By Sam Rolley - April 4, 2014
A video posted to YouTube this week provides yet another example of American law enforcement run amok. It shows a Louisiana sheriff’s deputy forcing his way into a private residence and arresting an occupant for “resisting an officer” after apparently threatening to shoot the young man in the head.
After forcing his way across the threshold of Eric Banegas’ home, the Louisiana Parish Sheriff’s deputy pushed the man’s friend, 26-year-old Donrell Breaux, across the room onto a couch.
“Look what you are doing… you’re scaring me,” Breaux said as the officer forced his way into the home. (continued below the video)
The officer then informed the young man, “You’re under arrest.”
Banegas videoed the encounter as the officer became increasingly belligerent and refused to tell either of the men why he was arresting Breaux.
“He didn’t do anything,” Benegas told the officer after the man entered his home.
“Wait,” the obviously shocked Benegas continued. “How’re you going to arrest somebody… you didn’t, you didn’t give him no reason… about what… what are you arresting him for?”
“Get outta here,” the deputy barked. “I’m not talkin’ to you.”
“This is my house, though,” Benegas countered.
The officer went on to say something about recording before turning his attention back to Breaux, who, in terrified tones, continued to ask why the situation had so rapidly escalated.
“Sir, what is your name?” Breaux asked.
“I’m not answering to you; you can answer to me,” the deputy said as he continued to pin the young man to the couch. The officer went on to say that Breaux was under arrest for “resisting an officer.”
Benegas, likely realizing the incredible danger of facing an armed intruder whose violence is sanctioned by the State, told his friend to surrender to the officer.
“D, D just let him go,” he said.
“Son, he’s trying to take me to jail. For what?” Breaux said. “I am scared, son.”
As he continued to ask for an explanation of why he was pinned to the couch by a man who had flagrantly violated the 4th Amendment and attacked him in a private home, Breaux noticed the deputy reaching for something on his belt.
“Do not shoot me. Please don’t shoot me,” Breaux exclaimed.
At that point, the scene became chaotic and the young man’s pleas grew increasingly frantic. However, a careful listen to the audio of the fray reveals what appears to be a shocking response from the officer: “[I’ll] shoot you in the head.”
“Please, please do not shoot me. Do not shoot me, sir,” Breaux exclaimed as the officer’s radio made an audible beep. “… Oh my god, please don’t shoot me, bro.”
“It’s just a radio,” the deputy said.
“Yeah, it’s just a radio,” Breaux said. “I’m, I’m fucking scared right now. I’m scared, I’ll do whatever you ask. But why are you attacking me?”
At that point, another officer arrived on the scene with the usual “stop resisting” chorus and the video fades to black.
Breaux was taken into custody by the duo and booked into the local jail on charges of resisting arrest with violence, battery of a police officer, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment