Beating of MGM Grand Detroit patron

I agree that there is much less respect for the police these days, but I also believe there is much more abuse of power by SOME police officers these days.

Based on what I have read, I suspect he probably did touch the waitresses ass. I also would guess that she was mad, rightfully so, and sought to have him expelled. I am guessing she felt that was as far as it needed to go. Guy won't leave, so security calls the cops. Cops show up, and it clearly looks like guy is mouthing off. To me it also appears he is pointing at his own chin, perhaps enticing the cop to hit me here?
This is where I believe it goes wrong. The cops have handcuffs. At any time, they could have threatened him with arrest, and I am sure they did. When it became obvious he was going to be difficult, they should have proceeded with the handcuffs. Throwing the first punch is indefensible. From there the escalation cannot be justified, because the cops mishandled it and that is how it ended up. Then to make matters worse, they charge him with sexual assault, and assault on an officer.

The last sentence to me tells the story. After viewing the tape, the DA dismissed the charges.

Sorry officer. I understand how hard the job is, but those first punches were not the correct response.

Quote: JimMorrison

I've been to Detroit hundreds of times. I happen to think Detroit is a great place.

You're right, what was I thinking. Detroit is a swell place,
every time I'm there I kick myself for not living in the city.
Its a charmer....

Quote: RaleighCraps

I agree that there is much less respect for the police these days, but I also believe there is much more abuse of power by SOME police officers these days.

First of all, cops hate these kind of calls. I know because
when I had the bar, I had to call them probably 50 times
over the 3 years I was there and they told me they hated
bar calls. They go right to the bottom of the list. Noboby
likes dealing with drunks. Secondly, I guarantee the cops
were already pissed they had to park the car and walk all
the way inside the casino. Look at their faces, grim and pissed.
Then the airhead starts mouthing off and sticking his hands
in the cops face? He deserved what he got, stupidity is it
own worst punishment.

Quote: EvenBob

First of all, cops hate these kind of calls. I know because
when I had the bar, I had to call them probably 50 times
over the 3 years I was there and they told me they hated
bar calls. They go right to the bottom of the list. Noboby
likes dealing with drunks. Secondly, I guarantee the cops
were already pissed they had to park the car and walk all
the way inside the casino. Look at their faces, grim and pissed.
Then the airhead starts mouthing off and sticking his hands
in the cops face? He deserved what he got, stupidity is it
own worst punishment.

He got what he deserved in a bar fight, not what should happen when a professional employee is involved.
When he raised his finger in the cop's face, an appropriate response could have been an immediate wrist lock, a tackle, many other options. Also, from my view, it appears the drunk is pointing to his own chin right before he is struck. I am pretty sure a right cross and a left haymaker is not the usual way of dealing with a drunk who has not done anything other than a finger point up to the point where he gets cold cocked. Sorry Bob, officer overstepped.

Quote: RaleighCraps

Sorry Bob, officer overstepped.

So what? That doesn't mean he didn't get what he
deserved. I hate drunks, I hate them with a passion.
I got out of the business because of it. Dealing with
drunks when you're sober is a nasty business. The
guys lucky there were cameras or he really would
have gotten it. One of my favorite lines I heard a
cop use, when being verbally abused by a drunk was,
"Do you really want to go down this road?" They
can really screw with you if they want to.

Quote: EvenBob

I hate drunks, I hate them with a passion. I got out of the business because of it. Dealing with drunks when you're sober is a nasty business.

Perhaps the casino should have been more alert to the amount of alcohol they were selling him. I'm not quite as convinced as everyone else that he ever touched the waitress, but she is the one most qualified to know.

If a bar owner has to call the cops, it usually means he will raise the lighting level first and make sure his certificates are displayed properly and his rinse water is at a high temperature etc. because the cops often like to retaliate for having been called. I always thought it was just a ploy to get their palms greased but perhaps its to retaliate for being involved in a bar call.

Quote: FleaStiff

If a bar owner has to call the cops, it usually means he will raise the lighting level first and make sure his certificates are displayed properly and his rinse water is at a high temperature etc.

Never saw any of that. I know I sometimes had to call them 3 or 4
times just to get them to show up. Its a nuisance call for them, but
its bigger nuisance for me having a loud mouthed drunk driving my
good customers away. They often come in half in the bag, and after
2 drinks they're wasted. Sometimes you can spot them first and refuse
service, then they won't leave and I have to make the call.

hating drunks, while running a bar does not seem to go together.
Sort of like carrying a glass of gas, and a lit cigarette, and then getting mad when you catch fire. Huh ???

Quote: RaleighCraps

hating drunks, while running a bar does not seem to go together.

Thats why I got out. Most of the bar owners I knew
were stone cold alchoholics. They were drunk in their
own bars every day because patrons would buy them
drinks. I started drinking too much towards the end
and realized what road I was headed down and got
out. It really is a 'if you can't beat em, join em' type
of business.

Quote: buzzpaff

My daughter has a concealed carry permit. Whenever she is pulled over, the first cop will sit in his car until back-up arrives !

They ran her plate. Evidently it's in their computer data base. She was 22, 5feet, 100 lbs and once the second car arrived, the first cop came up to her window and asked if she had a weapon on her or in the car.