Cops mistaking Star Trek memorabilia for weaponry used excessive force, suit says

[Elderberry]

American Military News  April 10, 2021 Christina Saint Louis - Miami Herald

Fort Lauderdale police officers violated civil rights law when they entered the home garage of two city residents and detained them with excessive force, brothers Raymond and Randall Purcell allege in a lawsuit filed Monday against the officers and the city.

In depositions, the officers said they felt threatened because of weaponry displayed on the walls — items that the plaintiffs say were harmless Star Trek memorabilia.

One of the officers, Steven Pohorence, made news last year when he was charged with first-degree misdemeanor battery in connection with a clash between protesters and Fort Lauderdale police that followed the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd.

The Purcells are seeking a minimum $75,000 in damages in connection with an earlier, April 2017 incident wherein officer Alexander Paul hit then-62-year-old Raymond with the butt of his gun, slammed him to the ground and pulled his arms so forcefully that “Raymond heard a snap in his arms and went limp,” the suit says. Paul then allegedly punched him in the face “with so much force that it knocked Raymond’s acrylic partial dentures out of his mouth.”

All the while, Raymond pleaded with Paul, telling him he was disabled. And when his brother Randall attempted to intervene, the other officer, Pohorence, kicked him, placed his foot on his face and left him with a half-inch cut near his eye.

More: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/04/cops-mistaking-star-trek-memorabilia-for-weaponry-used-excessive-force-suit-says/

[Gefn]

That Klingon Bat'leth will do it every time.

[Elderberry]

Or those Evil Tribbles.   

[Smokin Joe]

"I want a plasma rifle in the 40 watt range...."

"Just what you see here, buddy..."

Seriously, how much of a threat from Star Trek weapons was there?
Most of that stuff was designed for the spin-off toy market, anyway.

[Gefn]

Or those Evil Tribbles.   

Ha! Ha!

For creatures that were only on two episodes, they sure became a huge part of the ST world!