High-Fives From the Hand of Justice

Once again the most talked-about video in town is that of a white, muscular cop appearing to beat a scrawny, unarmed black person. I say appearing because things are not always what they seem. I ask you, for instance, to consider the case of Officer Marion (Macho) Muscles and the unpredictable Billy Skinny. Skinny, you might recall, was a 14-year-old African American caught by Officer Muscles stealing nails. While being questioned, he resisted and was subdued with the assistance of 17 other officers who had answered the call for backup. As a result of Skinny's resistance, extra force was applied and he later died of what was regarded as injuries suffered during the subduction.

An investigation followed, which included questioning by one Officer Buck (Everyone's Buddy) Budson from the department's Internal Affairs Division. I obtained audio tape excerpts from that interrogation.

Budson: Hey, Mach, how's it goin'? I haven't seen you since the stag party!

Muscles: Been busy, you know, "out huntin'."

(Laughter)

Budson: We got to talk about the... what was his name... yeah, the Billy Skinny kid. Because he died in custody, you know, we got to file the report.

Muscles: Oh, sure, man, I understand.

Budson: Starting from the beginning, why did you detain him in the first place?

Muscles (indignation): He was stealing! We can't have those people just grabbing what don't belong to them.

Budson: Those nails here in the report. Weren't they lying like in the street in front of the hardware store?

Muscles (seriously): They were in the perimeter of the store, Buck. Sort of like coastal waters, you see? They were part of the store.

Budson: Oh, yeah, right. Tell me in your words what happened next.

Muscles: Jeez, man, do we have to go through all this? (An unintelligible mumble from Budson; Muscles sighs heavily.) OK, I stop the kid and right away he sasses me.

Budson (shuffling papers): It says here, Mach, that witnesses testified the kid didn't say a word. Like nada.

Muscles: Right! Silent sass is the worst kind! It sets a guy up! You know what they're thinking by the look in their eyes! (A half-whisper) It was savage.

Budson: Hey, I never thought of that. You're right. Those people want justice but they won't ask for it politely. (The slapping sound of a high-five.) OK, go on.

Muscles: So I cuff the kid and I'm drag ... leading him to the car when he starts resisting.