Otto Zehm's last words "All I wanted was a Snickers bar."

[RedRoseSpiral]

Otto Zehm Beaten to Death

A mentally handicapped man, Otto Zehm, was beaten to death by a cop, Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr., because a man matching his description was robbing people at an ATM.

From the article:

Surveillance video showed that Thompson found Zehm inside a convenience store and immediately struck him repeatedly with a baton and shocked him with a stun gun.

Not only did this cop abuse his position and attack a man unprovoked, he lied about it. This scum tried to cover up his crime against the disabled. Other than beating him with a baton and stunning him, Thompson and another cop also hog-tied and put a rubber mask over his mouth, and then sat on Otto Zehm until he passed out. The man never woke up from that and died two days over.

His lawyer says he isn't a villain; he didn't commit a crime. What the fuck is wrong with this world.

I know I say it quite often, but I really want off this planet.

[Nekojin]

I don't want off the planet. I just want all of the psychopaths, sociopaths, and narcissistic personality disorder wingnuts evicted forcibly from it.

[ngc_7331]

4 years? He beat a mentally handicapped man to death and lied about it and he only got 4 years? I....have no words....

[Seifer]

4 years? He beat a mentally handicapped man to death and lied about it and he only got 4 years? I....have no words....

At least those will be the hardest four years of his life. Inmates love having a police officer among their group.

[Andara Bledin]

Even were he not a cop, he killed a handicapped guy. That alone would put him pretty low on the pecking order, and well-earned.

^-.-^

[Rapscallion]

Even were he not a cop, he killed a handicapped guy. That alone would put him pretty low on the pecking order, and well-earned.

^-.-^

Will probably add extra levels of terror to the term 'butthurt'.

Rapscallion

[gremcint]

Well let's hang on a minute and look a this from the cops point of view.






ok I got nothing.

So basically a badge means you can almost get away with murder.

and then he sat on him and put a rubber mask on him? why? what purpose could that serve?

[kamn]

Im wondering why he even had a rubber mask. Its not like he has a weekly chance of getting bitten by rabid humans, is it?

And why is it that whenever there is a suspect matching the victims description, cops go all out, no waiting for common sense, no restraint, just beat the snot out of the victim until he or she cannot even move? I get self-protection and all, but isn't that going a bit far?
The above was for these sensationalist news, I very much doubt that every cop acts this way. Or at least I hope not.

[ngc_7331]

Im wondering why he even had a rubber mask. Its not like he has a weekly chance of getting bitten by rabid humans, is it?

It probably was an anti-spit mask. I wonder if the guy was actually spitting or if the cop was really that much of a douche. I'd put money on the latter.

[s_stabeler]

I think, on reading it, i've figured out why Officer Thompson Jr got only 4 years: it was a group of officers that beat up the disabled man, and Thompson's actions were probably the least contributory to killing the guy. (it was the other officers that deliberately made the guy pass out, and by the looks of it, the mask was actually put on Zehm by another officer.

in short, thompson was a realtively minor part of the offense compared to the other officers, which probably explains the light sentence. The other officers, however, really should be prosecuted for murder.

[Aethian]

I'm wondering if the mask was put on to try and silence his mouth.

[Panacea]

At least those will be the hardest four years of his life. Inmates love having a police officer among their group.

He'll probably end up in protective custody. That means 23 hour/day lockdown in a lot of prisons.

I think, on reading it, i've figured out why Officer Thompson Jr got only 4 years: it was a group of officers that beat up the disabled man, and Thompson's actions were probably the least contributory to killing the guy. (it was the other officers that deliberately made the guy pass out, and by the looks of it, the mask was actually put on Zehm by another officer.

in short, thompson was a realtively minor part of the offense compared to the other officers, which probably explains the light sentence. The other officers, however, really should be prosecuted for murder.

The other officers were probably told that Zehm was combative and spitting; hence the mask and the hogtie. They were lied to, and probably acted in good faith (in spite of the death), which is why they weren't charged.

[s_stabeler]

He'll probably end up in protective custody. That means 23 hour/day lockdown in a lot of prisons.



The other officers were probably told that Zehm was combative and spitting; hence the mask and the hogtie. They were lied to, and probably acted in good faith (in spite of the death), which is why they weren't charged.

They were on him until he passed out. I don't think it's police procedure to pile o someone until unconsciousness.

[Rageaholic]

And they wonder why people have a hard time trusting the police.

[Greenday]

4 years for what is seemingly 2nd degree murder.

People get busted for having drugs on them and do longer time.