Comments on: Peterson incident “all on video”

By: bigblackanvil

bigblackanvil — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:02:58 +0000

Look . Why do people keep saying pro athletes and celebs should just” stay home”. They are people too. F* that. They’re Not here to raise your children. That’s your job. Role model? Really? What happened to the parents responsibility. If I could live almost everyday like a vacation ……damn right I would. Just how this incident went down I don’t know but stop acting like celebs should live in cages.

By: comboysarlington

comboysarlington — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:58:18 +0000

The details of the AP situation are still unknown but what it brings into question by so many of the readers is how far the police force across America has gone. I am shock at how little my fellow readers have given up on their constitutional rights. Have we forgotten the true role of the police in our communities, it’s to prevent crime, protect and serve our communities? Can anyone explain to me as to what crime was he preventing, or how was he protecting the community. If there is evidence that this man was intoxicated, then the police have a right to protect the citizens from yet another drunk driver on the road. Our founding fathers would be shock at the erosion of our individual liberties that they fought the British to protect. Sticking up for your rights does not constitute a misdemeanor or a treat to law enforcement. Even in the military there are checks and balances so that your superior charges to direct you with lawful orders. Never forget, as citizen we have given the police a great deal of authority in exchange for a great deal of professional responsibility, not so that he or she may have become “pissed off” and bully the citizens.

By: rew1572

rew1572 — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:54:15 +0000

People don’t like cops, and AP’s camp is doing a wonderful job of spinning this tale that all cops are corrupt, and AP is the victim.

By: ybo1

ybo1 — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:39:05 +0000

Reading through the comments, I’d like to give the benifit of doubt to both sides. AD is human and will make mistakes, cops are human and will make mistakes. Let’s hope this can be solved and we can all move on, but what I’d like to comment on is police in bars at closing time. I was with a band for several years and been in bars at closing time and after more than I can name, and cops will come in and look around but rarely will they do anything. I can only remember a handful of times I saw them do anything and in those times, the people deserved it because the bar called them. For the most part though, they let the bar secuirty handle the crowd and I’ve seen more than my fair share of people litterly thrown out of a bar by security guards, who could be off hours cops, I don’t know, but never have seen them arrested, mostly just tossed out. But AD is not a skinny 22 year old guy who drank too much, so I can see why this could’ve been blown out more then is should’ve by both sides. Until the truth comes out and the whole story, I choose to give it as one big misunderstanding.

By: stellarperformance

stellarperformance — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:28:47 +0000

I think Peterson, unaccustomed to being overly intoxicated, did absolutely nothing wrong to bring attention to himself. A uniformed cop jumped on his back for no reason at all. That happens all the time.

By: walterwhite1976

walterwhite1976 — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:10:28 +0000

Peterson did nothing wrong here, at least it appears that way. We are living in a Police State. Cop is lucky he didnt get stiff armed and shoved to the ground like that Pittsburgh defender. I think Gay was his name

By: wolfmanpatriot

wolfmanpatriot — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 03:22:48 +0000

Love all the comments ripping the police when no one here knows any of the details of what actually happened.

Maybe because we have all seen them pull their Gestapo tactics and are tired of the fascist police, nation wide.

Cops are the worst criminals, just no criminal record.

By: shutupbrees

shutupbrees — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 01:19:26 +0000

I’d put money down that this surveillance tape goes missing, or is accidentally deleted. And when that happens, it might as well be an admission of guilt by the Police Dept.

By: mrfrostyj

mrfrostyj — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 00:11:39 +0000

This source doesn’t sound very reliable (this wreaks of that episode of Family Guy were Stewie remembers Lois spanking him for acting up with her having huge muscles and pummeling him with fists). Cops don’t randomly walk into nightclubs and tell people to leave, I doubt the bouncer was just escorting Mr. Peterson just to make sure he got to the door OK and I REALLY doubt the cop just randomly jumped on AP with hundreds of witnesses their to verify police brutality.

I’d put money down that AP and his friends (including probably the “source” here) were acting like drunk fools and the bar owner called the cops to help the bouncer remove them.

By: akismet-3b1bba35174ffab9b676b7f8cecda1fe

akismet-3b1bba35174ffab9b676b7f8cecda1fe — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 23:20:05 +0000

The cops where probably Texans fans.

By: eessppnn

eessppnn — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:42:59 +0000

Sounds like hero cop getting a little aggressive. Generally don’t give NFL ers the benefit of the doubt, but this sounds out of character and sketchy

Go Pats

By: dontcallmepete

dontcallmepete — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:24:21 +0000

Where I work, for pushing the officer, he would have an additional charge of battery on a LEO.
———————————————-
I don’t see anywhere in this article that AD “pushed” an officer. I don’t believe it because that is assault and would clearly be charged.

By: b1gwin

b1gwin — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:23:03 +0000

Respect in life is a 2 way arrangement. Asking someone to be respectful of law enforcement personnel while law personnel treat said citizen like crap isnt the way to go. Im not a Vike fan, im a Houston resident. And the HPD clearly has many problems….from its crime lab falsifying evidence to unlawful beatings of unarmed residents to citizens being pulled over on roadways by off duty cops not in uniform and somehow winding up being shot and killed only to then have the grand jury “no bill” the officer and say use of force was justified. AP got off lucky here….with HPD’s recent track record its a wonder he isnt a resident of the city morgue.

By: beerbudsnbevo

beerbudsnbevo — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:14:04 +0000

I know ya saw me up on da video…

By: vnbl

vnbl — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:48:14 +0000

Viking fan for the past 35 years, police officer for the past 16…
Resisting arrest is a common charge and can be used by itself. In this instance Adrian was apparently told what to do, more than once, and he didn’t do it. Where I work, for pushing the officer, he would have an additional charge of battery on a LEO.
All the facts are not out yet, also I don’t see any video on YouTube.
I hate to read this article as I am a huge Adrian fan. It this holds true though, I will have lost respect for him. He’s not above the law.
Also, when the article says off duty officer, I don’t think that means a plainclothes officer who is also a patron at the bar. It probably means an officer in uniform who is being paid by the bar to work security there. Also very common.

By: dkphilly1122

dkphilly1122 — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:45:26 +0000

He was out with his girl and family, wtf does rehabbing his knee got to do with him relaxing with his family, regardless of the time or where it’s at. They got rights like every non athlete to be able to have a good time too. He’a stud when he needs to be, that’s all that matters. I’m sure this will get resolved quickly, whatever happened. From what I READ it sounds like some bull, but we’ll see when it all comes out. Cops can go on power trips. Especially if you do the littlest thing wrong that they don’t like. I got friends and family who are cops too, thankfully they’re not like that though.

By: kirbylaw

kirbylaw — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:40:42 +0000

Whatever the true and complete facts turn out to be, the entire matter is a shot to my gut. AP has always seemed to really be a celeb/superstar with his head on straight enough to have avoided this.

I agree that I never hear about anything good happening at a nightclub at anytime, especially after 9:00 when most kitchens close. I wish my stars would avoid nightclubs altogether. But, I am a 58 yo happily married guy of modest means. AP and so many other NFL players are single men in their 20′s, some with extraordinary wealth (or at least cash). Some of my young employees tell me that the nightclub “scene” nowadays doesn’t even get started until 10:00 p.m. For me, the monsters are out by then and I am usually asleep with a remote in my hand trying to turn the news on!

As currently couched, the description of the incident paints an unfavorable picture of the police action. That may change or it might get even worse. One thing is for certain, at 2:30 a.m. no one should be on their best game and more probably had short fuses, less than perfect vision as is common in bars and probably audio interferences; all of which could have erupted faster and more violently than the same set of circumstances might have elicited at 2:30 p.m. in a Cracker Barrel!

I just hope that a mole hill was turned into a mountain in an instant early this morning and that neither AP nor the Houston Police Department will suffer permanent scarring over this thing.

I regret the climate in our country that has been expressed by assumedly black males in certain posts above. There is absolutely no place in our country for racial profiling that apparently leads to the unnecessary harassment of a large, valuable and meaningful segment of our population.

Finally, even in rehab, a worker like AP should get a Saturday night pass to go out with friends and family. I just wish he would not make it at a bar!

By: minnysoda

minnysoda — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:35:44 +0000

Because camera’s were on him and it was a high pressure situation (like an NFC championship game) he dropped the water on the officer’s foot.

There is no truth to the rumor that Favre while throwing him another bottle of water threw it to the wrong person.

By: qoojo

qoojo — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:33:13 +0000

Most likely his first crime was being black in the south. Before the proliferation of video, I use to always assume the cops were on the right side at first.

By: maverick2560

maverick2560 — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:23:39 +0000

Before one makes a finding of fact, one should consider that many police forces throughout the country will admit that off duty officers working in bars often leads to trouble. It would not be a first that an off duty officer was out of line. It could also be the fact that perhaps Mr. Peterson was out of line.
One thing for sure Mr. Goodell has already started his own investigation. I wonder if he flew in and took fingerprints himself.

By: brintfatre

brintfatre — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:13:44 +0000

This just in: Since Peterson is a Viking, Goodell just suspended the officers and Jonathan Vilma for what he called an “apparent” bounty program.

By: mineral723

mineral723 — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:11:00 +0000

The way I see it, guys like AP, Plaxico Burress, Pacman Jones… They have absolutely no need to ever leave the safety of their own private, secured homes to party. When you’re an NFL Pro-Bowler, I’m pretty sure you have the cash to make sure this never happens to you.
AP, you want to drink and dance? Call some people over to one of your homes and pay your boys a few dollars to watch things. No cops, no videos, no idiots trying to be a “hero,” if that’s what you believe happened.
Plax, you feel more secure with a gun around? Hire a guy with a CCW and he doesn’t get plastered and shoot you in the leg.
Pacman, you want some t n’ a? Call an escort service from your Sugarland home. Call 2 escort services.
No matter who is at fault, AP doesn’t need to get himself into these situations and it’s pure stupidity. End of story. If you like interacting with the public in that way, stay sober and try to make it happen before 2am.

By: dretwann

dretwann — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:10:27 +0000

@grudenthediva, I hear what you are saying and agree police serve a vital function in our society, but the defense you are offering does not past the sniff test. If one cop was out of line and abusive in his authority, why didn’t the other boys in blue pull him up and set him at ease? As you say, drink of water or arrest with the accompanying paperwork? It really isn’t that difficult.

This is the problem many people are having with the police: the lack of transparency and the lack of accountability. Why don’t they hold each other’s feet to the fire to ensure the highest degree of ethics? Too often, the shield is more about protecting the brotherhood than about protecting the citizenry. If you are a good cop and you see a fellow officer out of line or stepping over the line, why sit back and let it happen? Why not do what good cops are suppose to do and put an end to the nonsense? As you said, there are good ones and there are bad ones, but when the good ones allow the bad ones to do what they do, it is difficult for us plain citizens to tell the difference between the two.

By: jrs1972

jrs1972 — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:03:57 +0000

sounds like someone who has more then enough money got tackled from behind by someone who wants the city to give him even more.

By: txxxchief

txxxchief — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:00:32 +0000

Hey y’all, bars in Texas close PROMPTLY at 0200, no exceptions, no excuses. If you’re in there after that you are trespassing, and that is likely why the cops were called. If you are in there drinking much after 0200 the place is at risk for losing their alcohol license. Adrian must not understand what “drink up and get out” means. He wasn’t arrested because he wanted a bottle of water, he was arrested because he would not leave when he was asked.

By: holdsteady76

holdsteady76 — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 20:54:58 +0000

“Police said he was at a bar with a group of people when an off-duty HPD officer working security asked them to leave because the bar was closing.

The group did not leave, so the off-duty officer asked them again. That’s when, officials said, Peterson pushed the officer’s shoulder and caused him to stumble.

Investigators said the officer then told Peterson he was under arrest and asked him to turn around, but Peterson began yelling and struggling witht he officer.

It took three off-duty officers to handcuff Peterson.”

Two questions:

1) Did the off duty cop identify himself as a law officer? If not…

2) Does an off duty cop moonlighting as a bouncer have the right to arrest someone?

By: bmore44

bmore44 — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 20:52:28 +0000

These guys are always pampered at night clubs . Club owners want these celebrity in the club There has to be more to the story.

By: t8ertot

t8ertot — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 20:41:52 +0000

If this happened to a lions player it would
automatically be their fault

By: cambodianbreastmilk

cambodianbreastmilk — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 20:41:02 +0000

I live in Las Vegas & work the Front Door at Pure Nightclub. Out here, that’s NOT normal. Police show up once every 2-3wks, in uniform, and do a simple walk-thru just to “see how things are.” They NEVER get involved, help or assist my guys inside with walking anyone out at the end of the night or tell them to go UNLESS we call them. Too much is at stake for us with Business & Liquor License’s. Not sure how they run/do things in Houston, but you’ll never see that in Vegas, not even on New Years.

By: redrocker77

redrocker77 — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 20:35:59 +0000

It’s really simple. If AP would have complied with a direct request by the police, he would have been fine. Instead, he chose to hear their request and then blatantly defy the cops. This tends to piss off cops anywhere. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you don’t listen to cops, you’re gonna get taken down.