Out Cole
Doin' It All for the Cookie
Pages to Fold
A Trash Bin Quandary
Introducing Ask Torontoist
In case you were wondering, it's probably not a great idea to be hanging out in the entertainment district at 3:15 a.m. Especially if you're in a luxury SUV. And especially especially if you've got a ponytail.
In February of 2006, Toronto police officers arrested Irshad Ahmed and Omar Betty for failure to stop, failure to comply, and obstructing police. Their trial is currently being conducted at Old City Hall, and some interesting evidence has emerged in the form of a voice mail recording.
When Ahmed and Betty were stopped by police, Ahmed immediately called his lawyer. (Oh, like you don't have your lawyer on speed dial?) It turned out to be an ingenious decision, as his lawyer's answering machine captured the entire exchange between the suspects and the police. And what an exchange! The tape captures officers telling Ahmed and Betty to open the doors and get out of their vehicle. When the two did not immediately comply, the police smashed the window open and used a taser on Ahmed. He was then handcuffed and placed on the ground. What was particularly striking was the contrast between the profanity used by the police and the seemingly compliant behaviour of Ahmed, who repeatedly addressed the officer as "sir." As well, one of the officers on the tape can clearly be heard to tell Ahmed, "I'll break your fucking ponytail," which, you've got to admit, is a pretty stylish and creative threat, even if it's not entirely practical.
According to the National Post, Constable David Rubbini (one of the officers involved in the arrest) testified that it was a "high risk" stop because the entertainment district is a "dangerous" area. Hear that? The entertainment district is dangerous according to Toronto police. Do you really need any more reason to stay away? The National Post story also tells us, "The tape is of poor quality because it is from a recording of an earlier court proceeding. A Toronto police detective said he inadvertently threw out the original recording." That must really suck when you want a crucial piece of evidence to remain as safe as possible but then, instead, you inadvertently throw it in the garbage. By mistake.
Photo by Bitpicture from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
Just a gentle reminder to the masses...stay in line, you have no rights. "Hey pal, it's my word against yours, who they gonna believe? You? I'm a cop, pal, your word against mine."
We can and will tase you if we damn well feel like it and we will 'lose" your evidence (especially those of you who think you're "smarter" than us, how dare you). That was a great move on his part.
Now, contrast this with Ms. Britney Spears who held up in her house with the cops for 3 hours before handing them over. They didn't tase her.
Maybe we should all just start doing that when we are pulled over or dealing with the police...simply call 911 or your own answerring machine and leave your phone on (unless you have a lawyer you can call).
That or carry cameras or mini-recorders. they ca't lose ALL of our evidence.
Now...go shopping, will ya?
Those Google smart-ads are the best: 'Careers in Law Enforcement and Policing'
"Would you like to tase more people? Sure, we all would."
- Sally Struthers
Damn, everybody's getting tased these days. I know the incident occurred before more recent, widely publicized tasings, but still...enough with the tasings and enough with the overzealous cops! Why should I be afraid of getting tased while walking around my neighbourhood (which includes the entertainment district) late at night? Apparently, even if I cooperate with the cops, I could get tased. I could make a killing developing a taser-proof vest or something.
"I'll break your fucking ponytail." Oh boy, that just totally made my day.
Ya know how when you get pulled over, and you think...OK, if I kiss this guys ass enough and say "Yes, Sir" alot, everything short of blowing him, maybe, just maybe I can get out of getting out of a ticket. Now, I'm not so sure we can even get out of doing that.
"Ya know what, dude...just taser me and get it over with."
Some may wish too, if that's your thing. Not that there's anything wrong with that:- )
Just a thought; the Toronto Police have seemed to be going downhill from about the days of Craig Brommell and his thug mentality.
Old "attitude case" has gone now but the same mind-set prevails.
I can't believe they used the taser. What if he had a medical condition.