Ashtabula's Finast, K-9 cop is being sued

[selzer]

'Bula man files lawsuit against police department, officer, city Local News The Star Beacon; Ashtabula, Ohio

I guess some fellas after work had the audacity to drink some beers in the one guy's front yard, and the officer wanted to arrest them for open container, and the crime of the century was that the guy told the officer that the guy lived here it was his property. The officer tased him and while he was down set his dog on him.

[CarrieJ]

Wow.
I guess the first time your constitutional rights are shredded up by a person with a badge you probably would need some psychological assistance. Especially over a beer.

Private property...one beer(open container)= tazed and dog bit.

Here there is a city ordinance that you cannot drink beer in your frontyard. You must do it inside or in the backyard. Doesn't seem to stop people but the ordinance is there.

[GSDolch]

Three lawsuits in just he part year with the same officer...I doubt its cause he's a "good cop".

[selzer]

We are allowed to drink in our front yards here. The open container charge was dismissed. So was the resisting arrest and the aggravated disorderly conduct. Somehow telling the officer that this is the guy's front year, he owns the property is obstructing justice.

These are ordinary working people having a beer after work, not out looking for trouble, not spending half their lives in a drunk tank.

Since when do you tase someone and set your dog on them for an open container? Unreal.

[Alyalanna]

Sometimes I feel like cops think that they can take advantage of anyone that drinks. At my last active duty command we had several cases where some of the guys would go to the bar and not bring a DD with them. Instead of risking driving home because they were intoxicated they would call a cab. However, when they would step outside the bar to go to the taxi the police would arrest them for being drunk in public. Why won't some cops allow people to do the right thing of taking a taxi home instead of driving or drinking on their own property?

[vat]

Because they make way to much money off drunks! Many police spend to much time worry about the drunks and ignore the arse that just blew the red light! It just ticks me off that I see so many traffic violations where I live and no cops to hand out tickets. I swear more sober people kill than drunks do!!!