Graphic New Videos Show a Cop Try to Kill A Man for Improperly Crossing the StreetAsheville, NC – Crossing the street in a manner deemed “illegal” by the state can and will get you beaten, shot, kidnapped, caged, and even killed. Body Camera footage was released last month illustrating this dangerous reality. The video shows one police officer restraining a man down while another officer repeatedly punches him in the head after they confronted him for the “crime” of jaywalking. Last month, in an extremely rare move by the District Attorney, the cop who was recorded doing the beating has been criminally charged and arrested.
Now, this week, the department has released all the video from the attack which provides new insight into the nature of this most brutal encounter and illustrates why the officer was charged.
District Attorney Todd Williams announced early last month that former officer Chris Hickman, 31, is facing charges of felony assault by strangulation, and misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury and communicating threats, according to the Citizen-Times.
Hickman then posted $10,000 bail and was released.
The department attempted to keep the video below from the public eye, however, the city of Asheville petitioned the courts to release all the footage related to the incident. On March 26th, a judge ruled that they were to be released, and this week, nine videos were published online.As TFTP reported last month, Johnnie Jermaine Rush, 33, had just finished a 13-hour shift at a local Cracker Barrel restaurant and was leaving a store on his way home when he was approached by Verino Ruggiero, an officer in training. In the Body Cam footage published by the Citizen-Times, Ruggiero claimed he had warned Rush about jaywalking.
“All I’m trying to do is go home, man. I‘m tired. I just got off work,” Rush replied.
The originally relased footage was from a camera worn by Hickman, who was in the patrol car with Ruggiero. While Ruggiero was the one directly confronting Rush, Hickman stood on the other side of the vehicle.
“I’ve got two options: I can either arrest you or write you a ticket,” Ruggiero told Rush.
“It doesn’t matter to me, man. Do what you have got to do, besides keep harassing me,” Rush replied.
“I’m not harassing you,” Ruggiero insisted.
“That’s all in your mind, man,” Hickman interjected. He then directed his attention towards his fellow officer and said, “Just write him a ticket. He wants to act like a punk.”
It is clear from the Body Cam footage that traffic was light at that time of night, and the Citizen-Times noted that the confrontation happened near a corner were hundreds of pedestrians typically cross without using a crosswalk before and after games at a nearby baseball field.
When Rush let out an exasperated string of obscenities, Hickman apparently decided that a ticket was not enough. He began marching towards Rush, pointing his finger at him and yelling, “Put your hands behind your back! Don’t! Don’t! Do NOT! Stop, drop the bag. Put your hands behind your back.”
“OK, OK,” Rush responded before he slipped from the officer’s grasp and started running in the opposite direction.
“Motherf—ker … thinks it’s funny. You know what’s funny is that you’re going to get f—ked up hardcore!” Hickman yelled as he pulled out his Taser and chased after Rush.
Rush stopped running and both officers forced him to the ground and piled on top of him. While both Hickman and Ruggiero restrained Rush on the ground, Hickman is seen on the Body Cam footage punching him in the head several times.
“I can’t breathe!” Rush cried out multiple times as he was punched repeatedly and hit with the officer’s Taser twice. He was taken to the hospital after the incident, and he told the Citizen-Times that while he was there, “Hickman was abusive to him and used a racial slur.”
Rush was initially charged with assault on a government official; resisting, delaying and obstructing an officer; trespass and traffic offenses. However, those charges have all been dismissed.After watching the videos below, it becomes entirely clear as to why the charges against Rush were dropped and charges against Hickman were brought. (videos available on article below)
According to the Citizen Times, in response Monday to questions about the videos, including the portions that appear to show Rush being strangled, Hickman’s attorney Thomas Amburgey said, “nothing is clear cut.”
He gave no further comment.
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/crossing-street-body-camera-footage-beating/It is extremely rare that we see cops charged when they become violent and attack people - in this case one of them is charged with 1 felony and 2 misdemeanors. Now the "Sheriff" is whining about "anti-law enforcement agenda" even though the calls were mostly about "reviewing policies", funding "training" and establishing independent bodies that will investigate abuse and use of force incidents. Training is not enough. Criminals must be punished, and those of the badge holding variety who violently attack and abuse others should be punished extremely harshly.
Sheriff slams county's call for more police training as a 'slap in the face,' says it drives 'anti-law enforcement agenda'Calls for training by officials in North Carolina after police released video of an officer punching and choking a black pedestrian have angered the county’s sheriff, who says doing so drives “anti-law enforcement agenda.”
Three Democratic Buncombe commissioners issued a statement on Tuesday asking to fund training for all law enforcement within the county, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported.
This comes just one day after officials released a video from 2017 showing Officer Christopher Hickman subduing and punching Johnnie Jermaine Rush, 33, for allegedly jaywalking.
Rush can also be seen screaming in pain after being shocked with a stun gun.
Hickman is facing a felony assault charge.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/04/03/sheriff-slams-countys-call-for-more-police-training-as-slap-in-face-says-it-drives-anti-law-enforcement-agenda.html