Cop cleared in NYC chokehold death

[Bigappleyinzer]

My understanding is that the cigarettes were brought in from another state. Not sure where. By importing the smokes, the seller avoids the taxes and obtains the smokes at a much lower price (say, $7/pack).

That now works out to a mere 35 cents per smoke. The profit margin on selling the smoke for $1.50 per is now $1.15 per cigarette. (The guy selling the smokes is not driving to wherever and getting the cigarettes, by the way. He is a middle man.) Sell 12 per hour, and now we're talking $13.80/hour, tax free!! That is the equivalent of $17/hour.

P.S. The guy who perished is lucky Bloomberg is no longer mayor of NYC. If Bloomberg learned that the guy was 400 lbs., enjoyed large sodas, and was selling cigarettes, he would have given the cops medals.

This.

Besides being a terrible place with terrible people- Jersey has essentially $0 taxes and lower costs on cigs/alcohol/Gasoline. Its an easy trade.

But yea, Bloomberg was terrible. The man extends his own mayoral term, and then tries that bullshit soda tax? if you look around the city, most of the women are pretty skinny and most of the men are dainty. Absolutely no reason for the tax, other than to flex his muscle.

 

[IndySteel]

Besides being a terrible place with terrible people- Jersey .

That's no lie. What a horrible state.

 

[MT~Forged]

If he can buy the smokes in NJ for half price, than that really means that NY is over charging and losing business. If he is selling so many that he is putting NY out of business, I would sugest they hire him to adress their losing stradegy.

 

[hamster]

That's no lie. What a horrible state.

I will pump my own gas, thank you very much.

 

[Steeltime]

But yea, Bloomberg was terrible. The man extends his own mayoral term, and then tries that bullshit soda tax? if you look around the city, most of the women are pretty skinny and most of the men are dainty.

Agree 100% on all counts. Mrs. Steeltime, daughter, son and I spent a week in Manhattan last September, and the females were the most beautiful I have seen in any major city. I live in Los Angeles, and the town has a lot of pretty girls, but the women in NY almost gave me whiplash and a smack on the back of the head (from the Mrs.).

 

[Steeltime]

That's no lie. What a horrible state.

I have been to New Jersey no fewer than 10 times, and find it to be one of the most underappreciated states in the Union. (I have been to 32 states so far, and am looking forward to visiting the other 25 [Obama joke here, people] soon after I retire.)

Central New Jersey is freaking gorgeous. Rolling hills, lots of beautiful, mature trees, small farms, etc. The homes in central New Jersey have long driveways leading to a home set back 100' from the road (unlike Los Angeles, where even very nice homes are put maybe 20' from the street). A lot of colonials, columns, big front yards. (I trust Ed can back me up on this.)

Granted, I spent very little time in Newark, and just went to the car rental counter and left the city. Newark may well have the issues mentioned. But I will say, based on my fairly regular visits to the state, it is a really beautiful area. It is called the "Garden State" for a reason.

 

[IndySteel]

I have been to New Jersey no fewer than 10 times, and find it to be one of the most underappreciated states in the Union. (I have been to 32 states so far, and am looking forward to visiting the other 25 [Obama joke here, people] soon after I retire.)

Central New Jersey is freaking gorgeous. Rolling hills, lots of beautiful, mature trees, small farms, etc. The homes in central New Jersey have long driveways leading to a home set back 100' from the road (unlike Los Angeles, where even very nice homes are put maybe 20' from the street). A lot of colonials, columns, big front yards. (I trust Ed can back me up on this.)

Granted, I spent very little time in Newark, and just went to the car rental counter and left the city. Newark may well have the issues mentioned. But I will say, based on my fairly regular visits to the state, it is a really beautiful area. It is called the "Garden State" for a reason.

I don't like to argue. Especially with attorneys. I just state my opinion (which is usually factual) and move on, so don't take this personally. Jersey is a big steaming pile of ****. Sure, every ***** has a couple of untainted spots. One of my best friends (RIP) lived on a beautiful golf course in Medford. I spent some awesome weeks at a shore house on Monmouth Beach. One of the best things I've ever eaten is a cheesesteak from Riviera in Cherry Hill. I spent a lot of time in Clifton and Monclair, where an ex sister in law used to live. But I've also seen Atlantic City, Camden, Trenton and Newark. Connect those dots and collectively that state is the shithole of this country. I used to go there every six weeks for the better part of a decade, mainly South Jersey when I called on U.S. Steel in Fairless Hills and would stay in Medford. I would rather continue to go to Detroit than make one more trip back to Jersey. Damn near every person from NJ, or the whole East coast for that matter, is a high-strung, amped up bitter *******.

 

[IndySteel]

Oh, I forgot a BIG plus for that ****** state: the strip club from the Sopranos, the Bada Bing! It lived up to the hype. I would go back there.

 

[oneforthebus]

I have been to New Jersey no fewer than 10 times, and find it to be one of the most underappreciated states in the Union. (I have been to 32 states so far, and am looking forward to visiting the other 25 [Obama joke here, people] soon after I retire.)

Central New Jersey is freaking gorgeous. Rolling hills, lots of beautiful, mature trees, small farms, etc. The homes in central New Jersey have long driveways leading to a home set back 100' from the road (unlike Los Angeles, where even very nice homes are put maybe 20' from the street). A lot of colonials, columns, big front yards. (I trust Ed can back me up on this.)

Granted, I spent very little time in Newark, and just went to the car rental counter and left the city. Newark may well have the issues mentioned. But I will say, based on my fairly regular visits to the state, it is a really beautiful area. It is called the "Garden State" for a reason.

Most shitholes have at least one or two nicer areas. (Shaker Heights in Cleveland comes to mind). The nicer areas in New Jersey are populated mainly by people for whom money is no object. That's it in New Jersey,,, you have the super-rich who can afford the ridiculous property values and taxes, and you have slums. Consider what passes for a big city in New Jersey..Newark, Trenton, Camden...these places are toilets that most people don't even want to have to drive through, let alone spend time in.

 

[Tim Steelersfan]

Most shitholes have at least one or two nicer areas. (Shaker Heights in Cleveland comes to mind). The nicer areas in New Jersey are populated mainly by people for whom money is no object. That's it in New Jersey,,, you have the super-rich who can afford the ridiculous property values and taxes, and you have slums. Consider what passes for a big city in New Jersey..Newark, Trenton, Camden...these places are toilets that most people don't even want to have to drive through, let alone spend time in.

Not going to disagree. Any state has these anomalies. I can take you to some amazing, fantastic places in West Virginia that are utterly breath taking - and manicured and rich.

Discussions like this often remind me of Florida. Gets a great reputation. Amazing places there. My father lives in Naples. I've been in some amazing gated communities there. Breathtaking areas inhabited by the Mike Ditkas of the world. He's lived in Tampa and Bonita Springs also. Yet it's the most red neck state I've ever been to. And I've traveled the world. I've been to most states. Florida can be so posh and in a mere few miles be so "trailer" and so destitute.

Everywhere's like this. Mississippi to New York.

 

[oneforthebus]

Not going to disagree. Any state has these anomalies. I can take you to some amazing, fantastic places in West Virginia that are utterly breath taking - and manicured and rich.

Discussions like this often remind me of Florida. Gets a great reputation. Amazing places there. My father lives in Naples. I've been in some amazing gated communities there. Breathtaking areas inhabited by the Mike Ditkas of the world. He's lived in Tampa and Bonita Springs also. Yet it's the most red neck state I've ever been to. And I've traveled the world. I've been to most states. Florida can be so posh and in a mere few miles be so "trailer" and so destitute.

Everywhere's like this. Mississippi to New York.

Yep, totally agree. There are a few places in FL that are paradise if you can afford them, 90% of that state I wouldn't live in if you paid me.

 

[IndySteel]

Yep, totally agree. There are a few places in FL that are paradise if you can afford them, 90% of that state I wouldn't live in if you paid me.

I would live in 90% of that state as long as I had a full time sniper to shoot reptiles and crackheads.

 

[Steeltime]

Florida can be so posh and in a mere few miles be so "trailer" and so destitute.

Everywhere's like this. Mississippi to New York.

This is true. If I need to get to West Los Angeles for business, I will travel through Beverly Hills, down Beverly Glen. That stretch has gorgeous mansions behind security gates. 4 miles south on Santa Monica Blvd., crappy apartment buildings and Section 8 housing.

 

[madinsomniac]

Look Police have been out of control for a long time... some are racist, but I know white guys who have gotten freaken abused by cops for no reason too. Know a guy suing for being dragged from his car and forcefully arrested over yelling at a cop blowing a stop sign while texting. Know another who had eight cops bust through his door and tackle him over a bench warrant he didn't even know he had... never even gave him a chance to come peaceably. I watched a friend of mine have a cop pull a gun on him because he got out of his car too fast while the cop was checking him out... he apparently was suspicious because he was 18/19...cause the only thing he was in that park to do was play hockey and he was s straight arrow as they come... heck I had a cop pull a gun on me before and I don't do anything even close to violent. I was working late at a grocery store I managed helping the night shift, lights on and everything, Cop came through the exit door and went nuts on me... his partner came in and saw it was just the night shift and calmed him down... still have no idea why that happened....

Ive also been pulled over and harassed by a cop multiple times in Glassport over absolutely nothing. I have no priors for anything and I certainly don't try to cause trouble... It happens. The worse was when I picked up my brother once at a bar after work because he and a few friends were drunk. i was sober and didn't drink, a cop immediately pulled me over and tried to accuse me of drunk driving. he kept me there forever while he ran my plates, checked every persons's ID, searched my car, and antagonized us to no extent... I wasn't swerving as he claimed. He kept threatening to arrest me for not being truthful about drinking when I literally had nothing... he finally left me go when a fight broke out elsewhere with a stern warning as if he was doing me a favor. Honestly I had the feeling if I said something smartassed to him, which is totally within my rights, he was going to pull me out of the car right there... its not a good feeling when Police have moved to the position they are at right now... RIP... Johhny Gammage...

The bottom line is there are plenty of good cops out there, but the number of militarized power trippers has gotten out of control.

 

[Yinzerlyn]

I lived in Jersey for 2 years- and I liked it. We were in Burlington County, which was where the AFB was. We had the farms and rolling hills, but if we drove 10 minutes toward Philly, then we hit the Camden suburbs. We went to a concert at the outdoor amphitheater in Camden one night. While we were at the concert, the DOT closed the main road to get back to the interstate....routed us through the SHITTIEST parts of Camden at midnight. That was bad. Atlantic City is a shithole too- one street away from the beach and casinos is a horrible ghetto. However, we were close to Freehold and Jackson where there were malls, a Six Flags, and lots of nice houses. NJ is pretty bipolar.

For the record, the BEST Cheesesteak is at La Vita's in Mount Holly.

 

[RollRedRoll]

The choking was extreme. There were 4 cops. They should have all tazed his giant *** all at the same time. Regardless, he'd still be alive if he hadn't resisted. That angel only had 31 arrests on his rap sheet. Mean ole cops need to leave good samaritans like him alone.

Maybe they should have just at left him the **** alone.... What was he doing.. selling single cigarettes to people. Crime of the century I know. Why don't they go arrest one of those Wall St. criminals and choke one of them out. You can implode the economy and nothing happens to you but pull a smoke out of a pack and sell it for a quarter and four cops show up to haul your *** away. Un ******* real.

 

[Troglodyte]

This is true. If I need to get to West Los Angeles for business, I will travel through Beverly Hills, down Beverly Glen. That stretch has gorgeous mansions behind security gates. 4 miles south on Santa Monica Blvd., crappy apartment buildings and Section 8 housing.

But still not nearly as extreme as some foreign countries where you'll find luxury hotels surrounded by people living in huts made from corrugated steel.

 

[Hineswardkickedurpanzyass]

On my honeymoon we were in Jamaica at a Sandals resort. That was my first eye opening experience to how the 3rd world really lives. You could look out from one side of the room and see the perfectly manicured beaches and landscape. The other side was the side of a mountain with shantys burning their trash. And Jamaica isn't even close to being as poor as some other countries.

 

[Omar10213245]

On my honeymoon we were in Jamaica at a Sandals resort. That was my first eye opening experience to how the 3rd world really lives. You could look out from one side of the room and see the perfectly manicured beaches and landscape. The other side was the side of a mountain with shantys burning their trash. And Jamaica isn't even close to being as poor as some other countries.

I always tell people that during deployments to afghanistan, it was like i was time-traveling to 500 yrs in the past whenever we'd leave the FOB on missions.

 

[DBS1970]

Nobody is pointing this out but this should have been a CIVIL matter if the police are to be believed as to the stated reason for the arrest. But note to the point the officer that applied the chokehold has been sued three times for various acts of misconduct. Once the city was forced to settle the other two are pending. In all three cases criminal charges were dismissed and sealed indicating there was never any crime necessataing police contact to begin with. That's a disturbing pattern. Maybe would should get rid of a bunch of victimless "Crimes" and scale back the size of our police forces.

http:// http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/12/04/choke-hold-cop-pantaleo-sued/19899461/

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

Look Police have been out of control for a long time... some are racist, but I know white guys who have gotten freaken abused by cops for no reason too. Know a guy suing for being dragged from his car and forcefully arrested over yelling at a cop blowing a stop sign while texting. Know another who had eight cops bust through his door and tackle him over a bench warrant he didn't even know he had... never even gave him a chance to come peaceably. I watched a friend of mine have a cop pull a gun on him because he got out of his car too fast while the cop was checking him out... he apparently was suspicious because he was 18/19...cause the only thing he was in that park to do was play hockey and he was s straight arrow as they come... heck I had a cop pull a gun on me before and I don't do anything even close to violent. I was working late at a grocery store I managed helping the night shift, lights on and everything, Cop came through the exit door and went nuts on me... his partner came in and saw it was just the night shift and calmed him down... still have no idea why that happened....

Ive also been pulled over and harassed by a cop multiple times in Glassport over absolutely nothing. I have no priors for anything and I certainly don't try to cause trouble... It happens. The worse was when I picked up my brother once at a bar after work because he and a few friends were drunk. i was sober and didn't drink, a cop immediately pulled me over and tried to accuse me of drunk driving. he kept me there forever while he ran my plates, checked every persons's ID, searched my car, and antagonized us to no extent... I wasn't swerving as he claimed. He kept threatening to arrest me for not being truthful about drinking when I literally had nothing... he finally left me go when a fight broke out elsewhere with a stern warning as if he was doing me a favor. Honestly I had the feeling if I said something smartassed to him, which is totally within my rights, he was going to pull me out of the car right there... its not a good feeling when Police have moved to the position they are at right now... RIP... Johhny Gammage...

The bottom line is there are plenty of good cops out there, but the number of militarized power trippers has gotten out of control.

This is exactly the problem. I have similar stories.

I've been harassed by several cops. Some perhaps because of my race. Some because the cop just wanted to be a bully.

However, I have also been helped out by several cops.

I think we just need to taper down the entire police force and find a way to sift out those that actually 'protect and serve' from those that just want the power trip.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

I lived in Jersey for 2 years- and I liked it. We were in Burlington County, which was where the AFB was. We had the farms and rolling hills, but if we drove 10 minutes toward Philly, then we hit the Camden suburbs. We went to a concert at the outdoor amphitheater in Camden one night. While we were at the concert, the DOT closed the main road to get back to the interstate....routed us through the SHITTIEST parts of Camden at midnight. That was bad. Atlantic City is a shithole too- one street away from the beach and casinos is a horrible ghetto. However, we were close to Freehold and Jackson where there were malls, a Six Flags, and lots of nice houses. NJ is pretty bipolar.

For the record, the BEST Cheesesteak is at La Vita's in Mount Holly.

 

[hamster]

. But note to the point the officer that applied the chokehold has been sued three times for various acts of misconduct. Once the city was forced to settle the other two are pending. In all three cases criminal charges were dismissed and sealed indicating there was never any crime necessataing police contact to begin with. That's a disturbing pattern. Maybe would should get rid of a bunch of victimless "Crimes" and scale back the size of our police forces.

I wonder how much the Police union was involved in defending the bad behavior of this cop.........much like the teachers unions protect bad teachers. Maybe some of the blame for this type of behavior should be placed at the doorstep of the police union hall. Three criminal cases!? Un-*******-believable.

 

[Steelr4evr]

You do know the police sergeant a female who was on the scene was black. I guess they'll have to figure out another route on making this a racial issue.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

You do know the police sergeant a female who was on the scene was black. I guess they'll have to figure out another route on making this a racial issue.

Haha What?

I am not even saying he was necessarily racist- but this is one dumb *** argument you are trying to present.