Caught On Tape -- Cops Attack Actors

76. Thank you Tom... That was the best comment to this entire situation. Unfortunately it will anger some, and others might have a better understanding and recant what they originally thought. It didn't matter that they were movie stars or everyday Joes. The Police had a situation that had to be handled quickly or the situation would have grown. People don't understand that if an officer is in fear for his/her life and can justify it in the eyes of the court, deadly force can be used. Just because someone isn't possessing or brandishing a weapon doesn't mean force can't be used. If a large group of people are threatening the officer(s) and closing in on the "survival gap", all bets are off.

Posted at 12:57PM on Jan 7th 2009 by SLA

77. Tasers are pretty loud, I didn't hear the "clacking" of the weapon as the gal was saying "why are you still shocking him" You can clearly hear the ppl in the background, but no sound of the taser. She was probably just talking for the camera to give a lopsided view to her video. After all the video dosn't show the whole altercation, so its hard saying who was in the wrong.

Posted at 12:01AM on Jan 7th 2009 by must be deaf

78. I love the guys who say "well if they had just obeyed the cops this wouldn't have happened." I want to see them face some a-hole dumbass cop who is just itching to get their taser out. I want to see them try to be reasonable when the police are being aggressive and insulting. Then I want to see them just lay down and take it.

You shouldn't have to comply with a cop who is being unreasonable and aggressive. And if you do, you are just a compliant weasel. What if they tell you to get on your knees? I've seen it happen.

-LT

Posted at 1:24PM on Jan 7th 2009 by LT

79. Sorry E-nraged, it is exactly like that. Here in Portland, Oregon. When they shoot and kill someone they'd have a BBQ at someone backyard in Gresham. A neighbor of one of the cops told me. She also said he a neighborhood bully too.

Like Thun said anyone could become a police officer. Very little screening and training. One of them tried to date my 11 old sister and harassed my family afterwards when she said no. US is becoming a sad to live.

Posted at 1:30AM on Jan 7th 2009 by scared

80. #71 I was so touched by your pithy remarks to good ole Tom, that I wish we could have a parade. You and Tom are lost in your gobblydegook! These police officers were a disgrace to their profession. Also, both actors have a right to voice their feelings. I do believe that we still have the Bill of Rights. Perhaps, you should peruse them. Cops do have a tough job, but they should well-trained before they wear a badge. And their training is not synonymous with the training one receives in parts of Europe and in Canada as Thun so adeptly pointed out.

Posted at 2:00AM on Jan 7th 2009 by HonestAbe

81. "If they would just done what they were told, it would not have happened." --- This statement is a perfect example of the fall of the American character. What has happened to our country that we now produce citizens who excuse this sort of behavior - and blame the victim to boot? What has happened to our country that we now produce citizens so willing to abdicate their own personal sovereignty and allow themselves to be bossed around by bullies with badges? Know your rights. A police officer does not have the right to detain you unless you are being placed under arrest. Please America - Don't let us become a country of servile drones. Don't let these pathetic little bullies intimidate you. Though they have shredded the Bill of Rights with addendums and qualifiers, this is still a free country. We cannot let incidents like this go by without a serious counter-reaction - The loss of freedoms is like a snowball rolling down a hill......It gains momentum, and it gets harder and harder to reverse the course. Over time, each new generation grows up a little less free, and a little more predisposed to accept further losses. In very short order, the American experiment could end with scarcely a whimper.

As far as the cops go, imo the basic problem - much of the time - comes down to stupid. In a free society, the role of the law enforcement official is one of sacred importance. Far too often, the people least suited to hold such a position are the ones most likely to seek it out. The stupid, the aggressive, the deeply insecure and unstable (those seeking a career that gives them a feeling of power and control). These are the people that should never be allowed anywhere near a position with this kind of responsibility, yet they make up a frightening percentage of those that fill the ranks. What's more, it's guaranteed to get progressively worse year after year as one generation of stupid and/or borderline personalities trains the next generation of stupid and/or borderline personalities. Personally, i think we need to start requiring a mandatory, highly specialized two - four year degree for any position in law enforcement. In conjunction with this move, we would also have to significantly increase their pay and benefits.This change would weed out nearly all of the dangerous personality types that are currently so pervasive, and it would attract some of our best and brightest, those that sincerely want to serve and protect their society.

Something has to change - we are fast becoming a police state. Worse, as the comment i quoted demonstrates, our national collective unconscious is becoming more and more willing to accept - and even advocate - our own subjugation. This is America, people - the greatest experiment in freedom and self-determination ever attempted by mankind - we owe it to past and future generations to make sure it doesn't falter and fail.

Posted at 3:16AM on Jan 7th 2009 by Redacted

82. I don't believe this video. TMZ always tries to make things look serious to get people attention...

Posted at 4:02AM on Jan 7th 2009 by pussyhunger

83. As a retired Shreveport Police Officer with 28 years of service I find no excuse for the way Brolin and crew were treated during this incident. I do believe the have a very good case in civil court if decide to pursue it.

Posted at 6:18AM on Jan 7th 2009 by Thatcher

84. I LIVED IN SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA FOR 18 YEARS. IT IS A BOTTOMLESS PIT. ONCE YOUR THERE YOU CAN'T GE T OUT AND THE COPS STINK ROYALLY. THEY ARE ALWAYS PUSHING THE LIMITS AND DOING THINGS THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO DO. JUST LIKE THE LADY THAT WAS TAKEN IN A BACK ROOM AT ONE OF THE LOCAL POLICE STATIONS AND BEATEN AND SHE SUED AND THE COPS WERE EITHER FIRED OF SUSPENDED. THEY ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO COVER SOMETHING UP. WHEN I LIVED THERE ME AND MY HUSBAND AT THE TIME GOT PULLED OVER FOR DRIVING THRU DOWN TOWN ONE NIGHT AND THEY HASSELED US BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NOTICE THE CHANGE IN LANES ON A ONE WAY STREET. I WAS CARRYING A 2 GALLON BOTTLE OF APPLE JUICE FOR MY SON AND THEY TRIED TO ACCUSE US OF BEING DRUNK. THEY MADE ME BREAK THE SEAL ON THE BOTTLE AND SMELLED IT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS APPLE JUICE. TOTAL B. S. BUT TYPICAL SHREVEPORT!!!

Posted at 6:23AM on Jan 7th 2009 by shreveport use to be

85. cops have to be the most corrupt and dispicable people on the planet. i would never call the cops if i were in trouble and needed help, they would make matters worse.
i say sue the bastards and take their badges! throw them in jail into the general population, then see how tough they are!

Posted at 7:01AM on Jan 7th 2009 by chrisa

86. tazers can kill, people defending the police need to ask themselves if this happened to a friend of mine, would it be ok if they were shot to death? sometimes tazers kill with no warning.
take care,
stw

Posted at 12:07PM on Jan 7th 2009 by stw

87. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT RACISM STILL EXISTS . AND YOUR GIONG TO SEE ALOT MORE OF THIS TYPE OF BRUTALITY, BECAUSE THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE ANGRY AT THE FACT WE HAVE A BLACK PRESIDENT

Posted at 7:20AM on Jan 7th 2009 by poopsi

88. I lived in New Orleans, La. The police there are a rough, tough bunch. You would never would want to interfere, if they are arresting or questioning someone!!! I imagine the police in Shreveport, La. are similar to those in New Orleans or really anywhere!! Think twice before you start questioning what they are doing!!! It does look like the police overreacted to these guys!! You just never know how they will react, if someone questions them while they are doing their job. Maybe they will see this tape and realize they could have handled the situation better!! I wonder what the police were doing to make these guys want to interfere? Maybe they were using excessive force with someone that looked like they were being abusive!!!!

Posted at 11:27AM on Jan 7th 2009 by sukithree

89. To # 82...RACISM?? Huh? The actors are white and all but one of the police officers are black, and it was the black cop who did most of the damage! So, your opinion makes no since whatsoever!

Posted at 8:06AM on Jan 7th 2009 by Bethany

90. to 83 that was my point exactly, if it was white cops everyone would have taken thier side.so you just proved my point
oh and one of the actors is black ' so we know where you stand on race issues, you can,t tell who is white or black

Posted at 8:23AM on Jan 7th 2009 by poopsi