Unreal! There should definitely be a public apology at the very least!

 

Not to agree or disagree but according to the VA law they should have "hired" an escort - VA grants a general right of way to funeral processions but does not specifically allow right of way at intersection against signals - for this they would have needed a police escort for a fee.

 

With respect, that does "not" give PD the right to act like horses azzes during a funeral procession. If riders were illegally blocking intersections, PD should have stopped those riders and handled the situation discretely and professionally... but to stop the hearse and the entire procession? That's just plain disrespectful!

 

I don't disagree with that fact, just saying if they had gone through the proper channels there likely wouldn't have been an issue.

 

According to this news article they had a police escort... what's being reported is that the funeral procession left the mortuary early. Too early, I guess, for PD to set up road blocks at the applicable intersections.

http://www.wusa9.com/video/default.a...=1118723503001

 

The problem though is they DID hire the escort. I believe the funeral got done a little bit early and/or the police ran late and had to play catch up.

 

I am normally the last one to suggest suing someone, but a nice punitive damages settlement would make sure the correct persons responsible for this were dealt with! Talk to an attorney, if they pulled over 250 of any other minority, the officers would be up on charges, and it would be nationwide front page news.

 

I totally understand the police having an issue with the group blocking intersections for 250 bikes, that is dangerous. BUT....since they had hired the police escort and the ride went ahead a little early, why didn't the cops just catch up and let everyone know they were there? Pulling the procession over and starting a confrontation is stupid enough, but threatening to TASER A GUY??!! WTF?! That guy should be investigated.

 

Sometimes I have to wonder. I think of the kids that were stopped from selling lemonade because they didn't have a "permit" and it was a cop that confronted them. Then there were the cops that confiscated guns illegally from citizens during huricane Katrina. I've been involved with many funerals and escorts with the Patriot Guard and the police have been wonderful and very supportive. It's always the 1% that make the problems. And I was a corrections officer and and MP for over 23 years. I would have made the corrections or advice after the funeral not during it.

 

The police "investigation" will only tell the story the police want told.
Unfortunately a civil suit is the only practical way for whole story to be legally addressed.