Police 'assaulted' bystander who died during G20 protests

[CHIMO]

Source: The Observer

The man who died during last week's G20 protests was "assaulted" by riot police shortly before he suffered a heart attack, according to witness statements received by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Investigators are examining a series of corroborative accounts that allege Ian Tomlinson, 47, was a victim of police violence in the moments before he collapsed near the Bank of England in the City of London last Wednesday evening. Three witnesses have told the Observer that Mr Tomlinson was attacked violently as he made his way home from work at a nearby newsagents. One claims he was struck on the head with a baton.

Photographer Anna Branthwaite said: "I can remember seeing Ian Tomlinson. He was rushed from behind by a riot officer with a helmet and shield two or three minutes before he collapsed." Branthwaite, an experienced press photographer, has made a statement to the IPCC.

Another independent statement supports allegations of police violence. Amiri Howe, 24, recalled seeing Mr Tomlinson being hit "near the head" with a police baton. Howe took one of a sequence of photographs that show a clearly dazed Mr Tomlinson being helped by a bystander.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/05/g20-protest-ian-tomlinson

[mainegreen]

1. In England, a cop can enter your home, slit your thought, and never be convicted of a crime.

England is Fucked Up lately, like that.

[CHIMO]

3. In Canada

They decide elections.

[Billy Burnett]

15. In Canada the Queen of England still rules parliament.

[Djinn]

7. England is hardly alone on that score

[ShortnFiery]

8. Yes, our local police recently shot a depressed man in the back as he was re-entering an empty

house. Family and friends trying to talk him out of putting a hand-gun to his head in their OWN back yard attested to the fact that our "illustrious" persons form our Sheriff's department shot him three times in the back. NO threat to anyone because they were out in the country and the family was outside. The only threat he made was to take his OWN life.

But of course, the Officers who shot this man (in the back) were completely cleared after an internal investigation. :eyes:

[Djinn]

9. everything my ex local cops said about this 15 year old kid

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24789735-5006785,00.html

was a total and utter lie according to several locals who witnessed it.

[ShortnFiery]

10. Tragic and PREVENTABLE. I'm sorry to read that. IMO, the best we can do is help make sure

that our local law enforcement KNOWS that people are watching them. Having cell phone cameras is always a plus.

Don't get me wrong, I have many law enforcement people in my extended family and hold respect for a couple of acquaintances I know presently. However, the bad cops are horrid.

Most times, IMO, it's TOP - DOWN. Like Obama's presence cleans up our Executive Branch, an HONEST and MORAL LOCAL police chief can set the standards and enforce them.

I'm hoping that experiences like your local 15 y.o. and the older gentleman here in Virginia have the EFFECT of at least keeping the police on their best behavior because the citizens are paying attention. A small silver lining. :shrug:

[Fumesucker]

17. UK or the USA.. which has a higher incidence, per capita, of "no knock" raids?

In the US, the cops don't "slit your thought (sic)", they just shoot your ass.

[pleah]

2. Will they call for a separate autopsy?

It sounds like they caused him to have a severe skull fracture. I wonder if anything will happen to those "riot police"? Clearly, from this article, they caused his death.

[ShortnFiery]

4. OK, where are all the people BLAMING the protesters and their plastic water bottle missiles?!?

I see the story has changed and there are some valid sources speaking out and being heard.

[RedCloud]

5. Probably pressing for tomorrow's knee jerk reaction.

How many times do the fuels of hatred leak and the all too late real story doesn't shock the easily duped back to their senses? I guess if that happened the Repugs would be maybe a fringe wing nut party.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Turborama]

11. K&R ... n/t

[BrightKnight]

12. Is hitting someone in the head w/ a baton proper procedure?

I doubt that the officer was trained to use the weapon in that way. It is a very sad story.

[freedomnorth]

16. I thought batons are designed not to cause severe harm.

Like skull fracture. Of course if you use enough strength... The initial heart attack explanation didn't sound quite conclusive.

[earcandle]

13. The balcony by jean genet where the police enter the nomenclature

previously reserved for bishops, judges, and generals, and
whores,
people who come and risk being inside creating fantasy of
control,
while the revolution boils and explodes outside.

The woman in charge making the way for George to finally get
the recognition
he deserves, and allow other their fantasies as the world
collapses in France,
all observing while taking the places of dead leaders. 
To replace the authentic with the absurd,
To build the womb that can birth a George who will wait the
1000 years
 well monitored within the walls of whorehouse known as The
Balcony.

We are hurling through absence.

Words, use language to get our needs met, not violence. 
Give our citizens the help they need, get programs started to
feed, clothe 
and shelter once again.  This is not the fringe, this is the
core going bad.  
This is genocide, orderly genocide, except for the sufferers.

Please do something.
Maybe this will help?
http://www.earcandleproductions.com/Democracy.mp3

(sorry my links are not working for some reason, can you copy
and paste to listen?)

[Mr. Hyde]

14. Pigs:1 - Protestors:0 nt