By Carlos Miller
He was 15 years old. A special needs student. And his shirt wasn’t tucked in.
For that, Marshawn Pitts was severely beaten by a police officer in the hallway of his school. And it was all caught on surveillance video.
The suburban Chicago police officer first shoved him against a wall. Then when the scrawny teen tried to stand back up, the officer began pummeling him with his fists.
Th brawny officer then sat on top of the teen, shoving his face into the floor in what is called a “face-down take-down,”a controversial hold that is illegal in eight states because it has resulted in at least 20 deaths, according to the CBS news report.
Pitts ended up with a broken nose, a swollen lip and cuts to his face.
All for an untucked shirt.
But it was in bad taste for CBS to title their news report “a painful lesson” because it insinuates the teen deserved the beating, which he did not.
The incident occurred in May 2009 at the Academy of Learning at Dolton, which is a school that specializes in special needs students. Pitts has a learning disability stemming from a previous head injury.
The name of the Dolton police officer, who works as a school resource officer, has not been published. I’m betting it is not the first time he’s done that.
Popularity: 1% [?]
24 responses so far ↓
1 Simon Jester // Oct 8, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Respect my authoriteh!
2 ClintJCL // Oct 8, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I want him named.
3 Lorraine Sumrall // Oct 8, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I want that jerk named, too. If he had the cojones to do what he did then he ought not to mind giving us his name.
4 santa // Oct 8, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Is this not a news story being printed as well as blogged? I sure hope he is fired.
5 Difster // Oct 8, 2009 at 12:28 PM
When are kids going to learn to dress properly and respect those that are better than them? This kid got what he deserved! If a few more kids got the crap beat out of them by cops who are just trying to make society better then we wouldn’t have so many problems.
/sarcasm
6 Chris // Oct 8, 2009 at 1:28 PM
I’m sorry, I thought the practice was to not name VICTIMS.
There is nothing here that can’t be cured with a tall tree and a short rope.
Yes, you read that right, I am suggesting a mob go to this mans house and hang him.
7 Nemo // Oct 8, 2009 at 2:08 PM
I’ve little doubt that if anything comes from the PD, it will be along the lines of “The young man took a bladed stance”, or “the officer thought he was reaching for a weapon”.
If a teacher had pulled this stunt, it seems likely to me that he’d be facing assault charges, but a cop? He’ll get an ass chewing and a transfer, at most.
8 Pablo // Oct 8, 2009 at 2:47 PM
It was a painful lesson. People need to learn that if an officer tells them to do something, they should do it
9 ALL BE DAMNED // Oct 8, 2009 at 3:17 PM
if you watch the tape Pablo you would know that the kid was tucking in his shirt LOOK closer if you didnt see it the first time just because someone walks away from an officer doesnt give the PRICK the right to beat the SHIT out of a 15 year old
10 Scott Bieser // Oct 8, 2009 at 3:18 PM
The lesson to be learned here is that the police are out of control and if the citizenry doesn’t demand that training, hiring standards and disciplinary procedures aren’t changed to stop this, tomorrow it’s going to be YOU or one of your children getting the beaten or possibly killed over some trivial matter.
11 Archie1954 // Oct 8, 2009 at 5:05 PM
It’s Oklahoma for pete’s sake, what do you expect?
12 Archie1954 // Oct 8, 2009 at 5:07 PM
That earlier comment was for another article. Sorry.
13 Mark // Oct 8, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Good point about CBS’s ill chosen title. The old ‘if someone has a problem with the cops they must have done something’ mentality. I think we should call and write CBS and all the major networks and ask them why they don’t report even 1/1000 of the stuff these ‘protectors and servers’ of society do. I for one am really sick of the lack of media attention on this issue. Am I alone on this??
14 Jermaine Ferguson // Oct 8, 2009 at 7:12 PM
I think more children, especially minorities, should be beaten for getting out of line and not respecting their elders. Too bad I can’t legally beat some of the children in my private school math class.
15 johnl // Oct 8, 2009 at 9:21 PM
The painful lesson is for school administrators who allow police on campus.
16 Tom Jankowski // Oct 8, 2009 at 9:32 PM
I hope the cop is fired and thrown in jail for that. That is excessive force. ANd the kid has a learning disability.
This unfortunately gives a new meaning to “fashion police”
17 Aces High Eddie // Oct 8, 2009 at 9:34 PM
The Village of Dolton, Il’s mayor, Ronnie Lewis. Email: rlewis@vodolton.org
It seems a bit weird that the Village Of Dolton’s police web page isn’t working…hmmmmm
Shoot Ronnie an email as I’ve done!
18 Ariel // Oct 9, 2009 at 5:07 AM
According to Officer.com, the still unnamed Dolton police officer has resigned. Pitts’ parents are considering suing. Pitts has left that school for another one.
Obviously it was a painful lesson for the LEO. Perhaps he should avoid excessive force if he ever becomes a cop again. The technique he used, the face-down take-down, is considered too dangerous in 8 states and is banned in those states, and should be considered excessive force in all states.
Pablo, if a LEO told your wife or daughter to drop her panties and show her genitals to him, that would be OK by you, right? Any order from a cop must be followed or you deserve a beating, right?
19 JustWondering // Oct 9, 2009 at 11:24 AM
That cop is now in jail for rape
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-dolton-cop-09-oct09,0,527689.story
20 Carlos Miller // Oct 9, 2009 at 8:48 PM
“The name of the Dolton police officer, who works as a school resource officer, has not been published. I’m betting it is not the first time he’s done that.”
Hell, even I didn’t think his previous history would be that bad. But I’m not surprised.
21 Rusty Carr // Apr 17, 2010 at 11:30 PM
I’ve said a number of times that where we went wrong in this country was when we outlawed lynch mobs!!
22 Rusty Carr // Apr 17, 2010 at 11:32 PM
Did they give you an IQ test before they turned you loose with a computer?
23 Rusty Carr // Apr 17, 2010 at 11:36 PM
Well Jermaine all we know them spicks and niggers need a good ass whupp’n from time to time now don’t we?!! (And for those who can’t figure it out, yes I’m being sarcastic)
24 Rusty Carr // Apr 17, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Apparently the father is as big a shit for brains as his criminal son.
Leave a Comment