Greensboro arrest only the latest to be caught on camera

1 comment

August 13, 12:11 PM

by J.D. Tuccille, Civil Liberties Examiner

 

 

"Timothy X", the cameraman, and other critics contend that police used excessive force. Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy called the tactics "necessary to effect an arrest." The suspect in the case reportedly has a criminal record, was armed and certainly didn't cooperate with police, perhaps offsetting in many people's minds the punches and kicks landed on him by the arresting officers.

But thanks to Timothy X, people can decide for themselves -- they need not take anybody's word.

This is only the latest incident in which questionable police behavior -- or outright abuse -- has been captured by amateur shutterbugs and even official surveillance cameras, providing hard evidence of conduct that the authorities would rather not receive public scrutiny. Not long ago, Brian Sterner, a quadriplegic, made the news when video of him being dumped from his wheelchair by a Florida sheriff's deputy surfaced. More recently, video of bicycle activist Christopher Long being assaulted by a New York City police officer appeared on YouTube.

Government officials have long been pushing us toward a surveillance society in which our every activity is subject to scrutiny. It probably didn't occur to them that they'd be taking their own bows before the camera.

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