Michael Bennett - Vegas Trip Gone Bad

[kingfin66]

Yesterday, Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Michael Bennett posted a letter on Twitter in which he accused the Las Vegas Police Department of racial bias in their policing and use of excessive force. Here is a link to the letter.

https://twitter.com/mosesbread72/status/905430701595652096

LVPD was not too thrilled with this accusation and held an afternoon press conference to refute the claims. They included body cam footage of their clearing the casino where sounds that were first believed to be gunshots played out. I was unable to view the video during the press conference as I was driving.

TMZ has posted video showing Bennett on the pavement being handcuffed.

http://www.tmz.com/2017/09/06/michael-bennett-arrest-video/?adid=hero5

I am still waiting to see if there really is video of cops pointing a gun at this had and threatening to blow it off. It is hard for me to buy into the notion of racial bias in this case because (a) there were many, many black people in and around the club at the time of the incident, and (2) eyewitnesses report that Bennett disobeyed police commands to stay on the ground and ran from the police.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this one.

[Inner Dirt]

From personal experience as someone in my youth who drove hot rods and at college age held lots of large parties I have had more than my fair share of interactions with police. I even had a gun pointed at me by a female officer while her partner searched my friend and I for weapons. That was at 16 when we were wrongly nabbed as hit and run suspects. I can say 100% of the time as a large young man who sometimes had a mouth on him I reaped what I had sown. Nice and respectful toward the police I got the same thing back, give them an attitude my experience was not pleasant.

I am a firm believer 99.999% of bad interactions with the police are the fault of the citizen. I had a father who was a cop, a wife beater and child abuser who used his position at the time to get away with things a normal citizen could not have. So I am not a pro cop guy by nature.

I think because of the fact anytime a white cop sneezes on a black person it is all over the news a lot of black people become unjustly afraid of police. Some people cannot see through the media bias. I believe this in itself can cause bad interaction between black people and the cops because of their initial attitude. How many times do black people always claim a white person would not have been stopped by police under the same circumstances?

[ElKabong]

There's a lot of drama in that family. He and his brother were Look At Me types when they were recruited out of the Houston area. Chose A&M, and somehow managed to alienate Aggies to the point of disowning them after they left for the nfl. At a&m, that really takes some doing. 'Aggie for life' is more than a saying down there

When he starts a letter "Dear World", I checked out on believing him. I know racial predjudice lives in the law enforcement world (both ways btw), but he and Marty are attention whores extraordinaire. All the bad shit Marty said about Jason Whitten not helping him his rookie year on the espn piece last year, he retracted.

[Inner Dirt]

There's a lot of drama in that family. He and his brother were Look At Me types when they were recruited out of the Houston area. Chose A&M, and somehow managed to alienate Aggies to the point of disowning them after they left for the nfl. At a&m, that really takes some doing. 'Aggie for life' is more than a saying down there

When he starts a letter "Dear World", I checked out on believing him. I know racial predjudice lives in the law enforcement world (both ways btw), but he and Marty are attention whores extraordinaire. All the bad shit Marty said about Jason Whitten not helping him his rookie year on the espn piece last year, he retracted.

Most of your always blame Whitey types don't like Jason Whitten. I like the guy, he seems to choose sides without prejudice.

[upthecreek]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/vegas-pd-asks-nfl-to-investigate-michael-bennett-for-obvious-false-allegations/

[garyscpa]

I like where he says, " I was not a thug, common criminal, or ordinary black man."

Sounds like he's a bit of a racist.

[Parkview_Pirate]

His comparison to Trayvon Martin is pointless. Martin was the aggressor, and happened to pick on the wrong guy. While smashing George Zimmerman's head against the sidewalk, Baby "Tray Tray" got the result of someone fearing death.

The police weren't on the scene until after the shooting.

[kingfin66]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/vegas-pd-asks-nfl-to-investigate-michael-bennett-for-obvious-false-allegations/

It seems odd that the LVPD is requesting that the NFL investigate what they believe to be false allegations against their department. Isn't it the job of their department's internal affairs, or other independent police agency, to investigate the allegation against the department and make a determination as to whether the charges are valid. At yesterday's news conference, the LVPD Under Sheriff said that there would be a thorough investigation and that it would take time to review tape, interview witnesses, etc. Now they have apparently decided that Bennett is lying?

I have only seen partial video of the arrest. I would like to see video of the full incident; him running, the police taking him down, cuffing him and walking him to the patrol car. That will tell what really happened.

Personally, I think the LVPD letter shows a lot of bias in the way that it starts off with a shot at the NFL "condoning" Bennett not standing for the national anthem. I don't like that he sits either, but it seems a bit much for them to put that in the letter. Like I said in my first post, this is going to be interesting to watch it play out. Somebody is not being truthful.

[kingfin66]

His comparison to Trayvon Martin is pointless. Martin was the aggressor, and happened to pick on the wrong guy. While smashing George Zimmerman's head against the sidewalk, Baby "Tray Tray" got the result of someone fearing death.

The police weren't on the scene until after the shooting.

He also mentioned Charlena Lyles, a local (to me) woman who was recently shot by Seattle police. http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/charleena-lyles-seattle-police-shooting-case-what-we-know/536467321

He has already convicted the police of murder in this case. She called police to report a burglary and then allegedly attacked them with kitchen knives. Police had been dispatched to her apartment many times.

[MutuelClerk]

Funny how police never seem to have their body cams on when needed. Well not that funny.

[jimmyb]

I'd like to ask Bennett why he took this long to come forward.

[ElKabong]

It seems odd that the LVPD is requesting that the NFL investigate what they believe to be false allegations against their department. Isn't it the job of their department's internal affairs, or other independent police agency, to investigate the allegation against the department and make a determination as to whether the charges are valid. At yesterday's news conference, the LVPD Under Sheriff said that there would be a thorough investigation and that it would take time to review tape, interview witnesses, etc. Now they have apparently decided that Bennett is lying?
.

My guess... The LVPD wants Bennett to be subjected to the nfl's conduct policies. They know the nfl has the authority to punish a player when the law enforcement entities can't. See zeke Elliott.

I think the nfl not allowing Jerry jones to have the Cowboys wear a shield honoring fallen cops riled law enforcement types. Can't blame them myself

I think the police in this instance are pissed off at bennett's actions...before during and after the incident...just my guess.

[kingfin66]

I'd like to ask Bennett why he took this long to come forward.

It was not very long ago. Only a couple of weeks. It could take him a while to consider his options, consult with an attorney, etc,.

[Inner Dirt]

His comparison to Trayvon Martin is pointless. Martin was the aggressor, and happened to pick on the wrong guy. While smashing George Zimmerman's head against the sidewalk, Baby "Tray Tray" got the result of someone fearing death.

The police weren't on the scene until after the shooting.

Isn't it pathetic how the left always leave out the part about Trayvon Martin bashing Zimmerman's head into the concrete? They just call him "unarmed" black teenager and show pictures of him when he was 12 years old.

[jimmyb]

It was not very long ago. Only a couple of weeks. It could take him a while to consider his options, consult with an attorney, etc,.

Maybe it has something to do with the upcoming release of his book titled ' Things That Make White People Uncomfortable'.

[garyscpa]

Maybe it has something to do with the upcoming release of his book titled ' Things That Make White People Uncomfortable'.

jimmyb's not kidding.

http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2017/07/24/25307505/seahawks-michael-bennett-co-authoring-book-called-things-that-makes-white-people-uncomfortable

[Tom]

It was not very long ago. Only a couple of weeks. It could take him a while to consider his options, consult with an attorney, etc,.

He has a great case, IMHO.
Hope he pursues it to the limit.

And I don't even like guy.
But you gotta have better cops than that out there.
LV needs to pay a huge penalty

[jimmyb]

"As they moved toward the nightclub, an individual later identified as Bennett was seen crouched down behind a gaming machine as the officers approached," McMahill sald. "Once Bennett was in the officer's view, he quickly ran out the south doors, jumped over a wall onto Flamingo Road East of Las Vegas Boulevard into traffic."


According to McMahill, the officers viewed Bennett's actions as suspicious, which is why he was handcuffed.



"Due to Bennett's actions, and the information the officer's had at the time, they believed that Bennett may have been involved in the shooting and they gave chase," McMahill said. "Bennett was placed in handcuffs and detained while officers determined whether or not he was involved in the incident."

[kingfin66]

I can actually see both sides of this story. It is easy to imagine that Bennett, staying hidden out of fear, see LVPD enter the building and decides now is a great time to get the hell out of Dodge. Adrenaline pumping, he makes his move, runs outside, jumps the wall, etc. LVPD sees this as a suspicious dude hiding - why was he still in the building? - jump out from behind a gaming machine and make a run for it. This, if this is what happened, is two sides seeing the same action in a different way.

In this scenario, I see the LVPD as doing their job, making sure that Bennett is not the shooter, questioning and releasing him. I still have not seen video of a cop holding Bennett and gunpoint and threatening to blow his head off. That would not be acceptable.

What I find very interesting are:

Bennett's claims of racial bias. How? Why? Given the statements regarding the facts, and the demographics of the many people who were in the nightclub and casino that night that racial bias would be very difficult to prove, especially if Bennett really did run away as described.

Bennett allegedly being good with the cops at the time of the incident, but then contacting an attorney.

Bennett writing his "Dear World" letter when, according to the LVPD, he had not even contacted them to make a formal complaint.

The LVPD engaging in a concerted smear campaign against Bennett to refute his claims and contact the NFL to request an investigation before their own internal investigation has really even started. They seem to be trying to get way ahead of this situation. Why?

This has been a pretty quiet issue for the past few days up here in Seattle.

[MONEY]

Published: March 23, 2018 at 03:18 p.m. Updated: March 23, 2018 at 04:15 p.m.

"Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett was indicted Friday by a Texas grand jury on a felony abuse charge for allegedly injuring an elderly NRG Stadium worker following Super Bowl LI last year"

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000922883/article/michael-bennett-indicted-on-felony-charge-in-texas

[Valuist]

Bennett is a complete scumbag.