Quote:
Originally Posted by acottawa
I am not in any way trying to justify the actions, but I believe it is hard to establish causality beyond a reasonable doubt in such a case. He died of a heart attack, it could have been because of getting beat up, but also could have been the exertion from running from the cops, the stress of being arrested, being off of his antipsychotic medication, or something else.
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Maybe, maybe we could argue that his death may not be a direct result of the altercation, but there's no ambiguity that beating up an unarmed man with motorcycle gloves constitutes aggravated assault. And the motorcycle gloves are not police issue; yes his supervisor bought them for him, but that doesn't make them police issue. When you join the force, you get your uniform, boots, leather gloves, gun, pepper spray, night stick and hand cuffs. They don't give you motorcycle gloves (unless you're a motorcycle cop). If anything, his supervisor should be disciplined for approving gloves that are not police issue.
A not guilty plea on manslaughter is one thing, but aggravated assault and assault with a weapon, much harder to justify.