Stranger Assaults 7-YO Kid for Litter, Mother and Sister Thrown In Jail Instead

[Shiranu]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-black-family-brutalized-texas-reporting-assault-article-1.2920020

In Fort Worth, Texas, yesterday, a 46-year-old mother, Jacqueline Craig, reported to the Fort Worth Police Department that a fully grown, bearded white man in her neighborhood put his hands on her 7-year-old son and choked him. Her teenage daughters were with her while she was making the report and had sense enough to record her making the report on Facebook Live.

Clearly, black folk already know good and well that something simple like this is never simple with police in our country. It's good that the exchange was filmed, because what unfolded, and what this racist officer said, would not be believed had it not been captured on film.

As Jacqueline calmly and reasonably explains to the officer what this man did to her 7-year-old son, she tells him that the man said he confronted her son because the boy threw a piece of paper on the ground. As she proceeds to tell the officer that the man then choked her son, the officer actually asks her, "why don't you teach your son not to litter?" â€" then proceeds to basically tell the mother that the man had every right to choke her son.

As any rational human being would, the mother gets upset. She's holding it together, but she's stumped. And I get it â€" because when I saw this officer, in response to her saying her 7-year-old son was choked, ask her why she didn't teach her son not to litter, my blood started boiling. When I first saw the video, I didn't know what was about to unfold and I thought I had seen the worst. I was already so angry I was almost shaking.

I have a 7-year-old. If a man choked my 7-year-old, police might be filing a police report for murder. And to hear this cop basically say that black lives don't matter, and that it was all because she hadn't taught him right, infuriated me. Jacqueline then told the officer that his words upset her. He then responds and basically says that if she doesn't shut up, he'll be upset.

Jacqueline's teenage daughter then steps in front of her to calm her down and separate her from the officer. Then, in that moment, everything took a terrible turn for the worse. The officer then starts grabbing and slamming everybody to the ground. He grabs the teenage daughters and handcuffs them. He grabs the mother, wrestles her to the ground, and arrests her as well.

As of early this morning, the mother and her teenage daughters were still in jail.

This is the reality of being black in America.

I am mostly white, and even I don't like being around officers because I simply have enough experience to know you cant trust them unless you come from money. I can't imagine how it must feel for people even more "suspicious" and who "look like criminals" to have to worry about, "Shit, if I call the cops because someone just assaulted my son... will I be the one thrown to the ground and arrested instead?".

[Baruch]

Also Hispanic.  It happened to a Hispanic family in Moore OK a few years ago.  The mother and teen daughter were arguing in the parking lot outside of the Mall.  The dad called the cops.  The cops ended up shooting the dad.  The cops work for the 1% and for the other cops ... they don't work for peasants.  This isn't just racism.

[Munch]

When I read the title, I just right away thought Florida.

[chill98]

meh, watched the video.  Cop was talking to the man and probably read the incident as a gross exaggeration made my a mama who don't like her neighbor.  Mama didn't see what happened, probably entranced on facebook and had no idea what her brat kid was up to.

I'd demand some pissant throwing wrappers on my lawn to pick it up.  Brat didn't go running back to mama, probably looked the guy in the face and said "you aint my daddy"...

And we see mama ain't got no manners...

I do feel sorry for the daughter who tried to step between mama and the cop.  Any charges against her should be dropped.

Just think of the great lesson that could have been taught to that 7 year old if mama had marched his sorry ass back to the neighbor to apologize for littering and sassing back.

[aitm]

The cop should have told the woman to teach her kids some manners then got in the car and left. He allowed himself to get manipulated. Dumb fuck...and for that he should get whacked.

[Sorginak]

When I read the title, I just right away thought Florida.

I was thinking Alabama. 

Florida is not quite that backward. 

[Sargon The Grape]

Saw this on /r/Bad_Cop_No_Donut this morning. Absolutely infuriating.

[Shiranu]

meh, watched the video.  Cop was talking to the man and probably read the incident as a gross exaggeration made my a mama who don't like her neighbor.  Mama didn't see what happened, probably entranced on facebook and had no idea what her brat kid was up to.

I'd demand some pissant throwing wrappers on my lawn to pick it up.  Brat didn't go running back to mama, probably looked the guy in the face and said "you aint my daddy"...

And we see mama ain't got no manners...

Sooooo... blame the victim, because he was probably guilty and deserved it, or was lying. Great.

This is a matter of consistent to me... if blaming the rape victim is wrong, blaming any victim should be wrong. We cant pick and choose when we want the law to protect people and when we don't.

And I don't mean that as in, "This guy should be charged with assault!"... but the cops, and several posters here, first reaction is, "Meh, he was probably asking for it, so who cares?." That is not what the law is about, that's not what the law is for and that is not what we should be promoting the law to stand for.

All topped off with some lovely classism. Nice.

I do feel sorry for the daughter who tried to step between mama and the cop.  Any charges against her should be dropped.

Just think of the great lesson that could have been taught to that 7 year old if mama had marched his sorry ass back to the neighbor to apologize for littering and sassing back.

I think he learned an even more important one... don't expect cops to give a shit about their job, and expect people to justify their shitty behaviour.


Also... proof he littered, on that guy's property, please (not that justifies his actions).

Florida is not quite that backward.

We must be talking about different Floridas.

[Baruch]

Who will guard the guards?  And cops don't work for you or me, and some of them are assholes.  Just avoid them at all cost, unless some communist is robbing your mansion.

[chill98]

Sooooo... blame the victim, because he was probably guilty and deserved it, or was lying. Great.

I have no sympathy for litter bugs.  I don't think the white guy is making up the story, simply because he would have made up a better reason for fucking with the kid.  Made a few of my kids friends pick up the wrappers they tossed on my ground.  Pick it up or go home and don't come back until you learn how to behave.   But I had that kind of power over their behavior, they LIKED my place. 

Those same kids, now that they are grown-ups would tell you I was right to demand that kind of behavior from them.  Now that they have a greater understanding of treating others the way you want to be treated (hint for baby's mama).

Who is the victim that I am blaming?  The victim is the white guy, trying to keep his property neat and some little pissant, who hasn't been taught the basics of throwing your garbage away in a trash can fucks with his day.   

At some point the officer asked the her why she didn’t teach her son not to litter. She responded by saying whether her child did or not, the man didn’t have the right to choke him.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/12/22/fort-worth-police-investigating-alleged-officer-misconduct-in-arrest-of-mother-daughter/

Personally, I don't believe the man choked the kid.  Period.  I do not believe the kid was choked.  Grabbed, sure, I can believe that.  Choked, nope.  And you can listen to mommy dearest saying he grabbed the kid then she adds in choked.  Keep hands off her kid.  She exaggerated the situation and it was obvious to the cop.

"He can't prove my kid littered", not long after she says she has an open door he (neighbor) should have come to her. Yeah right...  mama gonna lie for baby anyways.

And yeah, why didn't she teach her kid not to litter?  fucking animals.  Shouldn't be out in public.  Bet you all the money in my pockets right now, if the little shit had thrown the wrappers on the floor of mommy dearest kitchen, she'd have made him pick it up.

I think he learned an even more important one... don't expect cops to give a shit about their job, and expect people to justify their shitty behaviour.

The cop warned her she was about to get cuffed and carted off to the pokey.  The video shows mommy dearest take aggressive steps towards the cop after accelerating the situation verbally.  Even the daughter recognized the danger mommy dearest was instigating, hence her stepping between the cop and mommy dearest. 

Now I have already said the daughter should be released, charges dropped.  However, technically and by the law, her stepping between the officer and mom was interfering with an officer. 

Cop tells you to shut up, you shut the fuck up. 
Cop tells you to stand here, there, whatever, you stand here, there, whatever.
Cop tells you to stay in your car, you stay the fuck in your car.

[Shiranu]

And rest of the civilized world wonders how we let our cops get out of control....

Edit: Okay, upon thinking about it further, here is the fundamental problem with your argument...


You are arguing too late in the scenario.

A. The guy didn't make up the story, but apparently he doesn't deny touching the kid either.

You DO NOT touch someone else's child. My family worked for the state, and that is one of the first and biggest rules in their book... you DO NOT touch other people. It doesn't matter how wrong they are, it doesn't even matter if your trying to pat them on the shoulder and congratulate them... you DON'T touch them.


If he touched the kid with motive to restrain, to punish, that is assault under the law. And I don't think he should be charged with assault, I don't think any party involved should have been charged with anything due to lack of evidence for either party, but the cops role should have been to come there and say, "Look, both of you... don't pull this shit again." rather than coming and instantly assuming the victim of a (very minor) assault was guilty.


B. The cop did not do his job.

The cop is there to defuse the situation, and he did not do that. In truth, he escalated the situation by telling the mother, "Nah, your son is guilty, why are you a terrible person!". You can feel about her however the hell you want, but that was NOT the cops job to tell her she was a shitty parent.

Cops not being trained how to deescalate situations is exactly what has lead to so many of the shootings and cases of police abuse in this country, and yes predominately towards African Americans but really towards anyone of a lower class or with mental issues. This is not a problem for the rest of the civilized world, and when we sit here arguing about the mother... all we are doing is excusing our inadequate police force and saying that, "It is okay to be shit at your job if I think someone deserved it!".

That is NOT acceptable.

3. The city itself said the cop did not behave in an appropriate matter.

It's funny how often I have had to say this here, that even the city and the police department said, "Our officer did not behave to the standards we expect from our employees", and STILL people will sit here and argue that he did nothing wrong. Frankly, I think the city and police department know more about how police etiquette and regulations work than some random person on an internet forum defending the assault of a 7 year old kid, the choking of a man who wasn't resisting arrest, who has said that rape victims might have been asking for it (not aimed at you chill) or any of the other situations this argument has been brought up.


So please, save me this victim blaming because it has nothing to do with the point at hand that this officer failed to do his job to the standards the department, the city, and a civilized nation expects their police to behave in and follow. That is what this story is about, not some means to justify assaulting a 7 yo kid.

[Baruch]

So use flamethrowers on litter bugs ... burns them up and the trash?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBdsr6JQsgw

[chill98]

A. The guy didn't make up the story, but apparently he doesn't deny touching the kid either.

You DO NOT touch someone else's child. My family worked for the state, and that is one of the first and biggest rules in their book... you DO NOT touch other people. It doesn't matter how wrong they are, it doesn't even matter if your trying to pat them on the shoulder and congratulate them... you DON'T touch them.

If the kid wasnt out littering, the guy wouldnt have needed the kid to take responsibility for his actions.  Just pick up the fuckin litter and move on.  Normal encounter.  Abnormal/antisocial behavior?  Avoiding responsibility.  Treating other persons property unlike how you are expected to behave at home.  Do unto others then split.

7 years old, ya think he would have been held accountable if he threw paper on the floor at school?  Made to pick it up?  What if he refused?

Corporal punishment still legal in Texas, so much so, parents must opt-out or consent is implied.

If he touched the kid with motive to restrain, to punish, that is assault under the law. And I don't think he should be charged with assault, I don't think any party involved should have been charged with anything due to lack of evidence for either party, but the cops role should have been to come there and say, "Look, both of you... don't pull this shit again." rather than coming and instantly assuming the victim of a (very minor) assault was guilty.

If the kid would have picked up his litter, all is well.  If mama would have gone to the neighbor and taught her kid to respect other peoples property, all is well.  This whole incident was caused by 1. the kid and 2. the mom.

I lived in a 'welfare' apt for a while.  around 1/2 of the renters were welfare moms, the rest of us were young single persons.  All the moms kept the kids in line, regardless of whos kid they were.  As a newcomer, you didn't get that authority with other peoples kids, but once you were known to be 'normal', those kids were expected to respect the other adults living there.

The white guy acted Normally.   Even you don't believe the kid was 'choked' right?  Do you admit even that possibility, that the kid was grabbed and made to pick up his litter because he DEFIED (mom's words in the video) the authority of the property owner?

There is much to be said for the ethics of those welfare moms about how we get along when living in the same building.  Applies well to the block, the neighborhood, etc.

B. The cop did not do his job.

The cop is there to defuse the situation, and he did not do that. In truth, he escalated the situation by telling the mother, "Nah, your son is guilty, why are you a terrible person!". You can feel about her however the hell you want, but that was NOT the cops job to tell her she was a shitty parent.

Cop gets a call about a kid being choked.  Amp up the cops with a serious allegation of choking a kid.   Finds out Not a choke but a litterbug being made to pick up his mess.  Cop realizes Mom is another one of those people who doesn't take responsibility. Not my angel... my baby boy would never...  you're just pissing me off...

Yeah momma bear, you just pissed off the cop who should be out looking for real criminals, instead wasting time/money on your pissant kid who was made to clean up his own mess.

Cops not being trained how to deescalate situations is exactly what has lead to so many of the shootings and cases of police abuse in this country, and yes predominately towards African Americans but really towards anyone of a lower class or with mental issues.

momma lied.  Kid wasn't choked.  And there was no shooting.  The situation was deescalated with mama in handcuffs and taken into custody.

3. The city itself said the cop did not behave in an appropriate matter.

It's funny how often I have had to say this here, that even the city and the police department said, "Our officer did not behave to the standards we expect from our employees", and STILL people will sit here and argue that he did nothing wrong. Frankly, I think the city and police department know more about how police etiquette and regulations work than some random person on an internet forum defending the assault of a 7 year old kid, the choking of a man who wasn't resisting arrest, who has said that rape victims might have been asking for it (not aimed at you chill) or any of the other situations this argument has been brought up.

Well not in the article you linked to:

QUOTE Fort Worth cops put out a statement Thursday afternoon saying the officer, whose name wasn't released, was, "placed on restrictred duty status by the Chief of Police pending the outcome of the internal investigation."

So it seems your blurring together different instances across a wide spectrum trying to find some kind of pattern to verify what you want to believe about these cases. 

So please, save me this victim blaming because it has nothing to do with the point at hand that this officer failed to do his job to the standards the department, the city, and a civilized nation expects their police to behave in and follow. That is what this story is about, not some means to justify assaulting a 7 yo kid.

The officer did his job.  Officers have a LOT of authority when called and thats why you call cops as a LAST resort.   I am unsure where this dream world you live in exists, but even the daughter knew mama was getting out of hand, which is why she jumped in and tried to push her away from the cop. 

Waving your arms can be considered a threat.  Raising your voice when talking to police can be considered disorderly conduct.  You cannot take a step towards an officer without being instructed to do so or you risk arrest.  And I saw all of these behaviors before the arrest happened in that video. 

Additionally, its right there in the video.  "prove it" when asked about the littering.  "...because he defied him" [the neighbor saying pick up your trash].  Mom knew dammed well her kid instigated and accelerated this and was more than willing to accelerate this further with the 'choking' claim.

Nope, I don't think the cop should lose his job over this.

[chill98]

So use flamethrowers on litter bugs ... burns them up and the trash?

Nope.

The smell of burning hair is nauseating.

But sewing the lips shut on gum chewers who toss their used gum on sidewalks should be implemented nation wide.  Just enough for them to use a straw to drink their food.  Open for suggestions on how long, not recomending lifetime liquid diet.

[Baruch]

Nope.

The smell of burning hair is nauseating.

But sewing the lips shut on gum chewers who toss their used gum on sidewalks should be implemented nation wide.  Just enough for them to use a straw to drink their food.  Open for suggestions on how long, not recomending lifetime liquid diet.

In Singapore, people, even children who put used gum in public places ... get caning with bamboo canes ;-(