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I am writing this poll in the context of a particular incident of police brutality, in Roseland, Indiana, on September 14th, 2007, i.e. 3 days earlier than the Meyer incident at the U. of Fl. with Senator Kerry.

Foreword

Below, I am trying to give a honest, impartial account of the Roseland incident, but the more I learn about the wider context, the less clear-cut things appear.

One aspect of the whole case is particularly interesting to me, though. Roseland, Indiana seems to be a miniature of the whole USA: both seem to have a bad government. While in Roseland they use fists to settle disputes, the US of A uses bombs. The difference is the scale. One is a microcosm, the other is a macrocosm. In both, though, people need to, and want to take over the control of the government.

Roseland residents seem as frustrated about their elected representative, as the whole of the American population of all the branches of the federal government. As a 28-year old resident of Roseland say:

“There are people here that can take responsibility and I think they can run the government well, but we have to get the right people in office. We don't have that right now.”

The video evidence

see page linked below.

Context of the scuffle

The following section repeats some information available in the video (in case it gets removed again) and adds some more information.

Roseland is a small town in Indiana that seems to have had around 700 inhabitants almost ever since the town was founded. People know each other very well. Too well, maybe. There are 4 local cops and the city council only has a handfull of elected councillors.

On September 14th, the city council had a meeting. One of the councilmen, David Snyder, got into an argument with the newly elected Council Chair about who had the floor and the legality of a 1 minute stipulation. The conversation heats up: the Chair soon orders Councilman Snyder to leave the meeting, signalling to the police officers to escort him out. Snyder complies straight away. He gets up and starts to gather his papers, then his video equipment while two police officers station themselves behind him. Snyder walks calmly towards the door, his video equipment on one hand, and a large stack of papers on the other hand. As he passes the door of the meeting room, he turns around and notices that police officer Jack Tiller is following very close behind him. "Oh look, the bully's back", he said then walked on into the lobby, turning his back again to officer Tiller. Enraged, the latter violently shoves Snyder across the lobby, pushing him forward across the front door. Snyder falls flat on his face, and Tiller lands on Snyder's back, and starts to punch him in the head.

The meeting attendees scuffle outside to witness the scene, some cheering on officer Tiller.

Soon afterwards, Snyder is handcuffed and taken away in the patrol car, charged with felony for having attempted to strike Snyder. Snyder spent a night in jail and was bailed out by his wife the next day, after the charged had been dropped.

Roseland, Indiana: a small town with budget problems

A small-town in midwest America survives, population under 700, from 1916 into 2004... and into the future!!

A small town, yes, one where everybody knows everyone, full of personal feuds and budgetting problems. The more we look into its recent history, the more nauseated we become by all the pettyness, lies and small disputes disrupting the life of the small community.

(more soon)

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