I was hotwiring my own car, and a cop came and punched me in my face and pulled me out of my own car when he saw this, he apologized like a wildman afterwards but I don't think he meant it.
2006-08-24 15:51:49 · 24 answers · asked by SlapADog 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
you are lucky he didn't shoot you
2006-08-24 15:55:11 · answer #1 · answered by nas88car300 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you sure can. But I'd start with formal charges of assault/battery, not to mention police brutality. Even if you were stealing somebody else's car the police can not punch you, unless it is in total self defense.
But I'd say either you are making this up, or you aren't telling the whole story, if you were in your car hotwiring it, then you'd be bent over so there is NO way he could effectively punch you.
2006-08-24 23:00:03 · answer #2 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would report him to his supervisors for using excessive force. If you suffered a real injury, file a claim with the police department. Try to avoid going to suit with this unless the police are totally uncooperative, because these kinds of suits end up costing all of us a lot of money in the long run. On the one hand, I am sorry you were hurt, but to the policeman you did look like someone who was stealing a car. See if the police will work with you before you bring in the lawyers.
2006-08-24 23:04:13 · answer #3 · answered by just♪wondering 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
omigod, thats crazy, even if you were a criminal i dont think the cop had any right to punch you in the face. You probably could sue, but unless you had pictures of physical damage, then you might not have much of a case. Good luck with that!
2006-08-24 22:55:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can sue for anything in this day and age. but yes, you do have a case. an officer is supposed to announce himself and question. he is to use neccassary force. if you were cooperating, such as he asked you to step out of the car and you did with no problem, then there would have been no reason to hit you. since he just pulled and hit, i say sue!! police brutality. there was no reason for him to do that.
2006-08-24 22:55:33 · answer #5 · answered by valerie j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Umm you could report it, but I gotta tell you the cop might be defended cuz he could say he thought you were jacking someone's car. However even if that were the case he shouldn't punch anyone so yeah you could takesome action
2006-08-24 22:56:00 · answer #6 · answered by Jessica R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Absolutely. Its false arrest, and assault. The officer did not have probable cause. Also, the officer should have annouced his presence and ID'd himself. Also it is excessive force. If you had struck the officer, then he can claim as a measure of self-defense, but from your claims, he just came up, knocked the crap out of you, and then dragged you out of the car. Then he questioned your being there....thats cause for a civil suit.
2006-08-24 22:57:46 · answer #7 · answered by hammerhead_jd 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may sue, but the police are protected by what is called "Probable Cause", which means they can detain or arrest to determine if a crime has been or is being committed.
Where you may get a civil award is "excessive force".
Have witnesses and medical reports. Remember you have to prove your allegations.
2006-08-24 22:53:54 · answer #8 · answered by yager19 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think they're supposed to identify themselves as police officers first, and only use violence in self defense. Punching someone in the face does not sound like self defense. Did you sleep with his wife or something?
2006-08-24 23:02:57 · answer #9 · answered by Earth Queen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't have to hotwire your own car. what is it, a ford?
fix or repair daily?
I'd SUE 'EM!
2006-08-24 22:56:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call Johnny Cochran's ghost!
2006-08-24 22:57:39 · answer #11 · answered by Wounded duckmate 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋