Topic: Violent Arrest of student at Univ.of Western Ontario sparks uproar on youtube

[Kyle Burrows]

The media has an omnipotent power to put whatever sort of spin they would like on any given story.  As a mainstream news source, many in the status quo will not look into deeper meaning.

If the student was indeed under the influence of a controlled or prohibited substance and chose to resist arrest because of that - then he deserves what he gets.

If all we are going on is a media opinion that clashes with some views of people that were there (and aligns with others as well) then who are we to pass judgement.  I'm not advocating either answer as the correct one - I'm saying that there often is more to the situation than we are told.

From what I've gathered, this situation was initially handled by Special Constables with the LPS coming in after.  It is possible that instead of diffusing a situation with a delusional or mentally ill individual it was escalated, simply because it was a situation that the first officers responding hadn't dealt with before. We cannot fault the officers for dealing with a perceived threat to themselves and others. But perhaps there was a better response for that particular situation.

Just trying to keep an open mind until we get more details.

[NotRambo]

expect to see a lot of  dreadlocked, bongo playing suburban white kids, saying we live in a facist state.

[Michael O'Leary]

expect to see a lot of  dreadlocked, bongo playing suburban white kids, saying we live in a facist state.

So, the same reaction they'd have to the application of ratings for violence or sexuality on video games.

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Student arrested on YouTube has charges stayed

By JANE SIMS, QMI Agency
   
LONDON, Ont. -- Four charges against a University of Western Ontario student whose violent arrest was posted to YouTube have been stayed.
The charges against Irnes Zeljkovic were stayed Wednesday when a judge agreed he should be treated under the Mental Health Act.
Zeljkovic, 22, barricaded himself in a seventh-floor office of the Social Sciences building at the University of Western Ontario on Oct. 14.

He then approached two campus police officers in what the university called a "violent manner."
Police later confronted him on the building's main floor. Several campus and city police officers wrestled with Zeljkovic, striking him at least 35 times.

A witness filmed the confrontation and posted a 90-second clip on YouTube that has drawn nearly 400,000 viewers.
In the video,Zeljkovic is commanded to "Stop resisting!" 
 
Zeljkovic was charged with mischief, resisting arrest, escaping custody and assaulting a peace officer.
A lawyer acting for Zeljkovic said academic stress may have played a role in the incident.

The university hired the former head of the OPP to review the arrest that sparked protest of police tactics.
 
 

[mariomike]

Update:
Jul. 23, 2010
Globe and Mail:
"University student sues police, school over violent arrest: Video footage of the arrest was posted on YouTube; student seeks $750,000 in damages":
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/university-student-sues-police-school-over-violent-arrest/article1649574/

April 2010
"Independent Review for the University of Western Ontario"  by Gwen Boniface, Former
Commissioner of Ontario Provincial Police:
http://uwo.ca/local_files/downloads/boniface-report-final.pdf

"Western Student in Violent Arrest Video Goes Public: Irnes Zeljkovic Speaks Out:"
( Video ):
http://www.atv.ca/london/news_73103.aspx

[benny88]

Are you kidding me? I don't care if he was in a "disoriented" state and "didn't want to fight anyone" if a person fluent in English is in a state such that they can't comprehend orders to submit to a handcuffing what's to say that in that state they might think it a prudent action to grab for a police officer's weapon if the situation is pussyfooted? A few "deep bruises" on some nut are better than one of my friends being hurt on campus at UWO. I'm not unsympathetic to him being in a not completely lucid mental state, but he's no worse for the wear so he can frig off.