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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Police Brutalize Fruitcake For 'Speaking Mind' and 'Spraying Poison'
2008-06-02
"It was definately the most brutal graphic display of police brutality i have ever seen," says one witness.

An activist group called "CPWP" also known as "Crazy People for Wildlife Protection" had been holding a rally in Downtown Eugene speaking out against the use of roadside pesticides.

One member named Ian Van Ornum put on a mock exterminator suit. That's when things quickly turned ugly. Van Ornum began spraying plants and people in the area with an unknown substance. Organizers say it was water but when police showed up, Van Ornum told them it was poison. That's when 4 officers tackled and arrested him and while being cuffed, shocked with a Taser at least two times.

Officials say he was tased because he resisted arrest and swung at officers while one handcuff was on. Just why did it take 4 officers and a Taser to stop this 19 year old? Sergeant Pete Kerns with the Eugene Police Department explains. "In order to take a full grown man into custody who was actively resisting it takes more than one officer. This is in order to avoid injury to both the officer and the subject."

Witnesses say something different. "All he was saying was 'Why? Why are you doing this?' he wasn't resisting," says Carly Barnicle, an organizer of the demonstration. She adds, "They absolutetly abused it. They tasered him at least two times while he was on the ground. Face down. Face in the cement. There was blood coming from his head. His hands were held behind his back."

Two other men were also arrested during the scuffle. Their names are Anthony Jameson and David Owen. Police say they assaulted officers and tried to interfere with the prior arrest.

While police say it came to such extreme measure because their safety and the safety of others in the area was put in danger, others involved still aren't sure what to do next.

"I don't know where to go from here because they're supposed to be the law," says Barnicle. "They're supposed to be the peace. And it's scary to think, to think that they are'nt letting people speak their minds."
Posted by:Anonymoose

#7  The young man is a semi-finalist for This Year's Idiot, and the Carly Barnicle is at least an honorable mention.
Posted by: Steve White   2008-06-02 12:41  

#6  It's Eugene. Let the guy go. Just make sure he stays in town.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-06-02 11:53  

#5  Told clearly, unless they a had very good reaosn to know he was lying they should have shot fisrt and asked questions later. Next time it will be a real terrorist and they will give him the time he needs.

Not to mention that causing a stampede can kill so the sooner bystanders see the suspect is no longer causing trouble, the better.
Posted by: JFM   2008-06-02 11:47  

#4  "...Carly Barnicle, an organizer of the demonstration. "

Barnicle????? LMAO Oh my that sounds like one of Dickens' names.
Posted by: AlanC   2008-06-02 11:19  

#3  Pity they only used a taser.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2008-06-02 10:04  

#2  When the idgit shows up a the bank and pulls a toy gun, but declares it a gun, and gets hosed by a concealed carry holder, that's just tough crap. It doesn't matter whether it was a real whatever or not, the intent determined that the other parties are within their rights/powers to act based upon reasonable perception.

Officials say he was tased because he resisted arrest and swung at officers while one handcuff was on. Just why did it take 4 officers and a Taser to stop this 19 year old?

The writer has never seen much of the twenty years or so of COPS to grasp the answer.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2008-06-02 09:57  

#1  If it had been poison then officers softness would have translated into many people dying. They could not know what it was so if anything, the officers should be blamed is for having been much too soft.
Posted by: JFM   2008-06-02 09:36  

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