she is lucky, what if the policeman drew his gun would she have liked that better. Why was she touching him anyhow it was none of her business. I think she is a very lucky lady if that is all she got was a punch in the face. Whay if the tables were turned around what would she have done if someone did that to her.

The problem with todays society is too many bleeding heart liberals. The Police Officer was justified. Anytime you interfer and touch a police officer in the performance of his duties you are committing assault on an officer. People like Al Sharpton just aggravate the problems caused by others who thing they can do no wrong and there are too many people trying to second guess the police.

The police officer was totally justified. If there weren't so many bleeding heart liberals and people who were constantly trying to second guess police officers society would be a lot better off. Attack a police officer in any way and you get what you deserve. Actually you get a lot less. People like Al Sharpton need to mind their own business instead of involving theirselves in others.

As a former police officer, this officer was clearly justified. He could've easily used his taser if he had one, his pepper spray on evryone that is around him (there was a big crowd), his baton, and if he really feared for his life and others around him with such a big crowd, he could've pulled his side arm out.

She was clearly in the wrong and she is very very lucky she didn't get worse. This Officer gave too many breaks. Punching in the face is a lot better than the metal baton to the knee cap. He could've used his baton and if her knee broke, he would've been justified. PEOPLE JUST DON"T LISTEN! And if they don't listen to a simple command, that is what happens.

This is going to be blown up into a race issue. It always does. He would've done the exact same thing if the girl was caucasion, hispanic, asian etc...guaranteed I am shocked back up wasn't there sooner with such a big crowd. Anyone there could've pulled a gun out......Gees people get with it!

Also, it doesn't matter that she was 17 ( she looks like she is close to 30 yrs old) or that it was a simple jaywalk violation. These two girls were not listening to simple commands. Simple commands and they brought it to another level.

I agree 100% that she should not have did what she did. If she were my daughter I would punish her and make her appologize, then I would find the cop and beat the @!$%# out him. I would find out if he has a daughter and I would knock the @!$%# out of her. An arrest would have been justified, not punching the child in her face. I say her parents must be real forgiving. I wouldn't try to sue but I would dislocate his jaw and his daughter would need oral surgery when I finished knocking all her teeth out.

Perfect, then you and your daughter would be in jail together. You'd no longer be able to support them, so what woud happen to the rest of your family? Your just like the girl, no respect for law enforcement and think violence is always the answer.

Ok hugh what if if were your daughter, I know you would remind her that what she did was wrong, and punish her. But what would you say to the cop? After watching your 17 daughter get punched in the face.

This was over jaywalking! Tell that pig there are more important laws to be enforced. This is why our criminal justice system is such a joke, we spend our resources paying jokers like this to sucker punch girls while the real bandits on wall street take retirements away. I'm sure this pig is real proud of what he did.

He could have restrained her from the beginning. I work in the mental health field and I would be fired for hitting a patient. We utilize restraints that do not harm the other individual unless they work so hard to get out of it that they pull a muscle or something, which I have yet to see happen but I suppose it could.

Anyway, this guy could have restrained her without the punch and is less of a man because of it. I used to like the police, but after seeing so much of this type of crap I have to agree with the people calling them out for what they are, pigs.

Serves her right. He was doing his job! And is you ask me this is the biggest problem with America, no respect. Nobody wants to take the time to teach their kids respect for themselves or others around them. My child is 5 years old & she knows better than to behave that way. That young adult is 17 years old. WTF! I had a full time job & I was a full time student at 17. My dad would have put another crack in my a$$ if I disrespected anybody. That officer was in the right . My hat goes off to him. And if I was that girls parents, I would bend her over my knee.

The girl got what she deserved for sure!!! LOL.... and also provided us all with a little entertainment! This dumb girl obviously needed to learn a lesson that her momma didn't teach her... don't mess with the police! Oh, and shut up AL Sharpton! I'm sick of seeing your face every time something happens to a black person! It's not ALWAYS a freakin' civil rights issue... GET OVER YOURSELF!

nonnahs39

Which child are you talking about?

All I saw were a group of young adults having a confrontation with a cop over a minor matter which they escalated. I'm not a big fan of some of the stuff cops do, but in this case I side with the cop.

Obviously we have a failure of parenting here which tells me these dumb ass kids are headed for more conflicts with authority in future.

Child abuse is illegal no matter who does it! More so when it is a peace officer!!!

I hope the kid gets a huge monetary payoff, as this police officers action is abominable...especially for something as petty and ubiquitous as jaywalking. This isn't china: Our nations Children deserve to be treated better than this.

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves.

So...let me get this straight: you are saying that if your underage child pushes you, that you feel justified in punching her in the face?

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves.

Maybe the next time Shaquinda is told by an officer to stop she'll comply.

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint

Really? Which courts? What cases? Please cite a specific case reference that supports the assertion that a police officers right/ability to defend him/herself is a 1st Amendment issue??

I don't claim to be a legal scholar...but your misuse of the term...coupled with your decision to shout your position via copious use of bold faced type and over use of punctuation marks, makes me question if you have any clue as to what "prior restraint" even refers to?

Our nations Children deserve to be treated better than this.

It's a beautiful platitude...but, no, they don't! They deserve to be treated with the same level of respect they demonstrate towards others.

thomassino

You have to be the dumbest person and post i have ever read seriously

I have ZERO sympathy for anyone who fails to comply with police officer requests PERIOD.

Who do you think you are and what makes you so special you do not have to comply with the laws with which we all have to comply?

While Seattle is on the west coast, THIS IS NOT THE WILD, WILD WEST, and we do not have gunfights at the OK Corral.

Being a 20 year Law Enforcement veteran and a former Field Training Officer ... I will tell you what he should have done .... as I was trained and so as I taught .... "Restraining Manuevers Only." Officers have to make split second decisions involving their "Use of Force Continuum" and I can assure at no stage of that Continuum will you find "Throw a Punch." Once officers start resorting to street fighting tactics, they have lost all control of the situation and have reflected badly upon theirselves and their departments.

Ok hugh what if if were your daughter, I know you would remind her that what she did was wrong, and punish her. But what would you say to the cop? After watching your 17 daughter get punched in the face.

I sure as hell wouldn't say a thing. She deserved it. If you act stupid, prepare for the consequences. Try pulling that same stunt with other people and you could be dead.

He wasn't assaulted, she sort of pushed him. He could have restrained her without the punch. It shows the kind of pig he is.

For-a-fairer-wage,

You're right, that wasn't assault, it was actually assault and battery. Merely threatening to do bodily harm is assault, but the battery component was added when she touched him. When you touch someone with hostile intent, such as that girl twisting his hand and then shoving him, it's assault and battery.

The law is pretty simple and anyone with common sense knows you don't shove a cop. The real world isn't a kindergarten playground. You don't get to decide what degree of unwelcomed, forceful touching is good or bad. You leave your hands off of other people or you pay the price.

The only pig in the video was the fat one in the pink who thinks she has a right to disrespect and manhandle anyone she wants. Sorry, this is the real world, and she'll have to learn to grow up and join the real world.

Besides, that was way more than touching him. She shoved him hard, putting the weight of her body into it. He was faced with two people to deal with and the possibility of more getting involved in the fracas. His actions to control the situation were very effective. Lastly, this incident which was initiated by someone jaywalking, escalated because of the assault on the officer, and not because of his attempt to issue a ticket for the violation. If the girl had simply accepted that she was going to get a ticket for the misdemeanor that would have been the end of this story.

Actually, punching a child is child abuse which borders on torture.

Child abuse is illegal no matter who does it!

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves. the officer is completely -and criminally- in the wrong... Maybe just bad judgement, but more likely insufficient training on the laws they are supposed to enforce and the limits of their power.

So...you are saying that if your underage child pushes you, that you feel justified in punching her in the face?

Because we build jail cells for people like you!

Because we build jail cells for people like you!

Go ahead and drop a dime.

Seventeen isn't a child. That is supposedly a young adult. Although, in her case that is arguable. How would the officer know her age? She could have been early twenties from her size and looks. In the video, she even appears to be slightly bigger than the officer.

Thomassino,

You have no idea of what you speak. First, the federal government defines child abuse as refers specifically to parents and other caregivers. The officer is neither of those.

The girl in the video interfered with an officer that was lawfully executing his job, and she committed assault and battery while doing so. A police officer has the right to self-defense, in fact he has a higher capacity to use force to respond to a threat than a normal citizen does. The Supreme Court has ruled that is the case.

fairer wage

I guess you did not see the footage which I did and you are absolutely wrong as to what happened.

Most black people like myself will kick some ass without the help of Al Sharpton so get it twisted. Al Sharpton helps more than just black people.

PLEASE keep me out of it. I DESPISE LIAR Al Sharpton. He put NYC police through hell with Tawana Brawley.

Signed, a white person who hates Al Sharpton

and by the way, if you lay a hand on an officer, please expect one in return.

We already know that you are a bigot Karen in LA. No need to shout. It just makes you look even crazier.

Thats the problem in the US today the Blacks show no respect for the law and Rev Al goes on national tv and preachs for it to continue. If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. The officer should have hit her with a nitestick then maybe next time she would keep her hands off.

Many black people such as myself do show respect to officers. Personally, I see nothing wrong with officers actions. He did what was necessary and he conducted himself well.

Right you are. It is people like Al Sharpton who stick their nose into the situation and feed the problem. That is why so many blacks act out in disrespect. They know Brother Al will be there to back them up no matter who is right or wrong.

Most black people like myself will kick some ass without the help of Al Sharpton so get it twisted. Al Sharpton helps more than just black people. Now if it were your daughter how would you feel after watching the video? She should have been arrested and perhaps charged as an adult. But to hit her like that " he would be sore from from me kickin his ass" and you can take that to the bank. Please understand I admit she was wrong, but a punch to the face? I would break my foot off in the ass of that cop.

Great more violence. You are the problem, just like the girl. I would feel EMBARASSED if it were my daughter. So now you go off to seek retribution, and you get arrested and now you see your daughter everyday, in jail. What did you really solve? Your life falls apart as you spend 10 years in jail, really? thats the answer? This assumes that your attempt to attack the cop doesnt result in his training responding and killing you. Great plan, well thought out.

Hey, the pig started the punching. How hard could she have pushed him? The pig was obviously unharmed and decided to escalate it. The pig should have restrained her first without punching her.

And for the comments about how at least she wasn't shot, shame on you for thinking the police have the right to shoot people for minor infractions. Go live in China if you love authoritarianism so much.

They touched the officer. Doesn't matter how hard or how soft. You do not make contact with an officer. I keep reading on "what if it was your daughter". If it was my daughter and she was even talking back to an officer I would punish her. The minute they touched the officer he had every right to do what ever necessary to control the situation. They showed no respect, even if you felt you were in the right, you go to court and present your case. The officer was doing his job, no matter how minor the offense, he was doing his job. And for the individuals using the term "Pig" shame on you for not having any respect, no wonder we have girls that think it's okay to push and shove an officer.

Child abuse is illegal no matter who does it!

I hope the kid gets a huge monetary payoff, as this police officers action is abominable...especially for something as petty and ubiquitous as jaywalking. This isn't china: Our nations Children deserve to be treated better than this.

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves...The officer was completely in the wrong.

The funny part about it (besides thomassino copying/pasting the same diatribe repeatedly throughout every line in this vine) is that once the punch was thrown, the woman in black all but tried to jump the officer from behind (keep watching the video) and a male friend grabs the one in pink and literally YANKS her away so that the officer can again try to subdue the one in black who is, at this point STILL resisting arrest, throwing obscenities around like they were common place, hitting the officer still and...if it couldn't be more ironic, calling the officer a "nigga'".

I am quite happy that there was a steady video camera running from beginning to end so that when it DOES go to court, the judge and jury can see the type of behavior that these "ladies" (and I use the term loosely) portrayed before the incident as well as after.

The punch occurred at :14 seconds into the video...even after that, it still took another 2:30 to get the one in black into restraints. And both still resisted arrest all the way to the cruiser...

I'd encourage everyone to watch the fully uncut/spliced version of the video:

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/06/caught_on_tape_white_police_of.html

A little additional info on these two "sweet and innocent" women....

Rosenthal was charged in November with second-degree robbery. According to prosecutors, she punched a 15-year-old boy in the face while she and a group of youths were on their way to a rave in South Seattle last Aug. 28. The boy told police that his cellphone and $20 were stolen in the incident. A 14-year-old boy told police that he was punched in the head and his hat was stolen.

Authorities say the case was dismissed when the boys refused to testify.

In April 2008, Rosenthal was charged with third-degree theft after she allegedly stole a minivan in Tukwila, prosecutors said. Kent police said she used a screwdriver to break the ignition and start the vehicle.

The charge was later amended to theft of a motor vehicle. Rosenthal was given a deferred disposition — charges would be dropped if she stayed out of trouble — because it was a first-time offense, said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff for Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg.

Levias was charged in February 2009 with third-degree assault after she allegedly pushed a King County sheriff's deputy down.

According to charging documents, on Feb. 3, 2009, deputies were called to the Ruth Dykeman Children's Center, a Burien center for troubled girls, in response to a report that Levias was being abusive toward staff. When Levias was confronted by Deputy Amy Zarelli, she pushed the female deputy, causing her to fall, charging papers said.

Levias was given a deferred disposition because it was a first-time offense, Goodhew said.

from my point of view,

Good point.. these two "young woman" PROVED that they have ZERO respect for the law or law enforcement..

YES!!! I totally agree with you. It is not respect for the law anymore. Teen are out of control, they are not inocent. I am sick and tired of the races bull$%%. It has nothing to do with it, doesn't matter if she was black, white, blue. She was disrespectful, if they let this happen, and blame the police, people should not complain that young offenders do what they want.

respect is earned, not mete with a fist at the end of a taser.

Child abuse is illegal no matter who does it!

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves.

This officer was out of line: I hope he loses his job and the county pays the girl big money!

The girl assulted the policeman first. In fact he was talking to the other girl when the pusher walked and shoved him.

thomassino,

Would you please brake you fingers off and place them where the sun doesn't shine! You have to be the most annoying ignorant person I have ever heard! She isn't a "little girl" or "child," most people are considered adults by this age. It isn't child abuse for so many reasons, but I don't expect you to comprehend that. She made big girl decisions and now she is going to deal with it!

Police deserve no respect other than what they're earned. I know I don't respect anyone simply because of their job.

With that said, he's totally justified in his response to being assaulted. The cop will be cleared of wrongdoing and rightfully so.

You are completely and unabashedly incorrect on this opinion!

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves.

violence can never justified, or we will degrade as a society.

Child abuse is illegal no matter who does it!

I hope the kid gets a huge monetary payoff, as this police officers action is abominable...especially for something as petty and ubiquitous as jaywalking. This isn't china: Our nations Children deserve to be treated better than this.

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves.

Protecting yourself is not child abuse, it is self protection against a criminal who just assulted you. Do you think if a 16 year who outweights you start to push you or beat you, you are not going to do some? If not then you have a problem

I very much agree with you!

This officer is 100% in the wrong, and criminally liable for his inappropriate action.

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves. Citizens do not have to restrain themselves, they may not be able to: the police DO! The courts have already ruled on this.

Child abuse is illegal no matter who does it!

I hope the kid gets a huge monetary payoff, as this police officers action is abominable...especially for something as petty and ubiquitous as jaywalking. This isn't china: Our nations Children deserve to be treated better than this.

Of course the police all stick together: the officer could have shot her in the face, cut off her head and pooped down her neck, and the "force" would still stand behind him...Such is the nature of the police force. The child was alone. If the officer was doing his job-instead of letting his guard down- he would have been able to grab the girls arms as she tried to push him. Instead, he let he push him! He was not paying enough attention (as he faced a little girl child) to even stop her from pushing him?

He needs re-training at the least!

WOW...you are consistent, I'll give you that. You've posted the same feckless, fact-challenged bull@!$%# about "prior restraint" at least 6 or 7 times in the last half hour.

Unfortunately, it seems you're functioning under the popular misconception that loudly repeating factual inaccuracies will somehow magically augment the validity of what your spewing. It wont!

It's not child abuse. Prior restraint does not apply. And, kids (American or otherwise) do not deserve respect they are unwilling to demonstrate for others.

Thomassino,

You have no idea of what you speak. First, the federal government defines child abuse as refers specifically to parents and other caregivers. The officer is neither of those.

The girl in the video interfered with an officer that was lawfully executing his job, and she committed assault and battery while doing so. A police officer has the right to self-defense, in fact he has a higher capacity to use force to respond to a threat than a normal citizen does. The Supreme Court has ruled that is the case.

If it's so OK for police to use violence, then why even have an Oscar Grant trial?-because it is not OK.

Why did the harvard police drop all charges against the professor who "assaulted" them?-because they overreacted and were wrong.

Why did the police drop charges against the 75 year old lady they tased, and then pay her for damages?-because the officer acted inappropriately and with excessive force.

An adult punching anyone, especially a child, is a criminal offense in most jurisdictions.

The officer should have been a little more prepared. He is trained in self-defense, and trusted with public safety. If he cannot stop a little girl from pushing him without resorting to violence, then he should not be a police officer.

If I took my child in for a flu shot, and she pushed the nurse away from her and then the nurse punched her in the face because my little girl "should know better", I would sue the doo(kie) out of the hospital and that nurse. This case is exactly the same: A public servant punched a child in the face because the child did not want to accept the pain being forced upon her. Children may be adults in training, but they are not adults.

It is ok for police to use reasonable force, as determined by the Supreme Court, hopefully you've heard of them before. Try looking into cases like Graham v. Connor and Johnson v. Glick.

Reasonable force doesn't apply to one officer shooting an unarmed man while another officer holds him on the ground, as in the Grant case. Comparing a shooting where two officers are holding down one unarmed suspect to the girl in this story is a ridiculous exaggeration and nowhere near the same scenario.

Your lack of understanding of the law is stunning. You keep making huge misstatements. An adult punching anyone isn't necessarily a criminal offense for instance. If that adult is defending himself, then it's not criminal, it's justified as self-defense.

Your use of the words "Little Girl" show a tendency towards stretching the truth. The "Little girl" was as tall or taller than the officer, which makes her not so little at all. She also appeared to outweigh him.

The fact that you said "A public servant punched a child in the face because the child did not want to accept the pain being forced upon her" shows that you didn't even watch the video, but instead are just spouting platitudes. The officer wasn't even touching the girl to begin with. He was attempting to restrain an entirely different person and the "little girl" jumped, twisted the officers hands off of the person he was attempting to detain and then she almost shoulder blocked him away from the person he was originally focused on.

We are talking about giving young people the right to vote, if they want to vote and speak out, then they get whatever happens.

If it's so OK for police to use violence, then why even have an Oscar Grant trial?-because it is not OK.

Why did the harvard police drop all charges against the professor who "assaulted" them?-because they overreacted and were wrong.

Blah...blah...blah...blah...blah

More red herrings, more strawmen and more blatant misinformation. None of these comparisons are valid...and your insistence upon referring to the bratty self-righteous instigator as a "little girl" displays a deep-seated intellectual dishonesty on your part!

On the upside...at least you made it through a whole post without blathering any more nonsense about "prior restraint"!

The officer is legally obligated to show restraint: A punch in the face is assault and not restraint.

The courts have already ruled against prior restraint: a citizen does not need to have prior restraint: the police officer is supposed to remain calm because the citizens may be on drugs or have a mental problem which precludes them from restraining themselves.

thomas, you have a problem.

thomassino,

PLEASE ethier show a smige of intellegence or just keep it to yourself. People with your mindset caused this.. go sleep it off

When did Rev. Jesse and Al become the judge of our law officers? All they ever do is stir up trouble and incite riots.

I couldnt agree more! Watching the crowd surround him I thought was a lil spooky, mob rules and that could have turned on him at anytime....then what would we be discussing? Scary. He got her attention, controlled the situation, and moved on.

"He was a lone police officer surrounded by a crowd, and had two women challenging him at close quarters. Think of the possibilities.... one of these girls could have distracted him with shoving/punching while the other got ahold of his service weapon!"

That is what goes on around here. I remember a bad fight: this girl was attacking another girl and the other one didn't want to fight. When she was forced to defend herself, she beat the living crap out of her attacker. Suddenly, the attacker's friend suckered punched the victim and the attacker came back and started to head stomp the victim. The victim started to have a seizure. When a teacher came to pull the attacker away, she turned and punched him in the face.

They don't care. These aren't little, innocent 'kids' we're dealing with. These are people that have no respect for ANYONE and don't care about the consequences. Suspend them from school, give them a court date, sue their family. . .they don't care. Chances are that soemthing like that happened in their past and they haven't learned from it.

women do not have the right to hit someone simply because they are women ! a police officer is allowed to use force to subdue a potential criminal male or feamle! perhaps thats what you should have said to your son!

So lets take race out of it, a man hit a woman. He is trained to use the least amount of force necessary. Police cars and police officers are equipped with the latest technology in apprehending people and communicating, and he chose to use none of them. He could have maced her, called for back up, anything except punch her in the face.

Here's an idea?

However in the end it was just jaywalking. I have never seen anyone get arrested for jaywalking. I guess cross between the two white line or risk getting punched in the face?

It started off as jaywalking. We don't know the situation before hand. Was there a big crowd holding back traffic? Was the girl endangering herself and others by crossing the street at the wrong time? Was he just being an ass? We don't know, or do we? I haven't heard. Most people would give dirty looks and maybe an attitude for such a ticket but these girls took it to a whole different level. I think he did the right thing. If he pulled out the mace, then the on lookers would have felt it too. He was by himself and needed to think fast. I'd rather have a busted lip then a messed up knee cap from the batton.

62 people have been hit at the intersection in 4 years....

By Cars. Police were asked to be there.

the police have the right to hit women when they are causing a problem. Remember there were two of them, and the police just took out the leader fast so he could worry if the other one was going to do anything. No one knows and the two girls are not going to honest.

Tonya, then someone would complain about how the cop is arresting her.
Taser: complain.
Baton: complain.
Tackle: complain.
Defend themselves: complain.
Push her up against something: complain.
Just touching her: complain.

and Al Sharpton just showed up on the today show. Truly sad.

romes,

come on you had to know the good ole rev. al sharpton was going to get involved. that moron can't stay away from stuff like this....

Where was the black officer who could have represented both sides of the argument? An unbias oppinion based on fact and not rhtoric and emotion. Al has no place in commenting on this until the investigation is completed. Why do they always call guys like this in, ratings, or good reporting? I don't think it's reporting!! Good call farmerdannc.

I'm going to be VERRY DISAPOINTED if GMA doesn't have the good ole rev. jesse jackson on the air today too. You just can't have one loud mouthed bigot without the other it just wouldn't be right it might even be racisit!!!!

Sharpton shows up everytime there is a white and black. he doesn't even care who was in the right or wrong since he always yells racism no matter what. he is one of the reason that america is no longer safe.

Beckyal,

WELL POSTED!!!!!

NBC likes to stir the @!$%#.. everytime a Black is involved they send a limo to pick up Al for the today show.. another reason I watch FOX..

Umm, yeah it does give him the right. It is this behavior which exactly gives him the right. yes there were other ways, but that doesn't make this way wrong. A simple rule for life: Don't touch cops.

Yes... her actions gave him the right. Many of you keep talking about other options. Have any of you ever been in a fight? you have a split second to make a decision on your line of defense. when being attacked, often times your first and quickest defense is a strike with your hands. Once you have created some distance, then you can proceed to other weapons. Get with it people. If you don't know anything about defending yourself then don't speak on this subject.

By the way... Tonya Reagan, not everyone knows karate and in street fights sometimes the karate person loses!!!

there were two of them, not just one.

From Me,

I have been in fights and I know the martial arts. Most I have ever fought against was 5 that came at me (I was defending myself and tried to avoid the situation beforehand; I couldn't run away and couldn't call for help). It was first one-on-one and then out of nowhere the second guy attacked me. Next thing I know, they started to attack me randomly. You have split seconds to react and figure out who to attack/defend from. One guy is coming at you from the front, another from the right, and one guy is getting back up from behind you, the two guys are standing there and you don't know if/when they will attack. Who do you think will make the first move, who will attack, who will fake, and who isn't going to fight anymore but just stand there (also faking). In the end, I managed to escape, but I was lucky as hell. Two against one isn't as bad as a group, but there are the same problems like a group because there is more than one.

You are correct about someone knowing the martial arts may lose. Look up the different styles: If someone knows mai tai very well and fight someone who know Tae Kwon Do very well, chances are, the mai tai fighter will win the fight. Not always, but likely.

Such mixed feelings about this one...first I'm thinking that I want to move to Seattle if the police have so much time on their hands that they look for jaywalkers...but a law is still a law and regardless of how moronic it may be to the average "chicken" that just wants to get to the other side...she broke the law. I have to tell you though as the wife of a law enforcement officer, that if anyone pushes him or puts their hands on him, he has every right to take whatever action is necessary to apprehend that person. (and notice I use "that person" because at that point, race, ethnic background, gender,....nothing comes into play..it then becomes a matter a public officers safety.) BUT...on that note..living in Atlanta, the beautiful home of Martin Luther King, and am reminded of that fact at every cross road by signs and statues of him, it saddens my heart that he lost his life fighting for equality of every man..Al Sharpton..Jessie Jackson...and many more that once stood at his side, have lost that vision and have been, for many years, fighting for one ethnic background instead of the many that Martin Luther King would have. Shame of both of you for disgracing his cause. Thank Joseph Lowery for keeping Martin Luther King's dream alive...I think you're the only one that was listening.

the police were asked to be there to prevent accidents. People who jaywalk cause accidents.

My thoughts exactly, wrote them the same time. (see below)

I am TOTALLY in agreement with fedupwithmediahype. Sharpton MAKES every situation a race issue. I am sick of his involvement and I wish the media would quit asking his opinion every time there is an issue between a black and white. They know what he is going to say so the media is just as guilty in provolking race issues in this country.

I have never responded to anything, but was compelled to in this situation. I am appalled at the Today Show to ask for Al Sharpton's opinion in this situation since he ALWAYS pulls the race card and consequently promotes racial segregation every single time. This is a blatant expression of NBC's political stance, no wonder so many (and now myself) boycot and switch to Fox News.