Co-Opting Local Traffic Codes As a Weapon Against Non-Whites. For white folks, the bare essentials of a "routine traffic stop" consist of causing the vehicle to stop, explaining to the driver the reason for the stop, questioning solely based on the stop, verifying the credentials of the driver and the vehicle, and then issuing a citation or a warning. 10 minutes later, have a nice day buddy. [Did you see the Charleston cops pull over Dylann Roof, the so-called white terrorist?] 

For many non-white folks the bare essentials of a traffic stop are a records check via radio or computer regarding the criminal history of those stopped and any outstanding arrest warrants for those individuals; interrogation of those stopped directly on the subject of drugs or about the nature and purpose of their travels; seeking (and often obtaining) consent to conduct a full search of the stopped vehicle and the driver/passengers; using a drug-sniffing dog to detect the presence of any drugs in the stopped vehicle and/or verbal abuse and physical beat down. 

Great service from contemptuous, racist suspect public servants From [HERE] The American Civil Liberties Union is calling for an investigation after releasing dash cam video of a Worthington, MN police officer pulling a motorist out of a car and beating him.

According to the ACLU, the incident happened in July 28, 2016 and is one piece of evidence of what is says is as systemic problem racial profiling and police brutality in the Worthington Police Department, Nobles County Sheriff’s Office, and the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force.

According to the ACLU, the video shows Agent Joe Joswiak of the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force opened the door of Anthony Promvongsa car. Agent Joswiak then yells “Get the fuck out of the car, motherfucker!”. He punches and knees Promvongsa repeatedly before another officer assists in pulling him out of the car, putting him face down on the road and handcuffing him.

The pretext of stopping Promvongsa’s car, says the ACLU, was for tailgating. In a post about the incident the ACLU says

“It turns out the agitated motorist Anthony encountered before being assaulted by Agent Joswiak was an off-duty police officer who called Joswiak to go after Anthony for tailgating him. The officer reports regarding the incident make no mention of any suspicion that Anthony was committing a drug offense.

“The police have charged Anthony with various offenses, the most serious being fleeing in a motor vehicle and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon — his car. ”

The ACLU says “Agent Joswiak claims Anthony refused his order to leave his car, but the video contradicts this assertion. Instead it shows a textbook case of excessive force.”

More from the ACLU post:

The Worthington Police Department, which employs Sgt. Gaul and appointed Agent Joswiak to the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force, needs to immediately investigate the incident, take all appropriate personnel actions, and ensure this never happens again. The ACLU has called for an investigation into Agent Joswiak’s behavior. Agent Joswiak should be held accountable for his actions, up to and including termination and prosecution.

Based on additional complaints that we are receiving, this does not appear to be an isolated incident. Rather there’s evidence that racial profiling and police brutality are systemic problems that span the Worthington Police Department, Nobles County Sheriff’s Office, and the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force as Worthington becomes a much more diverse city.

The ACLU is talking with Anthony Promvongsa and his criminal counsel, and we are considering all legal options. No person in Worthington, Minnesota, should have to fear that the people who swear an oath to protect and serve the community are acting like criminals themselves. The video we have of Agent Joswiak and Sgt. Gaul seems to reveal at least two police officers who believe that they are above the law, not bound by it.