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Video: Pittsburgh Police Reviewing Force Used On Fan

April 12, 2011 |

Pittsburgh Police launched an internal review in coordination with the city's citizen review board to determine whether officers used proper force during a confrontation with an angry fan at a Pirates game on Saturday, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Officers used their TASERs and batons to subdue Scott James Ashley, a 41-year-old Friendship resident.

In a clip posted to YouTube of the arrest, Detective Francis Rende and Officer Jeffrey LaBella are seen striking Ashley several times before taking him to the ground and handcuffing him. The officers had attempted to TASER Ashley, who then assumed a fighting stance.

Fans had been yelling "USA!" as the fan refused to comply with officers, as a reference to his red, white and blue jacket, reports CBS News.

The apparently incident began when Ashley yelled an expletive at an usher, who then threw him out. A second woman was arrested, when she confronted officers following Ashley's arrest, reports WPXI.

Read the full story at Post-Gazette.com. Watch the video:

VIDEO: TASER and Batons Used on Pirates Fan

Tags: TASER, Using Batons, Use-of-Force Policies, Pittsburgh Police Bureau, Rowdy Fans

Comments (2)

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2
Michael @ 4/12/2011 4:23 PM Well, here we go second guessing the cops......the subject wasn't complying with lawful orders. Are we supposed to let him go if he refuses? As far as what I have seen, the protocol of escalation of force is there. Sorry if it was too violent for the public to see, thats the way it is.
sgtjames @ 4/13/2011 1:12 PM This is a proper use of force, violent but proper. After the taser was unsuccessful there was an escalation of force to batons. The two strike to the upper body appear to have been trageted at 1st the clavical ( a yellow target area) then 2nd the shoulder a green traget area. The lower body strikes to the legs al;l consisted of shots to yellow and green target areas. This is proper targeting of baton strikes. Once this male was placed into restraints and the resistance ceased there was no further application of force. Nothing excessive. Violent yes but excessive not by what Ive viewed. Police work can be a violaent natsy business and that is simply the way it goes. Police are paid to make arrests against those who do not always want to be arrested. Show me where it says in the law or case law where police must use the minimum amount of force. It doesnt and that is not the standard. The standard is use of force must always be objectively reasonable and this most certainly was reasonable.

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2

Michael @ 4/12/2011 4:23 PM

Well, here we go second guessing the cops......the subject wasn't complying with lawful orders. Are we supposed to let him go if he refuses? As far as what I have seen, the protocol of escalation of force is there. Sorry if it was too violent for the public to see, thats the way it is.

sgtjames @ 4/13/2011 1:12 PM

This is a proper use of force, violent but proper. After the taser was unsuccessful there was an escalation of force to batons. The two strike to the upper body appear to have been trageted at 1st the clavical ( a yellow target area) then 2nd the shoulder a green traget area. The lower body strikes to the legs al;l consisted of shots to yellow and green target areas. This is proper targeting of baton strikes. Once this male was placed into restraints and the resistance ceased there was no further application of force. Nothing excessive. Violent yes but excessive not by what Ive viewed.

Police work can be a violaent natsy business and that is simply the way it goes. Police are paid to make arrests against those who do not always want to be arrested.

Show me where it says in the law or case law where police must use the minimum amount of force. It doesnt and that is not the standard. The standard is use of force must always be objectively reasonable and this most certainly was reasonable.

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