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Rehoboth Beach Police brutality: you make the call



While I never figure out why they are arresting him in this video, it appears pretty clear that the first time they taze him he is standing with his hands behind his head, and that the multiple tazes while he is on his knees appear at best completely unnecessary.

What do you think?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I wish there was more to the video. What did he do to deserve this? Is he drunk, under the influence, maybe. I've never been in an officer's shoes but I'm pretty sure kicking a man in the face when he's down goes against all codes. Guy code, cop code etc. I can't wait to see what comes of this. My family and I live 2 blocks from where this went down I really wish we where out and about that day to get the full story.
Anonymous said…
The problem I have is that his hands are going up and behind his head. In my opinion very compliant, and then he gets tazed. More force was being used than necessary, therefore brutality is my opinion. We will see the charges as to why he was arrested. If he is simply charged with resisting arrest with no other charges, all 3 cops should go to jail. Very sad world we live in when the very people that are supposed to protect and serve us, violate our civil rights.
Margaret Melson said…
Since it isn't clear why the man is being arrested, or what happened prior to the video, I can only comment on what I watched. Since I can "hear" the cacophony of police defenders crying out over the use of "foul" language against the officers, I'll speak to that first...they are supposed to be trained to handle upset and unruly people. Further, unruly and upset people do not tend to calm down when you repeatedly shock them with electricity. This took place on Rehoboth Avenue in broad daylight, while being recorded. Can you imagine what happens to the lone "suspect" after dark or behind closed doors? This whole video is a tame example of what we all can expect as the erosion of our freedoms continue. Welcome to Hell.

delacrat said…
What did the police do before they had tazers ?
tom said…
Pepper Spray, Clubs, ...
Anonymous said…
Clubs and fists. Rehoboth Beach, 1979.
Fists, Wilmington, 1992.
No arrest in the former, charges in the later.
YMMV
Anonymous said…
Just cause some scumbag turns on a camera halfway through the incident doesn't justify police brutality. This guy (just pos looking for a lawsuit) refused all police commands and got tased for it, then tried to fight back and not to mention trying to bite one of the officers. I guess next time let's just let 3 of our cops get in a physical altercation get hurt and go out on injury now we r paying for 3 guys injured and more importantly the department is down 3, I don't think so thanks taser. As far as being "caught on camera" they knew she was recording so if what they were doing was wrong why not take the camera? The answer is my previous statement their just some out of town SCUMBAGS...
Anonymous said…
Allow me first to let you all know the cops were called after a "verbal altercation between the suspect and a hotel employee over a room card". As for him not listening to any police commands, you really have no ideas whether he did or not. The video starts with him putting his hands behind his head and then being tased, several times, after which yes, he was a bit unruly. But speaking as a person who's experienced the feeling of being tased, (no I didn't do anything, it was a case of mistaken identity) I'd like to see some of you take a few zaps to the midsection n see if u don't get a little pissed of and if you don't have a few choice words for the person who did it. But I'll even give you the benefit of the doubt there. Say being taser all those times WAS necessary. The bald cop had him in the prone position on the sidewalk, knee in his back and right arm restrained ( as they're trained to do in an arrest). We're the kicks to the head really necessary? This is the part that enfuriates me the most. I've tried my best to remain mature throughout this comment & not use foul language, but I'm sorry, anyone who thinks that isn't a straight up bitch move deserves a few blows to the head themselves. What kind of coward comes up on an unruly citizen armed with combat training, a baton, taser, pepper spray, a pistol and a shotgun or assault rifle (yes they carry them in the cars) and is too chicken shit to do anything but tase him and wait for his co worker to restrain the guy to get a few cheap shots in? I lived in lewes and rehoboth for many years, and personally know Wittman, and his actions don't surprise me in the least.
Anonymous said…
He's one I those typical nobodys who become 10 feet tall and bulletproof when they throw that belt on, but catch him aroun town off duty n he won't say boo to you. Far as I'm concerned the third officer that showed up, along with baldy, did nothing wrong except for allowing Wittman to do what he did. Do they deserve some sort of disciplinary action for it? Personally, I say yes. Maybe a few days unpaid leave. But hopefully this video is finally enough to let Chief Banks see Wittman for what he truly is, nothing more than a cowardly little puss & a dirty blemish on an otherwise pretty outstanding force. And trust me, for those last words to come out of my mouth is a pretty big deal....
Anonymous said…
Oh yeah and the final charges were disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and offensive touching of an officer, though I'm not really sure when that last one happened.....
Doug said…
Rehoboth Police Department, rhymes with 'runts'.... Seriously? What a bunch of pusscakes. If you have to taze and stomp this guy you don't need to be wearing a uniform, as a security guard let alone a cop.
Anonymous said…
Oh, I forgot the vehicular assault in MD in 1976. BTW I'm white middle class and have never been convicted of a crime in my life. Respectable church going guy who serves on the boards of many non-profits (3). What do you really think would have happened if I was black? My bet is dead.
Unknown said…
Disgusting pigs I hope they do time and get the shit beat out of them. I vaca'd there ten years ago and suffered the same consequences and was forced to appear in night court while intoxicated. This shit needs to end. Above the law crooked scumbags
Unknown said…
Officer Whitman had a protection order placed on him in family court. How can this officer be out there protecting citizens when his own family needs protection from him. He was smiling and laughing while tasing the individual as well as when he kicked him in the head. I'm sorry but his badge should have been taken when that protection order was placed against him. It's not right that these police officers are allowed to get away with things that an ordinary person would be serving jail time for. Officers are held to higher standards, but how can they gain citizens respect if they feel they are above the law and can do as they please. I see more cops speeding, talking on a cell phone, throwing cigarettes out their car windows and running lights than I do ordinary citizens; however, I don't see police being arrested for it. The incident started with the man having a dispute with a hotel employee over a room key and was said to have left the hotel and started walking towards the beach when the police arrived and asked him about what was going on and he refused to speak with police. The only reason the police gave for his arrest was for resisting arrest, I'm not sure as to why they were arresting him in the first place unless it was for failure to cooperate with officers, but it was within his right to not talk to the officers if he did not wish to do so...
Anonymous said…
I would say this is unbelievable...but I know first hand that RB cops are pretty much power hungry abusers. I am a middle aged white, professional female. About a year ago, while not being tazed, I went through a similary ordeal with Officer Whitman and one of his (way too fat to be a usefull officer) colleagues. I spent 3 hours being humiliated,harrassed, almost placed into cuffs, put in the cruiser, searched over NOTHING..but their boredom. Oh and back at the police station...nothing but mockery and laughter amongst the good old boys. I came into town from out of state for work needs for the day and after a dinner out with my partner, I was stopped (for allegedly ignoring a traffic signal, which did not happen), then it went rediculous from there. They could not even prove I had done a single thing wrong. They refused to let my partner talk to me or let her know I was ok. (She was in a separate vehicle and scared to death when she fianlly found me). They towed my car (to the tune of $200+) and took me into custody. FOR NOTHING. And no, I was not "resisting arrest"..just in shear shock over what was happning. Ironically, I read this story. Its the SAME officer. To this date I dont even care to go to RB or pationize its businesses. Who needs this? And the fact that these officers were willing to literally damage someones reputation and livilihood
for NOTHING but their entertainment, was unbelieveable at best. I guess it was a long winter for them without tourists to pick on. I will never EVER forget Whitman's face (or his fat partner) and I will never forget that evening. It was surreal. So when I look at this video, it makes me sick. I guess if I had not cooperated, I could have been kicked in the head as well. It matters not what this guy said prior to the video. He did cooperate to start, but repeatedly shocking the hell out of someone and then kicking them in the head would certainly only exacerbate a tense situation. A sound person (let along cop) would/should know that! Whitman needs to go. He is not a public servant...he and others seem to be self servants for their little man insecurities and power needs. Watch your back in RB. Its not the crooks its the cops you need to be aware of.
Anonymous said…
Its typical that a cop would do this. Quit resisting, don't resist oh wait your not doing anything but cooperating so let me kick you in the face and taste you . Oh and I'm going to get away with it. Pitiful
Anonymous said…
I am also a middle aged professional woman who had a run in with Whitman and probably his less than useful co-worker. You should count yourself lucky that you were not arrested. I was NOT driving. I was just trying to help a friend who had too much to drink walk home. I did not have ID on me and I refused to talk to the police as I did nothing wrong. I was cuffed, taken to the station and harassed for hours as well. Both Whitman and his rotund coworker also tried to provoke me into touching or pushing them away. I sat there stoic which sent Whitman and his friend over the edge! One of their more intelligent co-workers went into the other room and asked my friend for my name and got it. When I was put into a holding room with my friend I broke down and started to cry and ask to make a phone call. I will never forget this, Whitman was pacing outside the room laughing and smirking saying I would be lucky if I got to make a call by Tuesday (it was Saturday about 6PM). I was never tased but the handcuffs were put on so tight they left red marks on my wrists or 2 days.

I was arrested on made up charges and put into solitary confinement for a day and a half in the Sussex county men’s jail. I had never had an encounter with the police in my entire life nor have I ever been in a jail, not even to visit someone. They kept me in there and did not let me use a real phone to make a call until I was transferred to the state woman’s prison in Wilmington! Throughout the entire process I was harassed by guards and some guy on a TV screen they called a “judge”. The whole thing was very disturbing and some of the prison guards were so scary that the strip search pales in comparison. For the first time in my life I was happy that I was old and fat. I shudder to think what could have happened if I wasn’t. I was not allowed to use a real phone just one that supposedly made collect calls, but none of the calls I made ever went through to my family. I felt like I was living a Lifetime movie! This stuff just doesn’t happen to normal people, or so I thought.

I could go on about many other things about that experience but the most important fact was that I did not get released until almost midnight Tuesday. My family paid the bail on Monday shortly after noon as they had to drive down from PA and I didn’t get to make a real phone call until Monday mid morning. Guess I should count myself lucky that I wasn’t beat up. Still I can’t help but feel guilty. Afterwards I paid a backward southern lawyer to make the arrest go away and didn’t pursue these sick bastards. The whole thing still haunts me as I feel I should have tried to do more. I didn’t have a video or any evidence except my word and clean record. As a professional I can’t afford a police record but I would be willing to talk to officials if they wanted to listen. I also have not been back to Rehoboth, a place I have loved to go to for years, most often off season on the weekends. I miss the friends I have made down there, and the beach, but like the previous poster stated, it just isn’t worth it. I could only guess that the locals support this joke of a police department thinking they are making their community safe from “scumbags”. Funny thing is the only ‘scumbags‘ I have met in Rehoboth were the cops. Even most of the prisoners were really nice just like most of the people who live down there.

If anyone has information on someone who wants to fix this and needs information please post the contact information. You maybe surprised (or not) at the responses you get.
Anonymous said…
June 2007 this same cop Whitman was involved in a car chase that ended in Rehoboth Beach. At the end of the chase as the vehicle was stopping this same cop fired two shots from the rear going into the drivers seat from the back, fortunately went through the seat and did not hit the 19 year old driver. The officer and his department went with Whitman story that the car was comming at this cop when he shot? If thats true how did the bullet go through the back window and hit the drivers seat from the rear. Our Attorney Generals did nothing and now look at the latest with this cop.
Unknown said…
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Anonymous said…
These cops are overstepping boundaries they think they have the same power as JC himself
Hello,
I realize this is a year later, but just in case anyone is still reading this... My boyfriend and I are planning on suing everyone possible because of what Whitman did to him. I am the farthest things from litigious, but we can't allow this type of behavior to continue. I don't want to get into any details (at this point), but I'm looking for any help you could offer. We live in Baltimore and could use lawyer suggestions, and any stories/personal experiences pertaining to Whitman. If there is anything you can do to help me, I'd really appreciate it. Post, and we'll connect. Thanks!
Anonymous said…
I just got back from a week long Vaca in RB. I saw more police presence there than at a correction facility. They were watching paying tourists like lions. After bar hopping one night we saw a severely intoxicated woman trying to drive away from the bar we were at. My group stopped her (several of us have DWI's). We called a taxi but she had "no" money. Then we handed her to one of the many Officers present and asked if they could help her home. They said no. End story. Tax dollars hard at work. Way to go REHOBOTH POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Anonymous said…
We have power in numbers. Everyone who has ever had a problem with the Rehoboth Beach Police, along with the Delaware State Police as I have had should get together a file the biggest Civil Lawsuit that Delaware has ever seen. My husband and I have been through HELL! all because of a fake 911 call saying we pulled a gun (which we did not!)on a drugged out family member. My story is to long to tell, however you can just imagine what we have been through.

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