Looks like some people may have jumped the gun on askew.

[buck3y3d]

It's pretty obvious many of you don't live in Cincinnati as you guys get half the story of the "racist cops" (hell, we dont even know if the cops were white yet). The Cincinnati police hardly overreact as crime in downtown is out of control. The last man that died under the racist cops (after being tased) was similiar to askew size, perhaps larger. The cops fought him for 3-4 minutes before using their tasers. The cops were getting manhandled as seen on the video in the dash and used their tasers as a last resort. It was later revealed that the man was ripped on crack.

Sounds racist to me.

In Askew's situation, we should all reserve judgement. Many of you have fully indicted the police (or Askew)when nothing is known about the situation.

And TDB, he was hit with a taser for resisting arrest, not for a parking violation.

Lawson is a genius as he is again playing the race card, creating a media outcry (which some of you believe after reading one article), and forcing the DA to form a plea deal in order to preserve the little image the police have left.

[Kazkal]

As with everything else i'd perfer here storeys from both sides,hopfully there was a witness like the guy selling CD's

[West Coast Bengal]

It's pretty obvious many of you don't live in Cincinnati as you guys get half the story of the "racist cops" (hell, we dont even know if the cops were white yet). The Cincinnati police hardly overreact as crime in downtown is out of control. The last man that died under the racist cops (after being tased) was similiar to askew size, perhaps larger. The cops fought him for 3-4 minutes before using their tasers. The cops were getting manhandled as seen on the video in the dash and used their tasers as a last resort. It was later revealed that the man was ripped on crack.

Sounds racist to me.

In Askew's situation, we should all reserve judgement. Many of you have fully indicted the police (or Askew)when nothing is known about the situation.

And TDB, he was hit with a taser for resisting arrest, not for a parking violation.

Lawson is a genius as he is again playing the race card, creating a media outcry (which some of you believe after reading one article), and forcing the DA to form a plea deal in order to preserve the little image the police have left.

History my man, a long running one at that, is against the police in this situation. I've lived in Cinci almost my whole life up until 4 months ago, and I've done my part in researching the antics of the Cincinnati police and their history.

Maybe when you look at why crime is out of control in one city and not the other, you should look at the structure of the city, which from sociology standards, includes the police.

The Cincinnati police have created their own situation with this stuff. I said they've lost all cedibility about jumping the gun and I'm pretty sure I didn't mention the guy at white castle ripped off of crack.

All I'm saying (I know this is the bengals forum) is that this stroy is the one of the 4 that includes bengals and the law, that didn't make me shake my head because there's a good chance that there was a staunch over reaction from the police. I don't think Askew is considering a law suit because he's bored and wants to bring more drama upon himself and the bengals!

WHO DEY!

[cincy90]

TDB my man, I will not have to tell you that after i get tased. The reason for this is that I will not get tased. I do not refuse to comply with police. I do not resist getting arrested. I hope that the police tase anyone that does.

I've lived in Cincinnati my entire life, and I admit that there is a crime problem. The root of this problem starts when people like you would rather defend a criminal than a police officer. Maybe a little bit of support would help the situation out a little bit.

[Stripes]

TDB my man, I will not have to tell you that after i get tased. The reason for this is that I will not get tased. I do not refuse to comply with police. I do not resist getting arrested. I hope that the police tase anyone that does.

I've lived in Cincinnati my entire life, and I admit that there is a crime problem. The root of this problem starts when people like you would rather defend a criminal than a police officer. Maybe a little bit of support would help the situation out a little bit.

There is a crime problem. There is also a problem with abuse of authority by the police. Under what circumstances does a man get arrested for a parking violation? I simply find Askew's story more believeable than the police report.

Heck, within my own family I have seen examples of police unfairness. I'm not blaming race like Askew's attorney, though. That's usually stupid. Sounds more to me like a few asses with badges being full of themselves.

I have nothing against the police. They do a tough job. Still, like anyone else, they are more than cabable of doing it TOO well.

[BlainThePain]

If you believe Askew before the police, you are an idiot. Enough said. You can't pay those guys enough.

If you believe somebody just because the person is a police officer than you are the idiot. I live in a small southern town and our police are corrupt as hell. The last chief of police we had got fired because it turned out he was a junky and ended up stealing a bunch of oxicontins that were evidence. Another police officer in my town got fired for having sex with a 14 year old girl. Neither of them had to go to jail for it. Thats also just the tip of the iceberg. Back in my wilder days I used to buy drugs from one of the local sheriff's deputies. The sad thing is I don't think this is anything unusual. I bet this happens everywhere that the local government doesn't keep their police in check.

[buck3y3d]

All I'm saying (I know this is the bengals forum) is that this stroy is the one of the 4 that includes bengals and the law, that didn't make me shake my head because there's a good chance that there was a staunch over reaction from the police. I don't think Askew is considering a law suit because he's bored and wants to bring more drama upon himself and the bengals!

WHO DEY!

Your right, Askew is filing a lawsuit for 2 reasons. First, it makes him look more innocent, as nearly every poster on this board thinks he is. Secondly, it is an opportunity to gain a greater cash flow.

The police may have over reacted, but if you believe Lawson, then you are the idiot. Lawson is such an upstanding lawyer with a track record to prove it, please.

You guys have already thrown the police under the bus. These are civil charges, they don't indict anyone. Even if he wins the civil case (which will never go to court because there is no real case and he just wants to settle for some quick $$), the police will not have been found guilty. It's right there in Article III of the constitution.

[bengalboomer7]

If you believe Askew before the police, you are an idiot. Enough said. You can't pay those guys enough.

Personally, I don't know who' fault it is, but I'll point out two things that I think we're involved in this case. First with Askew. Most football players, stars or not, have a huge sense of entitlement. They've been coddled throughout most of their lives because of their ability to play a game. I wouldn't doubt that Askew was a bit of a smartass, but being a smartass is not a crime. And in Askew's defense, if anyone grabbed my arm, officer or not, my first reaction would be to jerk it away. However, my gut tells me that while Askew probably got the rough treatment, he might of deserved a tad of what he got.

Now, the police. And I'll generalize. I work in a job where I deal with police officers all the time from several different cities(small cities). Most of these guys are a**h***s. They'll sit there and tell me stories about s**t they do to people, or things that have happened, and laugh about the way they treat people. I cait the short mans syndrome. (I'm generalizing here) Most of these guys were picked on in school so they so get a little authority

[HairOnFire]

I call it the short mans syndrome. (I'm generalizing here) Most of these guys were picked on in school so they so get a little authority

Here's a true story, offered only for amusement purposes.

When I was in my early 20's I creatively managed to crash my car in true head on fashion into the vehicle behind me while crossing a bridge in Dayton. The secret to my impressive creativity? I was bombed out of my ass. Regardless, as I was being led to the drunk tank for a night of heavy sleeping I was first stopped at a desk for processing.

For the record, I'm a pretty big guy. The officer behind the desk was sorta tiny. So I cleverly held my handcuffed arms out infront of me at waist level and said loudly for all to hear...

"Well, I guess you don't have to be very tall to get on this ride."

Well, go figure. That tiny officer pulled a handgun out of his desk and leveled it at my forehead. He snarled a little and asked..."Buddy, am I going to have trouble with you?"

My response was immediate. I shook my handcuffed arms infront of me and said..."No sir. I'm what you little guys might call a happy drunk." The 'lil officer then put his gun away before angrily booking me....while his fellow officers laughed loudly while repeating my joke. And something tells me they repeated it often, for weeks...if not months.

Short mans syndrome? Yeah, I don't doubt it.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I've lived and worked here in Cincy (in the actual city not suburbs) all of my life and have never had one run-in with Cincy cops. (30+ years)

Askew has been here what, 2 years?

Then again I'm not out getting into trouble and parking on sidewalks at 2am.

Amazing how smoothly things can go if you act like a reasonable, intelligent human being.

You'd be suprised how often you avoid arrest and trouble when you're in bed or inside at 2-3am in the morning like most normal people...ecspecially well-paid, public figure/celebrities.

[ArmyBengal]

Amazing how perceptions of a situation continue on for long periods of time and cause such unrest. Did Askew f*ck up ?? I don't know, I wasn't there, but I do know that regardless of the situation, until an investigation saying the police were wrong in how they handled the situation is found, I'll support the police and the job they do.

This isn't to say that past problems aren't a problem within the police force as a whole, but I don't know that to be true, so why come up with your own sh*tty version of it to make you sleep better ??

If there is someone of this board that's a Cincinnati cop, I would love some inside perspective.

If you aren't, you are guessing !!!

I don't know this Lawson guy, but he doesn't sound that much different from any other criminal attorney.

Loved the story Hair !!!

WHODEY !!!

[bengalboomer7]

I've lived and worked here in Cincy (in the actual city not suburbs) all of my life and have never had one run-in with Cincy cops. (30+ years)

Askew has been here what, 2 years?

Then again I'm not out getting into trouble and parking on sidewalks at 2am.

Amazing how smoothly things can go if you act like a reasonable, intelligent human being.

You'd be suprised how often you avoid arrest and trouble when you're in bed or inside at 2-3am in the morning like most normal people...ecspecially well-paid, public figure/celebrities.

Come on SHula, Keep up. This argument went on earlier in the thread and it was 8pm, not2am

BTW, I'm just busting your balls

[GapControl]

I have a police officer in the family, near the Cincinnati area, alongwith a couple of close friends on the police force as well. In my experience, these guys and gals are much like the rest of us, b-tching about their pay, their lousy hours, and the so-called mindless work they go about. The great difference between the cops and the civilians is that cops have to, by definition, serve and protect. On a few rare occasions, it becomes more violent or dangerous. These times are truly rare, Hollywood isn`t reality. Most cops are to patrol a given area, make sure nothing ridiculous goes on, then make a little money for the city with speeding tickets and the like, on the side. It is a lot of sitting in a cruiser, watching the wheels go by. If things do get dangerous, it is sometimes the perpertrator who starts it, and sometimes the cop who starts it. Cops are just people, folks. Being paid to manage other people. Mistakes happen.

[bengalboomer7]

I have a police officer in the family, near the Cincinnati area, alongwith a couple of close friends on the police force as well. In my experience, these guys and gals are much like the rest of us, b-tching about their pay, their lousy hours, and the so-called mindless work they go about. The great difference between the cops and the civilians is that cops have to, by definition, serve and protect. On a few rare occasions, it becomes more violent or dangerous. These times are truly rare, Hollywood isn`t reality. Most cops are to patrol a given area, make sure nothing ridiculous goes on, then make a little money for the city with speeding tickets and the like, on the side. It is a lot of sitting in a cruiser, watching the wheels go by. If things do get dangerous, it is sometimes the perpertrator who starts it, and sometimes the cop who starts it. Cops are just people, folks. Being paid to manage other people. Mistakes happen.

I think it goes a little beyond that. Unless Asckew starting fighting with the cops i can't think of ANY REASON why he was tased. That doesn't sound too much like serve and protect to me.

I remember my dad telling me old stories about how in his day the old town cop protected these guys and really helped them out. THey'd get pulled over in town, drunk, or just hell raising, and the cop would just send them home. I had a buddy that had some pot in his car. He stopped at a gas station for some beer and just happened to leave his car running. Well, our town cop pulls in the station. Walks right up to this guy's car, opens the door, and turns his car off. As he does this, he notices a bag of pot, and goes about arresting the guy Case in point. Recently my brother's car broke down on the Interstate(I-75 towards Toledo) and watched THREE cruisers pass him in an hour without stopping to help, check out what was going on or anything. Luckily, he had AAA and got a tow.

Like I said, I work with cops everyday. We help run their communications system. Almost NONE of these guys are even nice, and revel in getting to f**k with people for a living. So my opinion of cops is not a flattering one.

HOF, I had something similar happen to me while being booked as a kid. I was 20, and the guy processing me was a little nerd I just happened to graduate high school with. I gave him so much hell I spent my three day stay in a solitary cell all by myself

[derekshank]

I work at a boy's home, and we aren't allowed to get physical with them at all. I've been punched, kicked, spit on, and countless other things that I've been forced to endure knowing that if I got physical, I would at least lose my job... and more likely be sued and charged with a crime.

Why do I mention this? Only because it really colors the way you look at kids who've gotten into trouble. Are all of them punks like the ones who have attacked me? No... but there is always that chance. If I had the right to get physical with these guys, I would probably use it a couple times in a preventative fashion, rather than wait for the kid to attack me before I act.

So if I'm a cop, and a 310 pound dude who is clearly physically fit, and could bend me into a pretzel shows even the slightest bit of aggression... well damn right I'm going to react.

Does that make an "over-reaction" right? No... but it is at least understandable. Even in small towns cops have to deal with a lot, so I'm guessing these Cincy cops have their share of bad stories. I've been mistreated (although not physically) by cops on more than one occasion, but for the most part I'm thankful that they're patroling around detering people from breaking into my house and raping my wife.

[Kazkal]

"

Then again I'm not out getting into trouble and parking on sidewalks at 2am. "

Dude it was 8 freaking pm when he was arrested,get your facts strait.

[blueridge]

Most local cops are under-educated buffoons who suffer from significant character defects. The typical cop is a heavily armed skinhead WHO HAS NEVER PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE TO PROTECT AN HONEST LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN! His specialty is hanging around convenience stores, harassing teenagers and writing traffic tickets. Or putting the taser to a black guy for a parking violation. I'd believe Matthias Askew over a cop any day. The same goes for Chris Henry, AJ Nicholson, and Frostee Rucker. The citizen who is thrown into the maw of the criminal justice system deserves the benefit of the doubt. The police do not.

[derekshank]

I'd believe Matthias Askew over a cop any day. The same goes for Chris Henry, AJ Nicholson, and Frostee Rucker. The citizen who is thrown into the maw of the criminal justice system deserves the benefit of the doubt. The police do not.

The fact that you would believe Henry over a police officer just shows how much credibility you yourself lack.

[ArmyBengal]

Most local cops are under-educated buffoons who suffer from significant character defects. The typical cop is a heavily armed skinhead WHO HAS NEVER PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE TO PROTECT AN HONEST LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN! His specialty is hanging around convenience stores, harassing teenagers and writing traffic tickets. Or putting the taser to a black guy for a parking violation. I'd believe Matthias Askew over a cop any day. The same goes for Chris Henry, AJ Nicholson, and Frostee Rucker. The citizen who is thrown into the maw of the criminal justice system deserves the benefit of the doubt. The police do not.

Just curious if by "local cops" you mean Virginia (where you are) or the Cincy cops being discussed or anywhere for that matter ?? Not coming at you funny, but curious where your opinion of the "typical cop" comes from ?? Were you on the wrong end of a cops nightstick ??

WHODEY !!!

[bengalboomer7]

I'd believe Matthias Askew over a cop any day. The same goes for Chris Henry, AJ Nicholson, and Frostee Rucker. The citizen who is thrown into the maw of the criminal justice system deserves the benefit of the doubt. The police do not.

The fact that you would believe Henry over a police officer just shows how much credibility you yourself lack.

Yeah, that's a tad bit too far. But i think I can honestly say that unless Askew started to tussle(really get into it) with these cops they probably had absolutley NO reason to tase him and I would imagine they'll be in some hot water when it's all said and done.

BTW, I'm suprised no one has mentioned race as a factor