| | This viral video has been making the rounds of the Deaf community internet groups. The link is provided here for those who haven't seen it: http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-deaf-shoppers-tackled,0,6097535.story Synopsis: Two deaf brothers were stopped coming out of a California ladies' clothing store in Hollywood. One was taken down in a choke hold by a burly security man, while another equally burly guard prevented his brother from communicating or halting the takedown. There were many witnesses, one of whom took video and posted it on YouTube. Several questions came up that would require more information: - Other information, accurate or not, states that the men had shoplifting histories. What was the source of this information?
- If they were experienced shoplifters, why choose a ladies' clothing store? That alone would make them immediately obvious.
- If they had experience, they would also know about RFID tags that activate exit alarms.
- Why wasn't the second man allowed to show receipts or notes that might have stopped the takedown?
- Why was it necessary to use this extent of force, especially including a dangerous choke hold?
- What was the evidence that they were shoplifting?
- It was evident that they were deaf soon after the first contact. Did the security men recognize this?
- What was done to obtain communication?
- What was the rationale for muzzling the deaf man (handcuffing him behind his back)?
We have already seen the death of a deaf man from this type of choke hold at Gallaudet, of all places. In the trial that followed, the security men were found responsible. Information was released that police recruits are trained not to use choke holds because people of certain ethnic groups or with medical issues may suffer fatal spasms of the heart or breathing. What specifically is the training that store security personnel are given? These thoughts are by someone who has experienced, many times, setting off store alarms when I had bought items legitimately. In these incidents someone outside the store flagged me and pointed me back to the store. Once I was roughly grabbed from behind by a Sears security man in their parking lot. I gasped and spun around. He turned out to be a small man who pointed to a pinned-on badge, profusely apologized for frightening me and asked to see a receipt. (It was taped in plain view on the box I was carrying.) I have thought about my reaction on that occasion. If it had been at night in a deserted parking lot, would I have cooperated as quickly? In my fright, there was a rush of adrenaline--flight or fight! Would that have resulted in me running or hitting the man? Or, if it was not a security guard that grabbed me, would my instantly stopping have led to me being robbed or worse? No doubt this is what happened to this deaf man before the takedown. Did he react in a way that gave the security men license to rough him up? I'm sure this has also happened to many innocent people. What I'd like to believe is that nobody is going to suddenly throw a choke hold on me when I shop. Maybe a paranoid lifestyle is the thing to do: wave receipts in plain sight, hesitate before leaving a store, carefully go through the doors, look around again, wave receipts again, then slowly back away from the store keeping both eyes peeled for security officers. Bah. |
| | Posted 8/13/2010 1:43 PM - 992 Views - 12 eProps - 15 comments
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