Officer Ben Fields has been suspended without pay

Officer Ben Fields has made headlines this week before literally slamming a high school girl to the ground because she wouldn't leave the classroom for chewing gum. This took place in Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina.

I won't show the video because some may be triggered by the actions of this particular officer. Instead, I want to focus on Ben's history but he's had in the last seven years, check this out:

1) In 2007, a couple sued Fields, fellow deputy Joseph Clark and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, alleging false arrest, excessive force and violation of free speech rights in 2005.

According to the complaint, Carlos Edward Martin was driving home and got out of his car when Fields approached him and asked if he was the source of an excessive noise complaint that the officer was investigating.

Martin claimed that Fields "slammed him to the ground, cuffed him, began kicking him, and chemically maced him until his clothing was drenched and the contents of the can of mace was [sic] depleted," according to court documents.

When Martin's wife took pictures with her cell phone, Fields told a responding officer to confiscate her phone, according to the lawsuit.

But a jury ruled in favor of Fields.

2) Fields is one of 10 defendants in another case, scheduled to go to trial in January.

In that lawsuit, former Spring Valley High School student Ashton James Reese claims he was unlawfully expelled from school in 2013. At the time, Fields was investigating alleged gang activity at the school.

Reese claimed several offenses in the suit, including lack of due process, negligence, negligent supervision and a violation of the right to public education -- as mandated by state law.

The jury trial is scheduled for January 27-29

Right now, Fields has been placed on administrative leave. There is a case being built on this incident as we speak.

UPDATE
Officer Ben Fields has been suspended without pay.

source

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More on this story, here

The Justice Department: The New Orleans Police Department Targeted Blacks and Gays

The Department of Justice accused the New Orleans Police Department of excessive force towards black and gay residents.

The Advocate reports:

The Washington Post reports on a 10-month analysis by the Department of Justice, indicating that the police had singled out gay and lesbian residents for unjustified stops, arrests, and harassment. 

Additionally, the analysis showed 500 African-American males older than age 17 were arrested in 2009 while only eight white males were arrested during the year. In the 27 instances in which an officer intentionally fired a weapon at sometime, all 27 individuals were black. 

Justice officials said in a press conference Friday that they would work with the city to help change the police department, which has been in decline since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 

“My colleagues and I are not naive about the enormity of the task that lies ahead,” said the DOJ's Thomas E. Perez. “But we at the Justice Department have been heartened by the dedication to sustainable change we have seen throughout the city.”

Mayor Mitch Landrieu vows to fix this major problem in New Orleans. I wish them the best of luck and some great diversity trainers.

Police Foolishness in Texas

Sorry to be late about this horrible story.

Please watch





Here's more

Both the police and the TABC have announced internal investigations.

About 100 supporters of Gibson gathered for a vigil in front of the bar on Jennings Avenue on Wednesday. Gibson's father, Donald Gibson, was there. He said his son is still in the hospital and doing better, but the effects will linger.

"The doctor told him today he'd have headaches for two years," he said.

The timing of Sunday's inspection couldn't have been more imperfect, said Meador.

It came on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York, where patrons at a gay club clashed with police. That incident is generally believed to have given birth to the gay-rights movement.

"It's like that whole episode redone," said Meador, who was at the vigil. "A lot of people are going to look at it that way because we've worked so hard to make everything equal."

Police have said they did not target the club and that others were also inspected.

Witnesses said officers wrestled Gibson to the ground, causing him to hit his head on the wall. Police said paramedics treated Gibson for alcohol poisoning at the scene. He was later taken to John Peter Smith Hospital.

I wish Chad well and a speed recovery.

via-dallasnews.com