When Clowns Attack

To contact us Click HERE
http://www.wtsp.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1977163976001

An officer is dispatched to a report that a local "activist" dressed as a clown is squirting people with a squirt gun.  The officer responds and when he speaks the the subject a fight ensues and they both go to the ground.  The officer manages to get the upper hand and the suspect is taken into custody.  A local man sees the incident and rather than help the cop in a potentially life threatening incident video tapes the incident and sends the tape to the TV news because it's funny.

A back up officer arrived only a couple minutes later than the first officer.  When responding to incidents that involve local "activists" officers should approach the subject at least in pairs so that there is at least one witness to the incident.  People like that often will say or do things that are confrontational because they enjoy the publicity of an arrest or the possibility of a lawsuit for excessive force. The first officer arriving could wait and observe the behavior before making contact.  He could then approach with a partner and lessen the likely hood of a physical confrontation.

Sometimes when facing "activists" it can be very helpful to audio or video record the incident.  When the officer acts properly the tape can be used to impeach the suspects behavior.  The vast majority of time officers act in a manner that is reasonable and so the video will often show that behavior.  This video shows the officer on the ground with the "clown" on top of him.  The officers gun was exposed, but the officer kept fighting and eventually gained the upper hand.  Never underestimate the clowns you have to deal with on the street; that's what the SGT Says.