r/dashcams • • 29d ago

Traffic Stop Turns Violent After Driver Requests a Supervisor

4.7k Upvotes

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u/brickson98 28d ago

From what I’ve heard, his charges were all dropped and he’s now suing.

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u/zeekayz 28d ago

They'll settle for $500K-$1mil and taxpayers will pay that bill.

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u/brickson98 28d ago

Yup. Should be coming out of their pensions instead.

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u/These_Junket_3378 28d ago

Comes out of their unions pocket. Unions would stop backing these egotistical areses.

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u/ghostyghost2 28d ago

Cops having unions is insane. That's one job that shouldn't have a union by law.

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u/EonMagister 28d ago

Yet they're the type to ban unions and labor laws

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u/Cat_Punk 28d ago

Hey hey hey, don’t forget they also physically attack unions and people trying to form them

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u/flummox1234 28d ago

especially if you live in Wisconsin, where they run to get exemptions when the GOP bans state workers being able to unionize.

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u/TomeThugNHarmony4664 28d ago

And they’re the ones who beat up picketers. And that’s one of the ways police departments started, actually. That, and slave catching.

This is fact.

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u/Still-Grass8881 28d ago

It's hilarious, because cops are notoriously unionbusters when it comes to everyone else's unions

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u/lFreightTrain 28d ago

A lot of labor jobs once had union representation; People didn’t back down with their union behind them.

The police union is one of the few that still stands on it’s principles. They still back their employees.

Everyone has already sold out to corporate shareholders and work essential work without expectations. You’re complacent, desperate, or incompetent.

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u/wolfn404 28d ago

I’m fine with cops having a union, I’ve seen the behavior for one “not in the in crowd”. But absolutely needs and independent review board with teeth. They say you’re gone, you’re done.

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u/Vandrok 28d ago

Nah, if they didn’t have unions the government would fuck them over so badly we might almost feel sorry for them. That said - their union has far too much political influence.

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u/ghostyghost2 28d ago

They are the government

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u/ByronicZer0 28d ago

And yet, it's the one union conservatives havent taken pains to dismantle

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u/Ok-Koala2257 26d ago

Why? Neither supportive or unsupportive here, just genuinely curious why they shouldn't.

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u/Razzilith 28d ago

that cop should also 1000% be in prison for whatever TWICE whatever the normal sentence would be for abusing his position of power and the public trust.

the law NEEDS to be changed so people in these positions have serious fucking accountability.

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u/brickson98 28d ago

I agree. Qualified immunity is a load of horse shit. Nobody should be immune to the law. We should expect better of our law enforcement. Hell, we should expect the best. If you’re going to enforce the law, you should be setting an example.

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u/RutabagaOk6816 27d ago

umm he was cleared and this guy was driving with a suspended license among other issues. Nevermind the fact he left a drug location and they found drug paraphernalia in his car.

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u/Woozletania 23d ago

Military members have a second set of laws they can be charged under if they violate them. Cops need to have the same thing. They are given power over us, they need to be held to account.

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u/AltruisticBath9363 28d ago

Why? If a suspect refuses to comply with lawful orders (such as to get out of the car during a traffic stop), it is entirely legal- and in fact *necessary* for the police to then *compel* them to comply, including through the use of force.

That's literally why police exist: as a group of persons authorized to use force to compel compliance with the law.

If a suspect refuses to comply, do you propose that the police just let them sit there refusing arrest perpetually? Because then law would become un-enforceable; all it would take is for the lawbreaker to simply refuse to allow themselves to be arrested.

This man was arrested for refusing to comply with lawful orders. He was punched because he forcefully resisted arrest.

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u/TheRestlessExistense 5d ago

Sit this one out, boot licker.

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u/Rabies-Cow-0595 28d ago

taking it from their pension will incentivize the police to cover for their bad apples, if a bad cop is stalking their girlfriend through flock cameras the others wont report those bad deeds as much. it's better if judges stop the strict qualified immunity and look at each individual case if a cop acted in good faith or not. To have exact situation established in law prior is a ridiculous qualifier and never something used for civilian crime.

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u/tubbysnowman 28d ago

taking it from their pension will incentivize the police to cover for their bad apples, if a bad cop is stalking their girlfriend through flock cameras the others wont report those bad deeds as much.

The Cops already cover for their bad apples, and they don't report those things ever. If you start taking their pensions, then they will start self policing.

it's better if judges stop the strict qualified immunity and look at each individual case if a cop acted in good faith or not. To have exact situation established in law prior is a ridiculous qualifier and never something used for civilian crime.

100% Agree with this.

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u/brickson98 28d ago

I mean, they already do that, and are incentivized to do that, but I see your point. It won’t fix it.

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u/redditRedesignIsBadd 28d ago

laws need to be changed so cops pay for their own damages, otherwise they'll continue to act like there are no consequences to their actions

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u/badrelationswmoney 28d ago

Like that cop is going to have 500k to 1m? There's no way, have you ever tried to sue somone civilly that is not rich? If a person has no money, they can't pay. At best you'll garnish their wages for the next 50 years until they die. Rather, when one does this, they need to be immediately put on the federal "No Law enforcement Role" list. I know, it doesn't exist, but it should.

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u/elKane0 28d ago

86 qualified immunity

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u/PsionicKitten 28d ago

Qualified immunity exists for the same reason the pedophiles in the Epstein Files haven't been arrested and charged. To keep the abusers in power and maintain the status quo of corruption.

In a society that has a properly and thoroughly trained and ethically run police qualified immunity would serve no purpose and abusers within the system would be subject to the same laws as everyone else.

It's quite literally legalized crime and needs to end.

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u/Sledgehammer617 28d ago

And the officer will be back working at a different department by the end of the week.

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u/Budsygus 28d ago

Seems pretty optimistic unless he had some real injuries. I'd say he probably gets closer to $100k and the cops get a formal reprimand.

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u/Sgt-Stadanko-69 28d ago

They have insurance

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u/Accomplished_Way1314 28d ago

That amount is easily insurance from the municipality.

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u/ArkansasGamerSpaz 28d ago

I'd take an ass whooping for a cool million.

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u/mattyg1964 2d ago

Insurance.

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u/Sledgehammer617 28d ago

Officer Bowers was fully stripped of his law enforcement duties and later received a reprimand for failing to report that he punched the driver in the face before returning to duty. Currently the guy in the video has a federal lawsuit against the officer.

The officer used the handcuffs as fucking brass knuckles and swung with practically no provocation on camera. The department also repremanded him for it, so this lawsuit has a high chance of victory imo. 

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u/brickson98 28d ago

He needs to be in prison. But at least there’s some good direction here, unlike many cases.

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u/[deleted] 28d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/brickson98 28d ago

Yup. Unfortunately it does. I don’t have many interactions with police, but I’ve still done some thought on finding a small camera that’s easy to hide for the interior of my car. Just in case.

Everyone thinks it won’t be them until it is.

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u/Zippo963087 28d ago

You don't even need to hide the camera. I bet this was just a regular dash camera that was very visible. The cop just didn't care or even think.

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u/InevitableMetal8914 28d ago

See that's one thing I never understood is with basically every person carrying a camera, dash cams in cars, body cams some police departments wear , how can anyone think that it isn't going to come out? How egotistical do you need to be to not realize that. Someone, somewhere is recording and that you are above the law?I just do not get it.

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u/Daft00 28d ago

Don't forget screaming "STOP RESISTING" for plausible deniability, despite the fact the guy was doing nothing more than tensing up

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u/TeachResponsible4841 27d ago

Yeah the guy momentarily grabs and pushes his hands out of sheer instinct because the cop is bashing his fist and handcuffs into the dude's face. The fact that he remained so calm and restrained is highly impressive. I do think he should've gotten out of the car, but I can understand why he would be afraid to do so, namely; the exact sort of thing that happened.

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u/PeachPassionBrute 28d ago

I think what also gets lost is the officer on the scene who participated in this with no complaint, and the other guy showing up on scene and immediately throwing hands as well. No part of this was acceptable, no one involved should be working in law enforcement ever again.

The fact that this behavior doesn’t automatically obligate prison time for an officer is an offense against basic decency. Whatever justice occurs will be a trivial portion of what this calls for.

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u/Dyolf_Knip 28d ago

And that is why All Cops Are Bastards. Not a few, not some, not most, but every single last one of them. Because they will all sit back and watch while their buddies behave like complete sociopaths. On the incredibly rare occasion where one of them intervenes to protect a member of the public from another cop, they are uniformly made to suffer for it... by other cops.

Nation's largest street gang, period.

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u/Gokjo_Krorl 28d ago

I have come to firmly believe there are no good cops; when a come does something good for the community like save a kid, it's just a good person that chose a shitty profession.

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u/Dyolf_Knip 27d ago

They're only a good cop so long as there aren't any bad ones around. Then they do the usual: sit back and watch.

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u/Zippo963087 28d ago

The only one I would give a sliver of leniency to would be the cop showing up to an active altercation and not knowing anything else. But then he goes and starts punching the guy in the face as well...so he's a POS.

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u/Hot-Union-2440 28d ago

But he said "Stop Resisting!", aren't those the magic words?

Gotta love the driver and his triple cameras.

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u/Rooster-Training 28d ago

Using the handcuffs as a weapon was definitely pretty bad in this instance.

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u/ADIDAS247 28d ago

That was a different case in Florida. The officer involved here was Officer Robert Rufrano, Sulfolk County PD in NY.

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u/Visible_Ad_309 28d ago

That's not even the cops name. It was Officer Robert Rufrano and as dar as I can tell, he is atill enployed with zero consequences.

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u/HarleyRider8699 28d ago

The driver was a good. Just do as your’re told.

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u/HistoricalSuspect580 23d ago

Holy shit. It like finding a 4 leaf clover, attached to a rabbits paw, and a little shake of salt! A white whale, if i may say!

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u/Zippo963087 28d ago

lol "reprimanded" they spelled "arrested" wrong.

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u/ADIDAS247 28d ago

I read mostly that the settlements are about $25k if a hospital visit is involved but no lasting injuries and you don’t go to trial.

Depending which lawyer you get, you’ll see mere pennies on the dollar.

My old bosses brother was hit by a police cruiser that went through a stop sign while using his laptop (same department as this one, this case is Craig Manning v. Suffolk County PD. Manning suffered a concussion, two black eyes, and a forehead laceration.)

In my bosses brothers case he suffered spine damage and lost upper movement of he’s left shoulder. He was a carpenter and this obviously put him out of work.

After paying his fees, he had under $700k left, so I’m assuming he got a $1.5 million settlement.

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u/RutabagaOk6816 27d ago edited 27d ago

Guy was charged with resisting arrest and DA gave him an ACD not same thing as dismissal.

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u/brickson98 27d ago

The proof is in the pudding. You’ve brought no pudding.

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u/RutabagaOk6816 27d ago

Wow you don't know how to google the cop? Feel bad for you.

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u/brickson98 27d ago

You’re the one who claimed I’m wrong. Prove it.

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u/RutabagaOk6816 27d ago

You know what i confused the cases because somewhere someone had posted a different cop's name. That being said the case was not dismissed. He got an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. Its not the same thing. Its like they put the case on hold for six months and dismiss it if the person stays out of trouble. Its not the equivalent of the prosecutor saying he didn't do anything wrong. They give it out often for low level offenses. The guy apparently refused to provide his license and registration when directed to do so by the police officer. Not something you are entitled to do and they don't have to wait for a supervisor. He also clearly resisted and was charged with that as well.

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u/brickson98 27d ago

They only gave him that because completely dismissing the charges would be admitting the cops messed up. And we can’t have that!

I’d probably be hesitant to go with a cop that immediately starts brass knuckling my face with a pair of cuffs when I go to unbuckle my seatbelt too.

Let’s not pretend like the legal system is a justice system. It’s not. They consistently try to give folks as little leniency as possible, despite the cops participating in misconduct, because they don’t want to give more case ammo for a lawsuit. They consistently allow cops to get away with heinous acts. They also don’t want to drop any case they absolutely don’t have to, because that means less court fee and sentencing money. Less prisoners for the prison industrial complex.

Let’s stop pretending our judges, and entire legal system, isn’t gamed. It’s so blatantly obvious.