My brother was attacked by a security officer...

Kwesi · #1 03-12-2011, 11:38 PM

It's not often that I'm at a complete loss on how to handle a situation but this is one of those rare times. Basically the way my brother told me the story is that he and a bunch of his friends had just gotten off of the metro and were on their way to the parking lot to get their rides home and they ran into a pair of cops on patrol. One cop, completely unprovoked, came up to him specifically and said something to the effect of "I think me and you are gonna have a problem" and something else about beating the **** out of my brother. I know some of you might be thinking "Well are you sure you're brother didn't do anything first?" The answer would be "No." but I know my brother and he is neither stupid nor a liar so I'm taking what he says at face value. Anyway, the cop takes him to the ground and roughs him up a bit while the cops partner watches from the car. Luckily, he's not injured and he didn't do anything afterword that could have legitimately gotten him arrested.

The problem is that he told me this in confidence and he doesn't want me to tell our parents. I said that I wouldn't but the more I think about it the more serious it seems. He got off easy, but the same could happen to others and it could be worse for them. I talked to him for a good 20 minutes urging him to at least tell our Dad who is a pretty big figure in the community because he might actually be able to do something about this. I asked my brother if he and his friends got a good look at the cop and he said yes so if they could identify him then this situation could be dealt with. I'm hoping he goes to our parents on his own but should I if he doesn't? This is my Mom's birthday weekend so I understand him waiting until monday but after that if he doesn't tell them I'm not sure what I should do. Advice would be VERY appreciated. Thanks guys.

warwick.hoy · #2 03-12-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

It's not often that I'm at a complete loss on how to handle a situation but this is one of those rare times. Basically the way my brother told me the story is that he and a bunch of his friends had just gotten off of the metro and were on their way to the parking lot to get their rides home and they ran into a pair of cops on patrol. One cop, completely unprovoked, came up to him specifically and said something to the effect of "I think me and you are gonna have a problem" and something else about beating the **** out of my brother. I know some of you might be thinking "Well are you sure you're brother didn't do anything first?" The answer would be "No." but I know my brother and neither stupid nor a liar so I'm taking what he says at face value. Anyway, the cop takes him to the ground and roughs him up a bit while the cops partner watches from the car. Luckily, he's not injured and he didn't do anything afterword that could have legitimately gotten him arrested.

The problem is that he told me this in confidence and he doesn't want me to tell our parents. I said that I wouldn't but the more I think about it the more serious it seems. He got off easy, but the same could happen to others and it could be worse for them. I talked to him for a good 20 minutes urging him to at least tell our Dad who is a pretty big figure in the community because he might actually be able to do something about this. I asked my brother if he and his friends got a good look at the cop and he said yes so if they could identify him then this situation could be dealt with. I'm hoping he goes to our parents on his own but should I if he doesn't? This is my Mom's birthday weekend so I understand him waiting until monday but after that if he doesn't tell them I'm not sure what I should do. Advice would be VERY appreciated. Thanks guys.

I'm wondering why he wants to keep it under wraps.

If it is true what he says and the cop was unprovoked your family should be after his badge. But your brother's tight lipness leads me to believe that there is more to this story then he is willing to tell. Respectfully; Perhaps one of his friends mouthed off to the cop and he's protecting him.

That said,...I'd delete this thread because of the bolded text. If he told you this in confidence it's probably not a good idea to air his dirty laundry on a public forum.

Sorry I keep naysaying you Kwesi.

Kwesi · #3 03-13-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I'm wondering why he wants to keep it under wraps.

If it is true what he says and the cop was unprovoked your family should be after his badge. But your brother's tight lipness leads me to believe that there is more to this story then he is willing to tell. Respectfully; Perhaps one of his friends mouthed off to the cop and he's protecting him.

That's definitely a possibility but again, he's never been much of a liar (that's me, lol) he's not exactly the easiest guy when it comes to communication but don't have much of a reason to doubt what he says. I didn't get much of a "I'm hiding something" vibe either but it could just be that my lil bro doesn't let much on anyway. As much as I've thought about it, I'm just chalking his decision up to his nature of not really talking to us about stuff. Honestly, I think I should be more angry than I am but my brain's preoccupied with figuring out how the hell to move forward on this and get the best outcome possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

That said,...I'd delete this thread because of the bolded text. If he told you this in confidence it's probably not a good idea to air his dirty laundry on a public forum.

Trust me I thought about it but I feel that without some kind of input from others my thoughts are just going to turn in my head without actually me reaching solid reasonable decision. I'd rather tell you guys who may actually have something meaningful to say rather than tell my friends who may or may not but could also spread the story around and that's something I definitely don't want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Sorry I keep naysaying you Kwesi.

Lol, what are good friends for if they don't disagree with you here and there

?

warwick.hoy · #4 03-13-2011, 12:14 AM

Fair enough,...obviously you know your brother better than I do.

If he has nothing to hide; like I said you all should be after that cops badge.

bongomania · #5 03-13-2011, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

My brother was attacked by a police officer...

Well let's be fair, your brother clearly provoked the officer by being a young black man.

Waterpilot · #6 03-13-2011, 01:03 AM

I would do my best to try and convince him to go to your parents together. Is he over 18?

Your parents should have a better handle on their community then any of us have and will probably have a good idea on an appropriate course of action. If your brother is, for whatever reason, hiding something then that should get flushed out as well.

MJ5150 · #7 03-13-2011, 01:36 AM

-Mike

HEIST · #8 03-13-2011, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I'm wondering why he wants to keep it under wraps.

If it is true what he says and the cop was unprovoked your family should be after his badge. But your brother's tight lipness leads me to believe that there is more to this story then he is willing to tell.

...

That wasn't the first thing I thought of. I would think that he's not telling his parents much like the kid who doesn't tell his parents that there's a theatening bully at school who beats him up.

I'm sorry that this happened to your brother. I wish I had good advice, but I'm the type who let the cops walk all over me and do nothing about it.

I definitely think that something should be done.

sandmangeck · #9 03-13-2011, 05:56 AM

Sorry to hear that man. I think he should tell the parents. Did he notice the police officers name?

i_got_a_mohawk · #10 03-13-2011, 06:08 AM

Something should be done either way. But I agree that we seem to be missing the whole story here.

Did your brothers friends get the badge number of the cop or the number or registration of the police car?

sneha1965 · #11 03-13-2011, 06:39 AM

Kwesi, I'm real sorry to hear this has happened. I don't know what to suggest for you since it's such a personal decision and one that you all have to face the consequence. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Chebass88 · #12 03-13-2011, 07:22 AM

I'll bet a very large sum of money that there is a LOT more to this story other than what you have been told.

1. If unprovoked, the officer could risk losing his career for inappropriate actions. Do you think he is that dumb? The other officer who watched from the car may have intervened, rather than just watched.

2. If this is actually true, shouldn't you be lodging an official complaint rather than spouting off on an internet forum?

3. You don't know the officer's side, nor your brother's friends, nor the non-participating officer's. Your brother may be correct, and may be completely lying.

4. Yes, get your parents involved, particularly if your brother is a minor.

duff beer · #13 03-13-2011, 07:41 AM

Maybe your brother doesn't want to tell your folks because they might find out what really happened. His story doesn't pass the sniff test. Far too many people claim police brutality, when in fact, they were simply being subdued for being out of control.

Dr. Cheese · #14 03-13-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chebass88

I'll bet a very large sum of money that there is a LOT more to this story other than what you have been told.

1. If unprovoked, the officer could risk losing his career for inappropriate actions. Do you think he is that dumb? The other officer who watched from the car may have intervened, rather than just watched.

2. If this is actually true, shouldn't you be lodging an official complaint rather than spouting off on an internet forum?

3. You don't know the officer's side, nor your brother's friends, nor the non-participating officer's. Your brother may be correct, and may be completely lying.

4. Yes, get your parents involved, particularly if your brother is a minor.

The only thing wrong with your assessment is that if the cop had a legitimate reason to rough up Kwesi's brother, why didn't the cop arrest him? Slamming someone to the ground without having a legitimate reason to take him in makes no sense at all.

Roughing someone up "to teach him a lesson," is bogus, and simply assault and battery.

BTW, I can understand a kid not wanting to upset his parents. Remember, Kwesi comes from an immigrant background. I get the impression that he comes from a family of hard working strivers, and contact with the police is probably seen as a major embarrassment. The situation is not unlike a woman who has been raped who is ashamed to contact the authorities.

Chebass88 · #15 03-13-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

The only thing wrong with your assessment is that if the cop had a legitimate reason to rough up Kwesi's brother, why didn't the cop arrest him? Slamming someone to the gorund without having a legitimate reason to take him in makes no sense at all.

Roughing someone up "to teach him a lesson," is bogus, and simply assault and battery.

We don't know that Kwesi's brother WAS actually roughed up by an officer unnecessarily. If this is true, there are far more serious consequences and actions required than just popping off in TBOT with yet another race thread written to jerk the heartstrings.

I agree - if there was cause, his brother should have been arrested. At this point, there are too many details missing to blame anyone, and everything we write either pro-officer or pro-Kwesi's brother is just speculation, and a glorified typing exercise.

Floyd Eye · #16 03-13-2011, 08:45 AM

If it happened as your brother claimed, you should definitely encourage him to tell your dad and the local news channel or anyone else that can hep you get this dirty cop off the street.

Dr. Cheese · #17 03-13-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chebass88

We don't know that Kwesi's brother WAS actually roughed up by an officer unnecessarily. If this is true, there are far more serious consequences and actions required than just popping off in TBOT with yet another race thread written to jerk the heartstrings.

I agree - if there was cause, his brother should have been arrested. At this point, there are too many details missing to blame anyone, and everything we write either pro-officer or pro-Kwesi's brother is just speculation, and a glorified typing exercise.

Stick to that standard of proof, and you will talk about very little on TB. We usually assume posters are telling the truth, and I will do the same here. Kwesi has never posted anything that would lead me not to trust him or what he says.

duff beer · #18 03-13-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

We usually assume posters are telling the truth, and I will do the same here. Kwesi has never posted anything that would lead me not to trust him or what he says.

Kwesi wasn't there, he only repeated what his brother told him. He may have related the story exactly as told, but that doesn't mean he knows what really happened.

DwaynieAD · #19 03-13-2011, 09:15 AM

i'll agree with warwick.hoy's initial assessment.. but i can also see where doc cheese is coming from

i absolutely loathe police haters and if these truly are bad cops they need to be weeded out of the force immediately. cops already get a bad rap without possible a-holes like mentioned in your story. bullies with badges are not officers of the law.

that being said, i think it is your duty to tell your parents. imo its the best possible course of action. your brother may be mad at your in the short term, but if that family bond is strong he will come to forgive you, respect your decision, and probably be happy you did it.

MakiSupaStar · #20 03-13-2011, 09:38 AM

Talk to your parent Kwesi. If there's more to this story it will come out before your folks go to the police station to file complaint. Your brother will fess up to it. It could also possibly surface some very dangerous behavior that your brother might be engaging in (I.e provoking a cop). If he is involved in this dangerous behavior, then it needs to stop now. If your brother was attacked by this officer without provocation then this dirtbag needs to be brought to light. Your brother will thank you later for going against his trust in this instance.