The Man Who Maced Me 2/3 on Flickr

tay-lo says:

love that you captured him with a seemingly smug look on his face.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

MattJhsn says:

Wow you found the one cop not in a riot uniform.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

If I'm the one cop in a crowd of people with bandana masks, I might be a tad itchy with the pepper spray trigger finger, too. I have to be honest, those guys in the background don't exactly look like peaceful protesters. If they were, why would they be covering themselves? They look downright intimidating....a lot more intimidating than the smirky cop with pepper spray. Pepper spray... not a gun or a baton... spray.

If you were the cop, what would you do? Let a mob of angry protesters roam the streets free?

In the LA riots, I'm sure Reginald Denny wishes he had a cop with pepper spray around... and none of the LA protesters intended their protest to turn that ugly either.

You're not blind or permanently injured, right?

Would a better idea be to go signing up Obama voters in Pennsylvania or Ohio? Protests won't end the war... but Obama as promised a timetable for withdrawl... and yet he's only up a few percentage points in the polls. You need to be out canvassing, b/c that's the only way change occurs.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

christopher.todd.clark says:

At some point, I am thinking that peaceful protesters are going to get tired of this and become not so peaceful.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Craig ! says:

Honestly I think if I was the one cop in a crowd of protestors I would stand aside until I had backup. You won't subdue a crowd by yourself, and escalating things can only get you in trouble.

If something were happening that was turning up the heat you might want to intercede to keep it from getting worse, but being the trigger to make it worse is unprofessional and dangerous for everyone.

I think it's pretty clearly disproportional to wish that this cop were shot, and becoming non-peaceful protesters is a battle you won't win. You have better tools at your disposal - use those.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Stephen Deken says:

RedFoxOne, I hope you choke on that.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dopeshow1 says:

video from one angle, props to the guy who slammed the pig

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmGYfgVi5gk
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

sneafit says:

From the picture, half are wearing face coverings. The other half are a cop's worst nightmare - photographers. No wonder he maced them...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Stephen Deken says:

So, wow; that video tells a completely different story than this photo. If this is the same event, then the officer ran in to grab one specific person to take him out of the crowd for whatever reason. The person (suspect?) struggles, the officer threatens a few people with mace. The officer trips, the guy he grabbed (who is now being a 170lb. deadweight) starts to scramble away, and the crowd closes in. Then, and only then, the mace flies.

That's a completely different story than the one this photo tells.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Mikkel04 says:

ceonyc:
I understand the sentiment of using your energy to protest and putting it towards voter registration, but it is our democratic right to protest so regardless of what we 'should' be doing, some people are always going to do this.

"If I'm the one cop in a crowd of people with bandana masks, I might be a tad itchy with the pepper spray trigger finger, too. I have to be honest, those guys in the background don't exactly look like peaceful protesters."

I get this too, but just because they're wearing masks doesn't mean it's because they want to conceal their identity. I know people who have worn masks to protests because they're preparing for tear gas or pepper spray. It's a Catch-22, I know, but protesters won't trust cops unless the police give them a reason to.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Chthonius says:

The video shows him freaking out after he trips, and spraying all around him, indiscriminately.

Whatever else the crowd *might've* been doing, the cop shouldn't just spray mace at random bystanders.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

lifesundeath says:

Fucking cops...they all go home at night and drink hooker piss and cry about how small their dicks are. That's why they have to beat us up...to compensate for the shame of their existence.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

barracuda455 says:

ceonyc: have you ever been pepper sprayed?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

anti-globalism says:

I agree with CEONYC.

Peaceful protest: showing up, setting up, chanting slogans and waving signs.

Dumb protest: people wandering around, wearing masks and goggles, while people who are dressed similarly commit acts of vandalism.

No surprise she got maced!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

mrsteven says:

re: the face masks - if I saw a guy wandering around with mace, looking like he was about to use it, i'd cover up my nose and mouth and protect my eyes as well.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

brocktice says:

I'm all for peaceful protest, but my wife works at a hospital near the convention center. They had to put the hospital on lockdown because the so-called "anarchists" were trying to put tear gas in the hospital ventilation system.

Can you imagine what that would do to a lot of patients (many probably pro-Obama in this city and state, I might add), either directly or if their caregivers were incapacitated? It would kill them.

I'm not a fan of Republicans, and I'm happy to see that some people were peacefully protesting. However, some of these shenanigans really crossed the line.

I also want to add that the St.Paul police have a reputation here of being considerate and effective, and are in general well-liked by the community. If this guy is in fact out of line, it is likely that complaints to his supervisor will be considered. Harassing him at home is probably not going to help anything.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

loadboxx says:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn4z5Gs6bPk

ANother video of this incident from a different angle than one posted above,
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Converse and Bowling Shirts says:

"They had to put the hospital on lockdown because the so-called "anarchists" were trying to put tear gas in the hospital ventilation system.'
This sounds an awful lot like hyperbole, or the work of agents provocateur. What would that tear gassing patients accomplish other than to make the protesters look evil?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

defektev says:

Bottom of the barrel..
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

brocktice says:

Converse and Bowling Shirts: Given the BS that occurred here during the RNC, I'm not surprised. They were also dropping bags of concrete on convention buses from highway overpasses. That's potentially lethal (again) not only to convention-goers, but other people on the highway as well.

I'm inclined to believe this is similar to the Anonymous anti-Scientology stuff. They did a good thing by trying to bring down Scientology, but there are always some idiots in the group that decide to do something destructive, like planting flashing images on an epileptic message board.

It's also similar to Critical Mass (which as a cycle commuter I'm in favor of when it's a group of cyclists riding around), in which some people (those who damage things or purposely park and block intersections) ruin the message of the others by their immature actions.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

pysduck5 says:

Hey Ceonyc, you are right those protesters do look very intimidating specially those with the cameras and video recording in their hands (you know how dangerous those could be) just ask this cop. Those bandana masks are scary! specially when you match them up with shorts, very comfortable shoes and base ball caps, wow! how can not anyone be very very very scared of that. The most intimidating one is the one in front dressed in black with GLASSES and worse of all the purple BITCH bag hanging from his shoulder, that can definitively do some damage specially to the fashion world.
Besides that, this is only one picture and one story of among hundreds and we can not judge the whole situation by this one picture either way.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

poodlecake says:

it's ok for cops to wear riot gear, but not non-cops to wear bandanas?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

TomRitchford says:

"They had to put the hospital on lockdown because the so-called "anarchists" were trying to put tear gas in the hospital ventilation system."

Let's see. Tons of arrests but no tear gas found. No one charged with such a felony. No reports of tear gas being used by anyone except the police. I'd say that's what we call a LIE.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dec10 says:

the guys in all black are anarchists. that is what they wear. and those guys are not about peaceful protesting, but about f*cking shit up and fighting cops. when cops see people in all black, something bad always happens. i mean, it has become its own thing.

if you go to a political rally wearing all black, you know what you are doing.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

thepensivepoet says:

PROTIP : If you are concerned for your daughter's safety you should remove her from a dangerous situation when it becomes evident that your environment is escalating into such, NOT standing there gawking like you're watching television.

PROTIP : Don't bring your daughter to a protest until she is old enough to recognize the dangers associated with large crowds of agitated people.

PROTIP : Protips are fun.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

Nigel Regal says:

The bandannas are mostly used to protect from the pepper spray and any other gases.

The anarchists in the Seattle riots were allowed to destroy things for a day and then the riot police went nuts on everyone. The anarchists were allowed to stay in a building the whole time and were never bothered. Only the peaceful protesters were arrested and attacked by riot police. the media didn't show the video explaining this after it aired. Check it out for yourself...
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

CubicleNinjas says:

"Brocktice says: Given the BS that occurred here during the RNC, I'm not surprised. They were also dropping bags of concrete on convention buses from highway overpasses."

One kid dropped a bag of sand. It hit the street. That was all. Before you begin to believe these lies you might want to research them.

But you won't. And you'll keep signing checks until these police spray your family with mace.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

brocktice says:

TomRitchford: I'm not sure where to find a list of who has been charged with what felony, but people were charged:

"As of the late afternoon before John McCain’s convention speech September 4, at least 320 people had been arrested in the previous five days–on the street or in police raids. At least 16 of them faced felony charges, and 47 others faced serious “gross misdemeanor” charges. Other reports put the number of felony arrests as high as 120–at least five of them involving minors." From here.

If you can tell me where to find your source of knowledge on the subject, please do.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

brocktice says:

WaterMedia: I stand corrected. It was sand, not concrete (mix), as I had incorrectly recalled. It was, however, dropped from an overpass. The fact that it missed does not exonerate the person who dropped it.

Video - I'm not an expert but it seems pretty unlikely that these people were assembled and coached into lying about this.

www.foundingbloggers.com/wordpress/2008/09/vi deo-rnc-bus-...
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

spincycle says:

> If you were the cop, what would you do? Let a mob of angry
> protesters roam the streets free?

Yes, that's EXACTLY what I would F*ing do.

Until someone breaks a law, THEY'RE INNOCENT.

PERIOD. F***ING INNOCENT.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

jhickner says:

He doesn't trip in the video. Watch it again, slowly. A man runs by, dressed completely in black, and body-checks him.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

eatingorange says:

I thought Bush already made it clear, the Constitution has been suspended until further notice.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

guitarbuddy says:

I'm guessing that at least some "dangerous" protesters were actually planted by "the man." When they start acting up it gives the cops the green light to break up the protests, arrest people who weren't involved, and so on. When you see how things turn out at a protest it will probably make you think twice about attending one yourself.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

paulwhit says:

It's mace. The man got jumped by some jackass, yelled 'back up' at least six times, maced the group to get it back, and called for backup. I'm sorry your face or whatever burned for a little while, but you deserve it if you associate yourself with crowds that would jump a cop.

The incident that led up to a man being dragged was probably no less one-sided, and I'm sure he could've just stood up if he wasn't trying to be dramatic and garner an uproar.

No sympathy here.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

Stephen Deken says:

jhickner, yeah, I didn't see that at first. The second angle makes it much more clear as to what's going on. The officer's reaction is absolutely understandable under these circumstances.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

incpens says:

May your daughter needs to engage in a different type of behavior.

No sympathy here.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

MattJhsn says:

Wow, that was a crazy video. Thanks to dopeshow1 and loadboxx for giving the links. However, as much you dislike cops, it's still not cool to assault them. We have to take the high road if we are going to have a society worth defending.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

globalpunditorg says:

nice shot! kudos!

www.globalpundit.org
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

daviddahl says:

fuck the PIGS
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

bigbadbruins1972 says:

Hey, can someone riddle me this? Just where the hell have all these nihilists...umm "anarchists" come from? We Americans seemed to be an optimistic lot during my indoctrination....I mean, childhood.
Are anarchists spawned by terrorists? That has a nice ring to it, wraps it all up in a pretty little package. Soon anyone who questions authority can be labeled as one or the other.

When science fiction becomes reality, you should already know what's in the next chapter'.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

Puneet_B says:

Ah, freedom. Land of the brave and free. And guns. And macho bullshit. This douchebag should look the word "liberty" up in the dictionary. To serve and protect, not bully.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

globalpunditorg says:

land of the fee and home of the slave...that's what I think when I sing the scar strangled boner as I cross the manson - nixon line...
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

johnobrow says:

I can't believe ceonyc's backward logic. Faced with an unruly mob surely the last thing u wanna b doing is antagonising them
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

ola & henriette says:

Our safety is based on the idea that the people we give authority to are professional and have the safety of the people as their core motivation for getting out of bed in the morning. They are supposed to be able to handle these situations in a calm and professional manner. This guy and many of his peers appear to be thugs who finally get to kick some ass without going to jail for it.
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

Claudiu Balaceanu Photography says:

Crazy !

congrats
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

You	Sign in \| Create Your Free Account
Explore	Places \| Last 7 Days \| This Month \| Popular Tags \| The Commons \| Creative Commons \| Search
Help	Community Guidelines \| The Help Forum \| FAQ \| Sitemap \| Help by Email

The Man Who Maced Me 2/3

Comments

tay-lo says:

MattJhsn says:

ceonyc says:

christopher.todd.clark says:

Craig ! says:

Stephen Deken says:

dopeshow1 says:

sneafit says:

Stephen Deken says:

Mikkel04 says:

Chthonius says:

lifesundeath says:

barracuda455 says:

anti-globalism says:

mrsteven says:

brocktice says:

loadboxx says:

Converse and Bowling Shirts says:

defektev says:

brocktice says:

pysduck5 says:

poodlecake says:

TomRitchford says:

dec10 says:

thepensivepoet says:

Nigel Regal says:

CubicleNinjas says:

brocktice says:

brocktice says:

spincycle says:

jhickner says:

eatingorange says:

guitarbuddy says:

paulwhit says:

Stephen Deken says:

incpens says:

MattJhsn says:

globalpunditorg says:

daviddahl says:

bigbadbruins1972 says:

Puneet_B says:

globalpunditorg says:

johnobrow says:

ola & henriette says:

Claudiu Balaceanu Photography says:

Would you like to comment?

RNC in St Paul (Pool)

Tags

Additional Information