A shock at Florida
Updated 9:25 p.m.: Duped? Maybe. There’s now a police report (PDF) obtained by CNN that gives some more detail about what happened before the cameras started rolling for the questions to Kerry. According to the report, Meyer was handing out business cards and disrupted Kerry’s speech before he got to the mic. The report makes it sound a lot more like Meyer knew what he was doing and was confrontational from the start.
If you read the report, officer Jeffery Lamb probably makes the most coherent piece of the report,clearly differentiating between before Meyer started asking his question:
He also excitedly stated as Ofc. W. Wise #501 and Ofc. N. Mallo #48 approached him, before making contact or exchanging words, that they were going “to arrest me for trying to ask my question”. I also approached Meyer from my posted location to possibly assist Mallo and Wise if Meyer behavior escalated any further.
Meyer was told that he would be granted the opportunity to speak by Senator Kerry after he finished answering the question that Meyer interrupted. Before I returned to my post I observed Meyer hand a digital hand-held camera to white female he was present with, and it appeared that he instructed her to film his interaction. When Kerry permitted Meyer to speak, he began ranting without asking a specific question to Senator Kebook with Kerry and congratulated Kerry for winning the 2004 election.
Thanks to faithful reader (and College Ave. alum) Matt for the tip on the PDF.
* * *
A story about a student at the University of Florida who was Tasered by campus police is making some noise. The student, 21-year-old Andrew Meyer, was asking questions during a forum with U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) The topics ranged from the 2004 election to the Skull and Bones society at Yale to thoughts about impeaching President Bush.
There are several videos on YouTube and also a CNN I-Report video, but probably the best comes from WTVJ ? watch that one. Some detailed coverage from conservative blogger Michelle Malkin said he asked his question after the final question was called, which looks to be true. However, Kerry clearly allowed Meyer to ask his questions, and even after Meyer was pulled away, Kerry agreed to answer them.
Meyer was arrested for inciting a riot and resisting arrest, and spent Monday night in jail before his release Tuesday morning. The University of Florida released a statement where President J. Bernard Machen said there would be a formal, independent investigation and that two of the officers have been placed on administrative leave. At a news conference today the college also said they will form a panel to review safety protocol, and conduct an internal investigation. No word if the State will pursue charges against Meyer.
The Independent Florida Alligator has an editorial saying the UPD went overboard in response to Mayer’s actions. Despite Meyer’s clear resistance in the video, I think that’s a good call. There’s also a column that’s less friendly to Meyer, but it too agrees with the fact that the police used excessive force.
The editorial also brings up that this isn’t the first time a student has been Tasered in recent memory. In November 2006, a UCLA student was Tasered after refusing to show his ID in a school library.
Another note: Meyer has written columns and also has a website with some video sketches. On Malkin’s blog, one writer claims he’s just another attention-seeking brat. It could be true, but that’s no reason to get Tasered. Clearly there’s a lot going on here, but hopefully we’ll get some more answers and reaction from eyewitnesses and the college in the coming days.
Comments (3)
3 Comments | Add yours
Leave a Reply
Comments that do not abide by our Comments Policy may be deleted.
Feed for College Ave.
Don’t tase me bro!
[...] of YouTube in our lives, shame on you. And shame on your entire family. This MC Hammer remix of the infamous Taser incident at the University of Florida is brilliant. Plus Tasers are [...]
[...] like minutes, and then officers drag him out of the forum at the University of Florida where he was so recently asking questions of Senator John [...]