i just read through the entire thread again and noticed some inaccuracies. i want to clarify so people's opinions don't escalate out of control, more than they have. FWIW, i always give officers the benefit of the doubt in these types of situations because their job is difficult and i don't know what happened. In this situation, however, i do know what happened (what led up to the tasering) and have made myself available to Mike's defense people. i'm not avoiding anything, it's just that the police haven't come after me. If they do, i'll deal with it.
1. i hadn't had a drink for over an hour before i entered the women's bathroom and had had 2 cups of water (had an empty clear plastic cup in my hand) in that time. i took a silly dare.
2. As i was having a decent conversation with Leigh, i was making my way to the door, realizing it was silly to be in there and i wanted to leave. i stopped and stood with my back to the wall as i answered a question, about 2 feet from the door, letting a couple girls leave before me.
3. The officer came in at that time and as he told me to leave, HE BLOCKED THE DOOR. i wanted to leave, but couldn't without bumping into him. i wanted him to know i was calm, so i raised my hands to my shoulders, palms forward and said there was no trouble. i expected him to give me a pathway so i could exit. He didn't.
4. The officer immediately grabbed me by the front of my shirt, collar height and threw me out the door and pushed me from behind out into the crowd. It wasn't a massive crowd. People milling around in a hallway area, talking and laughing.
5. i looked over my left shoulder and said, "Just so you know officer. A girl dared me to go in there. It wasn't my bright idea." i thought this would point out that i knew it was SILLY and he'd tell me to go back to my room and i'd comply.
6. His response was to grab my left arm, i said, "Are you serious?", to which he reacted in a more agitated way, and i LET HIM wrench my arm behind my back. That's when i thought if i don't resist he'll just toss me and let me go because i'm not a threat. i don't mind if he tosses me, just so it ends.
7. i said, 3 times, "i'm not resisting officer." That's all. He responded by throwing (i use that word carefully) me at the first double doors. i got up and he pushed (i use that word carefully) me forcefully at the second doors and i ended up face down on the sidewalk. He never beat me, but he did throw me head first at glass doors.
8. i got up and stood there for 30 seconds as Mike was tasered. The officer never said to me, "you're under arrest" or "stay here" or "i'm taking you downtown". He actually didn't say anything to me after "you need to leave the bathroom now". So i stood there and watched the tasering (i couldn't believe it was happening). i decided that the officer was just trying to throw me out, i was out, and now it was best for me to leave and let the attention focus on Mike so the paramedics (who were on their way because he was bleeding) would be able to help him. i thought that if i was still there, there might be more mayhem and that would get in the way of attending to Mike.
9. i circled back around to see what was happening and Mike's friends told me to go back to my room. i did.
10. i don't know Mike, Mike doesn't know me. He saw me getting roughed up and decided to do what he thought would help. In retrospect, i wish he hadn't, for his sake. i would've been fine if the officer had just thrown me out and nobody was hurt. i will say that i thought i was going to break the door glass with my head, the way he threw me at it, head first. i just wanted it to end and that's why i never resisted and stated it 3 times.
Focus on helping Mike. i think most officers do a good job and actually try to do a good job. Some officers, just like any person in any job, aren't good at it and make mistakes. It's unfortunate that officer's mistakes have MUCH more serious consequences. My overall opinion of police won't change - most are good people, including the 8 i consider friends, but i know there are bad apples and i hope this one is fired and Mike's charges are dropped. Give your eye-witness accounts if you haven't already. And i'd like to suggest that we donate money to Mike's cause somehow.
i don't know if posting this was a good or bad idea, i just hope it lends perspective and helps calm down those who weren't there. If you don't know what happened, please keep your opinions to yourself. Don't speculate, you have no basis. i think this post should put the thread to rest. Let's give our testimonies and wait for the results and hope Mike is cleared.