Posted on Oct 27, 2015
EXCLUSIVE: Army veteran recalls rough encounter with deputy Ben Fields, now under fire for slamming student. Thoughts?
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((UPDATE POSTED BELOW))
There is always a trail when it comes to Police Officers who are temperamentally unfit for the job and authority we entrust them with.
The 15-second video of sheriff's deputy Ben Fields slamming a student to the ground sent shivers down Carlos Martin's spine.
After all, he'd been manhandled by the beefy South Carolina cop the same way almost exactly 10 years before.
"I recognized him on the spot. I remembered how big he was," the 36-year-old Army veteran told the Daily News.
Martin had encountered Fields twice before: once in a Columbia, S.C., parking lot during an arrest and later in the courtroom, where Martin and his wife, Tashiana, filed suit against the hulking officer for civil rights violations.
That suit fizzled out during a drawn-out legal process, but Martin still bears the emotional scars from the 2005 confrontation with Fields, who then was a rookie officer with the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
Fields on Monday made national news after video of him throwing a female Spring Valley High School student to the ground during an arrest went viral online. And it brought bad memories cascading back for Martin.
Now an actor, Martin had only recently moved to Columbia, South Carolina's capital city, after an overseas stint with the Army in Germany.
He was working at the Moncrief Army Community Hospital at Fort Jackson and ran into Fields when he returned home from a day of work.
Fields was at the apartment complex parking lot, responding to a call for a noise complaint. Martin was playing the music loudly in his car when he pulled in.
Fields on Monday made national news after video of him throwing a female Spring Valley High School student to the ground during an arrest went viral online. And it brought bad memories cascading back for Martin.
Now an actor, Martin had only recently moved to Columbia, South Carolina's capital city, after an overseas stint with the Army in Germany.
He was working at the Moncrief Army Community Hospital at Fort Jackson and ran into Fields when he returned home from a day of work.
Fields was at the apartment complex parking lot, responding to a call for a noise complaint. Martin was playing the music loudly in his car when he pulled in.
An argument ensued in the broad daylight on Oct. 24, 2005.
Martin said the beefy officer "snapped" after he called him "dude," and slammed him on the ground. He began pepper-spraying the helpless veteran, but Martin said he was trained in the military to resist the chemicals. An entire canister of the stuff failed to disable Martin.
"He became even more violent because I didn't react like most people would," Martin told the News.
His wife at the time, Tashiana Rogers, witnessed the fracas, and ran outside to take photos of the violent encounter with her cellphone.
That's when Fields called for his partner to "get her black ass," Martin said. The officer grabbed her phone and deleted the photos.
Fields then called for backup.
"I'm watching my wife get beat up in front of me, and there's nothing I can do about it," Martin said.
The former medic, who spent 10 years in the service, said his encounter with the hulking officer lead to his divorce and discharge from the military.
Fields said he didn't care that Martin, still in uniform, was a soldier, the former medic said.
During the arrest, Martin told Fields the rough arrest would lead to a lawsuit.
"I'm glad Johnny Cochran is dead," Fields shot back, according to Martin.
The officer also told Martin as he was cuffed that "you're just another notch in my belt," according to court documents.
The criminal charges against both Martin and his wife were dropped, but it took four years to get to trial. During that time, the military considered Martin a criminal and blackballed him, he said.
At the same time, his marriage was falling apart because of the attack. His wife divorced him because she felt he couldn't protect her from the violent cop, he said.
He had been in the military for nearly a decade and married for three years.
The lawsuit was later dismissed because there had been issues with proving excessive force, his criminal trial lawyer, John Mobley told the Daily News. His ex-wife's lawsuit went to court, and the jury ruled in favor of the sheriff's department, he said.
"That was shocking. I was definitely shocked that the jury did not find in her favor," Mobley said.
Rogers was shocked too. She worries Fields was allowed to operate with impunity — giving him freedom to terrorize high school students.
"I felt like if he had felt the consequences from 2005, this wouldn't happen today," she told the Daily News.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/army-vet-recalls-rough-encounter-sc-dep-ben-fields-article-1.2412418
[UPDATE on the victim of Deputy Field's violent arrest:]
I have noticed that every single commenter who says that this child "got what she deserved" has failed to address the fact that she lost the remaining members of her family in the last year or two. She is 15. She is grieving; she is probably scared spitless: what's she going to do now? Where's she going to go? Yes, she has a foster family, but that does not in any way mitigate the loss of her mother and grandmother.
She wakes up every morning to that reality. She was NOT violent. Her behavior indicates that she needs grief counseling, attention, and support. Even if those things were NOT true, this bully had absolutely no right the attack this NON-VIOLENT child in the classroom. Apparently, more people than this cop have power problems.
There is always a trail when it comes to Police Officers who are temperamentally unfit for the job and authority we entrust them with.
The 15-second video of sheriff's deputy Ben Fields slamming a student to the ground sent shivers down Carlos Martin's spine.
After all, he'd been manhandled by the beefy South Carolina cop the same way almost exactly 10 years before.
"I recognized him on the spot. I remembered how big he was," the 36-year-old Army veteran told the Daily News.
Martin had encountered Fields twice before: once in a Columbia, S.C., parking lot during an arrest and later in the courtroom, where Martin and his wife, Tashiana, filed suit against the hulking officer for civil rights violations.
That suit fizzled out during a drawn-out legal process, but Martin still bears the emotional scars from the 2005 confrontation with Fields, who then was a rookie officer with the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
Fields on Monday made national news after video of him throwing a female Spring Valley High School student to the ground during an arrest went viral online. And it brought bad memories cascading back for Martin.
Now an actor, Martin had only recently moved to Columbia, South Carolina's capital city, after an overseas stint with the Army in Germany.
He was working at the Moncrief Army Community Hospital at Fort Jackson and ran into Fields when he returned home from a day of work.
Fields was at the apartment complex parking lot, responding to a call for a noise complaint. Martin was playing the music loudly in his car when he pulled in.
Fields on Monday made national news after video of him throwing a female Spring Valley High School student to the ground during an arrest went viral online. And it brought bad memories cascading back for Martin.
Now an actor, Martin had only recently moved to Columbia, South Carolina's capital city, after an overseas stint with the Army in Germany.
He was working at the Moncrief Army Community Hospital at Fort Jackson and ran into Fields when he returned home from a day of work.
Fields was at the apartment complex parking lot, responding to a call for a noise complaint. Martin was playing the music loudly in his car when he pulled in.
An argument ensued in the broad daylight on Oct. 24, 2005.
Martin said the beefy officer "snapped" after he called him "dude," and slammed him on the ground. He began pepper-spraying the helpless veteran, but Martin said he was trained in the military to resist the chemicals. An entire canister of the stuff failed to disable Martin.
"He became even more violent because I didn't react like most people would," Martin told the News.
His wife at the time, Tashiana Rogers, witnessed the fracas, and ran outside to take photos of the violent encounter with her cellphone.
That's when Fields called for his partner to "get her black ass," Martin said. The officer grabbed her phone and deleted the photos.
Fields then called for backup.
"I'm watching my wife get beat up in front of me, and there's nothing I can do about it," Martin said.
The former medic, who spent 10 years in the service, said his encounter with the hulking officer lead to his divorce and discharge from the military.
Fields said he didn't care that Martin, still in uniform, was a soldier, the former medic said.
During the arrest, Martin told Fields the rough arrest would lead to a lawsuit.
"I'm glad Johnny Cochran is dead," Fields shot back, according to Martin.
The officer also told Martin as he was cuffed that "you're just another notch in my belt," according to court documents.
The criminal charges against both Martin and his wife were dropped, but it took four years to get to trial. During that time, the military considered Martin a criminal and blackballed him, he said.
At the same time, his marriage was falling apart because of the attack. His wife divorced him because she felt he couldn't protect her from the violent cop, he said.
He had been in the military for nearly a decade and married for three years.
The lawsuit was later dismissed because there had been issues with proving excessive force, his criminal trial lawyer, John Mobley told the Daily News. His ex-wife's lawsuit went to court, and the jury ruled in favor of the sheriff's department, he said.
"That was shocking. I was definitely shocked that the jury did not find in her favor," Mobley said.
Rogers was shocked too. She worries Fields was allowed to operate with impunity — giving him freedom to terrorize high school students.
"I felt like if he had felt the consequences from 2005, this wouldn't happen today," she told the Daily News.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/army-vet-recalls-rough-encounter-sc-dep-ben-fields-article-1.2412418
[UPDATE on the victim of Deputy Field's violent arrest:]
I have noticed that every single commenter who says that this child "got what she deserved" has failed to address the fact that she lost the remaining members of her family in the last year or two. She is 15. She is grieving; she is probably scared spitless: what's she going to do now? Where's she going to go? Yes, she has a foster family, but that does not in any way mitigate the loss of her mother and grandmother.
She wakes up every morning to that reality. She was NOT violent. Her behavior indicates that she needs grief counseling, attention, and support. Even if those things were NOT true, this bully had absolutely no right the attack this NON-VIOLENT child in the classroom. Apparently, more people than this cop have power problems.
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Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 20
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Knowing the cop has pending lawsuits against him for excessive force and not knowing the full story of the high school student incident. I'd still say this was (way) excessive force. Are there several faults here - yes. Somewhere, the child failed to adhere to basic rules and understanding of her environment. Why? That remains to be determined. Even if a teenage girl of her stature hit that cop in the face - does it warrant him acting the way he did? I'd argue (very strongly) that it doesn't. As a LEO - I would imagine you're (supposedly) trained to handle situations with the least amount of force necessary. I'd have a hard time arguing that the force shown in this picture was needed to de-escalate this situation.
Yes - the girl was in the wrong, but again - no one knows her story yet (at least I haven't heard what her deal was, other than being new to the school). She may have some home issues or personal issues that she's dealing with. Does it excuse her behavior - absolutely not. But it doesn't condone the escalation of force shown here either.
The LEO obviously has issues that haven't been addressed - whether it's some form of PTSD, or just anger management issues.
Either way, I hope both the young girl and the LEO find the help they need to get back on a more righteous path and hopefully this is a case of civil rights/human rights and not black vs white.
Yes - the girl was in the wrong, but again - no one knows her story yet (at least I haven't heard what her deal was, other than being new to the school). She may have some home issues or personal issues that she's dealing with. Does it excuse her behavior - absolutely not. But it doesn't condone the escalation of force shown here either.
The LEO obviously has issues that haven't been addressed - whether it's some form of PTSD, or just anger management issues.
Either way, I hope both the young girl and the LEO find the help they need to get back on a more righteous path and hopefully this is a case of civil rights/human rights and not black vs white.
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MSgt (Join to see)
There is one Law Suit that is pending. This suit has nothing to do with excessive force.
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This student had 3 opportunities to leave the room (for whatever reason): when directed by the teacher, by the teacher's supervisor, and finally by the school resource officer. This girl refused each time, even when asked verbally by the officer to get up and go with him. It then became a pissing contest when she again refused. If he had used chemical means or induced a pain-compliance technique the results would not have been much different. No one was reportedly hurt, so there was no 'excessive force'. Complying with the teacher or principal would have easily prevented this encounter. The student brought this on herself. Welcome to real world law enforcement where LE cleans up parent's messes...
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CPO Andy Carrillo, MS
PVT Robert Gresham - My favorite pain compliance technique is the C-clamp which works even on highly intoxicated drivers who lock onto their steering wheels. As for when this ends? When 'pushing the envelope' becomes boring, perhaps.
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PVT Robert Gresham
CPO Andy Carrillo, MS - I won't even bother with this any more. That is just nonsense.
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CPO Andy Carrillo, MS
From 10 months ago: "children" continue to throw tantrums:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDAQtwIwAmoVChMIs8Gx99joyAIV0ymICh03hAMn&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DoRrU0R6pew0&usg=AFQjCNFcBCOINhIYGa9C5XdPIARXlaRpiw&sig2=NGndfcnnQIDvafGzjFhZYA&bvm=bv.106379543,d.cGU
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDAQtwIwAmoVChMIs8Gx99joyAIV0ymICh03hAMn&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DoRrU0R6pew0&usg=AFQjCNFcBCOINhIYGa9C5XdPIARXlaRpiw&sig2=NGndfcnnQIDvafGzjFhZYA&bvm=bv.106379543,d.cGU
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SFC Matthew Parker
CPO Carrillo,
I'm here in Columbia and my kids will attend that High School. The cop was wrong. End of story. You can think your defending a member of law enforcement or think your blaming the parents but in fact this 16 year old girl just lost her mom and the officer could have easily dragged her by the chair out of the class room. The teacher could have handled this better and the administrator could have handled this better. But we are talking about a bully of a cop with a history of violence and abuse of power. This wasn't his first time.
16 and refused to put her cell phone away. You may have needed to remove her from the class room and it may have been necessary to use some physical means to do it. But that level of violence was over the top.
Bottom line, the cop was fired and he deserved it.
I'm here in Columbia and my kids will attend that High School. The cop was wrong. End of story. You can think your defending a member of law enforcement or think your blaming the parents but in fact this 16 year old girl just lost her mom and the officer could have easily dragged her by the chair out of the class room. The teacher could have handled this better and the administrator could have handled this better. But we are talking about a bully of a cop with a history of violence and abuse of power. This wasn't his first time.
16 and refused to put her cell phone away. You may have needed to remove her from the class room and it may have been necessary to use some physical means to do it. But that level of violence was over the top.
Bottom line, the cop was fired and he deserved it.
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CPT Ahmed Faried This is something I took note of in the video right away. His size, the ease with which he tossed the student across the room, his body position in relation to hers.
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CPT (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) - I agree as with so many cases people do not think about what the reaction to them will be. That said one would have to consider in this case that they are dealing with a teen (brain development). I wonder if resource officers receive additional training on teen development?
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SSG Audwin Scott
We have to really make better decisions in all of our actions with all the media we have out now. Cell phones are everywhere including City cameras capturing all types of things.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Capt M. Ma'am, the troubling thing is regardless of the stage of development their brain is in, the reaction most likely would be the same. It takes a lot of repetition to build muscle memory. Even today, if someone strikes me in the face, they are going to the ground. Their travels to the ground will be done in the quickest manner possible and their comfort is not a priority. I know a lot of people (including children) carry weapons. One facial strike could be followed by multiple stabbings, to the face, with a pencil or pen.
So, where does it end? I don't know, but I do know where it should start. Her parents should be held accountable for her actions as well as the officer be held accountable for his.
Set a standard that no one is willing to follow. Maybe that would prevent some of the assaults.
Futhermore I actually enjoy talking with you. You seem to be one of the few in here that are willing to listen and actually debate something without adding emotional feely feels in every word they type.
If asked, I would follow you to hell and back.
So, where does it end? I don't know, but I do know where it should start. Her parents should be held accountable for her actions as well as the officer be held accountable for his.
Set a standard that no one is willing to follow. Maybe that would prevent some of the assaults.
Futhermore I actually enjoy talking with you. You seem to be one of the few in here that are willing to listen and actually debate something without adding emotional feely feels in every word they type.
If asked, I would follow you to hell and back.
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CPT (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) My position is that I've been hit, bit, spit on, scratched................I know the trained reaction to an action very well. I've restrained teenagers multiple times, somehow I managed to do so without throwing them across the room, road .... I managed to stop them from committing suicide, harming one another, and harming themselves. We are trained in techniques that do not involve throwing someone across the room to aid in the restraint.
Thank you for your support and saying you'd follow me to hell and back I take that as the ultimate compliment. The same right back at you.
Thank you for your support and saying you'd follow me to hell and back I take that as the ultimate compliment. The same right back at you.
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Sheriff fires Richland deputy after altercation with Spring Valley student
Richland County Sheriff’s Department Senior Deputy Ben Fields was fired Wednesday, two days after an altercation between him and a female student at Spring Valley High School was caught on video and posted online.
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I'm still going to wait this out before passing full judgement, but there are too many other types of takedowns that are very effective in getting someones full attention without the use of force seen in this video. Not justifying anyone in this video, but I cannot see where it was ok to go this far on someone that wasn't a clear threat to hurt anyone. Passive resisting is still resisting, but on a female child in this manner? Something just isn't right, and I hope there's a full and open investigation on this.
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Attitude has consequences. Cooperation would have avoided all of that fallout.
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Capt Seid Waddell
PVT Robert Gresham, the children should learn to behave at an early age from their parents; unfortunately, the breakdown in our society begins with the parent's abdication of their primary responsibilities in raising their children. This breakdown is acerbated by the failure of our schools to maintain high expectations and discipline in their students' behavior.
By the time a child becomes a teenager it falls to the police to deal with the young barbarians that have not been civilized by the home, church and schools up to that point.
When our society comes to view this uncivilized behavior on the part of the students as the expected norm and comes down on the police for their enforcement of the law our society may well have gone beyond the tipping point.
Too many of our families and schools have become abject failures because the parents and school administrators also lack discipline themselves. It is unreasonable to expect the police to deal with the uncivilized products of these compound failures with sweetness and light.
That ship has long since sailed.
By the time a child becomes a teenager it falls to the police to deal with the young barbarians that have not been civilized by the home, church and schools up to that point.
When our society comes to view this uncivilized behavior on the part of the students as the expected norm and comes down on the police for their enforcement of the law our society may well have gone beyond the tipping point.
Too many of our families and schools have become abject failures because the parents and school administrators also lack discipline themselves. It is unreasonable to expect the police to deal with the uncivilized products of these compound failures with sweetness and light.
That ship has long since sailed.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Maybe, instead of learning respect, they learn compliance to rules. Start there. Next, teach them to be responsible for their actions. Then, teach them to be respectful (even if they lack respect for others). Show them the way instead of pampering them and telling them they are allowed to act a fool and never expect consequences for their actions.
Even at the age of 5, my son knows better. He understands there are certain things you do not do in public.
If my child acted this way I would expect for someone to deal with them.
I get it, you ghave never been placed in a situation like this. It sucks.
Even at the age of 5, my son knows better. He understands there are certain things you do not do in public.
If my child acted this way I would expect for someone to deal with them.
I get it, you ghave never been placed in a situation like this. It sucks.
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I'm usually the first to jump to the defense of the cop, but this case seems to be another case of a cop being way out of line. That being said, do I feel sorry for this student? No. You used to be able to cure this type of behavior with a yardstick, wiffle paddle, or a call to the parents, but unfortunately that is no longer acceptable. We need to start finding a way to cure this disease of disrespect and disobedience in my generation and younger. Thankfully, I had parents who enforced respect and discipline, but now we have what seems to be an entire generation who think they should be able to act like an undisciplined badass, break laws and do whatever they want and then scream foul when they get hurt. I don't support this cop, or what he did, and he should be punished. However, that doesn't change the fact that this could have been prevented with a lesson in respect and discipline.
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CPT Ahmed Faried , the article states that the case was dismissed because "there had been issues with proving excessive force".
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PVT Robert Gresham
1stSgt (Join to see) It does make it more difficult to prove when your evidence is ordered erased by the police. You can already see that they had the idea to cover it all up. Also, the defense drawing out the court case 4 years makes it harder for the prosecution to prove its' case.
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1stSgt (Join to see)
PVT Robert Gresham , I am done with it. Until the entire story is released about the girl, I have no opinion. As to the article, imply what you wish. Semper Fidelis.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Evidence was not erased. Case in point, the pictures in the freaking article. The PRosecuter did not run the clock out. The witness testimony was flauded and they changed their story a few times. Maybe they should have been better prepared by their lawyer for testimony they would have prevailed. MAybe the Army would have retained one more dirtbag and he would still be married.
Simply put, the First Sgt is right. The article is one sided and the officer's side is never mentioned. Go off half cocked and you will look like a fool.
Simply put, the First Sgt is right. The article is one sided and the officer's side is never mentioned. Go off half cocked and you will look like a fool.
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CPT Ahmed Faried Here is the video if you want to post it. There are several videos out there, this is the first one I saw and it shows how he tossed her across the room, it doesn't look like it is an appropriate use of force.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/27/us/south-carolina-school-arrest-video/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/27/us/south-carolina-school-arrest-video/index.html
Outrage grows after Spring Valley High School officer tosses student - CNN.com
Video shows an officer at Spring Valley High School yank a student violently from her desk. Many are outraged, using hashtag #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh.
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CPT Ahmed Faried
oh believe me I know. I'm just baffled some some people have seen this and their general disposition is "nothing to see here folks"
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Hard to pass judgement when you only have one side of the story. But, he had his day in court and the Deputy was found not guilty in all the charges.
Now as far as the student, from what I have gathered and read around the internet, the girl had ample opportunities to comply with the teacher, principal and the deputy. She refused and possibly struck the officer. Thus requiring him to take a more aggressive approach to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible without putting the other students at risk. He had no idea how she would react next. I stand behind the deputy and the way he handled the situation. Too many cops are getting injured or killed because everyone wants them to be more passive and gentle. BS
Now as far as the student, from what I have gathered and read around the internet, the girl had ample opportunities to comply with the teacher, principal and the deputy. She refused and possibly struck the officer. Thus requiring him to take a more aggressive approach to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible without putting the other students at risk. He had no idea how she would react next. I stand behind the deputy and the way he handled the situation. Too many cops are getting injured or killed because everyone wants them to be more passive and gentle. BS
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CPT Ahmed Faried
He was cleared of one incident, prosecutors hardly want to make enemies of the same Police they work with. In the other incident the case was dragged out until the victim dropped it. BS indeed.
"She refused and possibly struck the officer. Thus requiring him to take a more aggressive approach to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible without putting the other students at risk. He had no idea how she would react next. I stand behind the deputy and the way he handled the situation. Too many cops are getting injured or killed because everyone wants them to be more passive and gentle. BS"
She refused, fine. She struck the officer, "possibly". You sound unsure of yourself. Give me hard numbers. Show me that more cops are getting injured or killed as a result of increased scrutiny. While you are doing that read this:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/07/23/so-much-for-the-ferguson-effect-killings-of-cops-are-down-25-percent-for-the-first-half-of-2015/
Thanks for your response.
"She refused and possibly struck the officer. Thus requiring him to take a more aggressive approach to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible without putting the other students at risk. He had no idea how she would react next. I stand behind the deputy and the way he handled the situation. Too many cops are getting injured or killed because everyone wants them to be more passive and gentle. BS"
She refused, fine. She struck the officer, "possibly". You sound unsure of yourself. Give me hard numbers. Show me that more cops are getting injured or killed as a result of increased scrutiny. While you are doing that read this:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/07/23/so-much-for-the-ferguson-effect-killings-of-cops-are-down-25-percent-for-the-first-half-of-2015/
Thanks for your response.
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SSG Todd Halverson
Well, when you have people posting videos on the internet to kill cops, they have to be ready to protect themselves at all times. Even if 1 cop is killed in an ambush type attack or a disturbance, that is 1 too many. Still stand behind the fact that he diffused the situation rapidly and without any injuries. He not only had to concern himself with his safety, but that of all the other students and teacher in the room. Would you have preferred he handled the situation more peacefully and have the incident turn into a mass shooting. He did not know what she was capable of at the time, he had to react to the situation.
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