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@feddit.nu
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    10 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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      10 months ago

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

      • Fisk400@feddit.nu
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        10 months ago

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