On Wednesday, New Jersey police released bodycam video which sheds light on the viral beating of a young girl by a beach officer.
Wednesdays footage of a cop punching a young girl in the head as he holds her face-down at the beach and the confrontation which preceded the sandy grappling serves as a compliment to the video which made headlines over the last few days.
In the nine minutes of additional context, Wildwood police are seen engaging 20-year-old Emily Weinman as she soaks up sun with her 18-month-old daughter, a friend, and her daughters father.
After discovering alcohol near her beach blankets, an officer orders her to take a Breathalizer test. I know that didnt come up positive. I didnt take a drink of anything, she says.
One of the cops states shes going to have to pour out her alcohol.
Off-camera, either she or her friend explains, We didnt even drink alcohol. Youre allowed to carry alcohol if youre under age. You are. Youre not allowed to drink it. And were not drinking it.
The officers tell the girls theyre guilty of possession/consumption. Open display you can see [the alcohol].
Okay, you can see it, one of the girls admits. And were not drinking it.
The video goes silent for several seconds, seemingly muting more than just names.
Emily states what she clearly believes are her rights:
I didnt do anything to disrespect you. You cant lock me up. I didnt disrespect you. I didnt do anything to you. Youre mad because you thought we were drinking.
Then more exchange between Weinman and the cop:
Wheres your aunt?
Shes on her way. You can wait here.
Whats your last name?
You dont need my last name.
The boys in blue arent particularly impressed:
Okay, thats it. Im done with you. (to the other officer) Do you have cuffs on you?
Dont touch me!
Youre about to get dropped.
She backs away.
Dont f***ing touch me! What are you doing?
She appears to push at the officers chest as he closes in on her.
The video then cuts to the maybe-100-pound-girl girl screaming as the cop mounts her and is holding her by the hair. She yells, Theyre choking me!
After more struggle, the cop warns, Thats it, and begins fist-smashing her in the head.
Both the puncher and the punched are cursing.
Weinman now faces multiple charges, including two counts of assault on a police officer.
I can only imagine people are going to have very different opinions of the video. So much so, that I dont want to even give mine. Id prefer to simply read your thoughts in the Comments section below.
Ill share my view, nonetheless, as a catalyst:
Firstly, in my opinion, the girl comes across as a self-entitled brat who could probably use being taken down a few notches. Secondly, the cop appears happy to abuse his power and beat a young girl in the head.
This is not the job of law enforcement. It is not their charge, place, right, or job to teach people a lesson. Their job is only to enforce the law. With as little force as possible. In this case, at issue was a citation. Nothing more. Emily Weinman may be obnoxious. But that is not the business of a public servant who is paid to bring only his best to his position.
The longer this went on, the more I was hoping someone would accidentally kick her in the head two or three times or just light her up with a Taser for a half-hour or so.
I would never have the patience to be a cop and deal with these assholes constantly.
Supreme court decisions lol. I'm talking about the true law the constitution. Not a bunch of freaks opinions.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated
Her person was secure, the alcohol was not concealed on her body or clothing. She wasn't in a house/home/residence, no personal papers were involved, and I don't think alcohol in plain sight qualifies as an "effect" but as visible contraband (when possessed by a minor). And they didn't search her at all. She even alleges that they didn't seize the alcohol after they arrested her but just left it on the beach. So where is your search and where is your seizure? Neither occurred.
They searched her person. They searched her breath.
They did not search her person that I saw. They requested a breath sample and she complied voluntarily with the request.
If you surrender a right, that's your problem. And the state and federal courts do not believe a breathalyzer violates fundamental rights. It's not like that defense has not been tried (and failed) many times in court.
The plain words of the constitution were violated.