California dad 'begged for his life' as police beat him to death

[InCiDeR]

California dad 'begged for his life' as police beat him to death - witnesses

A California father of four died Wednesday shortly after a group of police allegedly beat him with batons as he lay defenseless on the sidewalk. Cops, before confiscating witness' cameras, also reportedly unleashed a canine unit on him.

David Sal Silva, 33, allegedly resisted when police approached him to ask if he was who neighbors called about to complain of an intoxicated man in the area. The officers called for backup and, witnesses told the Bakersfield Californian, Silva was soon being beaten in the face and upper body by as many as nine policemen and their batons. At least one of the cops reportedly held a German Shepherd on a leash nearby.

Witnesses who had recorded the events on their cell phone cameras had the devices confiscated by officers, who claimed the footage was part of a police investigation that could yield evidence. The Sherriff’s Department has released the names of seven officers who were on the scene, but the identities of the California Highway Patrol police who were also there have not yet been made public.

“When I got outside I saw two officers beating a man with batons, and they were hitting his head so every time they would swing, I could hear the blows to his head,” said witness Ruben Ceballos, who told the Californian the noise was so loud it woke him up.

“His body was just lying on the street and before the ambulance arrived one of the officers performed CPR on him and another used a flashlight on his eyes but I’m sure he was already dead.”

Police have refused to comment, citing an ongoing investigation that could take years to complete, but relatives have demanded the cell phone footage be made public.

“My brother spent the last eight minutes of his life pleading, begging for his life,” said Christopher Silva, 31. “The true evidence is in those phone witnesses that apparently the sheriff deputies already took. But I know the truth will come out and my brother’s voice will be heard.”

An autopsy was completed Thursday but the cause of death’s release is pending a toxicology report and microscopic studies, the local coroner’s office told the Bakersfield Californian Friday.

The family has hired attorney David Cohn, who told reporters they plan to file a civil rights lawsuit in federal district court next week. He sent a letter formally requesting that law enforcement agencies do not tamper with the video evidence on the phones.

“We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words,” Cohn said. “And thank God we have concerned citizens who take video and pictures of incidents like this and who are ultimately policing the police … But we will get to the bottom of this and I ask the sheriff’s department once again, what are you hiding?”

Source


Is this some kind of aftermath of Boston Bombings and its martial law?!

[Orph]

Posted by InCiDeR (here)

Is this some kind of aftermath of Boston Bombings and its martial law?!

Nothing to do with Boston. Police in the U.S. have always enjoyed beating the crap out of people. They like to kill people too. I can tell you from personal experience that cops escalate the tension rather than calm things down. And if a person does anything, and I mean anything, to resist, then out come the guns and the clubs. Even when the cops outnumber the so called bad guy by 5 or 6 or more, they still feel the need to beat the snot out of, or even shoot and kill the victim. Mark my word, you will hear exactly this as an excuse, ......... "I feared for my life", or "I feared for the pubic safety". Those are always standard excuses when they kill somebody.

[InCiDeR]

Posted by Orph (here)

Posted by InCiDeR (here)

Is this some kind of aftermath of Boston Bombings and its martial law?!

Nothing to do with Boston. Police in the U.S. have always enjoyed beating the crap out of people. They like to kill people too. I can tell you from personal experience that cops escalate the tension rather than calm things down. And if a person does anything, and I mean anything, to resist, then out come the guns and the clubs. Even when the cops outnumber the so called bad guy by 5 or 6 or more, they still feel the need to beat the snot out of, or even shoot and kill the victim. Mark my word, you will hear exactly this as an excuse, ......... "I feared for my life", or "I feared for the pubic safety". Those are always standard excuses when they kill somebody.

Yes. That the police enjoy beating a person, so much have I understood during the years... but beat someone to death is a whole different case! Is that really common in U.S?

[Orph]

Posted by InCiDeR (here)
Yes. That the police enjoy beating a person, so much have I understood during the years... but beat someone to death is a whole different case! Is that really common in U.S?

Lets see, one homeless man holding a broken tree branch and five cops. Outcome? If you guessed all five cops open fire on the homeless man killing him you guessed right. Okay, how about one man with a cement trowel against multiple cops. Outcome? If you guessed cops open fire killing the man you guessed right. Two guys get in a fight on a saturday night. No big deal right? Happens all the time. Until the cops show up and then one of the guys ends up shot dead by the cops. It just goes on and on.

[InCiDeR]

Posted by Orph (here)

Posted by InCiDeR (here)
Yes. That the police enjoy beating a person, so much have I understood during the years... but beat someone to death is a whole different case! Is that really common in U.S?

Lets see, one homeless man holding a broken tree branch and five cops. Outcome? If you guessed all five cops open fire on the homeless man killing him you guessed right. Okay, how about one man with a cement trowel against multiple cops. Outcome? If you guessed cops open fire killing the man you guessed right. Two guys get in a fight on a saturday night. No big deal right? Happens all the time. Until the cops show up and then one of the guys ends up shot dead by the cops. It just goes on and on.

How frequent is this? Are we talking about several cases a week here?

If that is the case. Why do not people do something about this? Have they become so indifferent to police brutality so they don't see it anymore? Or is it more like "It is not my problem as long as it not happens to me"? Or maybe they believe the Police is doing the right thing and in the end protect them?

[Orph]

Posted by InCiDeR (here)

How frequent is this? Are we talking about several cases a week here?

This happens a lot. The problem is, it's part of the system. How do you fight it? It happens all across America. If a case against a cop does go to trial, the cop gets off the hook. Every time. It's always the exact same two excuses I mentioned above that allows the cops to literally get away with murder. And cops take (or should I say steal), cell phones and video cameras of people that take pictures of this stuff happening. It's crazy.

Nothing more to be said by me.

[InCiDeR]

Posted by Orph (here)

Posted by InCiDeR (here)

How frequent is this? Are we talking about several cases a week here?

This happens a lot. The problem is, it's part of the system. How do you fight it? It happens all across America. If a case against a cop does go to trial, the cop gets off the hook. Every time. It's always the exact same two excuses I mentioned above that allows the cops to literally get away with murder. And cops take (or should I say steal), cell phones and video cameras of people that take pictures of this stuff happening. It's crazy.

Nothing more to be said by me.

Then U.S. is in a worse shape than I could ever fathom. I know this happened every now and then, but not at this frequency.

How do you fight the system?

By non-compliance. If you give up or look away you will be a part of the problem in my opinion. The power lies with the people. In one way or another we have to wake them.

[JohnEAngel]

Posted by Orph (here)

Posted by InCiDeR (here)

How frequent is this? Are we talking about several cases a week here?

This happens a lot. The problem is, it's part of the system. How do you fight it? It happens all across America. If a case against a cop does go to trial, the cop gets off the hook. Every time. It's always the exact same two excuses I mentioned above that allows the cops to literally get away with murder. And cops take (or should I say steal), cell phones and video cameras of people that take pictures of this stuff happening. It's crazy.

Nothing more to be said by me.

although i am not a fan of any type of law enforcement i would have to say that cops do not get off the hook 'every time'. just as in the civilian population there are rotten eggs of a particular ratio, so are there in any specific population. for the record, if these cops are guilty of beating this guy to death then i would hope that justice will be served.

[bram]

If it's really as bad as some of you guys say, then surely the answer is a concealed recording device- using a phone cam is obvious to the cops, however the technology must exist to have a small wireless webcam wired into the frame of your glasses- when you see something like this, just put on your shades (CSI miami style), click the switch and record.

Once its on u-tube, it will be impossible for the cops to deny it, or even to identify who recorded them. Any such devices exist?

[ThePythonicCow]

Posted by bram (here)
If it's really as bad as some of you guys say, then surely the answer is a concealed recording device- using a phone cam is obvious to the cops, however the technology must exist to have a small wireless webcam wired into the frame of your glasses- when you see something like this, just put on your shades (CSI miami style), click the switch and record.

I have dreams of getting such a device for myself -- along with a more visible phone camera. Run both in such a situation. Complain but give in grudgingly when the cops want the phone camera. Lay low and be very careful with how I handle the recording on the second concealed camera.

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

cyclists are in a good position to witness and record police violence on their helmet cams.
i'd get a good hidden helmet cam if such a thing exists.
there are also sunglasses with hidden cameras, etc.

this stuff doesn't need to happen... it always seems to happen to mexicans and blacks, too....
the police in Seattle treated me decently compared to the way they treat blacks and mexicans here...

we had a native american woodcarver shot dead crossing the street with a carving knife,
and a cop was caught on camera while attacking a mexican on the ground, saying "i am gonna beat the mexican piss out of you"...

people keep getting shot from cars, and shot while sleeping in their cars.
there are lots of mass murders and crimes against the police here, too.

my dad told me seattle was dangerous and now i understand why

[meeradas]

Posted by Paul (here)

Posted by bram (here)
If it's really as bad as some of you guys say, then surely the answer is a concealed recording device- using a phone cam is obvious to the cops, however the technology must exist to have a small wireless webcam wired into the frame of your glasses- when you see something like this, just put on your shades (CSI miami style), click the switch and record.

I have dreams of getting such a device for myself -- along with a more visible phone camera. Run both in such a situation. Complain but give in grudgingly when the cops want the phone camera. Lay low and be very careful with how I handle the recording on the second concealed camera.

You must have heard of this [I bet there's a thread or two about it on here, already]:

http://www.google.com/glass/start/what-it-does/

Most interesting feature in this regard should be "Even share what you see. Live.". That'd be it for those cops... [I am aware of the dark possibilities of the feature/ the device itself]


There's also ballpen cams and the like available for everyone, nowadays.


I do hope they missed one or two persons "taping" the incident...

[westhill]

So when do we stop filming/witnessing with our phones and step in to stop a man from getting beat to death right in front of us?
How many here could stand by and just let this happen and my god just film it! To hear the man plead for his life and
still stand back at a safe distance. The press in of a few bystanders and a couple to well placed words could have been all needed to
disrupt the momentum (take the focus off the beaten man). Wow, we are a nation of sheep documenting our own slaughter.

[music]

There will be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life. All competing pleasures will be destroyed. But always — do not forget this, Winston — always there will be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and constantly growing subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever

[Knowrainknowrainbows!]

Posted by westhill (here)
So when do we stop filming/witnessing with our phones and step in to stop a man from getting beat to death right in front of us?
How many here could stand by and just let this happen and my god just film it! To hear the man plead for his life and
still stand back at a safe distance. The press in of a few bystanders and a couple to well placed words could have been all needed to
disrupt the momentum (take the focus off the beaten man). Wow, we are a nation of sheep documenting our own slaughter.

This IS the problem to the problem and the solution. Thank you for raising the conversation to another level.
Peace is possible.

KRKR

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by bram (here)
If it's really as bad as some of you guys say, then surely the answer is a concealed recording device- using a phone cam is obvious to the cops, however the technology must exist to have a small wireless webcam wired into the frame of your glasses- when you see something like this, just put on your shades (CSI miami style), click the switch and record.

Once its on u-tube, it will be impossible for the cops to deny it, or even to identify who recorded them. Any such devices exist?

http://www.uspystore.com/video-surve...n-cameras.html

[Knowrainknowrainbows!]

If someone is unable to stop/interrupt a violent act, instead of recording it ... call for help!
Call 911 as in any other emergency.
Call family/friends to report it to news.
Mass text/tweet.

Just thinkin'
KRKR

[bram]

Posted by westhill (here)
So when do we stop filming/witnessing with our phones and step in to stop a man from getting beat to death right in front of us?
How many here could stand by and just let this happen and my god just film it! To hear the man plead for his life and
still stand back at a safe distance. The press in of a few bystanders and a couple to well placed words could have been all needed to
disrupt the momentum (take the focus off the beaten man). Wow, we are a nation of sheep documenting our own slaughter.

Did you see the other story of the woman who was filming the cops beating up some kid? They dragged her out of her car by the hair, smashed her camera, beat her up (about six of them) and arrested her. She had her two year old kid in the car with her. She is currently trying to sue the cops, but with little success.

If you try to step in, you will get beat up and arrested. You might get shot dead too.

[Vitalux]

Posted by InCiDeR (here)
California dad 'begged for his life' as police beat him to death - witnesses

thank you for sharing this.
Other than gasp in shock and fear, most will just take in this information like a dramatic movie and shake their head.

There is no Law and Order. What is the sense of having laws if the ones making the laws do not have to obey them.

The police and government break any laws with complete impunity.

and label those to try to call attention to it, terrorist.
what a scam


How much are the American People going to take before they rise up and take action to stop this insanity.


My guess is much like watching a good drama movie on television, we all like to complain rather than get off our asses and fix it.


Solution is easy, the people must throw the criminals in charge out of office and replace them with a government that is by the people, for the people.
Not this crap that exists now.

Perhaps part of our reason for living is to be willing to die for human rights.

[Dennis Leahy]

Posted by westhill (here)
So when do we stop filming/witnessing with our phones and step in to stop a man from getting beat to death right in front of us?
How many here could stand by and just let this happen and my god just film it! To hear the man plead for his life and still stand back at a safe distance.
...
Wow, we are a nation of sheep documenting our own slaughter.

This is exactly correct.

Posted by westhill (here)
The press in of a few bystanders and a couple to well placed words could have been all needed to disrupt the momentum (take the focus off the beaten man).

But, the person stepping forward will also be beaten, and arrested for "interfering with a police officer", or maybe killed. Will this action actually stop the cop(s), or simply be an excuse for the cop(s) to escalate their violence? The person stepping forward would hope that many others would also step forward and simply restrain the cops by sheer volume, which is the only possible way the violence would be stopped. More realistically, one brave soul would step forward - and receive massive punishment for their bravery.

The "home of the brave" line from the national anthem is a major irony - and the punchline of a joke. There is plenty of violence between individuals in the US, almost always where there is a major difference in power (gang against one, man against woman, adult against child, big physical guy against smaller gentle person, person with badge/taser/gun/backup against lone civilian), and the instigator of the violence is more powerful. Nothing brave about it. There are instances of people showing bravery to help out someone who is being attacked, but it is extremely rare for this to be when someone tries to step in when cops are committing crimes. It would almost HAVE to be instinctual bravery, because if the person stops and thinks about the ramifications of trying to stop a cop... well, it would freeze almost anyone.

The judicial system is utterly corrupt in the US. Anyone who does not know this is operating from theory, not experience. No matter what the cops do, they are given deference in court. Note I didn't say they are "believed" in court; the judge probably does not believe them, but will always defer to them. No matter what the cops do to a person who was trying to stop a cop from committing a crime, the person is instantly a criminal and subject to whatever sadism and rage is bottled-up in the cop (and his buddies with badges.) Then, if they live through the event, the full weight of the "justice" system will come down on them.

Land of the slaves. Home of the cowards (with exceedingly rare exceptions.) What would I do? People are tested by real situations, not by theoretical words. I hope I don't have to find out.

The OP is not about protest, but this does make me segue into the fact that I now strongly recommend against street protest. Street protest is 100% ineffective (no one in power is listening - no one in power cares.) By stepping into the street protest arena in a police state, a person immediately becomes vulnerable to anything any cop decides to do - it makes no difference if a protester was completely non-violent, holding up a sign and chanting. The protester WILL be found guilty of whatever that cop says happened. Agents provocateur are used if the cops want footage to convince the teevee watchers that the cops were justified in their actions.

Dennis