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Man Arrested for Riding His Bike Home From an Airport!

greencycles.blogspot.com — A man visiting his family in Minnesota decides to ride his bike to his family's house from the airport. He quickly gets pulled over by the cops where the situation gets completely blown out of proportion and leads to him being thrown to the ground, tasered and arrested for 8 hours with out any charges. So much for "protect and serve," eh?

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  • tobsterius, on 10/11/2007, -13/+145I put it in "Political News" for lack of anything else. Digg needs to expand the News categories...
    • doctorfungi, on 10/11/2007, -175/+351I say this for every "OMG UNFAIR TREATMENT" story that comes up on Digg.

      You're only hearing one side of the story, and that one side is coming from someone who is ***** off. In some cases, they are ***** off because their pride has been shat on, not because they were treated unfairly.

      As for this case, I have no idea what actually happened. He could be telling the truth. I don't know, and neither do any of you.
    • Akaji, on 10/11/2007, -61/+51I never thought I'd be ashamed to live in Minnesota...
    • irvman21, on 10/11/2007, -103/+269If I had to guess, I'd say this guy was probably being a condescending non-conformist prick towards an officer with a napoleon complex. Most likely pushed the cop out of the way, in what he considered to be a non-threatening manner, and the cop who was embarrassed in front of his partner over-reacted, as napoleon complex cops typically do.

      Did the guy deserve to be tased? No way. Did he act in the calm and restrained manner that is portrayed in the article? No way. The truth likely lies somewhere between his story and the cop's story.
    • NikoKun, on 10/11/2007, -33/+295These days "I'm going to mace you and taze you" is how they bring fear and control... they know they can scare people and force them to do what they want, by threatening them with that. -_- This is the danger of non-lethal weapons... fear and control...
      This cop has a serious control problem... people are allowed to ask cops for specifics on why they are being told not to do something... Seems like cops look for easy targets to harass... More people should fight back...

      I think it's extremely horrible that they allow tazers to be used like this... as tools of fear, instead of tools for protection...
    • GirthAgain, on 10/11/2007, -18/+355land of the freeish.
    • Ecowarrior, on 10/11/2007, -50/+51I don’t know why people are digging down dr fungi. He’s right:

      With just this we don’t really have the whole story and we typically get all indignant and shoot out mouths off… like the whole TSA sippy cup thing.

      I don’t mind getting outraged but I don’t want to go off half-*****… and I want the guy I’m being all outraged at to really be deserving. Now having said all of that I’ve read the dudes blog and he doesn’t come off as an activist type who antagonizes people of authority (Like me) nor a pompous ass.

      So maybe we should be outraged…
    • godofpumpkins, on 10/11/2007, -26/+117it's unamericn to not pollute whenever you move around... and if you're not with us you're against us:

      unamerican -> not with us -> against us -> enemy combatant -> get your ass tasered
    • torrzilla, on 10/11/2007, -35/+6TWO DOLLARS!
    • mrmacky, on 10/11/2007, -9/+142You *can* see both sides of the stories... on the right side there are links to the photo evidence and POLICE NARRATIVES. How is that biased?
    • godofpumpkins, on 10/11/2007, -8/+110the thing to tell all the "it's biased" people is the following:

      the facts sound so bad that by most reasonable expectations, the account _needs_ to be biased. But it seems like the general trend is for our law enforcement agencies to reach ridiculous levels without even needing bias. Airport security restrictions are ridiculous. No-fly lists? Bursting into people's homes without knocking, tasering people calling ambulances, citing "wiretapping laws" when trying to prevent filming of this ridiculous activity. We are witnessing not only an increase in "excessive" force, but even completely unnecessary force, such as in this case. The police officer said he had something more important to do, but had too much of an ego to let the cyclist "win". Tasering and jailing in these circumstances (regardless of the cyclist's reaction) was a power game so that the cyclist (and the new officer) wouldn't forget "who's boss". It's disgusting.
    • donkeydrop, on 10/11/2007, -88/+17The guy was being a complete d#ck. Even after the police officer agreed to let him go he doesn't just ride off, but instead starts another argument about what will happen next time he comes to the airport.
    • mikesbaker, on 10/11/2007, -8/+35seems like an open and shut case once his lawyer gets his hands on the airport video.
    • godofpumpkins, on 10/11/2007, -4/+99donkeydrop: so you're supposed to be so afraid of the police (who are supposedly there to protect you) that you don't even want to ask them a question on how to avoid the confusion in future (and even save them some work?)

      if asking questions makes you a dick then this country is in a sorry state indeed
    • TheCount, on 10/11/2007, -34/+9@doctorfungi

      "You're only hearing one side of the story, and that one side is coming from someone who is ***** off."

      That what virtually all "news" is, you only hear one side. Doesn't matter if you're watching the six o'clock news or on digg.

      That being said, this guy is an absolute idiot for trying to leave while the cops were questioning him. That's just plain stupid.
    • dk911, on 10/11/2007, -33/+6@doctorfungi - Totally agree. People jump to a conclusion that all police are bad and that we're becoming a police state. Whether this actually happened or not is completely unfounded. It's a one sided story that doesn't provide a case number or anything to look up. So unfortunately, I see this as one man ***** because he was stopped by police for not seeing a sign. He portrays himself as "not doing anything wrong" but we all watch COPS. People claim that ALL THE DAMN TIME and we see it just isn't true. So, without the other side of the story, or a third party account with good documentation, this is just opinion and I think quite overblown.
    • Seidoger, on 10/11/2007, -21/+12He was using his bike, so he was eco-friendly, so against Big Oil, so against Bush&Co., so against the USA: terrorism!
      That's how it works now, hm?

      But yeah, we need the other side of the story, too.
    • oxdeltaxo, on 10/11/2007, -3/+54@donkeydrop

      RTFA, the cop didn't just let him ride off he wanted him to walk his bike. Besides cops are supposed to be level headed protectors of the law, not someone who hurts and intimidates every time they feel ***** off. It was just retarded for the cop to pull him over while they had their hands full with something more pressing, looks like they were just trying to get out of work.
    • Vic333, on 10/11/2007, -7/+82Unfortunatley, Once a cop targets you, you're screwed. You have to bow, kneel,and lick his boots wether you're right or wrong.

      And besides, even if he was in the wrong, purposefully smashing his glasses and tasing and unarmed man (in a two to one fight) was uncalled for.
    • Skavenblight, on 10/11/2007, -6/+49The reason people are getting indignant is because judging from other cases like this, it's far easier to believe that guy than the police. American policemen are just stupidly brutal and ineffective at protecting you.
    • dk911, on 10/11/2007, -35/+3I love how the "POLICE NARRATIVES" and "POLICE PHOTOS" are in red and his evidence is in green. What a quaint way to show his bias.
    • Vic333, on 10/11/2007, -10/+29What if they girl those cops were called to find had been abducted while they were dicking around with a cyclist?
    • Jabertsohn, on 10/11/2007, -26/+4He wasn't arrested for riding his bike home from an airport...
    • Al3x, on 10/11/2007, -31/+5When the officer said "Get on your knees", he should have dropped to his knees immediately and continued complaining. I believe that's resisting arrest. The officer doesn't say, "I'm arresting you, get on your knees", they say, "get on your ***** knees now!"...and you do it.

      It sounds like this guy was being a dick thinking he knows everything about the constitution...he was being difficult intentionally and the officer was not in the mood to deal with it. It sounds like he was probably struggling too, hence the taze (very unnecessary, but why he's 'allowed' to do it)
    • cawpin, on 10/11/2007, -24/+6You people need to RTFA. He WAS NOT arrested for riding his bicycle. He was arrested for resisting law enforcement. I know it sucks, and it is stupid, and it is wrong. BUT! You don't argue with the cops, no matter how wrong they are, you argue with the courts. In this situation he should have asked for the officers name and badge number, which they are required to provide, and gone about his day and reported the incident. Additionally, I would have filed suit against this officer for harassment.
    • brundlefly76, on 10/11/2007, -24/+7"Here are the salient facts of this case:"

      Otherwise known as 'my side of the story...'
    • sabach, on 10/11/2007, -27/+12Everybody in that story, including the writer, was wrong. WTF when a police officer tells you to do something you should strongly consider complying, even if you think it's wrong. This bozo was looking for trouble and picked the wrong dickhead cop to try it on.
    • OwdenBowden, on 10/11/2007, -12/+6How about we call the expanded section "Really ***** Up *****"?
    • UltraMegaFilms, on 10/11/2007, -16/+10@dk911

      Of course he is biased! I want universal health care, but I can still argue that without lying, and I am biased as *****! He is presenting the case by saying his evidence rocks, and their evidence eats it. Green and red (respectively) do an excellent job of guiding his presentation.

      Bottom line, and I hate to admit it because from time to time they do a bit of good, PIGS HAVE TOO MUCH POWER! They are all former schoolyard bullies who stole milk money, and while they were screwing around during school (not getting an education) they realized their options were limited. No college for them, why not be a pig? Lets see, no college... check. Court recognized authority? Check! Tradition women who like men to be authoritative, and don't mind being a housewife? Check! (vise versa for female pigs.) It's like that health care business. The way we have it set up, cops say they care about protecting and serving, but they are just as much a business as Wal-Mart. They want to be efficient, and they want to keep their jobs. That translates into manipulation, and their employers have given them the right to do it to them.
    • DrDragun, on 10/11/2007, -7/+15this guy is pretty old to be learning that life long lesson: self-rightous indignation works best on lawmakers and judges, or at least high level police lieutenenats, not meathead patrol cops
    • stakepie, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6doctorfungi, that skepticism goes for virtually any kind of newspaper article...
    • AegisGFX, on 10/11/2007, -16/+35How many times do you Americans have to be tasered before you realize your living in Nazi Germany now? I mean come on.
    • staffell, on 10/11/2007, -14/+10ahh, this is a classic case of idiot vs idiot
    • WileEPeyote, on 10/11/2007, -6/+11This is sad. Given that this is one side of the story, but you should be able to question authority. If I have a question about what or why I should be able to ask it without being tazed as long as I don't have a gun in my hand or am not a threat. I've seen lot's of people tazed where I am thinking "dumbass should have complied", but even if this guy was being snotty and his story is only half true, the officer had no right to tazer him.

      If you can no longer question authority without getting shocked by a few thousand volts, then we are no more free in the US than your average dictatorship. We just get some perks (as long as we fall in line)...
    • phantomsnow, on 10/11/2007, -17/+4What a ***** asshole.. He got his ass kicked because he's a moron.
    • qsqueeq, on 10/11/2007, -0/+30check this out.
      http://www.mspairport.com/Police/patrol/Bike.aspx
      The airport's bike patrol. How ironic.
    • gta3mobster, on 10/11/2007, -5/+7I'm sure the story is slightly biased. It will probably be used in court, especially after appearing on digg. I feel bad for the author.

      The general mistreatment applies across the board, though. Think of what your TAX dollars pay for when the POLICE are arresting completely harmless people (very common). I hate friggin pigs, but I don't want to walk down the street and get mugged, so they're apart of society. They should learn to where to draw the lines...
    • aliengoods, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5@Akaji

      I never thought people would be proud to live in Minnesota.

      (Just some flamebait from a cheesehead)
    • PuffyC, on 10/11/2007, -12/+1This is exactly what's wrong with using the Internet as a news source. Some doof has a confrontation with the cops then spends hours writing up some blog about how he was minding his own business and got ambushed by the evil cops for absolutely no reason and people just accept it at face value. You might as well be citing the National Enquirer and raging against the Bigfoot deniers.
    • maiku00, on 10/11/2007, -6/+7who DIDN'T see taser abuse comming ten thousand miles away? All that ***** about "last resort" was laughable to me at the time... and well, what do you know.
    • MarkOfTheDead, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5@ cawpin

      remember that next time a cop cracks you with a flashlight and tasers you for being a "smartass" on account of you getting his name and badge number as to argue with the courts. asking that question is about as bad as calling a cop a pig to his face (according to most). do you not read digg often? i can think of at least two accounts of someone asking for a badge number and name and getting the ***** shocked or beaten out of them
    • hrhs556x, on 10/11/2007, -6/+3So wait, how did this guy get a bike?, do they have bike racks in Minnesota's airports? Bike Shops? Brought it on the plan as luggage?
      Am I the only one who thought of this?
    • avoutthere, on 10/11/2007, -2/+13The ACLU should be contacted, a lawsuit filed, and a large payment received by the cyclist who was assaulted. Such abuse by the police cannot be allowed to go unpunished.
    • galaad2, on 10/11/2007, -2/+12http://www.mspairport.com/mac/appdocs/meetings/fc/agenda/fc_a_635.pdf
      http://www.mspairport.com/mac/appdocs/meetings/fc/agenda/fc_a_692.pdf

      From these PDFs I can deduce that the full names of those officers (lowercase "o") are Brad Wingate and Orlando Bryant

      http://www.mspairport.com/mac/appdocs/meetings/fc/minutes/fc_m_203.pdf
      And their supervisor's name, David Karsnia

      forever to be remembered as jerks.
    • lampajoo, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4@dr fungi


      ...unless you've actually encountered a police officer before, then you would know that this is exactly the kind of thing that they do. Don't be so naive.
    • raymore, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2I also know, as a cyclist, there are some dumb ass cyclists out there. And maybe this cyclist was being a dumb ass through the traffic or whatnot in the airport area. Not saying he is all wrong, but I have seen some ***** here in Seattle, such as WTO, and just every last friday of the month during critical mass. Cyclists can do dumb *****, as well as the cops. I don't know if either side is telling the truth.
    • xtmno3, on 10/11/2007, -6/+7@aegisgfx (#7282168) said: "How many times do you Americans have to be tasered before you realize your living in Nazi Germany now? I mean come on."

      Godwin's Law!
    • AriaStar, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1I have yet to see an airport where it's safe to ride a bike with the traffic. Not only are we only getting one side of the story here, but the guy was trying to ride in a dangerous place. A sign doesn't have to be posted on a busy highway, for example, for it to be illegal to rode a bike there.

      I'd like to read the police officer's side of this.
    • UtterNoncesense, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4"The truth likely lies somewhere between his story and the cop's story."

      Given A and B, (or not given B as the case may be), and assuming the truth lies in the middle is lazy thinking. If someone said all whites are perfect and someone else says all whites are not perfect, the truth is not "some whites are perfect".

      It's also worthwhile to note that he does provide the police's reports.
    • desqjockey, on 10/11/2007, -3/+5>You're only hearing one side of the story, and that one side is coming from someone who is ***** off. In some cases, >they are ***** off because their pride has been shat on, not because they were treated unfairly.

      >As for this case, I have no idea what actually happened. He could be telling the truth. I don't know, and neither do any of >you.

      There is a reason that cops try and arrest anyone videotaping or recording them- anyone who gives them the benefit of the doubt is hopelessly naive.
    • orientis, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1This kinda sums the situation up for me: http://bradhicks.livejournal.com/345802.html

      Not mine, I just read it.
    • rarson, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I think you guys are off on the Nazi Germany analogy. The Germans were much better organized than the US is.
    • mrshonuff, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1its always funny when a hippy gets tasered
    • Grouser, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@drfungii writes, "You're only hearing one side of the story, and that one side is coming from someone who is ***** off"

      Tasers are supposed to be an alternative to lethal force. So where was the justification for lethal force? This is simply oppressive behavior and it will continue until citizens start stun-gunning police officers. Not that I'd condone that, of course--I'm just pointing out where it's going to lead.
    • vertinox, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3@xtmno3

      Sadly, we can't invoke Godwin's law on our government's policies.
    • jimmiss, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@doctorfungi

      Just remember, that statement applies to anything the COPS say as well.
    • MicroBerto, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2tobsterius - Please post an update when all is said and done. We always see these types of news stories on digg, but we never see the final resolution. Possibly because none of them are finally resolved.

      A cool digg feature would be to link one story to a previous story, which would be good for ongoing updates on crazy stuff like this.
    • orientis, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Since I've been dugg down for no apparent reason, here's a highlight of that commentary:

      According to both sides' accounts, Mr. Orsack told officers that he didn't believe that they were right about the law, that he had no intention of obeying their order, that he intended to break this law again in the future, and that he wasn't going anywhere until he got to speak to those officers' superiors. Then he changed his mind and, by his own admission, made ready to continue breaking the law, to bicycle away. To detain him, the officers ordered him onto his knees. He once again disobeyed their order, and attempted to bicycle off. To stop this, the officers attempted to tackle him. When it became clear to them that he was going to get away, they fired a air-propelled Taser into him, bringing him down. His bicycle ended up flying into a busy street, and his glasses ended up stepped upon; he alleges that both actions were intentional, an accusation I find ridiculous, but it's up to others to decide who to believe. They then cuffed him, threw him into the squad car, booked him into jail, and there he sat until a judge could determine the amount of his bail that Monday. He has been charged with 6 crimes, the technical language of which can be summed up as: he was illegally riding his bicycle the wrong way in a no-bicycle zone, failed to obey the order to stop doing so, failed to obey the order to stop and listen to the officers, and then attempted to leave the scene where they were detaining him. Since on his web page and in his blog he confesses to all the necessary elements to convict him on at least 5 of those 6 charges, I'm fairly sure that he is making the second stupidest mistake of his life so far by insisting on a jury trial on all 6 charges, with jury selection scheduled to begin July 17th.
    • ORBREWDAD, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0@ariastar "I have yet to see an airport where it's safe to ride a bike with the traffic. Not only are we only getting one side of the story here, but the guy was trying to ride in a dangerous place. A sign doesn't have to be posted on a busy highway, for example, for it to be illegal to rode a bike there."

      Actually, they do have to post a sign. Every Interstate on ramp I've seen where bikes are forbidden has a sign at the top of the ramp stating that motorized vehicles are forbidden. Some even state the minimum size motor a vehicle must have in order to be legal. No sign means bikes are legal.
  • barnis, on 10/11/2007, -98/+12This is a pretty typical clash of the philosophies kind of situation. I'm sure your "non confrontational" tone was condescending at the very least and this angered the policeman. I hate cops and have had many similar run-ins over the years (none to this degree tho) my best advice would be to ask for permission first before doing something that most could see as potential illegal from the start. I agree that the law might allow it but there's something to be said for a cop seeing a "weirdo trying to ride his bike around the airport" At the very least you should be ready to deal with shock from cops and drivers...
    • mikelieman, on 10/11/2007, -14/+180You're thinking of Slaves.

      "FREE" people don't need to ask permission from their Masters before doing anything.

    • eatsushi, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11I wanna live in Sweden..
    • Dolphtesla, on 10/11/2007, -7/+10We should all exercise our rights to bear arms before they too are taken away. Imagine the outcome of this situation with an armed populace.
    • joethedouchebag, on 10/11/2007, -4/+22I tried to exercise my right to bear arms, but the taxidermist refused to attach them no matter how much money I offered.
    • Thorin001, on 10/11/2007, -5/+9@dolphtesla

      "Imagine the outcome of this situation with an armed populace."

      I can imagine that, and I don't like the thought of it. Are you suggesting that the cyclist should have pulled a gun and killed Off. Wingate? Just threatened him perhaps? Would that have not led to the cyclist himself being shot by the other officer or Off. Wingate himself? We still have the right to bear arms, but I don't believe that would have been a good situation for that. At all.
    • melve, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Ok, I'll imagine that the cyclist is now dead, having been shot by the officers in after pulling a firearm on them, and that none of us are reading this guy's version of the story on digg right now.
    • rarson, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5@Thorin001:

      You missed the point completely. The idea isn't "imagine how it'd be different if this guy pulled out a gun," it's "imagine how the police would treat you if they knew you had the ability to protect yourself."
  • Battleloser, on 10/11/2007, -51/+34Such a one sided story is bound to have more to it.
    • mikelieman, on 10/11/2007, -12/+104Nope.

      "Poorly Trained and Mentally Unstable Police Officer Loses Control"

      Happens all the time. It's why Amadou Diallo is dead.

      Essentially, it's a training issue. Goes back to Gates' reformatting LAPD as a military unit, and the adoption of his philosophy nationwide.

      Learn to properly Kowtow, because it's not going to get any better.

    • Battleloser, on 10/11/2007, -44/+38Oh I've no doubt that this cop was an asshole, but all this "and I calmly explained" and "I asked politely" is *****.
    • scallon, on 10/11/2007, -39/+14The guy has a very blatant political agenda and is obviously anti-goverment/authority. Neither of these are necessarily bad things, but his account will most certainly be biased. Do i think the story is accurate enough to warrant seriously questioning all parties involved? Of course I do. but do i honestly believe it went down the way he is describing? Hell no
    • mikelieman, on 10/11/2007, -8/+84It's less ***** than the "You took a swing at my officer" ***** the Supervisor lead with.

    • LuciferChaos, on 10/11/2007, -9/+18"Essentially, it's a training issue. Goes back to Gates' reformatting LAPD as a military unit, and the adoption of his philosophy nationwide."

      Anyone interested in finding out more about the historical origins and development of the police should read "Our Enemies In Blue" by Kristian Williams. Here's a link to an article he wrote examining why the modern police were created:

      http://www.historyisaweapon.org/defcon1/willmodpol.html
    • CaptMonkey, on 10/11/2007, -16/+8It sounds pretty one-sided to me. I'll admit that cops can be pretty willing to jump to conclusions, but it's understandable when their job puts them in constant danger. Any time I've ever had an encounter with a cop I've always been very courteous and calm and never had a problem. Meanwhile, I have been with people who made even me nervous because of their aggresive and condesending manner when talking to the police. I'm sure misunderstandings happen sometimes but just be nice and you'll avoid most of the problems.
    • Novagenesis, on 10/11/2007, -9/+19I've seen similar happen.

      Police expect to be obeyed. They are permitted by law to use force if they're not obeyed. The timing and expectation of answering questions doesn't seem to be factored into that.

      Technically, he should've obeyed (even if it put him at risk) while he was asking the questions, then file the complaint after the fact, assuming he didn't get hit by a car... which is the problem. Police are experts at arresting people and nothing else (some have law degrees), yet civilians are expected to obey them under most circumstances.
    • noahhoward, on 10/11/2007, -12/+6"Here's a link to an article he wrote examining why the modern police were created:"

      I haven't read your article but wasn't it in response to a bank robbery that was commited by people with assault weapons and body armor?
    • mike17032, on 10/11/2007, -13/+6"Anyone interested in finding out more about the historical origins and development of the police should read "Our Enemies In Blue" by Kristian Williams."

      Oh ya, that sounds like a quality, unbiased, source.
    • grbruner, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7Here is a link (which is located to the right of the main article) to the police narratives. http://web.mac.com/stephanorsak/iWeb/Site/police%20narratives.html

      Now you can read 2 opposite bias statements...should land you somewhere in the middle.
  • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -87/+13*waaaaaaaaaaaah* I mouthed off to a cop and her taaaaaaaaaasered me. *waaaaaaaaaaaaaah*
    • Ecowarrior, on 10/11/2007, -12/+23Interesting... THis guy's reasonable in one thread.


      and a ***** dick in the next.


      curious
    • Frozo, on 10/11/2007, -21/+8He was quoting Artie Lange from Howard Stern, not being a dick.
      (Although Artie is a dick and had a big helping hand in the fall of the show, so.......) lol
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -17/+7Frozo's got it. Plus I didn't have my coffee yet an hour ago.
    • slantyeyed, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2bababooey! fafafooey! i am darth nihilous
  • The_Wallbanger, on 10/11/2007, -15/+58The guy should start skateboarding, then see what kind of "civil rights" he's denied.
    • GirthAgain, on 10/11/2007, -32/+23Big difference. Riding a bicycle as a means of transportation doesn't damage private and public property. I never hear about skateboarders concerning themselves about the property they damage.
    • nytewalker, on 10/11/2007, -5/+30@girthagain

      Wait..so merely riding a skateboard damages property? I was not aware of this! I guess four wheels, instead of two, must somehow scratch the sidewalk?

      I assume your talking about those that do tricks off of poles and bars and stuff, well yes then you'd be right. But I've seen a guy destroy a car window when doing tricks...on his bike. So just skating, or riding, around town isnt' going to destroy property.
    • GirthAgain, on 10/11/2007, -15/+9So your confusion is between the four, hard plastic wheels vs. two rubber tires? I can understand how that is difficult. And you are right. Skateboarders generally ride around not doing tricks, not grinding their boards on rails or benches causing scratches and breaks.

      A model citizen:

      http://www.gnarstar.tv/skateboard/play/index/32
    • crazymonkey, on 10/11/2007, -4/+11Skateboarding does damage property with any kind of grinding.

      Come look around boston - any place where you could grind on something, the surface is all chipped up and nasty as well as covered in wax.
    • rodgerdodger5, on 10/11/2007, -7/+16Honestly, I don't skateboard but when I see something like a rail that is chipped up and waxy, I always smile a little bit and am glad that kids are having some fun. Can you remember when you were a kid and had some fun? or has it been so long ago that you forgot.
    • ajgv, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Hey stfu. I skate purely as a form of transportation. Quit generalizing.
    • gutistg, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9I use my skateboard to get from one place to the next more quickly. I don't know how to do any tricks and I don't want to hurt myself, so for me skateboarding doesn't damage anyone's property.
  • directive0, on 10/11/2007, -8/+43RE-*****-DICULUS. Why do the assholes always seem to find themselves behind a badge and a gun?

    And as xwagner commented, questioning ABSURD orders issued merely to exercise power and control over a person with no regard for safety of fairness is NOT mouthing off. Its standing up for your ***** rights as a human being, man. Get with the program.
    • Forklore, on 10/11/2007, -10/+7They are not as bad as the a$$h0le$ who give them the badge and gun...
    • Shenanigans, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3The author of the post sounds like a major tool and probably made the cop sound worse than he was. The cop and the pedestrian are both asses though.
    • MicroBerto, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Because we are clueless... and yes, the author sounded like a prick.

      Has anyone read the latest revision of this book? Any recommendations like it so that we can EDUCATE ourselves rather than just post complaints all over the net?

      You and The Police: http://www.amazon.com/You-Police-Boston-T-Party/dp/1888766093/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-0707267-2923852?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182385639&sr=8-1

      "A concise citizen's guide to understanding and exercising your rights during any police confrontation. For example, if you get pulled over for a broken tail-light and then the officer asks to search your trunk--how do you respond? This tidy book will explain all!"
  • blackc2004, on 10/11/2007, -17/+14I have to admit I didn't read the whole article because it was to ***** long and the bull ***** about "and I calmly explained" and "I asked politely". But he says that they are using a "No Peds allowed" sign as evidence against him. Well as a cyclist, you are considered a MOTOR VEHICLE. Therefore the whole pedestrian thing is crap. They SHOULD have busted him for going the wrong way on a one way street.
    • LaughingMan11, on 10/11/2007, -2/+27A bicycle isn't a motor vehicle, perse, since it doesn't have a motor, but in terms of traffic laws, it is a considered a vehicle, and given no exclusions because it is a bicycle in 19 states, including Minnesota, where this occurred.

      http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/vehicle.htm
    • mattyxo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8Surprisingly, not everyone is a jerk or gets riled up when someone is shouting at them. It's not hard to keep your cool when the other person is obviously wrong and you're genuinely concerned about your own safety. Just because YOU (and others here) would never CALMLY or POLITELY respond to a police officer, doesn't mean it's utterly IMPOSSIBLE for someone else to do it. Not all of us yell at the first sign of confrontation.
  • olik, on 10/11/2007, -4/+47Classic unlawful detainer and excessive force. Sue the pants off of them
    • johngr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"Unlawful detainer" is a civil proceeding used for evicting a tenant, dickhead. You're thinking of false arrest. I notice at least 40 mental giants digged you up. Sad.
    • Amnesia10, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Also as a violinist he should claim a substantial multi million settlement for loss of earnings trauma etc. The police may have a more difficult job if they turn the law abiding public against them. Also the tax payers will have to pay for this cops actions, while it may not be fair for the public unless these cops are kicked out of the service they will set a bad example to the rest of the good cops and the service will deteriorate.
  • toomanyhandles, on 10/11/2007, -5/+32In related news, Homeland Security sends Officer Wingate a letter extending an an immediate offer of employment due to his previously-unrecognized yet exemplary investigative skills, which will be very useful to the Right Americans in the coming New Age of Special Democracy being planned for the nation.
  • mrmacky, on 10/11/2007, -4/+35If they were on their way to look for a teenage girly, why did they stop to pull a man over.

    Also, since when does a PED-XING sign prohibit a cyclist from crossing? Cyclists are considered vehicles, not pedestrians, which is why they have to obey the laws of traffic.

    Seems to me the cop got trippy because he didn't want a call to his supervisor ;)
  • chicofaraby, on 10/11/2007, -14/+72***** the police. They're just another criminal gang with badges. I teach my children to avoid them just like any other gang of criminals.
    • noahhoward, on 10/11/2007, -19/+10WHile I understand, that is a lesson that can land your kid in an assload of trouble later in life. If a cop walks up to your kid when he's a teen and opens with "Can we ask you some questions." and your kid books, what happens after that is your fault.
    • Novagenesis, on 10/11/2007, -9/+7Smart move.
      Anything you say can be used to convict you of a crime you didn't commit.
      Many of them are total powertrippers (I know two personally who are and no I don't confront them) who abuse their badge and authority to such ends as -should- have gotten them fired, if any of their superiors cared.
    • RealHyperX, on 10/11/2007, -2/+12I agree. I tell my kids not to trust the cops either. For most part, they are assholes. Only few good ones left. This used to be different.
  • halohunter, on 10/11/2007, -17/+11Thank god I live in don't live in USA. At least here in Australia we have a thing called common sense.
    • DrDabbles, on 10/11/2007, -3/+10And how's that working for you? What the all the censorship and nanny-state issues you've got? Just wondering. :-P
    • ICSU, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Are you kidding? Australia is a ***** police state.
  • kurfu, on 10/11/2007, -29/+7" 'AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY' sign "

    He wasn't supposed to be there in the first place.
    • elsJake, on 10/11/2007, -4/+19he said the picture was from another place , RTFA
  • compujunkie, on 10/11/2007, -12/+27I hope he sues the hell out of those pigs, and they lose their jobs. Gotta love how the Patriot Act is turning this f-ing country into a police state.
    • TheSabre, on 10/11/2007, -16/+12And the Patriot Act has what to do with this incident?
    • DrDabbles, on 10/11/2007, -12/+6Yes, let's all blame a new act and a president we don't like for (alleged) infractions that have been happening since the dawn of man. I've got to say, people forget history far too quickly.
    • hhmmmm, on 10/11/2007, -4/+0The only reason we are seeing more of these police brutality stories is because more people are searching the internet for them... Calm down the world is not going to end.
    • PdxPhoenix, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4He might win...but they definately won't lose their jobs...
  • Roscoe, on 10/11/2007, -10/+15Ok I think it sucks that this officer had a power trip, but, under no circumstances should you attempt to leave when you've been stopped by an officer without him giving you instructions that you could leave. If you're faced with an ass hat of a police officer you simply ask to speak to a supervisor and keep your mouth shut. And since he was at the airport he should have asked for the supervisor of the airport police as well. But just saying to an officer I'm going to leave because you havent given me enough evidence to detain me, you should have "stupid" written on your forehead.
    • Forklore, on 10/11/2007, -7/+12...so we should all be good little boys and girls and follow all the rules we are told...just not the ones that everyone has agreed to...
    • DrDabbles, on 10/11/2007, -5/+9@forklore: No, it's all about diffusing a situation. You'll learn about it when you're a big boy, but suffice it to say that the world is full of assholes that want to either do you harm, or take advantage of you. When that asshole happens to be on the local police force, you need to be on your toes about how you act. Forget, for a moment, your own personal ego. When someone with a gun tells you to do something, agree politely and move on with your life. Otherwise, crap like this happens.

      What should have happened, is the guy should have shut his mouth and moved along. Then, the next day, he should have gone down to the local PD and filed complaints. Once he was done there, he should have written in to the local news paper. When he got home to CA, he should have written to every paper (indie or not), and told of his tale. Perhaps just a few readers would decide to never go to that state.

      It has nothing to do with bowing to authority, it has everything to do with getting away uninjured and alive.
    • daonlyfreez, on 10/11/2007, -4/+18They shout at you... Obey!
      They taser you... Obey!
      They jail you... Obey!
      They torture you... Obey!

      Then if all is over, file a complaint...

      Oh, wait, you might not be able to, you know, them _terrerist_ issue, them _Patriot_ (sic) Act issue

      You'll serves...
    • inhaler, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@drdrabbles

      "Perhaps just a few readers would decide to never go to that state."

      That's a solution? Come on man, what good would that have done? Police officers have a brotherhood - I'm sure the officer's superior would have maybe given him a private slapping on the wrist, and that's all that would come from it. I'm not saying waht the cyclist did was correct - I think he was being argumentitive at one point, but filing complaints is meaningless. No one loses their job from a complaint, or even a dozen of them.
  • lonesomewolf, on 10/11/2007, -1/+54A similar incident happened at the Atlanta airport a while back. The officer was directing a women who was picking up her elderly mother at the terminal to move her car. As he ordered her to move, although her mother was approaching the vehicle, he claims she brushed him with the car mirror. He then threw this lady out of the car and slammed her onto the ground. The cameras caught the action. This guy had 13 prior complaints against him. Here is the story.

    http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=55260
    http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-12-02-hartsfield-brutality_x.htm

    • GirthAgain, on 10/11/2007, -4/+24The Atlanta airport cops are douchebags.
    • dalex1, on 10/11/2007, -1/+22I can't second this enough. Atlanta airport cops are the WORST I have ever encountered anywhere.
    • VelvetHammer, on 10/11/2007, -0/+23Looks like the woman in the Atlanta Airport incident ended up getting a $350,000 settlement. Of course she had video evidence of the brutality that she suffered.
  • slapded, on 10/11/2007, -31/+8that guy looks like a weak nerd. i would have done the same thing the cop did
    • spudnic, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11@slapded (#7280334)
      Are you the jock from an 80s teen movie or what?
  • toomanyhandles, on 10/11/2007, -18/+39Since many won't read the article, there is one sane comment that I'll plop in here. The cop is a nut, but this guy seems to be biking where you don't want to be bicycling:

    ----
    As a fellow cyclist, musician, and former Minneapolis resident, I have little sympathy.

    You ride a Brompton, a bicycle designed to be folded into a size to make it easy to carry on a train. Minneapolis now has a wonderful light rail train that goes from the Lindberg terminal over to Fort Snelling, where you were headed anyway. Even if you wanted to extend your trip and get more exercise, you could have simply gone to the HHH terminal and rode away on a normal street with relatively minor traffic.

    Instead, the path you chose to take was equivalent to riding a bicycle onto a freeway on-ramp. A very busy freeway on-ramp at that. When the police stopped you, because you were acting like a nut - you responded by acting like more of a nut.
    [...]

    Rather than successfully making life easier for cyclists, you've already gotten cycling totally banned anywhere around the Lindburg terminal, and now cyclists at the airport are going to be the target of more harrassment. Thanks, asshole!

    ------
    • AgileHeadCogs, on 10/11/2007, -10/+3@toomanyhandles

      Bikes were, obviously, already banned around the Lindburg terminal. It just took someone courageous enough to actually ride a bike into rabid cop territory to find this out. Use your head, asshole, the signs should have been posted in the first place.
  • Jonsblckhwk, on 10/11/2007, -5/+37This kind of stuff happens every day.

    Its too easy to be corrupt when you have so much power.

    Get rid of the war on drugs and you won't have as many power hungry bigots looking to beat up minorities for fun.
    • actorboy, on 10/11/2007, -10/+4Does your world have pink lemonade rivers and gumdrop rain?
  • dondara, on 10/11/2007, -4/+19I hope Officer Pencil-Dick meets up with a real threat and gets his ass beat. I've met a few cops who weren't complete assholes but only a few. I guess if I had to deal with tweekers and scumbags all day I'd be a asshole too.
  • oMeSSiaHo, on 10/11/2007, -7/+13"These days "I'm going to mace you and taze you" is how they bring fear and control... they know they can scare people and force them to do what they want, by threatening them with that"

    I've know a lot of cops and I can simply tell you thats not true. My dad and his friends were always pretty laid back, confrontations meant extra paper work for them!

    Of course on the other side the cops in my town are pretty well known for being assholes and killers. I guess my point is its not fair judge all cops because of a few assholes. This always reminds me of marketing 101. If a customer gets good service they'll tell a few friends, if they get ***** service they'll tell every person within earshot. Some cops are assholes (I can name many) but most are just normal people with really ***** jobs.
    • Battleloser, on 10/11/2007, -3/+20It is fair, because even if there are a few good cops out there, they're not doing anything to stop the majority of the bad ones.
    • ArmyOfFun, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10It is a generalization, perhaps unfair, that all cops are assholes. Anecdotally, I've never spoken with one who didn't come off as an asshole, and I've never been in trouble with a cop outside of a single speeding ticket.

      I don't think cops were innately assholes, at least not before becoming cops. It's simply a corrupting side effect of performing that role. They're afforded special rights and status that aren't granted to the general populace. They're either taught (or they learn) to view fellow citizens with suspicion and ulterior motives, rather than the general level of trust most people have. This puts their relationship with the public on extremely shaky ground and I think it takes extraordinary effort for a cop to overcome those things and still be a good decent person while still protecting and serving. I don't envy their position, I'm sure it's tough but I think it inevitably turns most into assholes.

      See also:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment
    • dewfish, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I agree with Battle. It is not enough for good cops to write off the corrupt ones as "bad apples" and pretend the whole thing is over with. If you are a good cop, you would realize that everytime that guy goes out there, he damaging your reputation as well as all of the other cops that enforce the law properly. If you are a goop cop, you will do everything in your power to make sure this guy never works as a police officer again.
  • TrAvELAr, on 10/11/2007, -5/+16While this is only one side of the story, I'm so tired of hearing about police that abuse their powers. There was clearly no need to taser him or smash his glasses.
    • akatherder, on 10/11/2007, -13/+6Do you really believe the cop slowly and deliberately smashed his glasses like in a movie?

      They more likely got broken during the struggle when the bicyclist took off in the wrong direction.
  • 1stJonnyDee, on 10/11/2007, -11/+3"Needless to say, I did not give permission for this to be used on me as part of the exercise, nor was I asked in advance if I had any medical history that could have led to my death. Only after the fact, in the hospital, was I asked my medical history."

    I do not agree in any way whatsoever with the way the officers acted, but this assertion that the "perp" felt the need for the officers to ask for his life story is *****. The fact that the officers carry the protection that they do is permission enough for them to use lethal or less-lethal means to subdue any suspect they feel is threatening to physical safety. The officers do not need to ask about your sissy ass medical conditions, although he was riding a bicycle so maybe the officers thought he was in good shape anyway. In situations like this, it is the greedy, semantic expectations of someone like this that blows these things out of proportion. It just goes on and on....
  • jersey, on 10/11/2007, -2/+40Ok, look at the picture of this guy on his site ... he's 5"6, and about 150lbs. In no way is he physically threatening. If he was not brandishing a weapon, why was one used against him?

    For the umpteenth time: Police action such as this will not stop until you stop allowing individuals with only a high-school education (and a superiority complex) become officers. Why are we letting the uneducated enforce the laws, and in some case interpret, the laws? I feel like all officers should be required to have a 4 year liberal arts degree, at minimum, along with an additional 2 years of law enforcement training. Instead out of high-school, and into the police academy for 6 months. It just doesn't cut it any longer. I teach at a college that also houses the local police academy, and every day I have to see these ***** roid-raging assholes talking about how hey took down this an that perp ... not to mention they all have to always carry their guns, so at any given moment there are at least 80 guns in a building on a college campus. Is that necessary? No, but they feel as if they always have to display their superiority. Of course, only about 2 of them can actually spell superiority.





    ?
    • mrmacky, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8Maybe the police considered the bike a weapon, I mean, it's a folding bike, who know's , he could have released the seat post and hit the cop over the head with it or something.
    • Forklore, on 10/11/2007, -5/+7Thank you @jersey...someone who finally understands the simplicity of the whole situation!
    • PoeticExplosion, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2My (middle school age) sister tagged along with a cop one day as a sort of field trip. The cop (who by all accounts is a nice person) says she enjoys her job more when our local college is in session, because there are more crimes.
  • fernandooneda, on 10/11/2007, -15/+2bike does have permission to access airport?

    Fernando
    http://blog.fenon.com.br
  • Leo55, on 10/11/2007, -0/+32Thanks for allowing Tasers.
    Cops use them like toys now.
    • noahhoward, on 10/11/2007, -3/+18Better than being shot. But point taken.
  • pinion417, on 10/11/2007, -13/+10if this story is accurate... and I was that guy... I would probably find where that cop lives and burn his house down....
    • mstoneburner, on 10/11/2007, -3/+12Hay guys l@@k at the internet tough guy!
  • oifish, on 10/11/2007, -2/+25Good thing he doesn't live in LA and he isn't black or he would of been shot to death.
    • chowdah, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15Shoot him and sprinkle some crack on him! Another job well done.
  • akatherder, on 10/11/2007, -14/+7If a cop tells you to do something reasonable, just ***** do it. You have nothing to gain and a whole lot to lose by telling the cop what you think is right based on your experiences of watching "Cops" on TV. All this crap about asking a million questions, telling him how to do his job, asking for a supervisor, disputing everything he says, then taking off in the direction he told you not to go... Genius move. The guy somehow thinks it's safe to ride his bike, but he will be plunged into a harrowing deadly hell if he gets off and walks with his bike.
    • moxley, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11I agree - if a cop asks you to do something "REASONABLE" you should do it.

      This wasn't reasonable, - but as I said in my post, he should have made sure to make note of their names and car number, complied with their ***** and walked away and dealt with it after the fact.

      You aren't going to 'win' trying to get a ***** off power tripping cop on the street to recognize your rights....
    • Novagenesis, on 10/11/2007, -4/+14Reasonable? The cop ordered him to commit a crime (become a pedestrian).
      Several posters mentioned that a bike is considered a vehicle, and the article claims a lack of "no bike" signs. Therefore, he was in legal right on his bike, being ordered to commit a crime. That's not reasonable.

      He shouldn't have talked back, of course.
      He certainly shouldn't have questioned a command to kneel without at least doing so.
      If he kneeled and asked "why am I being arrested. I've committed no crime", the police officer would be in deep trouble.
      He stood and asked "why am I being arrested. I've committed no crime". In reality, that's resisting arrest (it shouldn't be, but it is).

      Until physical resistance or a genuine attempt to escape, the police officer should be expected to respond to reasonable questions or requests. Unfortunately, they're not. We need to be aware of that.

      You don't question a cop doing something stupid. You ruin his life with lawsuits. It's not fair to the cop (as many such cops might think they're doing the right thing), but it's the only thing safe for you, the citizen.
  • jvieira, on 10/11/2007, -21/+6LOL@BIKEFAGGOTS
  • griz, on 10/11/2007, -10/+6Why didn't the guy just ask the cop for a lift off the service road and out to where it was legal?
    • Novagenesis, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15Why didn't the cop offer one?

      The guy thought he wasn't doing anything wrong. Why would he try to find a way to weasel out of his not doing something wrong?
  • hank747, on 10/11/2007, -21/+2All the Dems in this country continue to try to add laws "for our protection" like DON"T RIDE YOUR BICYCLE ON A FREEWAY. Police are just people like you and they deserve to be treated with the same respect that you want. Mind your P's & Q's (manners, ever heard of them?) and you and the officer will get along fine. All the guy had to do was say, "Sorry, I didn't realize that I was doing something illegal." and he would have been escorted off the roadway and allowed to move on about his business. Y'all don't like all the laws, reform the government and get the Dems outta office!
    • yakski, on 10/11/2007, -5/+7Hank ..... you are a moron!!!! .. this had nothing to do with politics Dems or Reps...!!!
    • thefaithful, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9"All the guy had to do was say, "Sorry, I didn't realize that I was doing something illegal.""

      I think the whole point is that he wasn't doing anything illegal.
    • inhaler, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Remember the article up here a week or so ago about a kid videotaping from the back of a truck that got pulled over, and how he got cited for illegal wiretapping or something like that. I think the district attourney said something like, "Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law."
  • debtman7, on 10/11/2007, -13/+15Regardless of what actually happened, this guy sounds like a real idiot to me.

    With regards to being tasered he states:

    --
    Needless to say, I did not give permission for this to be used on me as part of the exercise, nor was I asked in advance if I had any medical history that could have led to my death. Only after the fact, in the hospital, was I asked my medical history.
    --

    Does he seriously expect police to ask his medical history and then get permission before tasering someone? Hello?

    We also have no idea of the actual situation he was in, near an airport sounds like a really stupid place to ride a bike... I wouldn't be caught dead on a bike with the traffic leaving our local airport. Plus his whole tone and writing style just reminds me of a pompous tree hugging hippie with a dislike of anyone not sharing his values... That could just be me though.

    Cops probably overreacted, but there is probably more to this story than is written there.
    • bkuhn1a, on 10/11/2007, -7/+4 "Plus his whole tone and writing style just reminds me of a pompous tree hugging hippie with a dislike of anyone not sharing his values."

      I had exactly the same thought after reading his blog. No disagreement - the cop was out of line. But so was this guy. Under no circumstances do you *ever* try to walk away from an office, I don't care how much of a jerk they are being. Not that I'm saying tasering the guy was warranted.
    • Novagenesis, on 10/11/2007, -2/+11You can be a pompous prick and still be polite. In fact, pompous people tend to be polite to the word of the concept. A police officer is allowed to respond to rudeness, but they are not allowed to strike you or threaten you if they just don't LIKE you.
    • debtman7, on 10/11/2007, -11/+8They didn't strike him because they didn't like him. They didn't even strike him because he was breaking a law. He got tasered for one simple fact, he was told to get down on his knees and instead he got on his bike and tried to walk away. You'd have to be a moron to think that because you feel you are in the right you can just leave the police at any time, and they're just going to stand there and watch you go. I don't care what city you are in and what it is you were stopped for, if you try to leave after the cops have told you to stay, your ass is going down. Period. The other actions this cop took may have been out of line, but this guy attempted to flee the police, and he got exactly what I would expect.

      As for the reason he was stopped, the comments on that page indicate that the road he was travelling on was essentially a freeway onramp. While a bike has rights to share the road, I'm pretty sure they are still banned from the freeway and a freeway onramp leaving the airport is probably a really horrible place to try and bike. That would be my guess as to why he was stopped in the first place.
    • page2, on 01/17/2008, -2/+2Well, they had TIME to ask him his medical history, because he was already assaulted and unresisting when the order to tase him was issued. According to him, he was not trying to escape or fight back at that point. A taser is supposed to be used to subdue a suspect. If he was tased after he was already subdued, that is an officer administering punishment, and that's not the officer's job. I'm not talking about how things are, but that's how it's supposed to be.
  • sasso, on 10/11/2007, -19/+4i'm glad that idiot was tased. who does this guy think he is? you don't wish an officer a good day and try to leave when he stops you.

    i hope it hurt.
    • valdez, on 10/11/2007, -4/+10Ride a bike and be happy, I am sorry you are so angry and sad. If you want some good cycling advice or where to get a good bike or if you are ever in Minneapolis and want to go for a bike ride let me know.
    • Riffraffs, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3your an asshole
  • yakski, on 10/11/2007, -2/+25This reminds me of a personal incident with the police of a similar nature.

    As a runner I was looking for a partner to run with and I found someone at work who was of like mind. The very first time we headed out together for a run on my buddies course we get 'pulled' over by the state police. My friend's course included about a 1/2 to 1 mile section of highway and apparently it is illegal in my state to run next to the highway. My friend had run this many times before with no problem and it did not bother me to run on it since it had an extremely wide berm.... I mean it had this rock fall zone that went about 50-100 feet wide next to the highway so in no way were we close to the cars.

    Well anyway, this police officer while reasonably polite in explaining the problem but then came the ***** authority crap. We were a little more than halfway along the route so going back meant MORE danger not less danger... but the jerk insisted we turn around. It would have been both safer and more intelligent to let us proceed to the exit but this guy just had to show who was in charge by insisting the less safe longer route. It was completely done so he could spread his authoritarian wings and abuse his power.

    We proceeded to turn around so as not to cause trouble but it really was all about him abusing his power instead of using his brain.
  • valdez, on 10/11/2007, -4/+15@ jveira, wtf? Bikes are the perfect mode of transportation in Minneapolis. It is one of the most bike friendly cities in the country. It just so happens that it is a bitch to get out of the airport on a bike, but people do it all the time, I am not saying that this story isn't somewhat one sided, but come on, if you want to detain the guy grab his arm and stop him, he is a 50+ year old guy on a small folding bike. Don't over react and go all LOL tasers. Bikers have a legal right to be in the road with traffic and people forget that and treat them like pedestrians. We are traffic just like cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc. Get ***** used it it already.
    • akatherder, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2You're not just like cars, trucks, etc. Cars and trucks can go the speed limit and they don't weave in and out of traffic like a bunch of jackasses.

      Also, hitting a car or truck makes a loud smashing noise. Hitting a bike is more like *pop* thud fluppafluppafluppa haw haw!
  • moxley, on 10/11/2007, -3/+9I used to live in Minneapolis and in the early/mid 90s they defibitely had a police brutality and abuse of autority problem with some of their officers.

    There was no justification for the officers to act like jackbooted thugs. Nothing this man did was illegal, questioning the cops as he did is not illegal - but, unfortunately in this day and age in America, it's just not very smart if you want to avoid a hassle.

    We all hate corrupt or power tripping cops. There is no justification for such a thing. I know the job can be rough, I have officers in my family who would be just as outraged about the unprofessional and brutal behavior of these cops as most of us are - but as I have been told by officers I spoken with about this sort of thing, and have witnessed myself - when you get accosted by a cop who is acting this way, the best thing you can do is try to comply - you're not going to change their mind in the street, and when someone like this is already on a power trip you aren't going to get them to back down either and like this guy's story shows, you're usually going to end up in a bad position. You can read the cops statements and see that they don't make sense and are trying to cover their asses - so if this goes to trial you're going to have this guy's word against two cops who may perjure themselves (they've already written up their account of what happened in an attempt to justify the use of force - read both and see which rings true) - not a good place to be in a court room.

    It's disgusting, but it's true. Sometimes they are looking for a fight or for some action. Sometimes they've had a bad day and want to take it out on someone - these sort of people shouldn't be cops and should have to pay the price for such abuses, but if you are ever stopped by one of these cops you can tell pretty quick - and my advice would be to comply, be nice, get their name and badge number and deal with it afterward.
  • DesertJeepster, on 10/11/2007, -16/+3Wow? Is this guy bi-polar or what. He cant follow a simple direction to put his bike on the sidewalk. I can fully understand why they detained him. It should of went like his "get your bike on the sidewalk"
    "ok". then of course he could of made a derisive comment about cops when they left.
    • valdez, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11Sidewalk are for walking, streets for biking, stfu. Its way more dangerous to ride a bike on the sidewalk.
  • jvieira, on 10/11/2007, -36/+4bikes are chill if you like ***** up your ass too


    just sayin faggots
    • chicofaraby, on 10/11/2007, -3/+13Thanks for sharing the nine year old viewpoint, sonny. Now run along like a good little boy.
    • valdez, on 10/11/2007, -6/+5Yes, I am homosexual, I never realized, thank you for bringing that to my attention. I never knew me riding my bike made me sexually attracted to the same gender. What a load of insight.
    • messiah420, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2So BIkes are not chill if we don't like ***** in the ass?

      Im confused here are YOU saying that because YOU like bikes YOU also like the dick?

      Well I guess bikes are not chill for me. Hope some gay guy gives you the ass raping you deserve!
  • jefree, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7Our Police are a necessary evil that should be controlled, avoided and never trusted. I'm sure there are many okay cops, but you got to realize they are a personal danger to you and represent and enforce societies bizarre set of laws and rules that are often unreasonable, conflict and ultimately give ALL the power to a police officer to make your life as miserable as that cops sense of perspective is. We all violate laws all the time (jay walking for instance) and the laws are written so that if a police officer "chooses" to then they can taser and detain you and make your life miserable. If you play the respect game and pretend to submit to their authority then they tend not to give you a hard time. (Oh it helps to be dressed plainly and not of a different skin color or culture then the officer). But this biker thought that he was on equal footing or above this officer and paid the price weather right or wrong. It sucks, but so do the police. We must make police less powerful.
    • johngr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"our police are a necessary evil..." I agree with you about the evil part.
  • ogore, on 10/11/2007, -9/+4Digg's beginning to seem like a Current Affairs program, it has lots of one sided stories with little or no evidence
    • Novagenesis, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11Of course there's no evidence. Apparently this high security airport doesn't have one camera pointed in the direction of that road. Talk about an oddity.
  • qmeister, on 10/11/2007, -8/+6COPS ARE POWER HUNGRY PRICKS
  • oMeSSiaHo, on 10/11/2007, -7/+4"It is fair, because even if there are a few good cops out there, they're not doing anything to stop the majority of the bad ones."

    When you said that you reminded me of an old friend of my dad's who blew his brains out because of the practice of his fellow officers and his wife was harassed by the chief. I would imagine many good cops are afraid to speak out or dont have the power to.

    "COPS ARE POWER HUNGRY PRICKS"

    Who will come to your house at 3am when you need them...
    • Novagenesis, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9And will cuff at 3am claiming they smell pot, even though they don't, because they didn't like the way you looked at them.

      They will then tear apart your house under "probable cause" looking for said pot... and if they don't find any, they might arrest you and have some magically appear.

      Sorry, I'd rather a good metal baseball bat if I need any help at 3am.
    • dracflamloc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8"Who will come to your house at 3am when you need them... "

      If you're in a rich neighborhood. Otherwise they show up an hour after the phone call.
  • sanj0hn, on 10/11/2007, -10/+10only in America...
    • javip, on 10/11/2007, -3/+9dunno why he's being dugg down.. it's true

      I can't think of any other civilized western nation where this would happen
  • berfmurret, on 10/11/2007, -5/+11man this guy was just asking for it. he should have licked the cops asshole when he said "i'll let you ride this time".. should have been compliant and said "yes sir, officer.. next time i will find another means of transportation".. and then rode his bike the next time anyways. i mean what are the chances he will run into that schmuck ever again. thats what a smart person would have done.. and not tried to argue with an obviously pigheaded, alpha male, power hungry, preturbed authority figure..
  • ronaldinho, on 10/11/2007, -4/+5The police can't just stop you when there wasn't even a sign telling you that you can't do this. And the sign appeared four months afterwards?

    I think most of us would agree that officer is an asshole though. Damn this is like the third time this month I have either read or seen such unreasonable enforcement of the police. No reason for the guy to be tasered and beat up. The guy might not be "calm" (probably more likely calm and condescending), but he wasn't going to attack the police, that's for sure. I agree, the guy should sue the police's ass off, and the airport videos should support him instead of the police.
  • Scik, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6While there are many decent points of discussion above... I still kinda feel like... No matter what side of the story, or how it really went down... Isn't this just a touch insane for someone riding a bicycle? I mean, come on, its an international airport, there has to be someone trying to sneak breast milk onto a plane, or commit some kind of petty crime somewhere nearby... but riding their bicycle? Wow. Really.

    Sounds like a good time to reduce the force... way too many cops on hand working way to hard to make mountains out of ... nothing.
  • getliquified, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8i hope he sues
  • maeon3, on 10/11/2007, -3/+10Officer Wingate needs to be fired, anybody have his contact info?
  • scabbers, on 10/11/2007, -4/+5PICK UP THE CAN

    My advice to Americans is comply with your overlords until the time comes. You know what I'm saying.

    PS don't all police cruisers have a dashboard camera?
    • Heaiser, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4Not all of them do. I wish this one did though, then we could see what REALLY happened and not just have to take this guys word for it. My guess is the truth of what happened isn't really this one sided.
    • scabbers, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6@heaser: It very rarely is. I have seen video of similar things happening, though.
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