Beating on the Disabled

Every single day a police officer somewhere not only ruins someones day but completely destroys their ability to enjoy the people, places and things that they used to find pleasure in.  Todays harrowing experience went down between a San Diego Sheriff and a man with Down Syndrome.  After being pepper sprayed and beaten outside of his families bakery for the heinous crime of taking a walk at the wrong time he can no longer visit the bakery without being reminded of this event.  The CNN article is edited down for the highlights down below:

His eyes stinging with pepper spray, a developmentally disabled 21-year-old man was hit and forced to the ground before being taken into custody by California sheriff's deputies in an incident that left his family Thursday demanding justice.

His father is considering suing the department and the city of Vista, California, the young man's sister, Jessica Martinez, said.

"But really, all we want is for the sheriff's deputy who did this to my brother to get fired," Jessica Martinez, 20, said. "That's all we want. We want justice."

I could not agree anymore, these people are not looking to make a quick buck out of this tragedy they truly want justice to be served.  Police officers should not be allowed to get away with this, a slap on the wrist is not enough.  A paid suspension might as well be a vacation, a reward for doing wrong.  This officer obviously does not deserve to be wearing a badge.

Martinez is well-known around the Vista neighborhood, where he lives and his family has a bakery, his sister said. He was out walking between his home and the bakery when the deputy called out to him, at which point neighborhood men explained that the young man had Down Syndrome and wasn't doing anything wrong, according to Jessica Martinez.

The deputy didn't back off. Instead, while trying "to gain compliance and prevent a possible escape," he used pepper spray on Antonio Martinez, said Caldwell from the Sheriff's Department.

The deputy began using a baton as an agitated crowd approached, the spokeswoman added. The deputy hit Antonio Martinez with it, forcing him to the ground, then levied "a couple more strikes to get his hands free," Sheriff's Department Capt. Joe Rodi told CNN affiliate KGTV.

So even with neighbors explaining this mans situation the officer could not care less.  He suspects this guy of something wrong so any amount of force is allowed.  Even though Antonio DID NOTHING WRONG!  So now with the amount of force used against him we may as well be condemning him to guilt before being proven so.  Antonio's Sister had this to add to the story as well:

"I heard my brother screaming mine and my sister's name," she said. "He was screaming for help.

"My brother wasn't fighting. He was crying and screaming. He was scared."

"When I asked my brother if he was sad, Antonio told me his heart hurt," his sister said. "He's just really sad right now, and he doesn't want to go to the bakery any more."

What a big man this police officer must feel like bringing a man with Down Syndrome to tears, arresting him and holding him against his will until late into the night.  Read the entire article to get the full details.  As for my humble opinion, fire this sheriff today!