ClutchFans - [Texans]Weary sues City of Houston over tasering.

Cannonball

11-13-2007, 01:12 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3108226

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans offensive lineman Fred Weary is suing the city and two police officers for a November 2006 arrest in which he was shot with a Taser gun during a traffic stop.

In his lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court, Weary is accusing the city and the officers of excessive force, assault, racial profiling, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.

The two officers said they stopped the offensive lineman because he didn't have a front license plate and was driving "suspiciously."

A misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest was later dismissed because of insufficient evidence.

kevwun

11-13-2007, 01:23 PM

Going by what was reported in the news, he's probably got a pretty good case.

dntrwl

11-13-2007, 01:35 PM

how can you not love this face?
http://www.nflplayers.com/images/players/33027.jpg
http://blogs.chron.com/nfl/weary.JPG

Murph23

11-13-2007, 02:44 PM

Good for him, long overdue.

SwoLy-D

11-13-2007, 04:11 PM

pgabriel

11-13-2007, 04:29 PM

Dude has money, of course he's suing. If he were poor like most of us, he wouldn't pay anyone to sue anyone else. Stop your whining, and cooperate with the authorities.

He shouldn't do this while he is still with the team, IMO. :(

do you remember this story. why shouldn't he sue? and what does still with the team have anything to do with anything. I'm sure he won't be missing practice time

DieHard Rocket

11-13-2007, 08:18 PM

Dude has money, of course he's suing. If he were poor like most of us, he wouldn't pay anyone to sue anyone else. Stop your whining, and cooperate with the authorities.

He shouldn't do this while he is still with the team, IMO. :(

You have to be ****ting me. Go search for this story when it happened and see if you feel the same way.

This should have very little, if any, impact on the team. He deserves every bit of the lawsuit that I presume he will win. Also, while he makes more money than most of us, it's not like he's soaking in the riches. I don't know exactly how much he's making, but he's been with the team since the inaugural season, where he was on practice squad if I'm not mistaken. Very few practice squad players end up staying anywhere very long, much less 6 years. He's worked his ass off.

Franchise2001

11-13-2007, 08:25 PM

Tmac playing in slow mo? He looks bored (just hit a 3)

MR. MEOWGI

11-13-2007, 08:40 PM

If he had an attitude with the cops he deserved it.

KingCheetah

11-13-2007, 08:43 PM

KingCheetah

11-13-2007, 08:44 PM

If he had an attitude with the cops he deserved it.

This is gold coming from you.

MR. MEOWGI

11-13-2007, 08:47 PM

Why is your sig two different sizes?

Poloshirtbandit

11-13-2007, 11:50 PM

They interviewed him a while back when he first considered suing the City and he said he wanted the money to go towards a police charity.

DreamRoxCoogFan

11-13-2007, 11:58 PM

Dude has money, of course he's suing. If he were poor like most of us, he wouldn't pay anyone to sue anyone else. Stop your whining, and cooperate with the authorities.

He shouldn't do this while he is still with the team, IMO. :(

thats ridiculous... just because ur a public figure, you cant have justice? Im sure if any of yall got tasered with his story, you would have sued a long time ago... all people, no matter rich or poor, deserve justice. Just because u make millions of dollars playing football doesnt mean u should just take discrimination.

WWR

11-14-2007, 01:03 AM

Im sure if any of yall got tasered with his story, you would have sued a long time ago...

Most people would be compliant with the police.

I'd cut him if I was in that position. :cool:

WWR

11-14-2007, 01:05 AM

For all of you idiots that think he deserves to win a lawsuit.....

Police said Weary was shot with a Taser after he pushed one of the officers away and then tried to come toward them after being told to put his hands on his vehicle.

Uprising

11-14-2007, 02:07 AM

"Don't taze me, bro!"

Oski2005

11-14-2007, 07:02 AM

For all of you idiots that think he deserves to win a lawsuit.....

A misdemeanor charge against Weary of resisting arrest in the November 2006 incident was dismissed because of insufficient evidence.

This board is supposed to be civil, so don't call people idiots, you moron.

pgabriel

11-14-2007, 08:08 AM

If he had an attitude with the cops he deserved it.

yeah, someone should get jolted with electricity for having an attitude.

MR. MEOWGI

11-14-2007, 08:30 AM

yeah, someone should get jolted with electricity for having an attitude.

Hopefully he learned his lesson.

pgabriel

11-14-2007, 08:35 AM

Hopefully he learned his lesson.

well I bet the police department will after they lose this lawsuit. interesting you've already assumed that he was the problem.

MR. MEOWGI

11-14-2007, 08:39 AM

well I bet the police department will after they lose this lawsuit. interesting you've already assumed that he was the problem.

I'm sure he was very cordial, friendly and cooperative with the police.

pgabriel

11-14-2007, 08:49 AM

I'm sure he was very cordial, friendly and cooperative with the police.

yes, just how you should be after being pulled over for driving while black. interesting how you always absolve racism and say it was the accusers fault.

guys like you always say "i know racism exists" but when there's a case of it you are always quick to say it isn't. interesting

pgabriel

11-14-2007, 08:50 AM

maybe a large black man has to be extra cordial because its okay to feel threatened by one.

MR. MEOWGI

11-14-2007, 08:58 AM

pgabriel

11-14-2007, 09:04 AM

I talk to cops like they were my grandmother. I have learned the hard way also. I make no sudden moves, smile, and do everything possible to make them feel not threatened. Being pulled over is always a tense situation. They appreciate it when you make it easier for them. There is no doubt in my mind that Weary could have handled the situation differently where he wouldn't have been arrested or tasered.

you don't what happened between weary in the cops, have you ever been pulled over as a suspect to a crime. i believe at the time, the cops were claiming they were looking to find a suspect for something.
I've never had a problem with a cop because I know what I'm usually being pulled over for, speeding, stickers, etc.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2661948

According to the police report, the incident began when officers noticed a Chevy Impala SS driving in an area near Reliant Stadium where police are on alert due to criminal activity. They noticed the driver "looking very suspicious" as he looked back and forth at the police several times. Weary was pulled over after police followed the car and noticed that it did not have a front license plate.

its hard to remain cordial in a situation like that. the excuse, "criminal activity" in the area sounds like bs, and that's what the cops said.

MR. MEOWGI

11-14-2007, 09:18 AM

you don't what happened between weary in the cops, have you ever been pulled over as a suspect to a crime. i believe at the time, the cops were claiming they were looking to find a suspect for something.
I've never had a problem with a cop because I know what I'm usually being pulled over for, speeding, stickers, etc.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2661948

According to the police report, the incident began when officers noticed a Chevy Impala SS driving in an area near Reliant Stadium where police are on alert due to criminal activity. They noticed the driver "looking very suspicious" as he looked back and forth at the police several times. Weary was pulled over after police followed the car and noticed that it did not have a front license plate.

its hard to remain cordial in a situation like that. the excuse, "criminal activity" in the area sounds like bs, and that's what the cops said.

I think it is illegal not to have a front plate. So he was mad that he got pulled over and took it out on the police. There's the problem. I have been pulled over for looking suspicion for driving a crappy car in a nice neighborhood etc. It happens. If you are clean and friendly they will let you. Big Weary had and attitude, the lady cop felt threatened and it went downhill from there. Again, he could have handled it differently.

pgabriel

11-14-2007, 09:21 AM

I think it is illegal not to have a front plate. So he was mad that he got pulled over and took it out on the police. There's the problem. I have been pulled over for looking suspicion for driving a crappy car in a nice neighborhood etc. It happens. If you are clean and friendly they will let you. Big Weary had and attitude, the lady cop felt threatened and it went downhill from there. Again, he could have handled it differently.

first of all, read the article again, the cops had interest in him before the license plaete. second of all, the cops could have handled it differently, don't be so quick to use your taser.

the taser issue hasn't started with fred weary. there have been complaints that cops are a little to eager to use the device since it isn't leathal. a "better safe than sorry" attitude I guess. the cops are the professionals in these situations, the onus is on them to "handle it differently"

KingCheetah

11-14-2007, 09:55 AM

I talk to cops like they were my grandmother.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/kchee/unlikely.jpg

MR. MEOWGI

11-14-2007, 10:04 AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/kchee/unlikely.jpg

If you kiss ass you are much more likely to not be given a ticket. (and tasered)

I act almost happy to see them. It really works.

1991 was a different story...

UIW Rocket

11-14-2007, 11:22 PM

For all of you idiots that think he deserves to win a lawsuit.....
Obviously, you don't know many cops!!! Notice that the report states the police said, not any eye witness accounts. The police realized that they screwed up and decided to cover their A_S!!! They lie, just like everyone else, when they think that their livelihood is on the line.

kevwun

11-15-2007, 08:35 AM

If he really did push the cop, do you think the city would have dropped the charges because of lack of evidence? Pushing a cop is an open and shut assault charge.

Ottomaton

11-15-2007, 11:09 AM

I didn't see this mentioned:

The female officer who did the tasering is one of the most prolific taserers in all of HPD. I don't remember the exact details but she is either incredibly unlucky to be in all these situations where she is the reciepient of agression, or she has a penchant for using it at the drop of a hat.

I think Weary has a pretty good case that the woman responded inappropriately.

Trader_Jorge

11-15-2007, 12:12 PM

leroy420

11-15-2007, 12:13 PM

None of you know what really happened, so it would be respectful of all of you to not rush to judgment against the members of HPD. They are busting it to protect us every day. How about some respect for the very difficult job they do for us?

You're right. That doesn't put them above the law, though.

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 12:22 PM

None of you know what really happened, so it would be respectful of all of you to not rush to judgment against the members of HPD. They are busting it to protect us every day. How about some respect for the very difficult job they do for us?

yes, everyone is always disrespecting the police on this forum. I know the HPD have had problems with tasering people, i've never heard of fred weary having a problem with the law.

surrender

11-15-2007, 12:24 PM

Coincidentally, there's an uproar in Canada right now over a case where officers tasered and killed a Polish immigrant at the Vancouver airport, while a bystander recorded the entire proceedings on his digital camera:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/11/14/bc-taservideo.html

Tasers aren't something to be used lightly, especially in situations where the person is highly stressed out.

Trader_Jorge

11-15-2007, 12:37 PM

I know the HPD have had problems with tasering people, i've never heard of fred weary having a problem with the law.
Sorry, but your credibility just nose-dived.

Fred Weary involved in nightclub fight
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=5363373

leroy420

11-15-2007, 12:47 PM

Sorry, but your credibility just nose-dived.

Fred Weary involved in nightclub fight
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=5363373

There's a difference between saying "I've never heard of..." and "Weary has never...".

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 12:50 PM

Sorry, but your credibility just nose-dived.

Fred Weary involved in nightclub fight
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=5363373

well to be technical, that wasn't a run in with the law.

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 12:52 PM

edit:

SwoLy-D

11-15-2007, 02:25 PM

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 02:28 PM

Whatever... HUGE DUDE, maybe did not complying with what an officer tells you, maybe he did, taser was up to the circumstance, and the officer will have to prove he had a reason. But I digress, I don't know what happened and neither did YOU all.

you should have stuck with you don't know what happened. the police already admitted they profiled him, so I don't know what you are so angry about. there was suspicious activity in area, he looked at us, go and read the article before you post again, that's basically what they said.

MR. MEOWGI

11-15-2007, 02:44 PM

Trader_Jorge

11-15-2007, 02:49 PM

The Hunted

11-15-2007, 02:51 PM

I'm not saying that he should be profiled, but at the same time, you don't go looking for a glacier in the desert.

In other words you're saying he should be profiled.

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 03:02 PM

I hate to even bring this up, but when you look at crime statistics in Houston, particularly violent crime, the results are overwhelmingly skewed towards one demographic -- the one that Fred fits into. I'm not saying that he should be profiled, but at the same time, you don't go looking for a glacier in the desert.

yes, so maybe the police should just pull over every black person in the city because profiling makes so much sense. i'm mean, don't you know you could run a crack house out of an impala.

they should just make black check points, because hell, at least 25% of the black population must be commiting some crime in their car. maybe they're robbing houses in their cars. they actually might take a house, put it in the car, and rob it. yeah, there's a reason for profiling

profiling makes no sense.

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 03:03 PM

Just because you think or you were profiled it doesn't give you a right to give an attitude with the police. Hey may have not deserved to have been pulled over, but he may have been deserving of being tasered and arrested once he became aggressive. I don't care how pissed you are about being pulled over.

at least you got off the, "i know exactly what its like" excuse. as stated by an earlier poster, the woman is the one with a history of problems with the taser.

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 03:06 PM

I would assume that at least 30% of cars driven by black men are stolen, and maybe 5% of them have a dead body in the trunk

I totally understand profiling

MR. MEOWGI

11-15-2007, 03:11 PM

at least you got off the, "i know exactly what its like" excuse. as stated by an earlier poster, the woman is the one with a history of problems with the taser.

I do know what it is like. I have been arrested over ten times and have served jail time and probation etc. etc.

So you think it is excusable to be aggressive with the police?

Again, there is no doubt in my my he could have handled the situation differently where he could have just driven away. She didn't tasered him because he smiled and said "Hello Mam, how can I help you?".

Again, I hope he learned his lesson.

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 03:18 PM

I do know what it is like. I have been arrested over ten times and have served jail time and probation etc. etc.

So you think it is excusable to be aggressive with the police?

Again, there is no doubt in my my he could have handled the situation differently where he could have just driven away. She didn't tasered him because he smiled and said "Hello Mam, how can I help you?".

Again, I hope he learned his lesson.

"put your hands on your head"

"hello mam, how can help you"

yeah, that's realistic

it never says he was aggressive with the police, and it excusable to become upset when you're a productive member of society and you get point out behind some b.s.

when you got arrested you were probably doing something wrong. Right?

MR. MEOWGI

11-15-2007, 03:32 PM

"put your hands on your head"

"hello mam, how can help you"

yeah, that's realistic

it never says he was aggressive with the police, and it excusable to become upset when you're a productive member of society and you get point out behind some b.s.

when you got arrested you were probably doing something wrong. Right?

Hands on your head???

They said they asked him for his license and he became belligerent.

You are delusional.

Groogrux

11-15-2007, 03:36 PM

I do know what it is like. I have been arrested over ten times and have served jail time and probation etc. etc.

Shoulda been more respectful.

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 03:37 PM

Hands on your head???

They said they asked him for his license and he became belligerent.

You are delusional.

just like you are to believe you've ever been in similar situation, which btw, I haven't claim to have been in.

btw, he gave them his license and was still asked to step out of the car.

MR. MEOWGI

11-15-2007, 03:41 PM

Shoulda been more respectful.

I shouldn't have been flying through red lights with weed either.

MR. MEOWGI

11-15-2007, 03:43 PM

just like you are to believe you've ever been in similar situation, which btw, I haven't claim to have been in.

btw, he gave them his license and was still asked to step out of the car.

Oh, the humanity.

pgabriel

11-15-2007, 03:47 PM

Oh, the humanity.

reduced to sarcasm, the charges against weary were thrown out, all you have are assumptions just to defend your stance. if they stood, then you make an argument for tasering, but as i stated earlier, having an attitude doesn't justify getting jolted with electricity.

you'll criticize mike vick for his treatment of dogs, but absolve the houston police department for jolting humans with electricity. what a warped sense of values

MR. MEOWGI

11-15-2007, 04:29 PM

reduced to sarcasm, the charges against weary were thrown out, all you have are assumptions just to defend your stance. if they stood, then you make an argument for tasering, but as i stated earlier, having an attitude doesn't justify getting jolted with electricity.

you'll criticize mike vick for his treatment of dogs, but absolve the houston police department for jolting humans with electricity. what a warped sense of values

If Mr. Weary pushed me I would zap him too.

He can help his behavior. That's the difference.

DwangBoy

11-15-2007, 04:39 PM

Whatever... HUGE DUDE, maybe did not complying with what an officer tells you, maybe he did, taser was up to the circumstance, and the officer will have to prove he had a reason. But I digress, I don't know what happened and neither did YOU all.

Anyone who is a different race than the police offficer will say it's "profiling." Respect the authorities. Comply with them. You won't get tasered. Disagree with THAT.

I can't disagree with that. Cops have too much power, and their position is paid to little to have any intelligent ones (very, very few). Therefore, we are inevitably run by power-hungry, non-intelligent people with guns and tasers. To mess with these kinds of people would be idiotic. So yes, I agree, but I also think cops and teachers, etc. should have higher pay to induce smarter employees.

WWR

11-15-2007, 04:57 PM

Obviously, you don't know many cops!!! Notice that the report states the police said, not any eye witness accounts. The police realized that they screwed up and decided to cover their A_S!!! They lie, just like everyone else, when they think that their livelihood is on the line.

That's funny.

I am one. :cool:

Hence why I am on their side of this issue.

WWR

11-15-2007, 05:06 PM

I can't disagree with that. Cops have too much power, and their position is paid to little to have any intelligent ones (very, very few). Therefore, we are inevitably run by power-hungry, non-intelligent people with guns and tasers. To mess with these kinds of people would be idiotic. So yes, I agree, but I also think cops and teachers, etc. should have higher pay to induce smarter employees.

This is also fun as to how you're delusional.

I'd like to see you apply to the dept. I work for. You won't get hired without a bachelor's degree.

Now, in a city like Houston, where you're forced to have a lot of minorities and a lot of officers in general, you have no choice but to have some less intelligent officers.

But it's obvious you don't know much about hiring practices. Dumb ones are generally weeded out.

WWR

11-15-2007, 05:06 PM

Edit: It's funny how you're delusional.

heymak

11-15-2007, 06:00 PM

I don't know why I think it's funny. But did anyone notice that the police notice the front plate missing while following him. Them thar cops got some good eyes.

bobrek

11-15-2007, 06:09 PM

I don't know why I think it's funny. But did anyone notice that the police notice the front plate missing while following him. Them thar cops got some good eyes.

That's not what happened. He was pulled over for a traffic violation (I believe an illegal lane change) and during the traffic stop it was noticed that the front plate was missing.

codell

11-15-2007, 06:16 PM

But it's obvious you don't know much about hiring practices. Dumb ones are generally weeded out.

From what I know, I definitely agree. On the federal level, it's even harder. My best friend had a degree in criminal justice, a squeaky clean record and it took him 18 months to get on w/ the ATF.

Law enforcement generally doesn't hire just anyone who wants to be a cop.

Trader_Jorge

11-15-2007, 06:29 PM

yes, so maybe the police should just pull over every black person in the city because profiling makes so much sense. i'm mean, don't you know you could run a crack house out of an impala.

Come on dog, you know I'm not saying that. At the other extreme though is sending the SWAT team to patrol pre-schools for violent offenders. Obviously there is some respectable balance in between. Let me tell you this, if I weren't a strapping man capable of defending myself under any circumstances, I'd be quite scared of a 6'5" 300 dude approaching me. Put yourself in the police officer's shoes.

raw10628

11-15-2007, 09:39 PM

Here's how I see it going down.....

Cop pulls over a suspicious looking Impala with no license plate goes up to the window and says:
Cop: "license and registration please"
Fred: "you don't know who I am?"
Cop: "no sir, license and registration please"
Fred hands over information

Cop: "oh you're Fred Weary"
Fred: "yes sir that's right"
Cop: "so why should I know you Fred Weary?"
Fred: "I play offensive line for the Texans"
Cop: "Sir, please step out of the vehicle"
Fred gets out while the cop is giving him suspicious looks because he knows Fred is lying.

Cop: "sir, is there anything else I should know besides that you play....um...offensive line for the Texans?"
Fred: "no sir, only that I play right guard"
The cop becomes extremely confused

Cop: "sir, please tell me what you're doing here, we both know the Texans don't have an offensive line"
Fred: "no really, I'm leaving practice"
Fred becomes angered about the cop's remarks and proceeds to demonstrate his skills to the officer which is immediately countered by a tazer rendering his motor skills useless, much like they are on the field.

rezdawg

11-15-2007, 10:18 PM

If Weary was being overly aggressive, the police cameras would have recorded that, correct? Unless, of course, the cop pulled in front of Weary.

There are a good number of cops out there that are bullies for no reason because they were worthless in life and now they have a chance to have some power.

I hope Weary takes them down in this lawsuit.

WWR

11-15-2007, 10:40 PM

From what I know, I definitely agree. On the federal level, it's even harder. My best friend had a degree in criminal justice, a squeaky clean record and it took him 18 months to get on w/ the ATF.

Law enforcement generally doesn't hire just anyone who wants to be a cop.

You're certainly correct.

Besides getting hired as a CEO or something crazy like that....I believe it's one of the hardest careers to get into. There are only so many openings for only so many people, and a lot of people want to be an officer.

pgabriel

11-16-2007, 12:43 PM

Come on dog, you know I'm not saying that. At the other extreme though is sending the SWAT team to patrol pre-schools for violent offenders. Obviously there is some respectable balance in between. Let me tell you this, if I weren't a strapping man capable of defending myself under any circumstances, I'd be quite scared of a 6'5" 300 dude approaching me. Put yourself in the police officer's shoes.

I know what you meant, I'm just saying, even statistics don't justify profiling. profiling is just asking for a bad situation, like this one.