[fucking_tragedy]

If this can happen over a stolen laptop, we have given the police too much power, resources and authority, and too little training, education and accountability.

They are essentially armed goons for those with property and the right complexion.

The people responsible for these actions make upwards of $180k a year and will suffer no repercussions for their actions. Let that sink in.

[bonestamp2]

I generally agree with you and I'm generally very critical of the police and I think they handled this very poorly, but I don't think we know enough to say they shouldn't have been involved at all. If Derek is telling the truth that his stolen laptop with lots of personal information on it has turned his life into a movie then it sounds like there is a lot more to know.

[TheCoelacanth]

It's okay for them to have been involved, but it certainly wasn't okay for them to use violence in this situation. A taser is a potentially deadly weapon; it should only be used in response to deadly force not simply because someone is suspected of theft.

[bonestamp2]

I completely agree. Like I said, they handled it very poorly. But OP made it sound like they shouldn't have even been involved and I don't know that part is true.

[fucking_tragedy]

I can't think of a situation where events in someone's life justify this kind of behavior being inflicted upon an innocent person.

I'd love to be proven wrong, though.

They certainly should have been involved, but the way the went about their investigation was unprofessional and significantly affected a person who was completely uninvolved in the original crime.