Cedric Benson Update: Ced Says It Ain’t So
May 5, 2008
Well well, Cedric Benson has a completely different story to tell than does the Lower Colorado River Authority officer who arrested the Chicago Bears running back. Remember, here’s what the “authorities had to say:
Benson was operating the boat with 15 passengers aboard when he was stopped by a Lower Colorado River Authority officer for a random safety inspection. He failed a field sobriety test on the officer’s boat and was uncooperative when the officer tried to take him ashore, the authority said.
“When Benson did not pass the test, he presented himself as a threat to the officer and argued about whether or not he would be taken to land to have a follow-up field sobriety test performed on land and refused to put on a life jacket,” the authority said in a statement.
The officer had to use pepper spray to subdue Benson. He then refused to leave the officer’s boat and authorities had to drag him to a car to be taken to the Travis County jail, the authority said.
Benson, though, has an entirely version of the events Saturday night on Lake Travis:
“There was no resistance on my part,” Benson told the Tribune on Sunday night. “Was I drunk? No.”
“They gave me a field sobriety test, told me to say my ABCs and told me to count from 1 to 4 up and down,” Benson said of Saturday’s incident. “I’m thinking, I passed all the tests, did everything right. Then the officer told me we needed to go to land to take more tests. I politely asked him why we needed to go to land to take more tests when I took every test. Then he sprayed me with mace, on his boat.
“I’m not handcuffed. I’m not under arrest. I’m not threatening him. I’m not pushing him. I’m not touching him. And he sprays me right in my eye.”
“Nobody saw what he did to me,” Benson said. “I started screaming for my mother to come. That’s when they put me under arrest. And the officer threw a life jacket over my head.
“Once we got to land, the Travis County police grabbed me and kicked my feet from under me. So I landed on my back while I was handcuffed. They held me down and held the water hose over my face. I couldn’t breathe, I’m choking, I’m begging the cops, ‘Please stop. Please stop.’ Then they picked me up and dragged me backward toward their car. And I’m still being polite, asking them, ‘Sir, could you please allow me to walk like a man to your cop car?’ They just kept dragging me on.”
Sounds familiar to me. Policeman comes into situation where there are many black people where some sort of “random” check (looking for any sign of behavior that cna be used to make an arrest) occurs; in other words, a check that would never happen to white people, unless it’s for their personal safety. They take the “Culprit” and remove him from the throng to a spot out of sight from the others. Policeman gives field sobriety tests. “Culprit” passes tests. Policeman is pissed off that Culprit passes and decides he’s going to make arrest anyway and perhaps says something out of hand to Culprit. Culprit responds verbally. Policeman uses this as an excuse to “claim” he is “threatened.” Pepper spray (in this case) comes out and Culprit is blasted with the concentrated pepper juice in the face and reacts by flailing to remove spray from eyes. Policeman uses the flailing to constitute further “threat,” this time, one of bodily harm.
Culprit screams to other people in his party for help. Policeman, realizing that he could get into a sticky situation very quickly, removes Culprit from the scene as fast as possible. Then, as soon as Culprit is completely removed from proximity of others, police brutality takes place; in this case kicking Benson’s feet from him and dragging him on his back to a police car.
Of the incident, Benson’s lawyer had this to say:
“Right now it’s one-sided, and I would like to know exactly what they’re basing their allegations on,” Carney said. “It’s very, very early. And we still haven’t had a chance to evaluate what exactly they think that they have.
“Those allegations are untrue. I think it’s a shame that they proceeded the way they did. I can tell you right now that we’re going to resolve this. We’re going to work through it. And we’re going to maintain our position that this was inappropriate and that he’s not guilty of any of these things. Cedric was extremely cooperative with these officers. He complied. He performed their tests that they asked him to do.”
Yup, sounds like another Saturday night for black people in America.
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6 Responses to “Cedric Benson Update: Ced Says It Ain’t So”
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My dad is a lawyer. He is also a marine and a former federal prosecutor. I’ve been pulled over numerous times. Most were in Missouri driving a nice whip. This is what I’ve learned.
Black Man Rule #1: Don’t ask questions. This was his first mistake. When one person has a gun and authority to subdue, questioning it even if you’re right makes no sense.
Black Man Rule #2: Be polite as possible. Get your highest voice and smile. Always have your hands visible.
Black Man Rule #3: Take as many mental notes as possible and try to accrue as many witnesses as possible.
Yes, we have to tap-dance and I hate that shite more than anything, but what’s worth more….your pride or your life, especially in places like Texas, Missouri, or any other state? Lol.
That said, I hope he has a damn good lawyer. Fight the power and destroy those cats. Gotta play the game…to win.
Trust me Dwil, I see this type of stuff all the time. The truth is, if the police want to arrest you, 9 out of 10 times they will be able to find a reason to do that.
#1 Yes
#2 Yes
#3 Yes
…and yes.
Cedric should’ve channelled Cleavon Little from “Blazing Saddles”
Once he saw the white townspeople would rather lynch him than have a black man be sheriff he used the Jedi mind trick on ‘em: he turned the gun on himself and convinced him that he was crazy enough to take himself hostage.
Little, in gruff, dangerous black man voice “One move and the N— gets it”
Little, in falsetto and bugged out eyes: “Oooh, do what he say! Do what he say!”
[…] we are still left with not only Benson’s account of the […]
[…] we are still left with not only Benson’s account of the story… “There was no resistance on my part,” Benson told the Tribune on Sunday […]