What happened next that evening in May 2021 is the basis for a lawsuit by the mother alleging that Burlington police used excessive force and discriminated against her unarmed son, who is Black and has behavioral and intellectual disabilities.

After he failed to hand over the last of the stolen e-cigarettes, two officers physically forced him to do so, then Cathy Austrian’s son was handcuffed and pinned to the ground as he screamed and struggled, according to a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday and police body-camera video shared with The Associated Press by the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont.

The teen eventually was injected with a ketamine, a sedative, then taken to a hospital, according to the lawsuit and video.

  • Fisk400
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    5 months ago

    I’m sure there is some middle ground we can find. His mother is named in the article and his actions were explained in depth so I don’t see a problem with being a bit more specific with what caused the behaviour. Especially when the phrase is also used to describe quite violent people.

    • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
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      5 months ago

      I have to wonder why you want a clearer picture of what the boy was suffering from, 'cause from my vantage point it seems it’s only to satisfy your own curiosity rather than solve a larger issue.

      Imo it’s none of our business what his diagnoses was as he was the victim here.

      • Fisk400
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        4 months ago

        If it’s not relevant they dont need to bring it up. If it is relevant I would like to know what way it is relevant. I am fine with either but not both.

        Don’t forget that the reason I want there to be more detail is because they used the expression as an excuse for that guy that jumped the judge. A guy that was articulate and friendly right up until he turned feral. I think it is doing this kid a disservice to put these two very different people under the same vague header. It’s what they did with the r-slur and it’s why it’s considered a slur today.

        • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
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          4 months ago

          Again, in this particular instance he was the victim.

          Blanket rules in revealing diagnoses do not take into account individual’s right to privacy. I prefer to respect that right vs your request to know.

          • Fisk400
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            4 months ago

            I don’t know why “a bit more specific” is being read as reveal his medical history.

            • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
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              4 months ago

              Because being specific is a breach of privacy. It’s really none of our business unless ofc one is a busybody.

              • Fisk400
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                4 months ago

                I guess we will have to let “behavioral issues and mental disabilities” just become the new retard. There is nothing to be done about it because I would hate to be a busy body.