]Did you even watch the video? he was complying and they kicked his head into the pavement. This officer should have been convicted.[/QUOTE] Did you watch it? He stopped going prone, which put him in a position to flee, and was kicked after.

[QUOTE=KillRay;49276760]The defense lawyer is full of shit. Moving his hands so he reacted in fear? The dude was on his hands and knees. Hopefully he'll be removed from the force. One less shitty cop in this area.[/QUOTE]You're too emotional over this, shitty cop? That's a stretch just from watching one video of the guy.

[QUOTE=agentfazexx;49276762]Funny how all these "victims" have decades of criminal history..and all local police know about it. But when they are "mistreated" after probably evading arrest, off camera, or something... they are treated like gods. Fucking PC shit has got to die.[/QUOTE] Him having a criminal record has nothing to do with whether or not the officer was justified in kicking him in the face and breaking his jaw. It doesn't matter if the guy was wanted for literal murder, he was fully compliant and submissive.. That is definition excessive force. That has nothing to do with "PC," just basic police accountability.

[QUOTE=-nesto-;49276771]Did you watch it? He stopped going prone, which put him in a position to flee, and was kicked after.[/QUOTE] Not enough justification for the amount of force applied.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;49276767]Just for clarification, "felony prone" is the state of being fully laid out on the ground with your arms outstretched or on your head. He was in the process of transitioning to felony prone, but had both knees and both hands fully on the ground when the officer kicked him so it simply wouldn't be accurate or fair to say that the suspect wasn't complying with the officer's demands that he get down.[/QUOTE]He had one knee on the ground, like a sprinters position (not saying he was going to sprint it's just the position he was in) [QUOTE=agentfazexx;49276762]Funny how all these "victims" have decades of criminal history..and all local police know about it. But when they are "mistreated" after probably evading arrest, off camera, or something... they are treated like gods. Fucking PC shit has got to die.[/QUOTE]Well no they didn't know who he was or what his history was until after they arrested him so it isn't like they already knew At least I think so anyway

[QUOTE=Killer900;49276776]You're too emotional over this, shitty cop? That's a stretch just from watching one video of the guy.[/QUOTE] I don't know. It is only one incident, but I really think that excessive force says a lot, kicking the dude square in the face. You're right though, I don't know him personally. Still, I disagree with the verdict.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;49276778]Him having a criminal record has nothing to do with whether or not the officer was justified in kicking him in the face and breaking his jaw. It doesn't matter if the guy was wanted for literal murder, he was fully compliant and submissive.. That is definition excessive force. That has nothing to do with "PC," just basic police accountability.[/QUOTE] It's just funny how these stories come up and they always have decades of felonies and evading capture and shit. There has to be some connection. Not all cops are pigs. And I am sure the arresting officers knew this thug and his history.

Probably going to catch shit for this but everyone in the thread is saying he had both knees on the ground when he was actually in a sprinting position. Not supporting either side here but he only had his left knee against the ground and was in a splinter's position.

[QUOTE=agentfazexx;49276790]It's just funny how these stories come up and they always have decades of felonies and evading capture and shit. There has to be some connection.[/QUOTE] Career criminals commit crime. Not a surprise. Still not justification for excessive force.

[QUOTE=OvB;49276784]Not enough justification for the amount of force applied.[/QUOTE] It is justifiable whether you like or not.

[QUOTE=KingGrim;49276794]Probably going to catch shit for this but everyone in the thread is saying he had both knees on the ground when he was actually in a sprinting position. Not supporting either side here but he only had his left knee against the ground and was in a splinter's position.[/QUOTE] The thing is, even if he did try and sprint right there the other officer circled right in front of him. I doubt he would be able to get enough speed from there to get away.

[QUOTE=KingGrim;49276794]Probably going to catch shit for this but everyone in the thread is saying he had both knees on the ground when he was actually in a sprinting position. Not supporting either side here but he only had his left knee against the ground and was in a splinter's position.[/QUOTE] Watch his dang foot, man. It's sliding back as the officer kicked him in the face. He wasn't in a "sprinter's position," he was just slowly lowering himself to the ground. Because moving [I]quickly[/I] as a black man suspected of having a gun on you gets you shot and killed. Even if the dude had been in a sprinter's position, ready to bolt, literally breaking his face is not at all appropriate to the situation.