Sheriff: Lenoir County Deputy Won't Face Disciplinary Action
Sheriff: Lenoir County Deputy Won't Face Disciplinary Action Save Email Print
Posted: 10:03 PM Sep 7, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:28 PM Sep 15, 2008
 Reporter: Lynnette Taylor/Bill Wilson/Heather King
589 comments
A | A | A

Lenoir County says their deputy seen punching a fan after the ECU-West Virginia game will not face any disciplinary actions from his department.

The deputy, who's name hasn't been released, was seen on video from ESPN hitting the fan with a closed fist.

In a news release this morning, Sheriff Billy Smith says after reviewing numerous videos he has determined the deputy was performing his job consistent with his training.

The sheriff says the deputy observed other officers struggling with a fan who was resisting. He says the deputy struck several times the leg area, a pressure point procedure designed to render a "sensation like a muscle spasm". Smith says it's designed to bring an unruly person under control.

On Friday, ECU police asked the SBI to take over the investigation into whether police used excessive force to keep fans off the football field. Pitt County's district attorney will review that investigation and determine whether any criminal charges should be brought.

The Kinston Police Department is responding the investigation of excessive force following the East Carolina - West Virginia football game. A press release Friday says the Kinston Department of Public Safety has concluded its investigation into the matter.

Kinston did receive one formal complaint from the football game. It was in reference to a pre-game incident that ended with charges of resist, obstruct and delay, along with two charges of damage to personal property.

The press release says officials have tried to make contact with people involved in the post-game scuffle, but describe the cooperation as "limited." Kinston officials also say "alcohol consumption played a role in the actions of some spectators involved in altercations."

Kinston Police recommends that ECU conduct an independent review of the events that led to the excessive force claims, to prevent future problems.

The press release noted that any personnel actions taken against employees are confidential and not public record.


PREVIOUS STORY: ECU police say they have completed an initial inquiry into complaints that excessive force was used against fans who stormed the field after the West Virginia game.

University spokesman John Durham tells WITN News that ECU will not bring any charges against any officer involved with what happened Saturday. Durham says that's because a mutual-aid agreement says any charges would have to be brought by the police officer's own department and not ECU police.

ECU police chief Scott Shelton refuses to identify officers who have been identified in the video tapes or even what agencies they belong to, citing personnel laws. He has forwarded the information to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for their own investigations. He said any disciplinary action would have to come from the officer's departments.

ECU says for the remainder of the football season the university will reduce the number of outside agencies and will only use officers from within Pitt County.

Chancellor Steve Ballard said the university will review its game-day protocols and training to make sure everything possible is done to protect the safety of fans and players at the game. "Safety is paramount," Ballard said. "Everything starts with that."

Ballard says university police will work with both the Athletics Department and the Student Government Association to educate students about the dangers of rushing onto the field after a game.

Meanwhile, Kinston police say they've received no complaints from anyone involved with what happened Saturday. In WITN's video, several officers who appear to be wearing Kinston police uniforms were seen body-slamming one fan, and physically restraining another.

Kinston police say they're still awaiting information from ECU police on what happened.


Previous Story

It's been confirmed that it was a Lenoir County deputy seen on ESPN video punching a fan with a closed fist.

That from Major Chris Hill with the Lenoir County Sheriff's Department this morning.

On the tape the deputy in a brown uniform is seen repeatedly striking a fan who made it on the ECU field after Saturday's win over West Virginia.

Yesterday, the student who claimed to be punched said it was a Lenoir County deputy who hit him.


There are now at least three different investigations in claims that police officers used excessive force after Saturday's East Carolina game.

ECU police say they are looking into the allegations after video from WITN and ESPN showed police officers tackling fans, some who were punched when they tried to take the field after the big win over West Virginia.

ECU police chief today said three people were arrested after the game on disorderly conduct charges. Chief Scott Shelton says one of those arrested required treatment at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

Shelton says they continue to review video tape from various sources of what happened, but today the chief could not give a timetable on when their investigation would be complete.

One student who claims to have been beaten by officers after the game tells WITN News that it was four or five Lenoir County deputies who attacked him. That student, who doesn't want to appear on camera because of possible litigation, says at one point he was grabbed on all four limbs and was struck on the shoulder and neck.

ECU Police say there were four other agencies assisting them with security at the game. WITN has made contact with every law enforcement department involved in the game coverage. All the agencies we contacted, except Lenoir County, said it was not one of their officers or deputies involved in punching that fan on the field. When contacted this afternoon, Major Chris Hill with Lenoir County offered "no comment".

Another student tells WITN that as he was attempting to climb the fence onto the field a Greenville police officer charged the fence, pushing him off. Spokesman Corporal Kip Gaskins confirms it was one of their officers seen in that video and there is a departmental investigation underway.

On the video it also shows several officers in gray shirts tackling several other fans. Kinston Public Safety says their officers do wear gray uniform shirts. Spokesman Woody Spencer tells WITN that right now there is an investigation underway whether any of their officers were involved.


Kinston Public Safety Statement:

The Kinston Department of Public Safety has initiated an investigation into the events surrounding the incident involving Law Enforcement Officers that occurred at the completion of the ECU Football Game.

The Kinston Department of Public Safety has provided support to the ECU Police Department for a number of years and has done so without incident. The investigation will be thorough and will include the actions of the Officers and events leading up to the confrontation.

It is the policy of the Kinston Department of Public Safety to investigate officer actions in a fair and responsive manner. The professional conduct of our officers reflects on the entire organization and is held to the highest standard.

Additional information will be released upon completion of the investigation.


PREVIOUS STORY
Students say they watched fellow students get punched, pushed, body-slammed and "clothes-lined" by Law Enforcement.

Video captured by our cameras show several students running passed law enforcement. Then an uniformed officer is shown grabbing a fan, then picked up and slammed to the ground. Two other officers also jumped on top of the fan, holding him down. The video shows an another uniformed officer run over towards the two others.

ESPN also caught the same scene moments later. A different angle shows the same lawmen punching the subject on the ground.

Fans on the field and in the stands say they heard the announcer tell the crowd --to not rush the field, but hundreds still did. We got reaction from ECU students who were there last night.

Tyler Pearce said, "I think the cops kinda took it too far. We just beat a top 10 ranked team and we weren't even up there, so there was a lot of excitement."

Efron Whitehead said, "I really do think they were overreacting, cause the students weren't doing any harm to anybody. They weren't any streakers or any were just all running and celebrations the victory with the team."

Briceson Vann adds, "They were initial doing their job, I'm not going to argue that fact, it just went over the top. Then on top of that we rushed the field anyway, so what was the point in going that far if they let 40 thousand plus on the field." and Timmy Bakes says,

" You never know they could have had good reason to do that, cause they just seemed like they were in a big crowd and they just threw'em down."
More Stories
Former D.C. Mayor Barry Charged With Stalking

Hospital Worker Tests Positive For Swine Flu

Charlotte Habitat Group Buys, Remodels Houses

Sheriff's Office: Fishermen Nab Thieves

 Memorial Parade On Ocracoke Island

Overnight Shooting In Downtown Greenville

OFFICIALS: Husband And Wife Dead After Murder-Suicide

Search For Missing Teen In Pamlico County Waters
Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Robert Hudson Location: Jacksonville. N.C. on Sep 25, 2008 at 06:00 PM
The police officers present more than likely didn't attend college. If they did, they would have had previous exposure to the environment at college football games. Plus, I was present that day. I was present in the Pirate Club section with my nephew. He is a senior at Rocky Mount Senior High. I had no valid explanation to present to him why those students were being treated the way they were. Good people make bad decisions. This cop made a bad decision. But, for him not to be punished for his actions will have a negative impact on the relationship between him and some in the community within Lenoir County. I have read comments where some of you endorse being beaten for running on the field during a game. Running on the field during a game is breaking a rule, not a law.
Posted by: To Native Pirate Location: NC on Sep 18, 2008 at 04:33 AM
I think you are confusing "students" with "fans". Anyway, apparently ECU needs to take those measures too. Remember the big fights we at a Ficklen in the early nineties? The one at the Syracuse game involved about 60 "fans". After that ECU brought in Dept. of Correction busses for transport and holding in case mass arrests were necessary. They parked them right about where the fans jumped the fence at the WVU game, in full view of the fans. Funny thing was, after that no more huge fights erupted. I guess the sight of those DOC busses made people understand ECU was serious. At NCSU they really DO have officers on the field with huge canisters of O.C. and so far it has worked. They also actually enforce alcohol laws in the lots and stadium. Not just ejections for them, you get a citation or arrest too. They solved their problems. The ECU administration needs to grow a spine and solve theirs. We don't want to be second rate to NCSU do we? Well right now, we are.
Posted by: Native Pirate on Sep 17, 2008 at 09:02 PM
NCState has to take those measures. Their student body makes ECU's student body look like little darlins. The adults are worse than the students at state. They are a first class bunch, let me tell'ya.
Posted by: Taon Location: NC on Sep 17, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Yellow tape is a great idea, but to supplement it, I was thinking a fifteen foot brick wall and 100 cops with 10 lb canisters of pepper spray, thousands of disposable handcuffs, Dept. of Correction busses for mass arrests, and a special court set up to try the cases. That's what they do up at NCSU and it has worked there. I don't see why it wouldn't work here, except some "fans" might get "appalled", "nauseated", "shocked", "sickened" and "disgusted". And we couldn't have that now could we. Sorry if came across as rude, which I did, I actually agree with you. Something DOES have to be done.
Posted by: Carmen Location: Stonewall on Sep 17, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Well Talon if good ole common sense didn't work, what is your suggestion? I am thinking that yellow tape would work. Why? It works in kindergarden when a teacher asks you to stay behind the line. So, why wouldn't it work for college students (adults)?? Hmm talon?
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 17, 2008 at 01:30 PM
GREAT IDEA Carmen!! A fence....what's that? Oh, there WAS a fence....OK, but did they have yellow tape? No? Ah HA! Yellow tape, then. That's the answer. That'll be sure to keep them off the field. Thanks Carmen!
Posted by: Clay Location: Jacksonville on Sep 17, 2008 at 12:57 PM
The two things that bothered me about the video was the lack of before and after, all we see is the supposed assult.The other thing that bothered me was the way it looks like the police officers are seeming to pick and choose who to take down, if everyone was told not to rush the field and they do any way they should all be held accountable for their actions.
Posted by: Carmen Location: Stonewall on Sep 17, 2008 at 12:15 PM
What is odd to me is before they said they had NO deputy's out on the field that would not have done such a thing. Now they know one did, and they are not going to do anything about it. Give me a break!!!! The Deputy's training should give them enough sense to know they couldn't have stopped the crowd esp by punching them. They would have had to punch each and everyone. That was not going to happen. Next time, they should have yellow tape, or a fence. Would't that make more sense? Besides everytime they win it happens, the fans rush to the field. No reason to stop it now. This is one of those GIVE ME a break and GIVE it a rest new stories.
Posted by: Jackson Location: kinston on Sep 17, 2008 at 08:58 AM
I think there will be a civil suit that will be settled quickly regarding this matter!
Posted by: jackson Location: kinston on Sep 17, 2008 at 08:55 AM
The next time some of you on this forum speed or run a red light, think about getting dragged out of the car and beaten the way that the student was beaten. Speeding kills more people than celebrating a win on the field. Moral of the story Don't speed in Lenoir County you will be beaten. Is going on the field any more or less of a crime than what that happy student did?
Posted by: DK Location: Greenville on Sep 17, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Im bout tired of the cops coming up here saying that if they didnt rush the field this wouldnt have happened. The cops used unnecessary force. Why couldnt they have just grabbed the kid and told him to go back where he came from? I know why, cause they WANT to use their training in real life situations when they think its ok to. They WANT to use their takedown tactics and tasers and pepper spray. They like these things that have and they want to use them. Just like Marines in Iraq that WANT to kill. They dont want to protect and server. They want to bully and PLAY with their less than lethal toys. No matter how necessary they say it was to use such tactics, they will use them because they WANT to. The guy that got tackled was probably slammed to the ground and landed in an uncomfortable position. If his arm or shoulder is twisted, its just a natural instinct to try to move around so that it dont hurt anymore. So the cop treats him as a resisting criminal and beats on him some more.
Posted by: APC on Sep 17, 2008 at 03:06 AM
It's still corrupt Bob.
Posted by: Bob Location: Winterville on Sep 16, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Anti-Pirate Club: Congratulations, you just described, albeit in a biased/slanted way, the conditions at every Div. 1 school in the country. For your next act, are you going to expose to the world that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor or perhaps that Rosie digs women? Good job there, Scoop.
Posted by: Anti-Pirate Club Location: NC on Sep 16, 2008 at 08:04 PM
A lot of this whining was started by the fat cats in the Pirate Club. I was reading an article in the Daily Reflector about tickets to the NCSU game. ECU students only got 100 tickets out of 4000. Pirate Club got the majority. Apparently the ECU football team is not the student's team, it's a private team for the Pirate's Club. They take up all the parking spots close to the stadium that the students paid for with their parking permit fees, drink liquor in the stadium and parking lots with no police interference and act as if state laws do not apply to them. With people like this setting the example, no wonder the students want to break the rules. The whole thing is corrupt. They say they donate money, but actually they are just buying the team and buying the ability to ignore the law. I wish WITN or somebody would do an in depth investigation and expose these pracices to the general public. They have gotten worse and worse over the years and are now just out of control
Posted by: Cat Location: Gboro on Sep 16, 2008 at 05:53 PM
I agree with Lydia. I believe that the officers that are commenting up here trying to give the "general public" the LE side of the situation should stop. Its useless. Im in LE as well and am guilty of posting comments trying to give these people an idea of what it is like to be in a job where no matter what you do, somebody has got a problem with it. Many people have said that they too know that had some "kid" got trampled, everybody would be whining about why the cops just stood by, and I appreciate the people up here that do get that.Good to know that there are people out there that back us. Thank you. Everybody makes mistakes and bad judgements at times.Was this one of those times? Maybe. Maybe not. This is the last comment Im going to post on this matter. Im not going to continue to support this story when there are more serious ones out there that no one is participating in. G'luck to the rest of the family in blue. Be safe out there.
Posted by: Obama 08 4 Prez! on Sep 16, 2008 at 05:21 PM
LOL@Chris...man you have some pinned up aggression.
Posted by: Sue Location: Greenville on Sep 16, 2008 at 03:54 PM
ECU made an announcement BEFORE the end of the game telling everyone NOT TO RUSH THE FIELD. Every person who didn't listen should have to pay for their actions. Divide the fine by the number of people who rushed the field, and make THEM pay the fine. It's a shame the coaches and the players work so hard to make a good name for the school and the fans give the program a black-eye!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Greenville on Sep 16, 2008 at 03:14 PM
LCSD will hire you Chris.
Posted by: Lydia Location: Jacksonville on Sep 16, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Next time ECU should just handle all the fans by themselves. Let the little b*****ds run all over the field and do whatever they want. Police are law enforcement. They do not "make" the laws, they just enforce them. If you were to told to stay off the field, stay off the field or suffer the consequences. Let all the professors and deans get out there and try to control a "mob." See if they don't yell Help, Police! I am so sick of people doing wrong and then crying to mommy that the bully hurt them. And, unless you were there right next to that fan and heard every word of the altercation, just shut your pie hole. I am sick to death of cry babies wanting to do anything they want and having other people suffer because of it. Obviously this fan should of had his little bottom spanked when he did wrong when he was young because now others have to deal with his disrespect.
Posted by: Whatever! Location: Gville on Sep 16, 2008 at 02:56 PM
A bunch of whining middle class people talking about stuff they KNOW nothing about. The NEXT home football game will be interesting. There may be NO cops at the game for anyone's security. Maybe the FANS won't rush the field either. Lesson learned on BOTH SIDES.
Posted by: Sick of the Whiners Location: Greeenville on Sep 16, 2008 at 02:48 PM
What's really funny here is how none of the 40,000 or so "fans" that rushed the field is offering to pay the $10,000 fine that their school incurred because they can't follow rules. And the next time they do it and the conference revokes their right to host games, those same "fans" will be whining about that.
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 16, 2008 at 02:44 PM
To Lenoir County resident. The negative PR generated will adversely affect your geographical area in many ways. I wouldn't brag too much. The students made a mistake. The officers appeared to not understand their instructions also. I certainly don't want any of LCSD's hometown justice.
Posted by: B Location: Billings on Sep 16, 2008 at 01:52 PM
A few years ago, Dan Rather, the former reporter of CBS News, while leaving work was accosted and beaten within an inch of his life. CBS tried to claim that the incident was a case of "mistaken identity". Many believe differently. They surmise the perpetrator knew who Rather was, and was lying in wait to give him his "just desserts". It would be great to hear that several individuals had managed to get their hands on those jack-booted thugs, passing themselves off as police. Finally, I would love to hear that these people had given the police pigs the "Dan Rather Treatment". This is about the only way to exact justice. They prey on kids and anyone else they feel like bludgeoning or flexing their tin star. It's what they call "Protect and Serve".
Posted by: Chris Location: Greenville on Sep 16, 2008 at 01:28 PM
If I had been an officer on that field, I would have kicked and punched every person I could have gotten within arm and leg length of. They plainly stated not to rush the field. When you don't follow rules, you should be punished. They should have pepper sprayed the whole crowd and arrested every person that rushed the field in my opinion.
Posted by: Lenoir Co. Resident Location: Lenoir County on Sep 16, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Dont rush the field...is it that hard to understand!?!?!?!?!?!
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 16, 2008 at 12:32 PM
To S Prescott. Sorry, but you aren't calling the shots here. As a matter of fact, none of us are. We can blather on and on about how it was wrong, how it was right, how it was the cops fault, or ECU's fault, or the "fans" fault, but it doesn't mean a thing. In situations like this, the politically correct "outrage" of some people has NO bearing on any actions taken or not taken by investigators or department heads. The whining, the "indignation", the people who claim to have been "sickened", "nauseated", "horrified" none of your phoney drama will have any bearing on the investigation. Only the facts will. If you don't agree with the decisions made by those who DO have the authority to make them, then too bad.
Posted by: smb Location: Grimesland on Sep 16, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Why are you blaming ECU? The university didn't beat those kids, it was Kinston and Lenoir officers. And they didn't hide the fact that anything happened. The univerisity has been very vocal about the event and ECU police asked the SBI to investigate. So why you're blaming ECU is beyond me.
Posted by: joe Location: Greenville on Sep 16, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Way to look out for you students ECU! ECU: All the glory, but none of the blame! Would we even have known about this if it hadn't been caught on tape by ESPN? Too bad we haven't seen more footage of the officers comrades "serving and protecting" He was not alone in abusing fans. Too bad the celebration of hometown fans were met by riot control.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Greenville on Sep 16, 2008 at 09:33 AM
I am GLAD no action is being taken. Next time maybe they will act like adults and stay off the field. Those officers were just doing their job. I thing they should have used mace
Posted by: Richard Location: Bertie on Sep 16, 2008 at 09:04 AM
act with decency at a game and noone gets hurt. celebrate with class.
Posted by: S Prescott Location: Bethel on Sep 16, 2008 at 08:52 AM
I think the Lenoir County Deputy should be faced with some kind of disciplinary action.Students were being punched,kicked,and thrown around liked they were not human.Disciplinary action should be done NOW!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: american citizen Location: washington county on Sep 16, 2008 at 08:48 AM
what did the students do so wrong? There a lot of people out there that have done worse, and they get a slap on the wrist, but these students gets thrown on the ground and is treated like pit bulls fighting. The students were attacked and there is no otherway to put it, but no [OFFICER] was charged? Is that crooked or is that crooked?
Posted by: American citizen Location: washington county on Sep 16, 2008 at 08:34 AM
Why aren't any charges being done? If it was a person out of uniform, they would be prosecuted. That is not right. Police can do anything they want and get by with it. I've seen that for myself. I would like to be on the police force for one day. I think it would be more police officers being pulled over, than anyone else. They get by with anything. What they say is always right. I'll judicial system stinks. If you are a police officer, you've got it made. They are not God. It makes me sick to my stomach to know what they get by with, just because they are so called a police officer. They are not perfect.
Posted by: Dustin Location: G-ville on Sep 16, 2008 at 08:02 AM
What goes around comes around. I hope this officer catches the wrong person on the wrong day and catches a beat down like he put on that poor kid. I would love to have three of my friends hold him down while I get a couple of shots in on him. Everyone knew that he was going to get off without reprimand, so no big surprise. Just hope karma catches up to him.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 16, 2008 at 07:51 AM
To the WITN Editor. Is this article coming close to breaking the record for the most number of comments posted? The NCSU game will be interesting. ECU will most likely win (I hope), but either way, lets see what happens after THAT game. I'm betting that the cops there don't let anybody on the field and have pepper spray cannisters the size of fire extinguishers to make sure they don't. Either way, somebody will be unhappy and we can post four or five hundred comments on that article.
Posted by: theinsider Location: Greenville,NC on Sep 16, 2008 at 04:50 AM
Well the cops in this town have always been below par, and morons for that matter. Have any of you been downtown lately? They aren't allowed to beat up crazy idiots coming out of The Phenoix starting riots and ruining the downtown experience in general, but it's ok to beat up football fans. Where is the sense in that? I've seen many a fight break out in other places besides the football field and I've watched watch cops 10 feet away do NOTHING. I've watched guys beat up girls in the middle of 5th Street. I hope these cops are investigated and fined. I hope we get a new police chief in this town, because clearly he's an ignorant buffoon! I hope ECU never hires outside people to take care of fans seeing as we are too hardcore for them to party with. I'm sorry we don't live in Amish country, and that we like to celebrate our victories. I'd really like to see these idiots start taking better care of the people in this town instead of acting like pigheaded, stick carrying, rent-a-cops.
Posted by: SUSAN Location: GREENVILLE on Sep 16, 2008 at 02:14 AM
WHAT PART OF DO NOT GO ON THE FIELD IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND? WHY ALL THE OUTRAGE OVER THE OFFICERS TRYING TO RESTRAIN UNRULY AND UNDISCIPLINED STUDENTS AND FANS- THEY KNEW THE RULES BEFORE HAND BUT YET THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE NO CONSEQUENCES TO THEIR ACTIONS THATS THE PARENTS FAULT FOR NOT TEACHING THAT FOR EVERY ACTION THERE IS A REACTION AND SOMETIMES ITS NOT PLEASANT- AND FOR EVERYONE WHO THINKS THE STUDENTS WERE MANHANDLED JUST OPEN YOUR WALLET AND HELP ECU PAY THE 10,000 FINE AFTER ALL ACCORDING TO YOU THEY ARE ONLY HAVING FUN AND SHOULDNT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND SOME ONE HAS TO PAY Editor: Please do not type in all caps.
Posted by: John Location: Greenville on Sep 16, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Get real. All ECU, the SBI and all the guilty as hell parties are going to just hit the EASY button and take a pass. This can only happen in NC.
Posted by: Smokeeater Location: Washington on Sep 15, 2008 at 10:35 PM
This is the reason I chose to be a paid firefighter/EMT. Where else can you cut holes in houses, tear doors down (if needed), and get a thank you for a job well done.
Posted by: Joe Location: Greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 10:19 PM
To make a comment about Sheriff Billy Smith. In a previous statement you made it clear that your deputies were working for ECU and that they were breifed by ECU about what they were suppose to do in the events that followed the game. ECU said Step back and observe the crowd. Now your saying you will not discipline your deputy because he did what he was trained to do. he was not trained to do that at the football game. You are suppose to look at what he did while working for ECU not at your department. he did not follow what ECU told him to do and for whatever management aid agreement you have with them says they can't do anything so you are suppose to. I want to know how weak your deputies are that several officers were trying to take one yes one college student down and they were unable to that your knight in a brown uniform had to come to the rescue and beat him down. that student couldnt have resisted that much with 3 or 4 people on top of him. RETHINK YOUR TRAINING METHODS
Posted by: a dp Location: greeenville. on Sep 15, 2008 at 09:26 PM
is a joke? this video will teach police how to do their work. o yea. fine training, police officers will get a copy,so they can take home and show to their family. all togheter waching and eating pop corn. title: how to beat the hell of a student. p{perdon me}.my mistake, a criminal. i think police finaly found the place where all the criminals hide. the ecu. stadium. nice work officers,you may get a medal.
Posted by: Melvin Location: WV on Sep 15, 2008 at 09:00 PM
editor please tell me why you never post my comments? several comments are more colorful than mine and yet you post them
Posted by: How do we really know? on Sep 15, 2008 at 08:58 PM
I agree with you "Rules." Do we always believe what the media tells us? Maybe they just tell us what they know but I don't any reports or tv crews were in the meeting where the police officers where told "what to do." How do any of us knows what they were really told in that meeting? I for one don't think any police officer would react with such force if they were told to simply "let the students go for it." Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge. As far as I'm concerned, we weren't in that meeting so we can't say what the police officers where told to do. But this is old news. We need to move on and support the Pirates. Go ECU!
Posted by: Rules on Sep 15, 2008 at 08:43 PM
It's funnyhow everyone here knows the cops were told let them have the field and to stand back. I doubt anyone here was at the meeting.
Posted by: bret on Sep 15, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Well, if it had been me he beat on and nothing was done about it, he would definately see me again.That is a fact!!
Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Sep 15, 2008 at 08:22 PM
See Anonymous, even polar opposites can find common ground from time to time.:)
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 15, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Some of you simply have a closed mind and refuse to listen to facts. The facts are that the deputy used the appropriate amount of force necessary for the level of resistance used by the offender. End of story. You may not like it but those are the facts. The SBI will investigate and they will clear the deputy of any criminal wrongdoing. Again, those are the facts. Just because you are not used to seeing force used, and don't like seeing it, actually means nothing. You are not the courts, not the D.A., not the Chief or Sheriff. I suspect that you are not the majority either. Like it or not, force is used by law enforcement. It has to be used and the courts and legislators have set limits and standards. If an officer/deputy stays within those limits/standards they cannot be prosecuted, convicted or disciplined just because a few members of the public were "appalled", "shocked", "sickened", or "nauseated". Sorry, those are the facts. Choke on 'em.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 15, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Wow VBush. Push the Pres. race aside and I have to agree with you. :)
Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane, NC on Sep 15, 2008 at 06:08 PM
OK, how many of you "AAARRRRRGGHH'S" are willing to help ECU pay the $10,000.00 fine. Like I've said befor "police back off and let them trample each other". Then see who they call upon.
Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Sep 15, 2008 at 05:50 PM
The really sad part about all of you people that are so outraged by the authorities action is......They couldn't win with you no matter what! If they had STOOD ASIDE AND DONE NOTHING, somebody would have gotten seriously hurt and maybe even killed. The you would all be SCREAMING FROM THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN TOP that the cops just stood there and let it happen. Nothing would satisfy you ninnies. Just stay home and watch tv next time.
Posted by: liz Location: greenville,nc on Sep 15, 2008 at 05:21 PM
This is why people don't trust the police now!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: George Location: Greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 04:21 PM
As I said last week, there needs to be a boycott on Lenoir County. Hurt them in the pocketbook! Maybe they will not be able to afford to keep this criminal on the Sheriff's department staff if they have no money to pay him. What a disgrace to an already sorry county! Something stinks about this sheriff, too, and I hope he gets ousted at his next election. And, I would like to see a bucket passed around the stadium to collect money to pay the $10K fine levied against ECU. Pirate fans should be able to celebrate their victories over national powerhouses just like they do when they win big games. And they should be able to do so without police brutality. Plain and simple, if the cops followed their instructions this would not have happened. Same with the fans, but everyone knew that the fans would storm the field and the only people who got hurt were those brutalized by the cops.
Posted by: Freddie Location: Greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Ok, whether you agree or not these are the facts. The football coach at ECU gets paid several million dollars, the police chief gets paid a few thousand dollars. The coaches job is to win a game. The police chiefs job is to save lives, stop robberies, stop rape, murder and vandalism. Protect the students and faculty. So clearly ECU has tasted the kool-aid. Win the game at any cost, pretend to care about the safety of others.
Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Sep 15, 2008 at 04:01 PM
It's simple, don't fight with the cops. Don't do what you were told NOT to do. If you choose to disregard rules/instructions, then don't be surprised when you are subdued with VIGOR! Anarchists will always whine when subdued.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 15, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Craig, you sure got that one right. Rev. AL and Rev. Jesse would have been fighting for time in front of the camera. Butas I said in another post, Double Standard for whites and blacks. Whites arent federally protected.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 15, 2008 at 03:31 PM
AAARRRRRGGHH! That's a chest full of malarkey.
Posted by: Billy Location: Washington on Sep 15, 2008 at 03:23 PM
WOW....I see I need to stay out of Lenoir Co.....This is a disgrace!!!!! What happened to "to serve and to protect"...I would sue the hell out of him if it was me!
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 03:17 PM
4 officers v/s 1 "kid" as labeled. It took 4 officers with force? Training? What training? Are LCSD trained to disobey orders? So, an officer disobeys an order, hits a college student repeatedly while the young man is down and it's in his training? Everyone knew there would be no accountability.
Posted by: Craig Location: G-Vegas on Sep 15, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Well another prime example of the police beating a white kid and getting off free as a bird. Had this student been black, the whole NAACP, ACLU, and the rest of those who like to protest would have been here in 30 mins. As for you "The Kid" how do you know that the student was drunk? People that don't have a clue as to what they are talking about? Jackie!!!
Posted by: js Location: raleigh on Sep 15, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Sorry state of affairs, the deputy acted OUTSIDE of his training when he slammed the student to the ground. Was the deputy in danger? NO! so why is he being allowed to be let off scot free while the student will probably get some charges filed. Just another case the "Good Ole Boys" and their stupid ways of enforcing the law. I hope that they do not work any other special events, they will probably shoot someone next for yelling at them
Posted by: ncboman Location: out behind the barn on Sep 15, 2008 at 02:39 PM
The Police own us and we can do nothing about it. Sad but true.
Posted by: Outraged In Ayden Location: Ayden on Sep 15, 2008 at 02:29 PM
How ridiculous is this crap??? That officer wasn't told to beat the daylights out of anyone...let alone do it on film. The young man who was injured should take a tape to court and let an IMPARTIAL jury decide what was the officer's real intention.
Posted by: The kid Location: Greenville-ecu on Sep 15, 2008 at 02:28 PM
As a current law student, I can say that the cop was right in using force to subdue this drunk student.This student became uncooperative and therefore force was used, cut and dry. So those who dont have a clue what they are talking about, cause you dont know the full story, get a life, or a hobby.............
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 15, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Grow up and do as you are told. You were told not to go on the field. End of story.
Posted by: Chris Location: Gville on Sep 15, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Since when did beating the crap out of somebody become a part of police training? Well said S.
Posted by: Sarah Location: Goldsboro on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:52 PM
FIRE HIM>>> I have found that MOST.. I repeat MOST>> NOT ALL are people that were bullied as kids.. and just want to "get back".. so they do so by being -big guy with the badge.. that is beyond the law.. Pathetic... Bet the officer barely got out of High School.. and jealous of College life he .. calls them PREPS.. ANGER HIDDEN..
Posted by: KAT Location: Washington on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:51 PM
S - two words - well said.
Posted by: am ecu mom on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:46 PM
This seems on the brink of insanity. Since when is it ok to beat someone on national tv and get a way with it???? I am going to talk with my daughter, and have her transfer where students are treated with respect and in a safe environment. I hope ECU soesn't have any more law enforcement except their own on campus/ Maybe students need to carry weapons to protect themselves.
Posted by: k Location: eastern nc on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Since the deputy won't be charged does this mean that the man who was beaten up can file a lawsuit now? I hope so.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The sheriff said the deputy would not be disciplined. It will be up to the D.A. to decide whether or not to bring charges.
Posted by: Phillip Location: Mt.Olive on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Guess mommy and daddy couldnt fix the problem this time. I guess its just time to grow up and follow the rules like eveyone else. If the students where not on the field (as they where told) they wouldnt have to worry about any of this.
Posted by: Lee Location: ECU on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Well, who didn't see that coming. No surprise, really.
Posted by: T Location: Washington on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:16 PM
You have got to be kidding me!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: S Location: Buck on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:00 PM
It's of no consequence to have the police investigating this matter. I'm sure you've heard of the fox guarding the hen house...This is another example of "America's Finest". I'm an old man now, and I guess my opinion is irrelevant. I am a UNC Graduate, and I have a son who graduated from ECU. My point is: I love ECU and its students. They should be allowed to celebrate a great football victory without reprisals from a few gun-toting, stick-whirling, goose-steppin, schutzstaffel-like classless dirtbags. The longer I live, the more I am convinced the police can do just about what they please, and we as citizens have little recourse. I don't expect you to approve this commentary. It seems that most organizations have a love affair with our rendition of "our gestapo", even when they smell to high heaven.
Posted by: Gabby Location: Kinston on Sep 15, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I am a new ECU student, but I do know that the fans had every intention of victory celebration, not violence. The poor young man "being subdued" seemed like a nonissue while masses rushed past them on the field. Why did the officer take out his frustrations on the one fan? It certainly didn't make him look like a professional with intentions of upholding the law to me. Law officers had been told that if the crowd had shown signs of overwhelming them, to step back. NOT BEAT UP a fan as an example. I don't care that it was to "disable him," on film, it appeared he was brutally beating a helpless young man. He could have been subdued with cuffs, or with two officers restraining him without the beating. Coward officer! How proud you must feel.
Posted by: duanel Location: kinston on Sep 15, 2008 at 12:39 PM
isnt it amazing like you see a sherrif car or state trooper whizzing by you at 70mph in a 55mph zone with no lights or siren "they were doing their job" yeah right the same thing with the excessive force we saw at ecu give me a break with all this "their doing their job and they were trained for it" sorry dont go there with me
Posted by: krh Location: Greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I have enjoyed attending ECU games since we moved to NC several years ago, the fan support is awesome. As a parent of college students who attend the games as well we consider it a family event like many others. As adults and parents we need to set an example to support authority and policy. We sit near the student section and the number of mini bottles on the ground after the games is unreal, if it takes longer to get into the game because of taking the additional time to check out attendees, then maybe that would help---and like we all know, it isn't just the students. We need tougher enforcement...no matter who it is walking in the gate. Police can't do it all,and shouldn't be expected to. The fans have to help. I would rather see some drunk ticked off because they were thrown out of a game than to get behind the wheel after the game...with the possibility of a worse headline. Have fun, show your support...but be responsible.
Posted by: Cat Location: Gboro on Sep 15, 2008 at 12:04 PM
FED UP needs to run for sheriff or chief of police or something! He said it all and speaking of people not knowing what the officers were told prior to the game, from what i understand they were instructed to make an example out of a few if they charged the field in attempt to discourage others from doing the same. That came from guys that were there from 2 different agencies. Maybe thats true. Maybe not. Goes back to nobody really knows. Not any of us anyway. How long has this story been going on now?? Isn't there a story about a murder or something like that? Eh, i guess thats not as severe as a cop using force.
Posted by: Dk Location: Greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 11:49 AM
So the unnamed cop was trained to disobey the rules set by ECU to just be visible? Of coarse he wont be disciplined. Cops stick together when one of them do wrong. Sick.
Posted by: DK Location: Greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Why wont they release the officers name? They dont hesitate to release a civilians name in a similar situation.
Posted by: Pirate Fan Location: Greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Yes the fan was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But he should have been body slammed and beat several times with an open fist while being held down by other officers or should I say other wrongfully employed individuals, fire thenm all so that they could get a job in Greenville. Our police chief would hire them. They can run around attacking students downtown, but at least there will be a some officers downtown look for a fight not a free meal or a free drink from restaurants
Posted by: punks Location: greenville on Sep 15, 2008 at 04:39 AM
I agrea/pirate fan blaaa bllaaaa blaaa ok slap the handcuffs on and be done with it but sorry to tell ya most people you slap the handcuffs on resist so what do you do then hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... you have never worked in the low end communitys and you have no idea what you would do we dont take it out their and just because spoiled kidds what to act a foil and dis obay law enforcement officers because their mommys and dadys will get them out of it by complaining on officers for doing thier jobs, not going to happen you elbow me or resist ha good job guys, but next time use whats on your belt so the richy rich cant say you were to ruff with their little babies hahahahahahaahahahahah
Posted by: Bottom Line Location: Greenville on Sep 14, 2008 at 02:00 PM
(cont) then what we are involved in to make us feel better. IE. Cops should get murderers, rapist and drug dealers instead of "insert what ever you want" to justify your point and minimize what you do. underage drink, run on the field, speed, whatever it is. That's just my take and I am sure I will get blasted for it but if you look at yourself you'll see that what we ALL do as a society. This is the I don't do wrong and blame someone else era. Shame on all of us!
Posted by: Bottom Line Location: Greenville on Sep 14, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Here is the bottom line...People want police but don't want to know what they do or how they do it. Normal people want people arrested that break the law BUT they don't want to know or see how they do it when the suspect resist. So when it is seen people are appalled. Not just this situation. Those are just the facts. The question brought up that why would you stop a few if the rest broke through and got on the field. Why do police stop people speeding? They don't catch everyone of them on the road so why do it then? Because speeding is connected to automobile accidents and deaths thats why. Lawmakers is reactive not proactive. C-USA adopted that rule for a reason something has occured somewhere else that we don't know and they said well it happened there, let's not let it happen in our conference. Reactive. To the ones that say they should be out catching murderers and druggies, the officers are working on their day off but we as a society like to talk about worse things (Cont)
Posted by: Just wondering Location: gville on Sep 14, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Did anyone see the 6pm on WITN were they inverviewed the individual that was pushed by the officer on the fence line? They even reported before it aired that the officer just charged the crowd and hit someone but the individual stated that he was climbing over the fence when the officer charged the fence and shoved him back over, and for the people that say others were on the field why pick on that guy, listen to the reporter closely when he states that the officer shoved him back over the fence "minutes before" the crowd rushed the field. The individual also stated that it was not a big deal that it was a little push and it did not ruin his experience at the game. That isn't hearsay it's right from the person that was pushed by the officer. I just thought it was interesting. It just makes me think I would like to hear from the other individuals before I make a judgment but as far as that officer's involvement it's appears that he was well with in his rights and instructions.
Posted by: Mike Location: Washington on Sep 14, 2008 at 10:46 AM
@Gary The bottom line covering the person getting punched belongs to ESPN not WITN. The video was likely taken from ESPN's on air broadcast and zoomed in. You obviously did not look very closely.
Posted by: Kay Location: Greenville, NC on Sep 14, 2008 at 02:56 AM
Again, enough!!! It has been determined by ECU and the police that some individual police were not acting in accordance with their directions. Ok, we get that. We also get that the fans did not follow directions and it has cost ECU dearly. Let the investigation continue without pointing any more fingers. Let's not do anything that will jeopardize what our players are working so hard to accomplish. Let's give ECU a chance to make the changes they feel they need to do to make everyone happy and safe. But it seems to me that alot of the people commenting about the police are trying to pit the police against each other. That is not in the best interest for anyone. Let them sort it out among themselves and they will. Sometimes things are not always what they appear. Let's keep the glass half full and not half empty !!!!!!!
Posted by: Insider Location: Greenville on Sep 13, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Funny thing is, you have cops on here defending the "cops", but the officers I have talked to ALL say that those dudes screwed up. I'll bet if we knew these cops posting here, they would tell us the same thing that officer's have personally told me.
Posted by: Kay Location: Greenville NC on Sep 13, 2008 at 07:04 PM
And, by the way, the attacks on WITN TV is again way out of line. This station is first class and spend many, many hours and money so you can see all the sports programs in this area, whether it be college or high school. So, please take your attitudes somewhere else.
Posted by: Kay Location: Greenville NC on Sep 13, 2008 at 06:46 PM
How long are you negative people going to keep this up. Yes, ECU has to review things and they will. Instead of pointing fingers, do something positive. Because of the Pirate Club, they help with the program, help wih scholarships for the players and help all of us enjoy them. If I could afford to join I would but because of them I get to enjoy all the games. Why don't you negative people join and help our guys with their education. AND,THE PIRATES DID IT AGAIN 3-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: I agree/pirate fan on Sep 13, 2008 at 06:19 PM
I just read the last comment, and as tailgating goes, people drink. IF they are so drunk, they should not be allowed into the game..and locked up until sober. I was in co.llege, and we would drink a little before the game...but wanted to watch, so waited until it was over to go out and celebrated there was no reason, however to beat people on the field, if need be, hand cuff and take away. It is sad all around on what happened...hope everything can be resolve..and not have this happen again.
Posted by: Gary Location: Winterville on Sep 13, 2008 at 05:37 PM
I'm glad ECU got fined 10K by Conference USA. Maybe if they had not tried to crucify the law enforcement before finding out all the details, and WITN wasn't just playing the clips of the "force" as it happened instead of showing the whole incident karma wouldn't have bit them. Funny how WITN covers up with their bottom line the person being struck by the Lenoir Deputy. Maybe if they removed it, it would show the student resisting arrest and the deputy striking him in the leg, so they could get him handcuffed.
Posted by: Former Campus LEO Location: NC on Sep 13, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Let's talk some more about alcohol consumtion before and during the football games. When I worked at ECU I've seen people vomiting over the railing, urinating in the stands, using foul language at visitors, fighting, throwing bottles at random into the crowd, hitting a toddler, a mentally retarded child, and various innocent bystanders. I've seen a people seriously injured in falls and fights, one finger torn off, people treated for severe intoxication almost to the point of death, fans almost crushed when gates were rushed, and thousands of other examples of drunk behavior. Enough is enough. Alcohol is banned in the stadium. Start strictly enforcing the laws. Enforce the laws in the parking lots too, and I mean ALL the lots and ALL areas of the stadiums. Pirates Club Members start setting an example for the kids and leave your booze at home. Let's not wait until someone dies, as happened at NSCU. All of these problems stem from alcohol consumption. Stop ignoring this problem.
Posted by: Kay Location: Greenville, NC on Sep 13, 2008 at 01:48 PM
ENOUGH!!!! Today ECU plays Tulane so let's give them all our support and let them know we are proud of them. Thank you to the best football players. We have a very good and smart staff at ECU and they are and will sort all of this out to be fair to everyone. If they made any mistakes, they will correct them. But, in the future, let's follow the rules and then all of us can enjoy the game. GO PIRATES!!!!
Posted by: KAT Location: Washington on Sep 13, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Not posing man, just honest. I've given my credentials, what are yours? It's easy to sit behind a computer and act like you're somebody. Put up or shut up. Aren't we getting a little off the subject here?

Editor's Note: Posted this one but let's stay on topic from this point forward.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Talon on Sep 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I just like to expose posers. Answer the questions?
Posted by: Kat Location: Washington on Sep 13, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Talon, getting under your skin huh?
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 13, 2008 at 10:05 AM
I noticed that KAT has a tendency to call male LEO's "honey" and "sweetheart". Does anybody else find that disturbing, or is it just me. I wonder if KAT's wife finds it even more disturbing. Kat also said that he or she had worked with the Beaufort Co. Sheriff's Office and then said that he or she had not. Seems to me that somebody is lying. KAT which FBI Academy did you attend, Quantico, Va. or Glenco Ga.? How long were you there? Who was the S.A.C. in charge of the whichever one you attended?
Posted by: Leigh Location: Williamston on Sep 13, 2008 at 07:52 AM
What' done is done. I think all the Pirate fans, whether you stormed on the field or not, should donate $1 in order to pay the fine that ECU has been penalized with. That would show our spirit and regrets. End of story!!!
Posted by: Former Campus LEO on Sep 13, 2008 at 06:40 AM
Rattler, In the Conference probably none, since the rule was just passed in June. I doubt that ECU "requested" that they be sanctioned. ECU has NOT done all it can do to provide a safe environment. Law enforcement officers working the game HAVE done all that they were ALLOWED to do, but ECU has historically encouraged alcohol consumption in the parking lots prior to the games. A zero tolerence policy on alcohol in the lots, in the Pirate Club Section and an arrests for anyone acting in a disorderly manner would help. Also, cut the double standard and enforce alcohol laws and regulations equally, not just in the public and nonstudent sections of the stadium. You NEVER see a cop in the Pirate Club sections or parking lots. Assign officers there and give them extra ticket books and handcuffs. It required a murder in a football parking lot to wake up NSCU and they responded. Let's be proactive at ECU. It is possible to enjoy a game without drinking alcohol. STOP THE DRINKING!
Posted by: Rattler Location: Washington, NC on Sep 13, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Ok children, we have enough lipstick on this pig. My concern is this $10,000 fine and the SBI entering the fray. How many other programs have been assessed this fine in the last five years? Could it be the administrators at ECU "requested" the assessment as some kind of pre litagation smoke screen? We did all we could to provide a safe environment for our fans and now we have to pay! And now because knowone has the guts to call a spade, a spade, let's defer the tough decisions to the SBI. That makes perfect political sence, everyone envolved can blame the boys from Raleigh if a decision is not popular. Local Law Enforcement can breath a collective sigh of relief.
Posted by: Kat Location: Washington on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:50 PM
One more thing before bed, I have never been paid one cent for anything I might have helped any law enforcement agency with. I do it as a professional courtesy because I am retired. Besides, everybody has an opinion, we don't all have to agree.
Posted by: Kat Location: Washington on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:45 PM
This is becoming an obsession for some of us. Never had the pleasure of working with Sheriff Jordan. Know him, like him. No forensic tricks needed. Don't know what you are referring to. Maybe you are underinformed. As far as who I am Talon, KAT are my initals. Don't try to grow a brain now.
Posted by: Mr. Lee Location: Buffalo City, NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Kat, Glad you had fun working at the Sheriff’s Dept. in Beaufort County. So, you think those deputies are not that bright. HMMMM… Why don’t you tell Sheriff Jordan that the next time you’re doing forensic psychology tricks at HIS Sheriff’s Dept.
Posted by: bb Location: greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:00 PM
TO FED UP....its not about believeing everything you hear about the "briefing". I was IN the briefing. I KNOW what was said and what was expected of the officers.
Posted by: duanel Location: kinston on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:54 PM
I dont understand the battering going on here but both parties were at fault but only a few so called cops went overboard and should be punished I can understand adrenelin played a big part but I also know from personal family some are just plain "gung-ho" end of story
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Kat, I hope you aren't Leon. I'd really be disappointed in you if you were.
Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane, NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:46 PM
I have learned one thing from the posted comments "ECU fans and students feel above the law". Kat, If I were one of the officers I would have stood back and watched. Once the fans had trampled a few fans to death, I wonder who they would have blamed for those deaths. Hent, the police.
Posted by: tricky Location: winterville on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:24 PM
My hat is off to all Depurty sheriffs i was one for two years. You see so much death and violence so much that the normal person i dont know maybe Club members at ECU would break down and hide but yall put your uniforms on every day and potect us the calls yall get wow.
Posted by: Kat Location: Washington on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:20 PM
My wife's 2 cents worth...She loves the BC Sheriff's Dept. Apparenty not enough said after all. I'm finished on here. It has kept me away from my noble profession long enough. And for what?
Posted by: Kat Location: Washington on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Talon, you sound so jealous. Don't be....there is always a place for the flunkouts of society. It's called fast food.
Posted by: Kat Location: Washington on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Can you folks read? Never said I was an agent. You don't have to work for the FBI after graduation from the Academy. My work and education was in forensic psychology until I chose a more noble profession. An Anon, you sound jealous. Maybe you flunked out of BLET. I have always hated people who have abused their actual or perceived power. I do believe this is what happened at the game. Why would 50 officers try to keep 40,000 from rushing the field? Common sense should have told them that was impossible. So what did they resort to, the basest form of retaliation, fighting. Wonder if any of those officers have bachelor's or master's. It's easy to armchair quarterback like we are all doing. Let well enough alone. Doubt ECU will make that mistake again. I won't sit here and down them, it's one of my alma maters. I have seen worse at Carolina and Georgia, also my alma mater's. Take that Anon. Get a job buddy and stop hating people who are better off than you. Enough said.
Posted by: Deputy Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Kat...First I am not your "sweetheart." Number two, blet and the FBI are to different things. I really do think it is great that you completed that in 1988. When you say, "Every beer-bellied redneck with this certificate winds up being in the Sheriff's Dept." that would include the beaufort county and all 99 other county sheriff departments in nc. So you were talking about them. That is what you said below. I am sure that if you would like to help with security at the next game they will be glad to have you. I do known other agents who have assisted in the past at the games. Last I do have a bachelor's degree I just dont care about doing everthing just right for you and others on here.
Posted by: concerned Location: swansboro on Sep 12, 2008 at 06:20 PM
It concerns me that there was an agreement not to file chrages against excessive force by police. Kind of says go get em boys!!!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Talon on Sep 12, 2008 at 06:11 PM
KAT went to the FBI Academy!!!! Now that's FUNNY I don't care who you are. KAT at least you didn't go all the way and lie about being an FBI agent. That's a violation of federal law by the way. Anyway, if you attended the FBI academy, I'm a graduate of the University of Middle Earth located in Gondor. FBI Academy, that's cracking me up.
Posted by: Deborah Location: Baker on Sep 12, 2008 at 05:53 PM
It was dsgusting to watch uniformed police officers slamming students to the ground and then beating them. That officer should be fired and charged. He is not above the law. Then the other officer ran into the stands and attacked a person. What could someone say to justify that. All I can say is that I am dissappointed in the caliber of men hired as police officer.... to serve and protect?
Posted by: To Kat Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Let me set the record straight for YOU: I know quite a few deputies and police officers with bachelor's degrees and a few that either have or are working on their master's degree. Education is one thing, but the self-sacrifice and bravery that these men and women have is something that can't be taught. Your stereotype of officers shows your ignorance--perhaps if you actually got to know a few officers or spoke to them away from work, you'd find out that they are educated in many different ways and have accomplished many different things. Don't make judgements until you walk in their shoes.
Posted by: Kat Location: Washington on Sep 12, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Try FBI Academy, 1988 sweetheart. Now throw that BLET at me again. I didn't say I had a problem with the beaufort co sheriff, worked with them often, not beer-bellied, but not bright either. I didn't say anything about the crowd, they are morons too. I just hate when a low paid public servant tries to "break bad."
Posted by: SBK Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 04:30 PM
OK, I want everybody to put your head down on your desk and let's see who can be the quietest longest. Pretty please? After nap time we'll have milk and cookies.
Posted by: carbine Location: greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 04:27 PM
while I don't approve of some of the action's by law enforcement officer's the students involved should listen to the authorities about after game activities, the best way to stop a stampede is before it starts, if students was to have more pride in their team and themselves they wouldn't commit such anti social behavior, I guess you can always blame it on alcholic beverages, or the way they were brought up
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Talon on Sep 12, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Yeah right Dwayne. It was E.C.U.'s fault for not telling the fans not to go on the field. But they DID Dwayne, they did. The announcer told the crowd over the P.A. The cops standing on the field was a clear sign that, NO you can't come on the field. How about the fence. Was it there for decoration. To summarize: If you are ever again in a place where a 50 decible P.A. system is blaring, "Do NOT GO ON THE FIELD, STAY OFF OF THE FIELD", and there is a fence and there are fifty LEO officers staring you down on the other side of the fence, then maybe you shouldn't jump over the fence. The LEO's either have been or will be cleared of any wrong doing. They, or at least some of them, tried to prevent this and you members of the so called "pirate nation" attacked like a pack of jackals and tried to lynch them. Well, and you'll never admit this because you are unable to take responsibility for your actions, you were WRONG. You stained a great football victory forever.
Posted by: Concerned Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Now everyone needs to have a group hug and make up. Its over and done with and tjis is ridiculous, grown people that dont even know each other calling each other names like kids on the playground. HEY, READ THE RULES!
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Conference USA's decision to fine ECU appears appropriate with the policy change. I doubt a majority of the people in attendance were aware of the policy. It should be ECU's responsibility to educate people regarding Conference policies. I don't believe Pirate fans would do anything to hurt the team or school. Regarding the officers at the game; I saw the majority exercising professional restraint. The ones involved in hitting/throwing persons are reportedly subject only to their department's investigative conclusions and resulting decisions. It is what it is.
Posted by: Deputy Location: greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 02:00 PM
"Kat" tell me if you are so smart how do you known who I am or what i do? Here is a clue for you I dont have a beer-belly. Also if you are so smart why dont you go and sign up for BLET and come show us how you would handle 40500 when there is 50 of you. Thanks for your support and I am sure that beaufort county is glad to hear what you think of them and there education.
Posted by: Deputy Location: greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Dwayne, Never said I was an english major...haha. What's your opinion on the 10k fine?
Posted by: Kat Location: Washington on Sep 12, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Let me set the record straight for all of you. Being a deputy requires very, very little education, a certificate, not even a two-year degree. Every beer-bellied redneck with this certificate winds up being in the Sheriff's Dept. How much education does it take to make less than $35k a year and put your life on the line? Obviously, not very much. So Deputy, get an education honey so next time you post, your utter lack of education will not be so laughable or obvious.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I LOVE to say I told you so.
Posted by: Too Funny! Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Way to go students! You just cost your university $10K Keep on "celebrating" so we don't have to hear any more drivel about how mean all the police officers that WERE DOING THEIR JOBS are! They'll just quit having home games then
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Thanks Deputy. Your verbatim speaks for itself. Glad to hear about all of your education.
Posted by: Truth Location: Greenville, Kinston on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Geesh, they sure do know how to lie. They can't say they don't know which cop did what. There were people who live in kinston there, and know the faces and names of the cops who did the hitting. We have eyes. This is such bull. Come on Kinston stand up and be a man for once. Why are you cowards?? As far as the fans go, I guess its hard to grow up when you are having fun all the time, but in future games, lets hope they grow up a bit before attending.
Posted by: Deputy Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Dwayne, So you agree these are not kids? Unless you have been trained in "Law Enforcement" and managing large groups of people then your opinion can say if the law enforcement was right that day. That would be like me telling someone when to see the stocks on wall street. BTY... Saying someone is uneducated is not name calling it is speaking opinion about a matter that "I am educated in!" Thanks for you consideration in the matter. O yes one last think Dwayne you just violated that law shows you education in the matter.
Posted by: lavon Location: kinston on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I think all this is kind of funny, I bet you any amount of money that those students will sit their butts in those stands the next time they have a football game LOL!!!!!
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Easy to hide behind a keyboard too isn't it Dwayne. Oh by the way, did ya'll see the newest report on WITN's homepage about the sanctions against ECU because of the FAN'S behavior in rushing the field. That would be the FAN'S behavior, not the deputies/officers behavior. The "fans". The drunken losers that precipiated this whole mess. The officers were trying to prevent this from happening and the fine citizens of this area have all but lynched them. Oh well, every dog has his day. Cops - Cleared Fans - sanctioned. End of story. I've got to say, justice really IS sweet. So go ahead and write your insults, and distortions, and false accusations and lies. Time really does tell.
Posted by: $10K Location: Kinston on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:16 PM
HA!! HA!! Where are all of you at now? Fined $10,000 and possibly loose the chance to host the Championship for doing what you call "nothing wrong." How ironic that the KDPS and LCSO are the ONLY agencies who did what Conference USA (and all the other conferences) expects. I guess all of you will say that they are wrong, too. But I bet we don't see any fans runnng on the field next time. And if they do, I bet they are taken into custody, if ECU, PCC, and PCMH police can even find thier handcuffs. I am glad that Conference USA has stepped up and done the right thing!! Maybe this will finally stop all the absurd comments from all of you who don't have a clue about law enforcement.
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Looks like someone touched a nerve with "Deputy". Accusing people of being "uneducated" when they have a difference of opinion. Case in point: when confronted, deputy resorts to name calling. Would he hit me if I weren't behind the keyboard? Easy to hide behind the badge.
Posted by: greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Glad I live in G'ville with GPD protection, not Kinston with LCSO and Kinston PD.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 11:45 AM
To ???, A FENCE. Now why didn't they think of that.....oh, there was a fence. A short little four foot fence, but a fence nonetheless. Maybe they should put up a 15 brick wall topped with razor ribbon and broken glass. All this will blow over anyway. Skip Holtz will be recruited to a school with some class next year and ECU will go back to the old 2 and 8 seasons and nobody will want to rush the field. Too bad. If the fans would show a little class maybe ECU could hold on to a coach of his caliber.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 11:39 AM
JT is appalled, Rob can't spell and Pirate girl thinks that nobody drinks in stadium at football games. I just love ECU fans. Why would we want to give all this up, Dave? Seriously though, I was just telling two Pirate Club members while ago, that I haven't been able to stop crying since Saturday. Ohhhh the trauma...........
Posted by: Joe on Sep 12, 2008 at 11:29 AM
WVU fans have no reason to throw stones for this issue. There fans behavior is well documented.
Posted by: Geez Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Of course Kinston will sweep all this under the rug. Just another incident of law enforcement gone bad. What makes them think they're so almighty????
Posted by: PirateGirl Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:50 AM
To: People who don't know what the F they are talking about. First, you cant drink inside of the stadium. People drink at tailgating. Second, LCSP and KPD and most small city cops are nothing but a bunch of rednecks. I know lots of them. I went to high school with alot of them. I also know that not too long ago many LCSD were suspended for providing alcohol to underage kids. Hypocrits if you ask me. They think they are above the law.
Posted by: Rob Location: wilmington on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:40 AM
as an ECU alum, and pirate club member, and ecu vs wvu attendee i agree with JT and also can not believe people are defending the police here. at college sporting events in big time upsets FANS WILL STORM THE FIELDS, it is not about "Being drunk" it is about celebrating with your school/team. the police where wrong they were not prepared and deserve to be punished for it. To pick RANDOM people and beat punch and throw down while hundreds more rush past is OBSURD. POLICE were wrong and need to be held accountable. This is a disgrace to our culture and to college athletics. Do these people never watch collegiate basketball or football, people rush the field dozens of times every year and dont get assaulted for no reason, thanks for your time.
Posted by: Dave Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:38 AM
WOW 6 days and you people still can't give this topic up.
Posted by: JT Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:25 AM
As an ECU alumnus, current ECU graduate student, and current ECU staff member, I'm appalled at this entire situation. Although I agree the students did not follow the instructions to not enter the field, likely do to alcohol or just plain excitement, that should not permit law enforcement officers to hand-pick certain students to physically assault while others run by them onto the field. It's one thing to detain, hold captive, or disarm. I think it's quite another to punch someone while they're defenseless and/or throw someone face-first into the ground while their hands are handcuffed behind their backs. From what I've seen, heard, and read so far: 1) ECU Police aren't doing anything, 2) Kinston/Lenoir County didn't get any official complaints so they're not doing anything, 2) ECU, ECU Athletics, the Student Pirate Club, and the Student Government Association aren't doing anything. Where's the accountability (on both sides)?!
Posted by: EC10RET Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Dwayne, calm down. It was a Lenoir County Deputy that hit the man on his leg, not KPD. By the way, strikes to the side of the leg are SOP for that level of resistance. Maybe next time the cops should should just pinch the out of control fans on the arm, or maybe just give them big old wet kiss them on the cheek. That'd keep 'em off the field.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 09:44 AM
If going on the field is that big of a deal, just put a fence up between the fans and the players.I mean this happens all of the time at sporting events, especially when the fans are drunk. And you know what, i'm sure they felt pretty sure it was going to happen here or all those officers would not have been placed there to begin with.Or better yet, just televise the game and dont have any fans there in person.Like that will ever happen. Too much money involved.IF YOU LET PEOPLE COME AND GET DRUNK, GUESS WHAT? THEY ARE GOING TO ACT LIKE DRUNKS!
Posted by: UNC fan on Sep 12, 2008 at 09:13 AM
How about those TAR HEELS!!!! :)
Posted by: Deputy Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:58 AM
These students ARE NOT KIDS. They are 95% at or over the age of 18. BY law that makes the adults or atleast legal to act like one if they can! It seen that they cant and also have a hearing problem. The part where they cant act like an adult will be solved with police interaction as what happen on saturday. I am sure those who were arrested will not forget that leason learned. Number two problem of hearing could be solved by them sitting in the seat that were given on the ecu game ticket they had to get in with and, not standing under the score board. See now problem solved and we can move on to bigger and better things in the world other than you oppinion which you are not educated on ie: being a cop!
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Video with use of closed fist? It's offensive that LCSD will walk away from this incident without accountability. It is offensive, but not unexpected. It has become commonplace for law officials to get away with innapropriate conduct unless a particular person(s) are being used as scapegoats.
Posted by: Deputy Location: greenville on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:39 AM
eyewitness.... the annoucer is with one of the supervising officers for ecu in the press box. SO He is an offical by default because he has a ecu cop standing right beside him telling him to say "DONT GO ON THE FEAKING FEILD!" IF THEY WANTED ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ON THE FEILD THEY WOULD HAVE MADE THE ANNOUCMENT " FANS COME AND JOIN THE COACH AND TEAM ON THE FEILD! I never heard that annoucment over the speaker while I was standing by my seat as directed at the game.
Posted by: Wondering Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 06:48 AM
To James, by the way, WWE is World Wrestling Entertainment.You sound as if you may be one of those officers with a attitude calling someone you dont even know stupid just because you may not agree with thier opinion.Also Im sure you dont get to see very many attitudes since it is a well known fact that police officers look out for each other on and off duty.
Posted by: Tad Location: Jamesville on Sep 12, 2008 at 03:26 AM
Can we move on? This story is old already.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 12, 2008 at 03:09 AM
Pirate, you must not have flunked out of BLET or either you've been out of it so long you've forgotten the use of force section, or maybe you'r just lying. Knowing the name Brady doesn't make you a BLET grad. Your post was inaccurate and misleading and designed to support your opinion instead of the facts. If you are law enforcement, you shouldn't be. If you "were" law enforcement good riddance. Gee I wish you had been out on the field so none this ever would have happened. Oh yeah, you are saying that an officer is NOT allowed to use what ever force is necessary? Now I'm sure Brady flunked you out. Quit whining and go do your nails.
Posted by: Wondering Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 10:18 PM
To James, read more carefully, I said some, NOT ALL
Posted by: James Location: Greenville on Sep 11, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Wondering: Well I don't have a shaved head, nor do I have tattoos and "so forth" and guess what I'm a Police Officer. See what happens when you stereotype people. What is the WWE anyway? You look stupid.
Posted by: sick of ecu Location: maysville on Sep 11, 2008 at 09:10 PM
ECU is nothing more than a party school and will never be nothing more than a party school. How can you expect any other behavior when you add alcohol and stupidity.My appologies to the parents who sent their children there hope your money was not wasted.The officers attacks were uncalled for and they should be punished for it.
Posted by: Suzanne Location: Greenville on Sep 11, 2008 at 08:16 PM
This whole thing is very disturbing. Not for the fact that the officers did what they did, but because they did what the ECU Police Chief told them to do...and now he seems to have a memory loss of that. It is so sad that the officers follow a command decision and then when the crap hits the fan, the officers are left on their own. The video doesnt depict the entire truth of what happened either, but the officers have been told not to talk about it so unless you saw it, you may never know what led to this incident. All I can say is I hope each officer the best and these ECU students that couldnt seem to follow simple instruction not to rush the field...next time you may listen.
Posted by: Wondering Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 08:04 PM
I have to ask this question while on the subject of police officers.Why is it that a lot ( but not all) officers seem to want to look like something right straight off of the WWE.I mean whats up with all of the shaved heads,tattoos,and so forth. Call me old fashioned, but I always thought the old 8 point hats, light blue shirts, and dark blue pants uniforms looked very proffesional. And this is almost universally recognised as a Police uniform.
Posted by: ican'tbelievethecrapother'spost Location: washington on Sep 11, 2008 at 07:01 PM
Talon, who commented earlier, actually understands the ins and outs of crowd control as related to the actual duties of a cop doing HIS job...kudos for posting what you did. To the family that were on the receiving end of the crap that ECU fans were dishing to your family...I apologize profusely for their childish, drunken behavior. I had to deal with the ECU student body on numerous game nights while working at a pizza joint on 10th street...most were too drunk to even give you their home address for delivery. (Most convos started with "I don't know where I am..." followed by questions to the other drunks at the party... I shudder even remembering). To the people who aren't cops...try dealing with a drunken person one night (let alone 25,ooo or so) and then come back and post your experiences here. I bet you gain a new appreciation for the stupid junk most officers put up with on a daily basis for you, John Q. Public. Know before you open your mouth.
Posted by: Pirate Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 06:45 PM
In ref. to Talon. BLET, been there done that. Decided it was not for me. I was trained by Brady and I do not recall any of the types of tactics I have seen. You are obviously a law enforcement officer based on your responses and your name "Talon" let me guess... of the eagle. It amuses me how you see no blame in the officers actions what so ever. "Whatever force neccessary", is not correct in that case there are several instances where I could of shot someone for not getting out of their vehicle. You are a shining example of how the law enforcement community is becoming more and more twisted in their perception of their right to use force in order to accomplish their jobs. Do not mistake me I like even promote LE but things seem to be getting more and more out of hand and more and more LEO's with attitudes like yours. If LEO's keep on with this attitude what respect the people have for you may evaporate and be replaced w/ fear. LE's jobs will only get harder with this type of attitude.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 06:41 PM
You see. Look at Arrgh's post. This is why ECU will always be considered second rate. ECU "fans" just CANNOT enjoy themselves without alcohol. Never happen. They did it at NCSU though, so it is possible, but with the fans we've got and the Pirate Club alcoholics we have, it'll never happen. By the way students, how about the double standard here. Ever see a cop in the PIRATE CLUB lots? Nope, they are all in the student lots. Ever see cops in the PIRATE CLUB seating? Nope, they might catch one of the holy with booze and throw them out. How about the Club Level. Nope. Cops aren't even allowed in there. It's illegal to tell a cop that they can't enforce the law on certain people. After all the law applies to everyone equally, right. So what they do is just not assign any cops to the Pirate Club areas. Clever huh? No illegal orders to the cops, but no alcohol enforcement in the "Irate" Club section either. Talk about double standards. It's sickening isn't it.
Posted by: EC10RET Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 06:18 PM
WVU Fan; What you endured is just the tip of the iceberg. I've seen males expose themselves, urinate off the side of the stadium, I've seen people vomit down onto the people standing below. I've seen fights, cursing. I've seen bottles thrown at random by "fans" and one struck and seriously injured a mentally retarded child, another injured a toddler. I've seen supposedly responsible adults in the "Pirates Club" vomit all over their neighbors, fight just like a child, and use horrible language in front of children and senior citizens who were just trying to watch the game. You see WVU Fan, a large percentage of ECU "fans" are unable to enjoy themselves without alcohol. They tend to bully, and abuse, insult, and demean others. Why? I guess because they have an inferiority complex. I know this because I worked as a police officer at these games for almost thirty years. No, not all ECU fans are like this, but a very large percentage of them unfortunately are. I don't blame you.
Posted by: Arrrgh Location: Greenville on Sep 11, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Its impossible to consider a no alcohol policy. This is the main consideration when tailgating. Remember, we have a great tailgating policy and many people love it. I always get NCSU fans tell me I'm lucky to have the tailgating available to us as we do. We do not want to destroy the pride and support of the fans, which will be lost if a no alcohol policy would be developed. Just control the cops and everything would be just fine.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Has ECU considered a no alcohol policy for the future? It couldnt hurt anything except the bottom line with all the lost beer sales.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 05:18 PM
To Anonymous, I was not saying that Tasers or pepper spray should have been used. I was just trying to make a point that SOME police officers think that they are something other than a civilian. You know as well as I do that there are a lot of good Officers out there, but some are also bad apples that are on a ego trip and they try to abuse thier authority. I still say it is a double standard.I dont know if you are a officer or not, but I am a law abiding citizen and I feel my life is just as important as these officers.
Posted by: Benjamin Location: Wilmington on Sep 11, 2008 at 05:02 PM
I disagree with you Talon. And don't get me wrong, I don't agree with a lot of things that some ECU students have done at games. I was at a basketball game once when they were playing Louisville, and I was embarassed to be sitting beside those fools as they were yelling profanity at Coach Patino all game, well within the ears of small children. Unacceptable. However, charging the field at a football game is not hooliganism. It's accepted. ESPN embraces it, the players and coaches embrace it. But a couple of morons in uniform trying to proove their manhoon slamming a 180lb. college punk to the ground makes them, and the city they represent look like a bunch of Beauford T. Justice's. If they are so gung-ho about "up-holding the law" why aren't they over in East-Kinston, kicking butt and taking names. Why don't they stroll deep into East-Kinston and just start slamming the first person they see breaking any law what-so-ever. Exactly, because they're too sacared.

Editor's Note: Benjamin did write a second part to this post that I could best define as being very negative toward Kinston and its officers. We have opted not to put it on the site.

Posted by: FED UP 4 CHIEF on Sep 11, 2008 at 04:30 PM
FED UP should be in charge. He's the only one making sense.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 11, 2008 at 04:22 PM
To ???, you need to do more research on this topic before you make these comments. First of all, if the fans would've stayed back like they were told, this would not be an issue!! Those officers did the best they could to mantain the order, especially when its 60 officers and 45 thousand fans. Tell me, how can impact weapons and non-leathal weapons (tasers etc.) could be affective against a crowd that is rushing you? If the officers would've used pepper spray, that would've affected the good civilians and the officers. If you dont know, officers are tax payers too, so dont you think they contribute to their own salary? If you want your dime back I will send it to you. Also just because they were not employed by ECU does
Posted by: j on Sep 11, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Hope ecu loses every game . so they beat a ranked team , they have 2 games this season will probally be there only wins!!!!!
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 03:50 PM
One more thing, if these officers were not working for the department that employed , then are they acting a sworn law officers, or are they just glorified Rent A Cops?
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 03:48 PM
I guarantee you if it had been the other way around and someone had slammed the cop, he would have been arrested immediately and charged with felony assault on a police officer.But they havent even put the accused officers name in the paper. If this is not a double standard, what is? I often hear police refer to everyone else as civilians. Well guess what, they are civilians too.The US is not yet under Martial law, and the police need to recognise this. They are hired by the public "civilians " to do a job.Why the heck they feel they can rough the very people helping to pay thier salary? Also , they feel that they should be allowed to carry special Law Enforcement equipment(ammo, Tasers,etc.) that is supposed to be more effective than what ordinary citizens can purchase. Why is this? Is a lawmans life more valuable than a law abiding citizen minding thier own business when they are attacked by one of the predators that the justice system has turned loose again on the American citizens?
Posted by: Pirate Alum. Location: Pitt County on Sep 11, 2008 at 03:42 PM
To WVU Fan: First, let me appologize to you and your family for the STUPID behavior you had to endure. I'm also sorry they sold you tickets in the children's section. I don't go to the games anymore either. "Stupid is, as stupid does."
Posted by: Pirate Fan Location: Winterville on Sep 11, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Talon, you have to be one of the biggest idiots in the world. No the students shouldn't of rushed the field nor should they of had the crap beaten out of them either. I have seen people that has killed someone and be arrested better than that! Comments like yours obviously tells me that you are a cop trying to protect another cop. Regardless of what they did the beaten was not deserved. YOU no it I no it and so does the rest of the world.

Last sentence deleted

Posted by: here Location: here on Sep 11, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Eyewitness, wrong, wrong, and I agree. The law is called trespassing and who do you think pays the announcer and who do you think told him to say what he said. An ECU official. But I do agree the cops were out of line.
Posted by: WVU Fan Location: Raleigh on Sep 11, 2008 at 02:48 PM
It appears that your cops & your fans are out of control. I was at the game with my wife & 10 year old twins. We were all dressed in WVU shirts & were appalled at the ECU fans and their vulgar language directed towards me & my family. While waiting for what seemed like an hour to get into the stadium, one of my little girls started crying because we had about a dozen drunken male ECU students chanting, pointing & screaming at us with F bombs & hillbilly rants. Same thing when we left with 10 minutes to go in the game. You would expect a little restraint in front of 10 year old girls. This has happened to us before when we went to D-Ficklen to watch WVU play ECU. Your fans have never shown us anything but rudeness even though we are one of the few big programs that routinely schedule games with ECU. If your fans started acting with some class, perhaps your cops would not be on edge quite so much. I grant you that the ECU fan behavior does not warrant the police brutality we see on the TV but I can assure you that because of it, we will NEVER go to another ECU event. I will encourage all my WVU friends to do the same.
Posted by: eyewitness Location: greenville on Sep 11, 2008 at 02:33 PM
There is no law against running on a football field, and the announcer is not an official from ECU so he has no authority to tell people not to run on the field. The Lenoir County Deputy should be charged with assault.
Posted by: Concerned Pirate Fan Location: Winterville NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 01:51 PM
To Pirate Fan; I agree if they trespassed then charge them for it but lets charge the cops for police brutality, excessive use of force and assault. Then we can let the court decide who is wrong here.
Posted by: anonymous Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Pirate Fan: You are exactly right. The fans could be charged with Trespassing. They were instructed to "not go onto field". Both parties involved are in the wrong.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 01:01 PM
I disagree with you. I think any problems Kinston may have is the result of too many people living there with attitudes like yours. The reason people laugh at people who live in this area and call us "stupid" is because of people acting like idiots. A good example is the "fans" rushing the field on Saturday. Low class, no class. They acted like it was a MIRACLE that ECU could actually beat WVU. What an insult to the team. Maybe you'd feel more at home in San Francisco than here. Maybe if the NCAA would strip ECU of their win and ban them from playing any more games this season, because of the "fans" violation of NCAA rules, then maybe, just maybe, ya'll could control yourselves from here on out and stop putting the cops in such a bad position. And those that didn't rush the field but condone that behavior are just as guilty as the ones that did. So quit crying little girl, grow up and start acting like man.
Posted by: Benjamin Location: Wilmington on Sep 11, 2008 at 11:25 AM
..(continued) And besides, every other football program in the country that has a huge win over a big team rushes the field. It's a tradition, and it will continue to be. This is why some schools have hydraulic goal posts than dis-enguage and collapse, so that the students can't tear them down, which is also a tradition. Eastern North Carolina is laughed at by the other prominant schools in this state as being "stupid" and never been taken seriously on the athletic level either. So what do we do when ECU finally emerges as a possible contender?....We get put all over ESPN because our local cops are beating students down for trying to charge the field. Pathetic. I understand that someone could get hurt when so many people rush the field, but don't you think that grabbing random students and slamming them to the ground in the direct path of the stampede is even more dangerous than letting him through. What if he was with 10 or 12 agressive friends? They could have started a riot.
Posted by: Benjamin Location: Wilmington on Sep 11, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Just another example of the Kinston-Lenoir County "officers" abusing their power and going too far. I lived in Kinston for 25 years, and far to often, Kinston-Lenoir county officers were nothing more than red-neck failures that turned to law enforcement to get automatic "respect" to compensate for their pathetic lives. If they spent half of the time and energy used to body slam college students, give out DUI's and underage drinking tickets on more pressing problems in Kinston, such as drugs, thefts, and murder, then Kinston would be a much better place to live. But, instead, they would rather ride around all night looking for some teenage party to crash, or a cute girl going a little too fast. Please, get a life and catch up with the rest of society and maybe then, people might actually want to live in that currently dead-end town where the only think on the rise is teenage pregnancy, drug use and diabetes.
Posted by: Lawman's Lady Location: G'ville on Sep 11, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Hey "FED UP" you are my hero!!!
Posted by: parent of college student Location: eastern north carolina on Sep 11, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Sounds like a civil matter if the police departments can't/won't respond with some diciplinary actions.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Pirate's post of 09/11/2008 at 12:37 AM, is a prime example of someone pretending to have knowledge that they really don't have. Have you ever heard of "empty hand control techniques"? They include blows, pressure points, and take down holds. You are allowed to use whatever force is necessary to bring a subject under control. Blows to pressure points such as the common peronial nerve (leg) or the brachial nerve (neck) can, and often are, used to bring a subject under control. The subject does not have to be "violently" resisting. Levels of resistant behavior include verbal noncompliance, passive resistance, active aggression, so on. The fan in this case was using passive resistance. Take downs and pressure point control tactics are approved techniques to control a person resisting at that level. I suggest that you take the time to attend BLET and learn the subject before you start presenting false and misleading information to the public.
Posted by: willie Location: havelock on Sep 11, 2008 at 09:28 AM
I have read all the comments on this incident. As always, there are extreme views on both sides. As a father of two, one who receives her Masters from ECU this year and another her Nursing Degree. ECU, as an institution, is not to blame. As a retired miltary senior leader of 30 years service, you learn that your position or rank does not gain you respect, it is gained by your actions. My children have been taught to respect law enformcement personnel, normally they are just doing their jobs. A few of them, at this incident, went over the responsibility of "just doing their job" as so many states. One stated that was that a few bad apples do not mean all are bad, true, but if you don't rid the bad ones, the other apples will also become bad. What perception of law enforcement personnel will the kids that were "literally beaten" for no just cause have after this unfortunate incident? Respect does not come automatically with a person's positon or badge, it must be EARNED.
Posted by: Joe Location: Winterville on Sep 11, 2008 at 07:44 AM
I think "FED UP" Posted on September 9th has said it all. You took the words right out of my mouth. Well said.
Posted by: Pirate Fan Location: Greenville on Sep 11, 2008 at 02:57 AM
TO CONCERNED PIRATE FAN AT 4:51. Let's not forget that people on the field also broke the law. When the officers are charged anyone on the field who can be identified from the hundreds of pictures taken should also be charged with trespassing. The law is a two way street and anyone who broke the law that day should be charged.
Posted by: Pirate Location: NC on Sep 11, 2008 at 12:37 AM
I agree the students are supposed to stay off the field. Regardless of that the true blame rests on the shoulders of the professionals involved and that was the law enforcement officers. Fore most is the fact that you are not allowed to just strike people without some form of justification, you are either defending yourself or some other party or you are taking the person into custody and they are violently resisting arrest. Second there are only certain kinds of approved strikes and most of that involves the use of some form of baton. Last that I checked striking a combatant with a closed fist and/or body slamming is not an approved control technique. Finally the officers were briefed on how to handle the field rush situation and did not follow that protocol. The students were in the wrong but the officers violated their oaths and ignored their training... hands down no questions asked. Breaking the law is not an excuse to use excessive force because what does that make the officer?
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Here "Concerned Pirate Fan" here's a hanky. Now be a good little girl and go do your nails.
Posted by: ecu9876 Location: ECU on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:41 PM
If I was a criminal in Lenoir county I would cross the county lines and turn myself in at Pitt
Posted by: Joe Location: greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Lenoir county beat the students worse then ECU beat WVU.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Oh yeah right Dana, Now the cops were pulling innocent children OVER the fence and beating them. Next you'll be claiming that they "lured" the students onto the field by opening the gate so they could attack them. Do you really think that ANY cop wanted any of this to happen. If you really do have any kids, which I doubt, I truly feel sorry for them. Being raised by someone like you, they don't have a chance in life. "Pulled over the fence, beaten and let go" You just destroyed what little credibility you had with that stupid lie. So, go on now and continue to teach your poor kids how to lie Dana. Maybe when they grow up, they can hate cops as bad as you do. Or maybe they'll disappoint you and actually respect the police.
Posted by: Victim Location: Lenoir county on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:08 PM
HELP GET ME OUT OF HERE BEFORE I AM BEATEN FOR NO REASON
Posted by: ecu fan Location: greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:05 PM
thanks to Lenoir county sheriffs department this beating could take us into the top 10
Posted by: ECU STUDENT Location: ECU on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:00 PM
ANYONE INTERESTED IN BUYING AN "I STORMED THE FIELD AND LENOIR COUNTY DIDN'T CATCH ME" T-SHIRT LET ME KNOW
Posted by: EC10RET Location: NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 05:44 PM
To Annie Nonomous, Shhhhhhhh, weah hunting wabbits.
Posted by: NOBOMA08 Location: KINSTON on Sep 10, 2008 at 05:23 PM
JUST TO SHOW HOW MESSED UP KINSTON PD REALLY IS...... GO ECU
Posted by: Chris Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 05:23 PM
I may be wrong, or my thinking may be warped. But where is the article and news story about the self control that should have been displayed, by the people who rushed the field. Seeing as THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO ON THE FIELD IN THE FIRST PLACE. If those people who whined about police brutality had stayed off the field , there would not have been an incident to speak of. STAY OFF THE FIELD , AND YOU WON'T GET BODY SLAMMED. It's a no brainer , if you ask me.
Posted by: Concerned pirate fan Location: Winterville NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 04:51 PM
My question is what if anything is going to happen to these so calld cops for what they have done? Didnt they break the lay by beating these kids? WITN please don't let this drop
Posted by: Dana Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Yes Annie...I was at the game with my family and young children! I wouldn't have made those comments had I not been in the stands. Obviously, you had your shades on if you saw one student being "hit on the legs." These kids were being pounded by those animals! Maybe only three students were arrested, but I saw at least a dozen incidents of abuse by officials. Yes...they were pulled over the fence, beat, handcuffed, and let go. Open your eyes people!
Posted by: Annie Nonimus Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Only three students were arrested. The way you talk there were a 100 arrested. I agree there appears to have been some taunting going on. But the students the officers grabbed had something done to them. They were not pulled over the fence, beat, and then let go. The students were taunting the officers and some of the officers taunted back. Thre were students being down right abusive to the officers. And the student you see being hit on the video was hit on the LEGS! I was there also!!!
Posted by: booboo Location: here on Sep 10, 2008 at 04:20 PM
You do know that the field gates were opened and fans were allowed in. Not everyone jumped the fence! Once the gates were open, that was permission given.
Posted by: REALLY in the Know Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 04:19 PM
I would suggest to everyone including WITN to read the response from FED UP on Sept. 9 and read it CLOSELY. Gospel.
Posted by: Tracey Location: ECU on Sep 10, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Annie, I was there along with my entire family. The fans were taunted and abused by those officers. I watched first hand those police officers grabbing any student or fan who was close enough to them. I also watched other officers who were professional and did not assult anyone but originally walk those students off the field. 46,000 plus watched these incidents happen. OPEN your eyes!!!!!!!
Posted by: Annie Nonomus Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Dana - Where you there? Did you see what happened with your own eyes or just what you saw in the video? So many people comment on what went wrong that only saw the video. The video does not show the whole incident. An investigation has been conducted. The proper actions will be taken!
Posted by: Dana Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 03:27 PM
I have just decided that i cannot read these comments anymore!! it absolutely makes me sick that you stupid people are defending these Lenior county officers! Anyone who was there, cannot deny in any way that these officers are at fault...BOTTOM LINE! I hope these kids are all talking to their lawyers! And hopefully ECU has learned their lesson on requesting help from these Lenior County idiots! I'll be avoiding Kinston if those kind of people are supposively "protecting the citizens!"

POST EDITED
Posted by: TVA Location: ecu on Sep 10, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Im glad you see where im coming from but cops are hired to a job which contains many variables which suck, as you mentioned im sure the students werent innocent at all, but what it boils down to is that the cops "system" failed to an extent that they ended up hurting people we pay them to protect. The student being intoxicated doesnt mean that they should lose their protection from the law. To me it seemed the only people in danger of getting hurt were those people not wearing a badge.
Posted by: ECU alum girl on Sep 10, 2008 at 03:10 PM
The police in Greenville have always been rude and arrogant, especially in their dealings with college students. In '99, we rushed the field after the State game...everyone was safe (even if they were climbing up the goalposts!). Why ruin a happy day for ECU with brutality toward students?? I'm guessing they never experienced college life themselves and therefore cannot relate to the PRIDE one feels for their team winning such a big game.

POST EDITED
Posted by: Roy (name has been changed) Location: Kinston on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:40 PM
You folks need to get their facts STRAIGHT! The officer was doing what he was trained to do... exactly HOW he was trained to do it! Striking blows to the legs (not the face, as ESPN footage would have you believe!) ECU officials are trying to save face... they forgot to mention in all their many press releases that they actually gave the officers WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS (& they have copies)... telling the officers to try to prevent anyone from entering the field and arrest all violators. ECU then changed their minds at the last minute. ECU only communicated their change of plans with ECU officers, not the officers hired from outside agencies. SO FOLKS GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT! Gotta love the media... gotta love ignorance.
Posted by: observer Location: greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:38 PM
i have noticed that a lot of the students or others complaining about the officers that were on video performing thier duties and then they make blanket accusations and statments that are meant for all law enforcement but when someone mentions something about tailgaiting it is automatically "one or two bad apples the rest of us are good people having a good time" type attitude. dont you think the cops can be the same way. people just hate cops and will do anything to voice that opinion. you dont see people slamming all doctors when one of them kills a patient do you? of course not. and to tall the students that say they are just still kids and dont know any better, what about treating you like kids and setting curfews and bedtimes that you must adhere to since you cant act like the adults you only claim to be when its convenient for you!
Posted by: Annie Nonomus Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:34 PM
EC10RET (SBK) You and I both know that the internal politics is horrible at ECU and the other UNC Systems. What you are proposing would really be a answer to the problems. COuld you imagine going to a State game and having our officers working? You could come out of retirement and ride a horse at State!!!
Posted by: susan Location: plymouth on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:10 PM
One lady said for her comment that the officers were doing their job, I disagree. Yes we need Police, but they have no right to treat a person like I saw on t.v. Human beings are people, not dogs. Those uniforms they wear does not make them God. I guess they want to look macho. My opinion they are along ways from it. A animal shouldn't even be treated like those students were. I don,t like it, but what can I do, I'm just a American citizen, and they don't even care to hear our opinion. Our judicial system stinks.
Posted by: EC10RET Location: NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Statewide UNC Police (continued) Results would be: No interference in police policies/practices by administrators. (The decision as to whether to let fans on the field is made by Athletics minutes before the end of each game), Also you'd have a huge pool of trained campus officers to work games (many unc institutions do not have football teams and their cops would be available on game days), Costs of uniforms and equipment would be cheaper if they were identical and bought in mass, special training for university officers, additional manpower could be called in when a campus experiences a major crime spree such as the ECU armed robberies or situations such as a serial rapist, professional standards would be increased for many campus departments (ECU is already VERY professional) plus there would be many other advantages. Operating costs would be less overall and interference by university administrators and groups such as the Pirate Club would be eliminated or greatly lessened.
Posted by: J Location: Kinston on Sep 10, 2008 at 12:14 PM
what is wrong with getting excited when your team wins a game,what is wrong with these school officials!!It's like when you send a child to school for 12 years and when they graduate you are to be very quite!!!Their not little robots,and we as parents do have and show our emotions(most of us ).The only thing I saw wrong at the game,was a police officer(If you can call him that)hired to protect and serve,beating on a young man,like he was practicing for his next boxing match!!The tape says it all,that officer,and I use that word lightly,needs to be fired!!!No excuse for this what so ever,would he, or anyone else want someone to jump on your kid and BEAT him like this because he got excited over a ball game,thats what it boils down to.!
Posted by: EC10RET Location: NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 12:09 PM
OK, since it's very likely that no outside agency will want their officers/deputies to work anymore ECU games who will police the games? ECUPD is a great department, but there are only about thirty to forty officers available to work on game days. So here's a suggestion: Combine all the separate university police departments from all 16 constituent institution of the UNC system into one state agency and place it under the control of either the Dept. of Crime Control and Public Safety or the Attorney Generals Office. University personnel would have NO control of the university police. Many universities have more internal politics than any small town in N.C. There have been many cases of political interference in campus police agencies by university administrators in the past. If control of the university police agencies was removed from the university administrators you would have the following results: (continued)
Posted by: Arrrgh Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 11:54 AM
To EC10RET, I have been to many, many games there and will continue to go to them this year. Of course alcohol is brought in, but that is not the cause of the police beating the students. Do a better job cleaning out the alcohol at the gate and all youre gonna get is less alcohol but still the same cops beating up on the students!!! Hmmm, maybe the cops were drinking the smuggled in alcohol. That would be a great excuse for their obscene behavior. Idiots! GO PIRATES!!! ARRRRRRRGH!!!!!
Posted by: Grow up!! Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 11:52 AM
I think what the officers did was wrong, but I also think the students were just as wrong....excited or not..they did something they were politely asked in the beginning not to do. For the ones who are so against the police officers and think they ALWAYS get by with "stuff", might I add, I only aspire to be exactly like you!! I hope one day I am able to sit right beside of you and be just as perfect and know that everything you do is done exactly how you were told to do it. I think YOU should be the ones on the police force b/c I know we would never have another problem like this again b/c you would do exactly what you were told. I am so glad to know that all the students were perfect angels that day and the officers just wanted to see if they could lose their jobs. And I know that every student was just as sober and in no way obnoxious and not one of them cussed or ridiculed the officers. Im glad you could see EVERY thing that took place that day! It seems you know it all!! WOW!
Posted by: EC10RET Location: NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 11:09 AM
To the "fans" who think the deputies were "brutal", well...maybe I should walk a mile in your shoes......at least then I'd be a mile away from you and I'd have your shoes.
Posted by: mkolsen on Sep 10, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Since ECU Police cannot bring charges, the next best thing is to not allow anyone from surrounding areas back to police ECU anymore. They obviously know they were wrong or they wouldnt be getting rid em. I love my school! I love ECU! I love PIRATE NATION! ARRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!
Posted by: Dave Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 10:57 AM
WITN the horse is DEAD so quit beating it!
Posted by: DJ Spanky Location: Wayne, NJ on Sep 10, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Considering all of the agencies involved, this needs to be investigated by someone outside the scope of the area - preferable from a state or federal level.
Posted by: TVA Location: ecu on Sep 10, 2008 at 10:15 AM
My though is if you’re going to tackle somebody to the ground you better be ready to tackle at least 20,000 others who were prepared to rush the field or you’re not going to prevent anything. As an officer of the law you have to use common sense in situations like this, to me it brings into question of incidences that have happened in the past that haven’t been taped, and really overshadows the creditability of the police officers, although the students might have been drunk the video shows the violent behavior was on the part of the officers sworn to protect and serve.
Posted by: John Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Great story on sunday and monday. For the love of God WITN.....Move on!!! Has anything else happened in our state that might be more interesting than a 5 day old story?!?!?!?
Posted by: GoPirates Location: GVegas on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Ok..case closed..let's move on please!! Wasnt the first team to rush the field, and best believe it will not be the last!!
Posted by: EC10RET Location: NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:08 AM
To Arrgh posted on 09/10/08 at 8:14 AM, you can't be serious. Have you ever been to an ECU game? Enough liquor is smuggled into the stadium to float a battleship. And NOT just on the student side. Every game is like walking a tightrope for all the cops there. You have thirty to forty thousand people, most of which have been drinking either before or during the game. Or both. It's barely controlled chaos. You have around 100 LEO's to protect everyone, enforce laws, control crowds and respond to fights, larcenies, etc. It's a dangerous situation. I've seen people vomiting and urinating from the stadium down onto people on the ground. It's nightmare for the cops that have to take abuse, get spit on, cursed at, and sometimes assaulted. There should be at least three or four hundred cops working each game. All laws should be strictly enforced. People should attend games to watch it, not to get sloppy drunk and violate laws. And now there will be even less cops at future games.
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:00 AM
I'm going to hold my breath while waiting for LCSD to hold it's officers accountable. OK, bad idea.
Posted by: br Location: greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Lets start a listing of corrupt cops. Maybe we can start with the 2 in Bethel who are behind bars now. Or we can start with the Belhaven Cheif. The all act like the are above the law and this is shown by the events Saturday. ECU police should charge these officers even if they work for lenior county. Blue is protecting Blue here. We pay their wages so we should have full disclosure on who they were.
Posted by: James Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Our cops are greasier than our barbecue. I wish I could strike someone repeatedly and get away with it.
Posted by: john Location: doe on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:40 AM
Fat bigs abusing their power as usual...typical
Posted by: Annie Nonomus Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:37 AM
If the ECU Chief said that the students were not breaking a law it is because he is from out of state and has not taken that class, so he does not know the law. It is called trespassing. They were warned not to go on the field. The officer is striking the guy's leg. The video looks otherwise. The kids get really drunk before the games and then sneak in airplane bottles. Unless you were the "fan" you do not know what was going on. The officers did not randomly pick somebody and say lets go beat him. Everybody handled by an officer did something.
Posted by: whatever Location: greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:26 AM
ECU is not pursuing charges against the police officer who repeatedly punched the student on national TV because they are preparing to be sued over this incident.
Posted by: Arrrgh Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:26 AM
Hey Talon! This is ECU, not NC State, we don't need the crack down on partying that destroyed the tailgating of NC State. MOST ECU fans are fine and respectable and cause no issues. But, there is alwasy 1 or 2 bad apples that must be dealt with. However, the partying at the game in no way warrants the beatings dished out by the police on the field. Your solution is not adressing the proper issue. We should find ways to make the officers do as they are told, not as they wish. I hope all of the cops who used excessive force are all charged with assault and put in jail. I'm proud of my pirates and wish good luck on the remainder of the season. GO PIRATES!!!
Posted by: OBXpirate Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:18 AM
I can't believe this. I was seriously hoping that this investigation would get turned over to the SBI. And as far as Kinston not receiving any complaints, they must not have received the letter I sent to their chief and mayor yet.
Posted by: Sandra Barnes Location: Aulander on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:15 AM
George, My my, let's not get defensive. I've got a feeling you are either one of these involved officers or family or a friend of one of them. Dear George, calm down. I was engaged to a deputy for 8 years, lived with him, washed those uniforms and pressed them. I have dear friends who are respected police officers. Then, there are those who lack maturity and good judgement and shouldn't even be wearing the uniform. I wouldn't be storming the field because I am disabled and not that "stupid" however, in my high school and college years, yes, I would have been right out there with them. I expect behavior like that out of the winning team. Are you implying that body slamming was not an extreme response? Get real. And, talk about stupid! Are you implying that these cops by body slamming and fist punching these hand full of students that the cops made it much safer for the rest of the hundreds and hundreds that stormed the field? Try thinking before you type.
Posted by: Arrrgh Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:14 AM
You all are making alot of unsupported assumptions. Were these fans drunkards? I doubt it as alcohol is not allowed in the stadium. You should have to assume in the 3 hours of game time would have been a fair amount of time for most to sober up after tailgating. You all are also assuming that rushing the field is breaking the law. The ECU police chief actually said the students were not breaking any laws!!! Thats a fact. Everyone should analyze the facts and not make crazy assumptions. Fact is, fans rushed the field, regardless of being told not to, they wern't breaking any laws. Secondly, 3 officers on top of a fan while 1 repeatly beat him is not right. The fan wasn't breaking the law, why arrest him??? Why beat him??? All for actions that wern't breaking any laws!!!! Unbelievable! I don't support rushing the field, but it in no way warrants the force used by police this weekend. BTW, police were instructed to stand back and let everyone rush the field if it happened!!
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 10, 2008 at 07:45 AM
To ECUPD, pull all the officers from the North Stands and put them in the South Stands Pirate Club and the North Side Club Level to do ZERO tolerance alcohol enforcement. Possessing Spirituous Liquor at an Athletic Contest is a misdemeanor, not a simple infraction, so instead of writing the Pirate Clubbers tickets, arrest them. Bring D.O.C. busses in and hold all of them till the end of the game in handcuffs and then take them to jail. GPD, NCHP, KPD, ECUPD, from now on NO warning tickets or verbal warnings to vehicles with Pirate Club stickers. ECUPD, how about assigning some officers to patrol the Pirate Club parking lots before the game instead of just public parking. Arrest violators, no tickets. GPD NCHP, set up DWI check points on Berkely Drive and on Charles Blvd. after the games. Snag a bunch of drunk Pirate Clubbers driving their RV's home. For far too long, ECU has allowed the Pirate Clubbers to violate the laws of NC Those days should be over.
Posted by: Unprepared on Sep 10, 2008 at 07:02 AM
It seems to me that this is unfortunate all around. If I were a PO working this event, I would've felt threatened with the crowd rush. It also seems that ECU should have better policies to address this kind of crowd control (I mean, we've seen it all before, ECU fans can be obnoxious win or lose). A few hundred officers CANNOT stop the rush of humanity from coming on the field. Enter the field at your own risk. Protect players, coaches, and facilities, but let rowdy fans take care of themselves. Put a disclaimer taking responsibility off the police and ECU. Survival of the fittest, I say. Get hurt once, and you won't do it again!
Posted by: DK Location: Greeenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:58 AM
Yeah the some of the students broke the rules. But only the ones that actually heard the announcement. The cops broke the rules too. What the cops did was worse. Every single one of them got the message to just be visible. If they cant follow a simple rule, then how do you expect the students to? The cops should lead by example. I dont know why some of you people/cops, think that the students rushing the field justifies the cops beating on them. Thats just plain stupid.
Posted by: renee Location: richlands on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:27 AM
college students have to learn to follow the rules. it did look as if law enforcement officers used excessive force but when dealing with drunk college kids, as described by ECU's student government, sometimes force is necessary. i really hope that the students of ECU will learn to follow the rules and not overshadow their football teams success. the team is receiving the credit they so richly deserve and all we hear about is the students altercation with law enforcement because the students can't follow the rules. grow up!!
Posted by: Dustin Location: Phoenix on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:00 AM
For those of you who are saying this is "old news" . . . when ESPN and CNN are still talking about something that happened in Greenville, North Carolina, IT IS NOT OLD NEWS!!! Also, how many times have you seen fans rushing the field/court after a home team has pulled off a major upset? Answer: several. Now how many times have you seen those fans being beaten by cops. Answer: once, this Saturday in Greenville. I guess the cops at the game wanted to say they were the first ones ever to stop fans from rushing the field. Well, you stopped three or four, and looked like idiots on national t.v. I know, I was watching here in Phoenix, and, yes, you looked like a bunch of idiots! Make the announcement not to charge the field and then get out of the way. Have some officers assigned to protecting coaches, officials, players, etc., and get out of the way like the law enforcement does at every other college or university. I wanted to brag all week about my Pirates and ECU, now I can't.
Posted by: Liberty Location: Winterville on Sep 10, 2008 at 04:33 AM
Police officers that slam and punch should be in jail. If they were going to do something they should have set a barricade and let the gas fly. The cops that through punches and slams should be in Jail for a long time. This is brutality at its peak. Just a bunch of nobodies trying to get revenge for being a nobody while Kinston and Greenville cops let the bad parts of town keep crime unchecked they cherry pick some educated kids that wouldn't do any harm. A bunch of cowards the Kinston, Greenville, and ECU police are.
Posted by: Lisa Location: Burlington on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:03 AM
I have watched all of the videos and although I think the fans should have adhered to the announcement of not charging the field, the officer in the brown uniform used excessive force and should be reprimanded. As a parent, if that had been my child being body slammed or hit with a closed fist, I would most definitely seek charges against the officer as well as the department. I support our law enforcement due to the fact that my family has members of who are officers, but some take it overboard as those in the video. I certainly hope that the officer's involved as I said before is reprimanded.
Posted by: DS Location: Greenville on Sep 10, 2008 at 01:01 AM
ECU, home of the stupidest fans in the country.
Posted by: JW Location: Kinston on Sep 10, 2008 at 12:22 AM
AS IN THE PASS ECU FOOTBALL FANS HAS SHOWED VERY POOR SPORTSMEN CONDUCT. THE POLICE OFFICER WERE DOING THERE JOB I AM SURE AND THE FANS WERE NOT ABAYING THE OFFICER ORDERS. THESE FANS WERE FIGHTING ARREST BY THESE OFFICERS. ALSO THE NEWS PEOPLE WOULD REPORT THE CORRECTLY GET THE CORRECT INFO IF WOULD BE BETTER FOR ALL.
Posted by: Go Pirates!! Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:58 PM
I was at the game in the nosebleed section, so I did not rush the field. However, I was able to watch the unfortunate turn of events from a safe distance. With tailgating being a strong tradition, something like this was bound to happen. It's really this simple: if you aren't supposed to rush the field, then don't. LEOs, excercise non-aggressive force (pepper spray?), and finally ECU, who should hold the highest reponsibility in this situation, be more consistant, clear, and concise with boundaries. Better safe guards should have been taken to prevent students/patrons from rushing the field if rushing the field was 'such a big deal'. Pitt Co. Sheriffs started walking towards the crowds, from the opposite side of the field, after over 2,000 fans had already congregated. It's a little too late to try to enforce the rules at that point.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Well I am not condoning what the Law Enforcement officials did but my dad always told me that when you do something you are not supposed to be doing and something bad happens then its your own fault when something bad happens.
Posted by: chad Location: holland on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:07 PM
I used to work the games as a law enforcement officer. I got out of law enforcement a year ago. First of all the students are all breaking the law by running on the field(it is trespassing to run out onto the field which you can be arrested for in N.C.) You ask the LEO to do a job and the look what you do when they do it...next game give all the cops tickects and let them go in shorts and tshirts and party with everyone else and then lets see what happens..LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS NO LAW ENFORCEMENT AT ALL AT THE GAMES!!!!!!!
Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:47 PM
I find it very interesting that we are approaching 400 posts on this subject. A large number of you are bashing the police and defending the "kids". The authorities at the school clearly stated NOT TO RUSH THE FIELD. They did it anyway. Why do people think they can do what ever they want to do and accept no responsibility for their actions? Just do what you want regardless of anyone, and then raise immortal hell when someone responds. Personal accountability comes with your actions. If you choose to ignore the rules, expect something might happen to you that you will not like. The fact that a few hundred chose to ignore the rules does not make it OK. For all of you defending the students, if the rules had been followed and the field hadn't been rushed......we would not be here. No rational person can argue this point. Leave the cops alone. You messed with the bull and got the horns!
Posted by: Obama 08 4 Prez! on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:34 PM
You better not rush the field next time, with ECU saying they aren't filing charges and it's up to that officer's department......just gave them licenses to kill you next time.
Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:25 PM
To Joe in Pitt Co.; EXCELLENT! Well said.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Can't someone-any one-identify this "officer" by name?The public would like to know.Something tells me this type action shown by the Lenoir officer is not his first occurence of an over the top action. Editors note: That hasn't been released just yet.
Posted by: Joseph Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:07 PM
first off my son(who finished ECU almost two years ago) was there as was his father in law who also finished ECU,they both said the officers were out of line.If 20 people had rushed the field I could understand some use of force but with the number who rushed the field the officers should have watched and stopped any fights or serious trouble,they did neither as there was none. they were on a power trip.The one's I witnessed in action against the students should never be allowed to function at any events from now on and should be fired by the dept they work for as what will they do a single a person if given the chance?I am sure there will be a cover up by law enforcement that's a given.let's kick it up to the justice department and get their input.
Posted by: To Joe Location: Pitt Co on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Joe you have it all wrong. As Perry said at 6:38, these are just "kids." They are 17-22 year old "kids." Seems to me they are "kids" when they want their poor choices and behavior to be excused. They are "adults" only when it is convenient. To the mature ECU students who do act like the adults they are (17-22 years old), I am sorry the poor choices of some tarnish the reputation of all who behave civilly.
Posted by: Brother Blue Location: G-ville on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:41 PM
You know..I have heard enough BS from all the arm chair lawyers. I dont care anymore. I WILL NEVER WORK A ECU GAME AGAIN. The whole deal, from the fact that I have seen four different chumps(chiefs) they in the last five years. Or that all the whinnying Alumni, or the drunk feast. I dont need the money, oh BTW it was never more than 175 a game(what one(1) box ticket). I wonder what the box office takes in? You arm car lawyers who protest at the hint of wrong doing, who want the cops when you are being a victim of a crime, but can't stand any contact from us, when you break the Law. Remember we are called Law Enforcement Officers. Not the Law Makers, or The polite Officers. WE only do what we are told to do and what is necessary to arrest a LAW BREAKER! So goodbye you.............................
Posted by: Karen Location: Martin County on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:26 PM
I agree with "Old News" about the spelling. I sure hope that the comments being made with so many misspelled words and improper grammer aren't ECU students, for that matter high school graduates.Joe made some good points also. The sad thing is that ECU played a great game but it seems that everyone is focusing on the aftergame show.
Posted by: Sandy Location: Texas on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:25 PM
He shouldn't have rushed the field! Don't rush the field and you won't get tackled. Problem solved.
Posted by: FED UP Location: GREENVILLE on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:23 PM
.......CONTINUED....... Fifth, for those who believe the fact that the students were non aggressive when they rushed get your story right and visit the ER before you talk because officers and uninvolved fans were hurt by students during the rush. Sixth, there is an active investigation as reported into the excessive force allegations but what do you expect if you charge and hit an officer then resist arrest. Has anyone heard there story? nobody really cares i guess. i guess a 4 second clip says everything. convenirnt that it shows nothing prior to that. what would you have done if a drunk person rushes the field and assaults a WVU player or coach which was attempted by the way. Where would our Pirates be then. Officers were put there by ECU to keep students off the field. Why do SOME fans not have enough respect to do what they are told and stay off the field. If you still dont like police next time you are in trouble...call a crackhead or pick up a uniform...i didnt think so
Posted by: FED UP Location: GREENVILLE on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:23 PM
I have been reading these for days and lets clear things up. First, for those who think students broke no laws. 1-Trespassing 2-Failure to disperse 3-Resisting a public officer shall I continue? Second, maybe the students should be allowed to rush the field according to some but the fact remains that they are NOT, by ECU rules enforced by all departments. if you dont agree there are proper channels NOT JUST DO IT. Third, the students came over the fence and approached a line of police (thats a clue) who already told them not to come on the field. Fourth, some of you people believe everything you hear, how do you know what the officers were briefed. were you there or are you that gullible to belive everything you hear because it is on "TV". How many officers have you asked what they were briefed. Sounds like a case of CYA to me. .........TO BE CONTINUED.......
Posted by: Joe Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:40 PM
After reading all of these comments, I am going to comment for myself. People were told not to go on the field in the first place. If someone would have gotten stepped on and was hurt really bad, you people would have been screaming where's the police. You all have been getting your way for a long time. You think you can show out, tear up stuff, and burn coaches all over the city and think thats ok. If you want to complain about something complain about how the pirate club can drink in there little section and no one else can't. That is breaking Conference Rules, but nothing is said about that. Police Officers are expected to make split decisions everyday. I saw the videos and I also see students fighting the officers. ECU allow you all the drink 6 hrs before the game, but yet that is not enough for you. You all sound like a bunch of wining babies. Take that much passion you have and act like you got some since. You want to be treated like adults act like one.
Posted by: Old News Location: NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:33 PM
O.K. WITN it's time to move on to "new" news. And for heaven's sake people learn how to spell!
Posted by: Tom Location: nc on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:19 PM
just face it, students are going to storm the field after a great win. you can't stop them, just let them have their fun without getting beat on . everyone will be happier
Posted by: ECU fan on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:10 PM
I was at the game and not all the people that rushed the field were drunkards looking for a fight. I saw parents and older children out there too! So before you start bashing college students, take a step back and realize that you were once one also!!
Posted by: Stan Kittrell Location: NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Here's my comment. The Lenoir County Deputy was not violating the law. He was NOT using unnecessary force or excessive force. The man that he applied the force to was resisting. The deputy hit him on the side of his leg three times to make him comply. That technique is in every use of force policy that I have ever seen. The man was violating the law by trespassing when he went over the fence. You ask why was he the only one? It's because the deputies could only handle one at a time. I know I'm going to get slammed for this, but all this hatred and insults to the cops in this area will result in agencies refusing to assist ECU at future games. I wouldn't work a football game for a thousand dollars after reading what I've read here. Those deputies did nothing wrong. They will never be prosecuted, because they violated no laws. I don't care how much money you throw around and how much political pull you have. Those deputies will stay deputies, just as they should be.
Posted by: Ty Location: Dramaville on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Sheesh people ....Enough is enough! Let all this go. ECU is done with the Inv. stop beating a dead horse. You all must love DRAMA!
Posted by: L.E. supporter Location: NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:45 PM
To Jason from Vanceboro: Facts are: 1. (deleted). 2. Cops are some of the bravest people in the world. Opinion: 1. (deleted) 2. Cops are some of the bravest people in the world. P.S. Next time your house gets broken into or you get assaulted, just remember that the people that will be coming to your aide are COPS. Why don't you tell them to their face they suck. The great thing is, even if you do tell them they suck to their face, they will still help you out because that's just who they are!

Edited

Posted by: Pirate ALum Location: Belhaven on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Please don't post any more comments from Obama 4 Prez. We are defending students who DID NOTHING WRONG, not advertising for Obamanation. THis is the Pirate Nation, and you and Obama are NOT welcome. The police were wrong, admit it, change the field policy so it will not happen again, and get on with the PURPLE WAVE conquering the world !
Posted by: Arrrgh Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:25 PM
Hey LOL. If you have video supporting fans fighting the cops, POST IT! I'm sure I'm not the only one that would be interested in seeing it!!!
Posted by: Arrrgh Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:21 PM
You all that think the students are at fault and blame them make me sick!!! I hope next time you get a speeding ticket you get body slammed and punched in the head. (not really) Then maybe you'll change your mind! Oh, maybe not, thats right, you shouldn't have been speeding, so you deserve it!!! Freaking idiots... The students didn't break any law, why beat them??? By the way, the cops were told to stand back and let the fans rush the field if it happened. Did they listen??? No, should they be tackled and beat? Maybe? The cops didn't listen and actually broke the law! They should be arrested and put in jail. And, to everyone who thinks we are a party school and a bunch of drunks, you have no idea what goes on here. I've been here for years and have seen ECU change from the party days to a well respected and quality school. I'm proud I have my undergraduate degree from ECU and even more proud to be a masters student here!!! GO PIRATES!!!
Posted by: dont matter Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:15 PM
For everyone who think the cops did wrong maybe yall should have there jobs for one day. I dont think the police did anything wrong. And yes the kids were 17-22 but the law is the law dont matter who you are. Thank you to all law enforcement for what you do !!!!
Posted by: chris Location: collage on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:42 PM
I think dat ecu fans had something to celerbrate. Our local law knew it was a big game. When duke r carolina when basketball games they rush the court.My personal opioion is that the LAW should be punsihied. Just bc they got badges dont mean they can beat up on people,esp. when a collage beats a rank team. Lets get real gvegas its more drugs and gangs that r more important. LETS GO PIRATES!!!!!!
Posted by: Perry Location: East Carolina on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:38 PM
If you go to the official ECU website you will read that officers were told what to do in this situation. They failed to do there job as directed. I do not agree with the fans running on the field. However these are kids, yes kids 17-22 year olds. The adults (law enforcement personel) should have done as they were instructed by ECU Officials in the event of students charging the feild. There is no excuse for an adult not doing as instructed. They do this for a living and know better. I will be very disapointed if actions are not taken by the propper athorities. This will leave a lasting mark on what people think of our part of the state especialy if this incident goes without resolution. I hope that this matter will be resolved and never takes place again by either side. If the adults don't do as instructed how can you expect kids to do so?
Posted by: whatever Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:34 PM
For what it's worth, it seems to me that students are not safe at ECU football games anymore (or any fan for that matter). If we get anything out of this past weekend it is that fans and students are subject to excessive force by officials and those officials are above the law, with the university being unable to control their actions at the time or in the end.
Posted by: Cindy Location: ECU on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:31 PM
First of all, I want to say what an awesome job the pirates did on Saturday! What an amazing game! Who wouldn't have expected all the fans to rush the field? Come on, it' college football.. that's a notorious thing college students do after a big win. Second, I was at a UNC game a couple of years ago.. they announced the SAME thing that they announced at the ECU game (do not rush the field). What do you think the UNC students did? They rushed the field. Did anyone make a fuss about it? NO. The officers should have let the fans celebrate with the team, and if things HAD gotten out of control, that's when they should have stepped in.
Posted by: Jason Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Dont blame ecu or its PD department the cops on duty that night were told not to try and stop the kids what difference would it have made to have a better plan if the LEO wont listen to a simple one???
Posted by: Cat on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:30 PM
I pay taxes too. Does that make me self employed? Don't take up for these peoples ignorance. NONE of them could make it out there. If you can post some moron saying that police are just "thugs with badges" then you can post a rebuttal on the polices' behalf. Some people are meant to BE the police. Some people are meant to CALL the police. Stay by your phones people.
Posted by: Jason Location: Vanceboro on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:27 PM
I would like to say something to everyone say what you want about dumb fans. Facts are: 1. storming the field is a tradition! 2. storming the field is at worst tresspassing. 3. Cops are here to protect and serve the citizens. 4. once a suspect is on the ground with 3 cops on top and holding suspects hands behind their back he is under control and no need to punch PERIOD. opinion 1: COPS SUCK 2: I pray to god this happens to you or ure loved one so u can see how it feels when a cop uses excessive force! THIS IS REAL and does happen and not to just minorities!! if when its caught on tape we dont do anything we are telling the leo it is ok and will be tolerated. PLEASE dont forget the great job our team is doing representing our area!
Posted by: Jason Location: Vanceboro on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Cactus: There have been no reports of anyone getting trampled during this or any other time ecu rushed the field or court. But with your logic how is it less likely someone will get trampled when they are BODY SLAMMED ON THE GROUND directly in front of the "charging fans" if you want to tear down the fans at least say something intelligent please!
Posted by: Capt. Obvious Location: Omnipresent on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Maybe the couple of goober deputies who obviously used excessive force (like repeated close fist blows) could be prosecuted or dismissed and we can avoid playing "my semi-modern county is better than your hayseed county." It seems that it's only a few officers out of the hundred or so that attend games.
Posted by: LOL Location: GREENVILLE on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:06 PM
HEY WHATEVER.... maybe u should see the video i have before you say officers were in the rong..Please. those boys were fighting the officers. YOur so called videos dont capture the hole picture.
Posted by: whatever Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Lenoir County Sheriff Billy Smith says that the deputies were not working for him but for ECU. From the Kinston Free-press: http://www.kinston.com/news/altercation_49502___article.html/deputy_duty.html
Posted by: suing Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:59 PM
that officer running over never punched anyone your making assumptions, show me the video witn.....
Posted by: Pirate Fan Location: Winterville on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Students were told to stay off of the field just as they are all across the country but they never do. Looks like alot of fun when you see a team do it on ESPN, unless it's in greenville! Why not beat the life of everyone else 1 by 1 as they walked off the field after the celebration? To fat, out of shape, whatever the cause may be it was rediculous what happened. If that had been me or my friend i would of gone to jail for something worse than that, like assault on an officer. I respect the police and appreciate them, I have 2 family members that are police and they agree with the rest of the country.... some people just lack decision making skills when put in a intense situation. I thought that was what police officers were trained to do.

POST EDITED
Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane,NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:53 PM
I have a suggestion for the officers at the next game. When the field is charged by fans just back off and let them trample each other to death.
Posted by: John Doe Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:49 PM
SURVEY SAYS, Bullies win! Its ok to use a fist and beat on a student when they bump into you. Their all covering each other's butts and trying to leave the blame to the other. CHECK THE Kinston.com front page of where their Lenoir County chief says that his officers were off duty and were working for ECU. So no charges there. HINT HINT. ECU says they wont file charges here. HINT HINT. Heres the website URL: http://www.kinston.com/news/altercation_49502___article.html/deputy_duty.html

POST EDITED To all Police officers: remember if you lose faith of the people, then you lose taxpayers trust. The ones that actually pay your salary. Dont let one rotten apple SPOIL the entire police DPT's reputation.
Posted by: Chris Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:46 PM
I was at the game and the students were wrong for rushing the field, but everyone was really excitied. That did not give them the right to rush the field but it also didn't give them the right to slam and punch people. There were 1,000 of people rushing the field, beating up 2 or 3 people does nothing. It was excessive force and if i did that to someone I would have been sent to jail. Just because you have a badge doesn't give you the right to beat people. They were suppose to keep people safe not hurt them. There's no need for that. Those police officers should be punished and maybe student's who rush the field should also be punished but not beat.
Posted by: So Sad Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Its sad all these comments are mostly coming from people that have had a dealing with the police on bad terms. Its not the police fault that you get drunk and do stupid things and want officers to just pat you on your hand. You break the law you are dealt with accordingly. This is a point blank statement that people need to realize. Trepassing is a violation of the N.C. law. People whine about the wrong things all the time....Police are bad, police don't do this but the first number you dial when your life and world has been turned upside down is 911. Get real people. The students were told to stay off the field...Unless you wear the blue or brown and know what its like to walk in the shoes stop complaining about the same people you want to save you when things dont go your way. Not saying that officers can't have a bad judgement moment but they have a split second to think and react. No one asked about the injuries from the pushing and shoving did they? Whats the stats on that? WITN?
Posted by: whatever Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:32 PM
So, if I bash somebody's face in on the football field in front on 40,000 people you're telling me that only my workplace can reprimand me? Wasn't that outright assault on the field? What kind of joke are playing on us ECU? basically, after all of the "we'll get to the bottom of this" talk, you're siding with the guy who is obviously out of line on the field. He'll probably get off and because this is an "employee matter" no one will know what happened. I'm outraged. This is typical. Just turn your back and act like nothing happened when the time is right for you to take a stand for what is right. You know what the right thing to do is.
Posted by: Marty Location: Greenville, NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:29 PM
It's funny how so many have used the word "kids" in their posts. I don't think anyone involved in the incidents were "kids" even though they acted like "kids". I was at the game, which was my first and will be my last, and they did announce not to go on the field but, you did not follow instructions. Grow up ECU fans and things like this may not happen in the future. Next time the police should pepper spray you out of control people.
Posted by: Obama 08 4 Prez! on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Come on people, did you really think ECU would side against the Police. LOL Who didn't see this coming?

POST EDITED
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:24 PM
Gah.. don't get this many comments when somebody committs murder. Could that be because people are so blood thirsty when it comes to an oppurtunity to attack the police that it actually out weighs when some unemployed gang banger thug takes another life? Hmmm...Well, I guess you have to prioritize!
Posted by: Nicole Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:02 PM
All of you people stating that the police did nothing wrong have obviously NOT read the full story. They were told that if the fans rushed the field, and nothing could be done, to just stand back... I don't see the cop beating a person standing back, I don't see them tackling a person as standing back... they did NOT follow orders. Check out the full story before you put you 2 cents worth in.
Posted by: br Location: greenvile on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:56 PM
So if I commit a crime in kinston I have to be charged by the Police in Greenville since I am from greenville. ECU's agreement is wrong. The crime happened here you should press the charges.
Posted by: Keith Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:43 PM
The beating of a person for running onto a field is ridiculous, and I cannot believe some of you people approve or justify this disgusting act!
Posted by: Correction on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Your story entitled "Previous Story" above on this page, shows that your reporter didn't accurately report the events on your video. The reporter combines two incidents as one. The first one was an officer lifting a student as high as his hip and dropping him The secomd one was wrestled to the ground by three officers and struggled with them for the rest of the videom which was about 12 seconds.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Good for ECUPD. They also won't file any charges because nothing criminal occurred on the part of the deputies. The deputies did their job. Looks like Chief Shelton did the right thing in spite of Chancellor Ballard jumping on the "condem the officers" bandwagon.
Posted by: br Location: greenvilee on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:40 PM
ECU Police should charge the Lenior County guys with assault. It happened at ECU in Pitt County. It should not be up to Lenior deputies to patrol themselves. ECU should charge them.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:36 PM
If it is proven that this deputy had no good reason for this, then he should be taken to ECU football field and let all of the students that were present form a guantlet, no weapons, just fists and make him run it.
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:33 PM
What's all this talk about cops beating you for speeding? If you get stopped and refused to get out of the car, you'll probably get dragged out. What else are they supposed to do? Man, if I was a cop in this area, I'd leave you creeps to handle your own problems. So the guy got slammed and punched three times. Sniff sniff, waaaaaaaaa.
Posted by: Scott Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:32 PM
The LAW did not follow the RULES. They were TOLD to let the students by if they rushed the field...Not drag, beat, and slam students. Yes ECU did encourage students to not get on the field but it happens ACROSS THE COUNTRY....THEY EVEN PLANNED FOR IT by making the ground rules. Law was to be VISIBLE....NOT VIOLENT.
Posted by: Pirate Alum Location: Belhaven on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:25 PM
It's the same thing as always: police using excessive force to ruin an otherwise beautiful day. reminds me of the insane abuse and arrests at halloween in downtown G-ville years ago--cops with riot gear, tear gas and billy clubs. what idiots. No matter what, if you cannot get a job doing anything else, even digging ditches, law enforcement and the license to beat on your fellow man, is waiting for you.
Posted by: mitchell on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:23 PM
Hey hood, its ignorant racist people like you that have caused our society to decline. I bet you hate cops don't you?
Posted by: DENISE Location: KINSTON on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:19 PM
If the fans would have done what they were asked to do nothing like that would have never happen. Some people think that what the law enforce has to say don't really matter. But truely if we as fans and citizen just do as we are told to do at these games it could save someone life or someone job.
Posted by: Joy Location: home on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:19 PM
The police, sheriff ect. are all adults. They were told before the game that if students came onto the field to just let them go so as not to cause what happened. No they weren't doing their job because they were told not todo any thing. They just wanted to show their authority and it failed. You noticed that Greenville Police or the Sheriff's dept. didn't have any problems with following the rules.
Posted by: Lee Location: ECU on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Yeah and if a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his (rear). The first few people that rushed the field should have definitely been detained, but to pick out 10-20 out of 10-20,000 people who are running on the field and beat them is completely uncalled for. Some of the comments I have seen disgust me. Hope some of you feel that strongly about abuse of power when you get whacked in the head with a batton for speeding or something else as trivial as "trespassing" onto a football field that our tuition monies helped to pay for.

Slight Edit

Posted by: Joe Location: Fayetteville on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:06 PM
an order to not rush the field was announced and yet 40000 idiots did just that. if you break a law or a lawful order then you get what you get that is the chance you take. personally i would have maced the entire gang in the middle of the field with a pepper fogger and i promise you any one seeing the video would think twice about rushing the field next time. i get so tired of seeing the general public disregard laws and then whinning when they face the results of their own actions if you are man enough to rush the field after being instructed not to then you should be man enough to take the beating you get. but what do i know i am just one of the few americans left that is not a product of the liberal politically correct crowd
Posted by: Mouth of the Hood Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:05 PM
This happens every day in my neighborhood but this time it's televised now it deserves attention. What about the guys who get shot, arrested, beat for looking like a someone else or "fit the description"? The kids did wrong by rushing the field when they said not to. Somebody was gonna get hemmed up by the cops. He just lucked out this time and got caught. He shoulda ran the other way from the cop. That always works! Yea right.
Posted by: George Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Hey Sandra, Don't be stupid, would you have stormed the field? would you expect the police to keep you safe at the game if you went, what if the students stormed the stands where you were, would you want the police just to watch you get trampled, I did not think so. People need to stop over reacting when it comes to police. do you think it is easy to do there job. they put there lives on the line everyday to protect me and YOU! and then when something like this happens, you want to hang them without looking at the big picture. people could have got hurt or even killed with the number of students running on the field, i am sure they were told to stay off, but they would not listen, i bet half if not mire were drunk. The students acted like wild men. Its seems that is always the fault of the police. But when something happens to you, you want them to come to your aid.
Posted by: Ike Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Hey George, have you ever had a ticket??? Would it be ok for the officer to beat you instead of giving you a ticket???? Thats what I thought.
Posted by: Pirate Nation Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:55 PM
I dont understand why the police couldnt have used other ways to handle the situation like maybe pepper spray.....
Posted by: LD Location: Durham on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:51 PM
ECU wants us to buy gear, attend games, be loud, get emotional and in particular, this game was hyped to no end. I personally received ECU emails encouraging me to attend and be loud. ECU won and all that pent up emotion had to spill out somewhere. I saw persons in their 40's, 50's, 60's and older jumping up and down in celebration. Well, those younger took to the field. However, to know that a few cops physically and brutally threw down students during that celebration was sickening. Going onto the field did not break a state law, but merely a school policy. I ask you Maggie, is excessive physical force warranted, like the kind exhibited on our field and on national TV? Absolutely not! It's an abyssmal display and exposes the mindset of our police today, to "take 'em out". I believe they've seen one to many Police SWAT movies.
Posted by: Tracey Location: eastern nc on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Maggie of kinston, Not well spoken. Some of the students at ECU are just turning 18. Barely old enough to vote and what about the families that were at the game? Do you think they deserved to pay plenty of money to wittness this? We teach our children that police officers are good people. This was not acceptable. As a grown adult, I would not like to be face down in the ground with a large police officer beating me in the back.
Posted by: George Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:50 PM
If students would have gotten hurt or killed because of the stampede of students, all of you would be crying wanting to know where the police were while your love ones were hurt. you can't have it both ways, either you want the police to try to keep order or you don't. make up your mind.
Posted by: George Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:46 PM
If the students had stayed off the field, like they were told, this would have never happened. the officers were doing there jobs!!! Hey Steven, do you think it is ok to charge the field after games like that?
Posted by: Stacey Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Amen!! Jason Location: Wilson on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:23 PM
Posted by: ECU Fan Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Maggie...I couldnt agree with you more... It clearly states that the spokesperson for Kinston stated their officers DO wear gray and THEY ARE under investigation. Guys serioulsly...in no way was what some of the officers did right (for example the lenoir deputy beating the kid while 2 others held him down or the ECU officer that was badgering the kids to come over the fence before the game was even over)..but know this as well, law enforcement officers are trained to use force when they deem necessary...this got out of hand, we get that..but look at this from both sides...these people that charged the field were not CHILDREN they were ADULTS that know the difference between right and WRONG. Yeah it was a huge game..but if you're willing to break the rules, prepare for the consequences as well...you've got 60 officers for 1000s of founds rushing the field...force is GOING to be used..it sucks, but look at both sides before pointing all fingers in one direction!
Posted by: Sandra Barnes Location: Aulander on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:15 PM
I've thought in the past about how I've never had the priviledge of attending an ECU Pirates Game. But, since the police acted like wild men at the ECU vs. W. Va. game, maybe, I'm priviledged for not attending! I'll just watch, when I can, on t.v. Of course, they could storm my house and my couch! But, I'm in Hertford County. Na-na-na-boo-boo!
Posted by: Meggan Location: ECU STUDENT on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:14 PM
I was in the front row on Saturday, right up against the fence and saw everything first hand. It was definiatly an ECU Police officer who rushed the fence, he pushed several of us back with his force. I was not trying to jump the fence but got caught up in the crowd against the fence. The poice officer who rushed the fence is the same ECU officer who with one minute remaining in the game came over to the students and said to one student "if you come over that fence your mine boy". He was pumped up and ready to force the students before anything even happened! I also witnessed a black female greenville police officer using her night stick swinging it at a student with full force!! Something Must be Done...POLICE ARE OUT OF CONTROL...it seems they are under the impression that is okay forlaw enforcment to break the law as long as the public does not!
Posted by: Steven Location: Greenville, N.C. on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Yeah I am a student in Greenville. You hear all over the news about all the crime going on in Greenville, and the law enforcement in the area can not stop it. But they do seem to be able to man handle a few students at a football game endangering no bodies life. Seems like law enforcement these days when you give them a badge they think that they are god. There was no reason for their actions at the game on Saturday. I feel these law enforcement personnel should be dealt with and taken care of to prevent this from happening again. All they have done is give Greenville and ECU in general a bad image.
Posted by: pitt citizen Location: pitt co on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Maggie of Kinston, Well spoken! I agree 100% They are not "kids" like so many other call them on here. Just because they storm the feild in other places does not give them the right to do it here!
Posted by: David Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:03 PM
I would've expected it more from the Kinston Police Dept. Being jerks is more natural to them.
Posted by: Snowman Location: Farmville on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:56 PM
I also was at the game on Saturday and witnessed the events after the game. The blame should be shared among everyone involved. Yes, some of the cops were overzealous and should be punished. Yes, the fans and students should not have entered the field, but it happened. I feel ESPN should share the blame also for interviewing the coach on the field and encouraging the fans who wanted to be on National Television. The other four police departments did not assist in stopping the beatings of several fans. They should also share in the blame for standing by and watching. The University should have a written policy for each officer to sign in the future before working a football game. The attacks by what appeared to be cops from Lenoir County were random. They just picked out a person they wanted to attack. What I witnessed was not provoked. The worst part of it all is this spoiled what was a perfect game by a team and coach that have worked hard to reach the level of success they have obtained. We the fans, students, alumni, police and people of Greenville, should use this incident as a learning experience and move forward by continuing to do the positive thing that make ECU a great place to learn and Greenville a great place to live. Comments made by the schools to our west just let me know we have been doing things right at ECU for over 100 years. Many positives make up the legacy we enjoy at ECU; one negative will only serve to make us better in the future...
Posted by: 1983AycockHall Location: Baltimore, MD on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Ask any bouncer. It is possible to control and calm down kids--even drunk ones--without beating them up. What haapened reminded folks of Russian controlled Hungary or Nazi Germnay, not a college campus. They even wore Brown Shirts!!! These cops need to be publicly exposed, fired and charged. And why isn't the SBI or FBI involved given charges of abuse? The administraiton might want to do a google news search on "ecu police". They'll be shocked. This has gained internaitonal exposure and is on tv news accross the country. ECU officials had better get ahead of this story and make sure it never happens again. For sure, who would want to visit Kinston or Lenoir Cty after watching the tapes??? Shame is ECU fans are actually well behaved. We all know that.
Posted by: Mike Location: UNDER SCOREBOARD on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:47 PM
I was right there i was right behind the band and i watched excitedtly as the students rushed the field. I understand that it was probably not the smartest thing to do. That does not give officers the right to continually strike a subdued student in the back of the head. I'm just happpy to know i am safe as long as i do not cross into the kinston city limits. Thankyou to Sheriff Mac Manning and your staff you're doing a great job. I am gladd that you and your men are clearly not involved in this
Posted by: maggie Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:33 PM
You know if you are grown enough to disreguard the rules then you should be grown enough to take the punishment!!! to the ECU students that got punched or tackled or bodyslammed get over it you brought it on yourselves when you as ADULTS decided to get caught up in the moment and disreguard the announcment not to do it.
Posted by: Kinston Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Chris you might want to go back and read the statement from Kinston Again. I think you have it wrong.
Posted by: Dixie Location: Lenoir co. on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:11 PM
It sure would be nice to have these officers put that much "effort and force" into cleaning up the city of Kinston and Lenoir co. I've been here for over 20 yrs. and I can honestly say this city and county is getting worse as each day passes. From my experience with LCSD; they have a real disrespect for the laws of our country. It really needs a huge overhaul. Chances are these deputies used too much force on purpose.
Posted by: J Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Attn Chris: On the video it also shows several officers in gray shirts tackling several other fans. Kinston Public Safety says their officers do wear gray uniform shirts. Spokesman Woody Spencer tells WITN that right now there is an investigation underway whether any of their officers were involved. (last paragraph of 2nd story from top)
Posted by: eyewitness Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Hitting a person on the ground with a closed fist over and over is a crime in my opinion. This officer wasn't protecting anything or anybody. He was clearly out of control.
Posted by: Booboo Location: here on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:03 PM
If there were no videos of the events, would the police be launching an investigation? I doubt it. If a certain booster hadn't threatened to stop his generous contributions to ECU, I wonder what, if anything, would have been done. It's hard to cover up what's on video. Let's not forget that the Greenville police were cleared when they gunned down that innocent, unarmed man with the mental health problems last year. If that isn't considered excessive, nothing will ever be. Too bad that wasn't caught on video!
Posted by: samuel Location: ahoskie on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:03 PM
To Travis: you say no one knows, did you look at the video? It speaks for its self, I saw a person in a uniform was beating someone not in uniform for going on the field. Just because you are a police office that don't put you about the law!!

POST EDITED
Posted by: John Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Is the ECU PD and the ECU Admin. going to take responsibility for what took place. It was an ECU event. It was POOR planning to say the least. Or are they going to continue to point fingers at other agencies BEFORE the Investigation is complete.
Posted by: Rob Location: Greenville NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:58 PM
ECU is a great school. I'm a proud ECU alumni and was at the game. ECU is one of the best schools in America. I'm going to grad school at Harvard through their extension college now and to be honest I'm happy I got my undergrad from ECU. It is one of the best schools with some of best and well rounded students and professors. Action speaks louder than words. If any one would like to say something bad about ECU say it to the face of an ECU alumni or staff member or professor. I'll even let you know where you can find me. I'm not for physically force, but two people can meet legaly in a boxing ring at a local gym. Proud to be a Pirate! If you don't like ECU who really cares, just move, every win helps the local economy in eastern NC.
Posted by: Chris Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:46 PM
I think its funny that a representative from Kinston said that there officers don't wear grey uniforms but I live in Kinston and know they do. They have no accountability for there actions. I mean its not like they were destroying anything there just celebrating there victory over a top ranked team. I think the cops should did over use their power and should be punished!
Posted by: pitt citizen Location: pitt co on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Being that my first comment was never posted yesterday I will make this short and sweet. I was at the game in the stands and heard the annoucment to "stay off the feild". So I did so!!! If you do as your told you do not have to deal with the Police... Then this would not be an issue. editor please post this one.
Posted by: DStroud Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Word is that the Sheriff is not letting his deputies work in Greenville anymore. Good!

POST EDITED
Posted by: ECU fan Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:12 PM
First and foremost, let me say I in no way condone the brutality some of these officers enacted. But let me also say, that as a fan in the stadium, directly under the loud speaker of the announcer that I barely heard the "OK" for fans to enter the field. You have 60 officers on the field with 40 some thousand fans in a stadium. First, when the kids were told to stay off the field, they should have done so, and when the ok was given..it should have been announced to Law Enforcement via radio first to make sure they heard that announcement. Be well aware that officers are trained to use force should a subject resist arrest. That in now way warrants some of the actions that were taken but both sides of this story need to be looked upon before every one starts the "police brutality" riots...because believe it or not people, they may have been somewhat in the wrong...JUST AS THE FANS WERE...but two wrongs dont make a right...
Posted by: Mr. ECU Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:08 PM
I'm pretty sure most of the ones making stupid comments about the ECU students are State and Carolina Fans. I know it's hard to understand how we are better in football than you now. I'm sure it feels really bad. Watch any Top Ten Team get upset at the opponents home field, the crowd runs on the field(Unless your at State, then we have more fans there than you, and we tear your goalpost down)LOL, Emily, your hit the nail on the head, it's just a bunch of pirate haters out there. Look out Wolfies, your next.Go Pirates.
Posted by: AW Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:53 PM
I like how people on here are blaming the ECU students for what happened, and saying ECU students need to focus on their education more and stop drinking. This is the same person listed below in the comments who appears to have not one ounce of spelling and grammar capabilities. To THAT person: maybe you should drink more and get an education at ECU! As an ECU Alumnae, and the daughter of a police chief: those cops were wrong, and they know they were. They don't investigate their own "just because." Those officers, regardless of thier jurisdiction, took away a GREAT win for the Pirates, and a GREAT day for ECU overall! Rushing the field may not be the SMARTEST thing, but that doesn't give ANYONE, even cops, the right to act as though they are wrestlers and beat the mess out of people. To those who were attacked and brutalized by those who have sworn to protect and serve: take 'em down; you earned that right the moment they laid their hands on you.
Posted by: Cletus Location: New Bern on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:51 PM
The announcer said "DO NOT RUSH THE FIELD". This was for the safety of the players and the coaches. This information was ignored. Do what you want. Ignore all the rules and regulations. Don't stop at the sign, run through. Don't stop at the stop light, run right on through making that right turn. Speed 55 or 60 in the 45mph zone just because it is 4 lane and looks like an expressway. Do what you want and disregard everything else. It's all about me, me, me... Eventually someone pays the price. Like the three persons killed today in Kinston because someone was thinking about self and ran the light. Be responsible for your actions and the best defense is a good offense - don't do what everyone else is doing just because you think it won't matter or that you can get away with it. I am not defending anyone in this case because both sides were dead wrong.
Posted by: police officer Location: North Carolina on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Another black eye for law enforcement all over the country. Our fellow officers need to remenber that you should treat people the way you would like to be treated. These actions were totally not necessary,this was a celebration for ECU and as long as no one was being harmed let the fans have their day.Unfortunately to many officers get caught up in the power of the badge and the gun.To my fellow officers I say step back and see the bigger picture before we react.
Posted by: Joe Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Just a bunch of drunks acting liking a bunch of drunks. Have you ever been in the student section at a football game? Then you have seen what goes on before,during and after a game. These drunks have no respect for you, your family, the law or ECU. The tv stations that carry ECU games will soon say, do not turn the channel we will have a fight at ECU tonight. How many times is this that ECU has made the news because of someone fighting on tv? Will someone from the news(tv-paper) see how many police, ems, and fire calls were answered to ECU students after the game, the sirens did not stop until daybreak.
Posted by: Travis Location: North Carolina on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Its funny to me that when something happens that includes Law Enforcement everybody wants to blame them and not the people that cause the incident. Well look at it this way.Do any of you know what cause the issue? NO you probably don't. Just because somebody gets a video of these so called KIDS (I thought after 18 you were considered an adult) people go blaming the Law Enforcement that they used unnesseccary force. But nobodys knows the whole truth what happened before the game, during the game, or after the game. Now who's to say I am wrong I could be they could have used excessive force but before I can or anyone else can say they did you need to know the whole truth! Thats the problem with America everybody wants to blame somebody else for their actions and not own up to their actions. And another thing your at a footballgame, Law Enforcement was asked to be there for a reason to probably keep the peace, and enforce the laws and policies governing this Great State of North Carolina
Posted by: Emily Location: greeville on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:25 PM
First of all, ECU isn't all about drinking and football games. Some students really do go there to get an education. Secondly, just because ECU students do drink and go to football games doesn't mean that it's ok for the police to beat them when they rush the field after an exciting victory. That's a completely absurd argument.
Posted by: SayNo2CopBeatings Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:21 PM
At most, the students who charged the field could be charged with disordly conduct and/or trespassing, both of which is very minor and doesn't warrant the beating that some of these fans took. I read reports of someone having a broken nose and fractured skull from the cops hitting him? If so, I hope he sues the person(s) responsible and gets every penny AND the proper criminal charges filed against the cops responsible. Although fun, I don't think rushing the field is necessary. However, to control the crowd, its sometimes better to just stand back and let everyone celebrate and then go home. I support all the hard work by any police officer, however I totally disagree with the actions of the officers at this game. They should be arrested and put in jail, same as anyone else would have been if they weren't a cop!!! I hope that everyone that was injured by the beatings are OK and make a full recovery. Everyone search YouTube and watch all the videos of excessive force!!!
Posted by: Louise Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I'm tiref of everybody dissing ECU for being a party school and what not. There isn't one school around that doesn't have students that go to the store and buy beer or get drunk on game day.. or any other day for that matter. I am in nursing school at ECU so I know that I'm getting my education and I also rushed the field. Stop judging a book by its cover and look around. We're just kids who were celebrating. Don't turn this into "hey look at those dumb and drunk kids"... I reaize what we were told to do, but it happened and we shouldn't be penalized for celebrating by being taken out by the cop next to us who should just be there to ensure SAFETY. It just kind of sucks that the win is now kind of forgotten and remembered more as this...
Posted by: SayNo2CopBeatings Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:13 PM
The officers that used excessive force were completely in the wrong. I'm not saying the students were not wrong for rushing the field. I watched the game on ESPN and the TV commentators expressed joy and made some comments (positive) about rushing the field in joy, etc. Its tradition, but it must be done safely. I'm sure the only injuries caused by the field rush was from the beatings by the out-of-line cops. I had friends come to my home after the game and they made some comments about the excessive force by the cops. I blew it off but after seeing how excessive they were on all the videos, I believe the officers responsible shall be charged with assault and let them have their day in court. If that was me getting abused by the cops, you can believe I would have defended myself in an appropriate manner. I was in school back in the mid 1990s (and graduate student now) and the school has changed a lot and is not any type of party/drunken school anymore as it once was.
Posted by: Killa Location: Va on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:12 PM
As a former ECU football player and alum, I will say that both sides was totoally wrong; but at the same time, How can law enforcement control students to storm to the football, jet let them go, no need to taunt, or beat the students. In my book the cops were more wrong than the students. And I hope they will be prosecuted.
Posted by: lisa Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:04 PM
it was wrong what the cops did but look at it like this they also were in the wrong i live in greenville go to the grocery store behimd these creazy acting kids on the weekend they buy 3and 4 cases of beer at the time ecu is it all about drinking and football games it dont look like they r learning anything other than drinking and how to disabe the rules so whats up with ur educating over there
Posted by: samuel Location: ahoskie on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Looking at the video the officers were wrong!! Kids going on a field after winning or losing a game does not give anyone the right to do what these officers were doing on the video's. If the investeragtion is carried out right, these officers will pay for this with there job and money.
Posted by: Phillip Cansler Location: Raleigh on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Ray Berry, those are some of the most idiotic statements I've ever seen. The police were told to show their presence and if that didn't work to get out of the way. How did the cops do a great job by not only not following their orders, but physically assaulting the fans they got their hands on while thousands of others streamed past to celebrate with the team? What part of their actions did you consider to be a job well done??
Posted by: ed Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Kinston, eastern north carolina's own little durham. nice, real nice.
Posted by: Jama Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I feel the police was there for our protection. They were asked to come for a reason. Everyone was told to stay off the field. That means stay off the field! The students really need to know how to follow directions. Some point in their lives following direction could save their lives. Everyone was really excited about the big victory of course. It was great! What if everybody in the stands had rushed to the field, something dangerous could have happened. Students do not need to be on the field at all! They need to do their celebrating in the stands! If the students had stayed in the stands none of this would have happened! Follow directions!
Posted by: ESEAU Location: New Bern on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Im sorry please help me. So many people are saying these kids broke the law? Is it a state law not to rush a football field? Im not sure, it seems to me they may have broke a request by the university but not a state law? Its a pure shame what those cops did to those kids, and thats the key word KIDS. And for all you defending those officers who are guilty of beating them need to understand that they are entrusted by us and trained to handle situations like this. They have to be held to a higher standard, its their job. Ill tell you one thing they sure taught those poor kids a lesson, that'll teach em'!! I know officers have a tough job and it can be down right dangerous and the for the most part they protect the innocent, but come one if you want to get technical about it if the students disobeyed the university, the so did the officers; didn't Terry Holland say if they rush the field let them do so and just try to keep it as organized as possible?
Posted by: Pirate Location: Raleigh on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:32 AM
We are Pirates. We celebrate big victories, especially over a # 8 ranked team. This is what separates us from the wine & cheese crowd in Chapel Hill. The officers were not on riot patrol in the stadium. They severly disobeyed the orders of the ECU PD Chief. They should lose their jobs for their actions.
Posted by: Jesse Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:27 AM
What is all this talk about the police being unprepared? It was reported by several places that the police were told before the game even started not to mess with anybody if the fans rushed the field...what did they do? Fans rushed the field and some of the officers responded to that by using unneccesary force. That would be directly opposite of what they were told to do in the first place and unfortunately now a bunch of students got beat up and hurt just b/c they were trying to run onto a field THEY and their PARENTs probably helped pay for in the first place through tuition and fees! Don't get me wrong, they don't have the right to ruin or damage the field but heck, let the fans celebrate the great win and don't ruin it! The win over WVU has actually been kind of eclipsed here lately by what a few ignorant officers did there on that night. To pour extra salt in the wound the officers were mainly from Lenoir County which would make them guests! Wake up!
Posted by: Russ Location: Washington, NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:26 AM
A possible solution to these kind of problems in the future, could be to organize a new approch, and welcome the fans onto the field. Officers can guard the goal posts, and help control any excessive activity. After all, isn't the game for the students. Besides, the player are students as well. Let everyone celebrate together. Maybe even start a new trend.
Posted by: Warren Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:08 AM
They should hire Blackwater for security at ECU home games.
Posted by: Pirate Location: Raleigh on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Where is the comment I made earlier? Was there something wrong with the content?
Posted by: Ray Berry Location: New bern, NC on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:41 AM
It's terrible these college students think none of our laws apply to them. The students are wrong. The cops did a great job. The rules were clearly stated and the students broke them. Do you have any idea how much the liability insurnace for the stadium costs? This incident will cost the school for years to come. The school needs to punish these students to the max. The courts need to punish these students to the max. I quit going to the college games because I got tired of being surrounded by drunk under age adults. Adults who chose to violate the law and got caught so they should be prosecuted to the fullest.
Posted by: Steven Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:36 AM
The cops were way out of line just bc they have that badge dont mean they are ABOVE the law, they need to be beaten and deserve to lose their jobs they are the ones who got picked on in school and have a chip on their shoulder. There is no excuse for this and all of you idiots that thank they were in the right you are wrong. I guarantee if one of your children got beaten by some egocentric cop you would be furious.
Posted by: Mr. Mackey Location: Choco on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:29 AM
If you get pulled for speeding, the cop doesn't automatically pull you out of the car and whoop your (rear). That is what the equivalent is here. The video shows a young man (one of HUNDREDS) running on the field in celebration (not attacking anyone), getting tackled and then pummeled. The comments on this website really blow my mind on how foolish and violent folks are in our community. No players got hurt, and even on the post game interview you can see Holtz smiling at the revelers enjoying his victory. Find me one ECU OR WVU player who felt threatened. We are turning into a communist country with these wackos saying all the fans should be beat up or hit with fire houses for storming the field after a big win.
Posted by: liddie Location: wayne county on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:27 AM
those peolpe ought to be ashame of themselves you suppose to do everything by the book and they were just wrong you don't tackle anybody even though there was a big crowd
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Plymouth on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:23 AM
what the police did was wrong. Yes the fans were told not to go on the field, but if the police were going to body slam and punch two people then they should have done it to everyone or no one. The fans were excited for their team, I mean come on they beat WVU's footbal team!
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:22 AM
A big thank you to the officers that continue to provide service during ECU games within the guidelines they are given. The vast majority of officers displayed professional restraint. The officers on caught on video should not be allowed to cover any further ECU, high school or elementary school games. If a person strikes and officer it is "assault on a peace officer" if an officer strikes a citizen it is "resisting arrest". It appears in this case to be a horrible double standard.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Yes the were told to stay off the field. It is a fact that they got on the field which was against the directive. It is a fact that they were slammed to the ground and punched. If I speed then I should get a ticket, but I should not be slammed to the ground and punched repeatedly....what part don't you understand.
Posted by: John Brown Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Get that officer's name the UFC is looking for talent. He throws a pretty good punch. Sounds like it one of the three "arrested" Saturday had to go to the hospital!
Posted by: jon Location: KINSTON on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:49 AM
I love how one sided and liberal the news is! They love showing the story that is gonna get the most reaction out of people. HEY NEWS MEDIA HOW ABOUT SHOW ALL THE FOOTAGE! If I had to put blame on anyone in this it would be ESPN, WITN, WNCT, and WCTI the news, show the whole story you bunch of one sided liberals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Mike Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Yes the officers were correct in that they were doing their job by not letting fans on the field. The only thing is, they were using entirely too much force. Two girls rushing the field in front of me were both hopping the fence when all of the sudden two white officers pulled them down, slammed them against the fence with entirely way too much force, and restrained them while the rest of the fans hopped the fence rushing the field. I just dont see any point to why these two innocent girls were chosen to be restrained while everyone else was charging the field. They did not do anything and they were not different from the other 40,000 people rushing down. This is not the first time I have seen Greenville police use too much force at times, for instance in the downtown area I have seen police abusing their power many times.
Posted by: Ecu_Fan Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Before you defend the cops one point to think about - it was not illegal to be on the field. Yes the fans were asked to not go on the field but by the admission of the ECU Police Chief celebrating is not a crime. He said himself the students did not break a law so any correlation to a crime such as speeding is irrelevant. The cops were wrong and I hope that they are punished and never work again. Great win, great celebration and go Pirates!
Posted by: Ken Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:43 AM
So if you are speeding a cop should be able to take you down and punch you? If you are jaywalking a cop should be able to tackle you and beat you? No matter how non violent or compliant you are a cop should have free reign? This is what you people supporting the cops in this thread are condoning.
Posted by: Becca Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Anonymous- if you heard the news it said no one heard do not rush the field, they couldnt hear the announcer.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:40 AM
I was at the game last Saturday and one announcement was made to "please refrain from running on the field". I agree that the fans took a risk to run onto the field but there were a few officers that did not keep their composure and made some bad decisions. We are not saying that all of the officers there were being abusive, only a select few actually took part in this activity. However, the police were also told to step back and make sure that no one got hurt, and in turn they are the ones that caused harm. I agree that if you speed you deserve a ticket but being bodyslammed on the ground or punched repeatedly would be absurd! You have to take into account the just punishment. Go Pirates!!!!
Posted by: Tim Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:39 AM
The article states that only 3 were charged after the game and that was for disorderly conduct charges. I assume that these were the students that we see in the videos, if so I would think the charges would be dropped. i would like to know what provoked the law to act the way they did on the video.
Posted by: Sean Location: New Bern on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:25 AM
I didn't see anything wrong. Let the investigations work out. Why did three officers single one person out? They are trained to see threatening behavior. What did the officers see? I will always side with law enforcement until an investigation takes place. They risk their lives daily to serve an ungrateful public. Video does not get it all. As far as the first person taken down, thats how you do it. The suspect doesn't always politely go to their knees. The police take them down the best way possible. The studfents were told not to charge the field. They have only themselves to blame
Posted by: Larry Location: Williamston on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I am about sick of those poor little fans that rushed the field and got what they asked for. How much plainer could they make it stay off the field. If the same thing was happening on the street it would be called a riot and the same folks and media that so easily use the term police brutality would be screaming why did the law enforcement officers do their job.Professional and college sports have become a breeding ground for doing anything one wants to because your team wins,other examples are after NFL,NHL,MLB,NBA wins a championship they riot in the streets.It makes no sense.
Posted by: blue two Location: the triad on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:12 AM
officers were lined up on the field, if you saw a line of officers outside walmart you would know you should not rush them. Why is this different? your ticket gets you a seat not a spot on the field. If the assisting dept pull their support, the ECU police will have to work the games alone. And limit ticket sales to the number of fans they can control alone. Fans did wrong, officers may have done wrong. Just let it go, or you may mess this up for a long time.
Posted by: David ECU 76 Location: Winston Salem on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Were the students in the wrong that rushed the field, yes. They were wrong because it apparently is not allowed by the school. Were the police officers wrong that beat the kids for getting on the field? You're (deleted) right they were wrong and should be severly punished for their actions. Another thing you can bet on is the guys that were beaten by the police and arrested will have a string of charges against them as long as your arm. That is the way the police do things now. They abuse their power and then make simple infractions of the law appear to be major crimes by inflating charges. My how things have changed. I remember when we were upset because we cound not go on the field at State. Now we can't go on the field at home. Unless it would do great damage to the field, what does it hurt to show your excitement by going on the field? The field looked great. To hold up like it did after hurricane says a lot about the grounds keeper and his staff. FTP and fo Pirates.

Slight Edit

Posted by: ecu student Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Once again to all those who are saying that the police did what they were suppose to. go and read what the chief of police said to them before the game. they were told to prevent it by making themselves VISBLE and if the students still came on the field they were to STEP BACK. you can read this im not making that up. STEP BACK does not mean BEAT THE STUDENTS. second the students did not break the law. they may not have listened to the school when they said do not enter the field but it was not breaking the law. speeding, murder thats breaking the law not going on the field after a major win. and to the guy below me who said to close the stadium and issue mass arrests thats just plain stupid. there are bigger problems in cities then student running on the field causing no damage. if the police wouldn't have hit or beat any students then no one would even be complaining about the students. its the cops actions that made the news not the students going on the field.
Posted by: Kara on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:10 AM
People criticize how officers do their job saying they shouldn't use excessive force or their tasers. In my opinion, as a deputy's wife, if my husband feels like he needs to enforce whatever means to protect himself and other citizens then do it. I know the students were excited, but it was for their own safety and the players safety that they were told to stay off the field. The officers probably feel that their actions were justified. They didn't know whether or not one of them students had a weapon and were intending to hurt someone, they were just doing their job to protect and serve.
Posted by: ecustudent Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:08 AM
it's a shame those cops dont put those skills to use in their home jurisdiction of kinston, it would be a much safer place. instead, they go on a power trip and think they can beat students. they know not to try to mess with anyone in kinston. Every major university that has been in this situation is fully expecting the students to rush the field and make arrangements accordingly.
Posted by: BL Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:48 AM
the state attorney general should be the one to investigate this....takes it out of the hands of all the local "legalized gangs"
Posted by: Pirate Location: Raleigh on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:33 AM
"Shelton said all offices had been told that if ECU won the game and fans attempted to go onto the field, officers should try to deter them by making themselves visible. But if that failed, Shelton said in the statement officers were instructed to step back and focus on making sure that those on the field stayed safe" - Did I miss the body slam and punch piece??? I didn't think so. Hopefully the officers being investigated will lose more than their game priveleges. A serious abuse of power if you ask me. The university needs to put some serious pressure on the ECU PD as well as Greenville PD and other law enforcement agencies involved. I personally witnessed a former outstanding ECU football player and Greenville business owner tackled by three officers, forced into submission, handcuffed with face in the mud and they let him watch as the rest of the students/fans rushed the field. I couldn't believe it. I really hate how these out-of-control officers have spoiled the victory.
Posted by: Al Location: Sea Level on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:28 AM
the cops should get fired!!!! i HOPE THE INJURED KIDS GET MILLIONS IN LAWSUITS

Slight Edit

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:01 AM
I am sick to death of hearing nothing but how the fans were done wrong. In the first place they were TOLD --do not go on the field. If you speed on NC highways and get caught-you get a ticket. I thing the officers were right -they were trying to protect the players and coach staff---well at the next ball game,let the officers go on strike-Lets see how the traffic is backed up and let the fans run wild. And if the players get hurt-tough. Stay off the field--what part don't you understand
Posted by: Bill Stewart Location: West Virginia on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:41 AM
Does anyone know if that cop has any eligilbilty left? We sure could use a good Linebacker.
Posted by: Dee Location: Kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:31 AM
The WITN video as shown on TV is choppy and seems to have some heavy editing. Heavy editing leads some to question if we are seeing the entire story. In the future I hope that all sporting events can be held in safety, that we can police the event with only ECU police and the underage drunk kids will not show up. Any event that cannot be handled by the ECU police should be stopped before it turns into this kind of incident.
Posted by: thug Location: hood on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:32 AM
were the "victims" breaking the law? YES! Did they try to keep getting up while the po po was trying to arrest them? YES! Did they get beat down just becasue they ran on the field? NO! THEY GOT BEAT DOWN BECAUSE THEY BROKE THE LAW AND RESISTED ARREST!! When someone resist arrest the po po can do what that gotta do to restrain the "victim" or CRIMINAL starting with their hands, pepper spray or taser, and baton. I can only imagine if they would have started tazing kids as they ran by! That really would have something to cry about! Maybe if those kids had been whooped when they were younger they would have respect for the rules put in place by ECU! Hey WITN how about find out what changes are going to be made next time to prevent a mass riot. Maybe they should block off the end zone and beachers with a 10ft tall fence razor blade barb wire on top.
Posted by: janet2 on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:21 AM
our news channels that show clips of ecu game on sat. realy need to show more of police in action as they show the rest of us how these officers need to punished to the fullist and see how our local law stands by all the families and fans. if they only get a slap on the wrist our local law should be ashamed of there selves
Posted by: thanks on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:42 AM
after celebrating the victory of the ecu win against wvu...it put us on the map again in a positive way!!To my sadness, on the national news, greenville was seen on the map again, with the replay of the officer body slamming a fan and punching over and over. no telling what else we didn't see on camera. I hope all of this can be resolved, it is like a bad dream. All of the students, pushed, yanked, thrown down, etc should be compensated by the officers involved. There is no sense in this treatment when it should be the thrill of victory. The officers should make a NATIONAL APOLIGY, and let everyone know that it is unacceptable here at ECU.
Posted by: Joshua Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:15 AM
I've been saying it for a while now, the militarization of the police is now knocking on our door folks. Doesn't make sense that they only stopped a few students. If everyone is breaking the law you lock the stadium down call backup and perform mass arrests, im sure the Highway patrol was at this event in some shape form or fashion. You don't pick a few out of the crowd to enforce the law on, you have to enforce it universally. It's sad for ECU, but these cops(who were out of their home jurisdiction) were out of line to a degree. To say these students deserved it may be true, but if they deserved it everyone did and no one should've walked away free. They all broke the law, and the law doesn't discriminate, it applies to everyone equally. These lawmen violated their oaths by only selectively enforcing it.
Posted by: jon Location: kinston on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:35 AM
I think that the KPD and LCSD did a fine job sat and so did the ecu police...You have got to be stupid to go out on that field after the game..What a bunch of idiots (students)so WAY TO GO ECU POLICE AND THE KPD,LENOIR COUNTY GOOD JOB FOR DOING YOUR JOB LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE DOING...ppl want to fault you for doing your job but if you weren't doing your job then they would still want to criticize you also..GOOOD JOB GUYS bad boys bad boy what you going to do when they come for you
Posted by: BBQ Lover Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:32 AM
I've seen the video/tape, looks like excessive force to me! I don't know all the facts, but I hope the young man is alright. What a shame this happened!
Posted by: andy Location: eugene, orehon on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:26 AM
I work for a company that provides security/crowd control at university of oregon football games, and can honestly say this could be avoided, IF people would listen to those of us working the games. there is a reason to keep the crowd off the field, which is for the safety of the visiting team, officials and the fans themselves. at the university of oregon, we do allow fans on the field, but only after the visiting team & officals are off the field. I had a kid last year who wouldn't wait, jumped the wall and broke his ankle, so it just shows the mentality of some of the people we deal with at every game/
Posted by: Lee Location: Greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:19 AM
I use to think of WITN as a respectable and “fair” source of news. But, when you headline something as “Brutality”, this is where I loose that respect and the respect for the people who play along. There is a HUGE difference in brutality and what I saw on these videos. Don’t get me wrong, I do not agree with the actions of the Officers who MAY have acted unprofessional, but, explore the facts people. Instead of just having an opportunity to lash out at Law Enforcement, consider the circumstances. In a crowd of 43,000 people, with maybe 150 Officers present, they do what is necessary to protect to staff, visitors and players of ECU. Yes, this was a HUGE win for us, but never before has the true ignorance been displayed by the ones who stormed the field after this game. Not only is it tacky for the Pirate fans to act so tacky, but it can prove to be deadly. Do the research and learn of the injuries and even deaths that have occurred because of this. As far as “Police Brutality” goes, WAKE UP and educate yourself on what the meaning of this is. When it happens, report it, but don’t “Hollywood” the headlines to draw readers. Excessive Force, maybe, but not brutal!
Posted by: john Location: Geenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:15 AM
it would be nice to see the bottom half of the video and not just an officers hand going in the air you can make all kinds of storys from that.whats the guy doing under the officers hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. hes thinking dollar signs now ps boy get your story right your were restrained on your shoulder and a hand on your neck
Posted by: yo Location: greenville on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:53 AM
mfrock you are def right about that unperpared and mis informed not to mention no man power for the crowd, for what they really told the officers to do if people stepped on the field.....? eww got ya thinkin.
Posted by: Jason Location: Clayton on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:50 AM
As an LEO and Pirate Alumni I observed what I knew was going to be a "Charles Frank" at the scoreboard endzone. There was clearly no operational plan in effect to deal with students rushing the field due to a Pirate victory. This squarely falls back on the ECUPD and the ECU Administration. The ECUPD is not the most tactically sound PD in the East. I know because I haved trained with ECUPD. So before the finger-pointing starts about what agency is at fault and what officers need to be disciplined. The ECUPD and administration should "man-up" and admit that an effective operational plan with a debriefing at the end of the night to determine what went right and wrong with crowd control was not done. All one had to do was see the suprise look on Coach Holtz's face and the State Trooper trying to provide security for Coach Holtz that they did not know if the students were or were not going to be let onto the field for the Pirate victory.
Posted by: Gerald Location: Pitt County on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:33 AM
I was watching the news today, and saw what happen at Dowdy-Ficklin Stadium Game. It's plain an simple who was in the wrong, everyone at that game new they were not suppose to go on that field,but no they did it anyway's. The officers at that game were hired to be there to keep them off that field and uphold the law.What were they suppose to do let the people run over top of them,and do as they please? "NO" the officers did exactly as they should. I don't see how the percentage of votes blames law enforcement for being wrong. For example: its like being in Viet Namm fighting the war and they tell you not to shoot at anyone unless they shoot at you first. This is one reason that we have the crime that we have today, people think they can do just like they want to, and its ok.
Posted by: Funny Location: I don't remember on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:27 AM
I think it's funny that these immature DRUNK ECU students got the beat down.
Posted by: Josh Location: VA on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:22 AM
ECU is a joke. I feel bad for the kids that go there, its just because they couldn't get in anywhere else.
Posted by: Donna Location: Washington, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:53 PM
I don't understand why when someone is doing something that they shouldn't and something happens they blame the people responsible for keeping them safe. If the students didn't or the person(s) accusing the officers were acting the way they should they wouldn't have had any problems. The officers are there for everyone's safety and it's wonderful for people who weren't there to voice there opinions. What was the person who the police were hitting saying or doing? Did he respond appropriately to the officers commands? Have you ever watched Cheaters? It's amazing that people on video and caught in a situation say it wasn't them. Please don't accuse if you don't know or weren't right there in that instance!!!!!Bottom line the students were doing the wrong thing. Do you know what an officer's salary is? Would you do what they do? Yeah there are bad eggs everywhere but watching the video and the others not telling him to stop or trying to stop him there must of been a reason!
Posted by: Debra Sermons Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:53 PM
I saw the game and i was happy that ECU won,and when i saw the video what the police did, i think it was not right for acting that way,and they should pay for what they did to those people
Posted by: Rob Location: NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:31 PM
This is absolutely sickening. There are those who support the so-called "police's" actions after this game, which is clearly excessive force. But, as long as the image of your precious ECU is not tarnished, everything is OK. This is reason enough not to trust law enforcement, who are nothing more than a tool used by the state to quell dissent and to enforce the policy of "Guilty until proven innocent." And those of you who favor police brutality and on this page encourage it, you'll love it when McBush and the Bimbo are appointed and anointed. I fear for our society when ordinary citizens cheer on these badge wearing thugs.
Posted by: Patrick Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:23 PM
I was at the game when the field was rushed and no police officer was even considered for an attack. The atmosphere was of joy and not vandalism as the cops would say. Watch the videos, no police officers were attacked and no vandalism occurred to the field. Beyond that, if the police wanted to control the order, the first step is not to pull Billy clubs and attack random kids enjoying themselves. No field is worth hurting people over. ESSPECALY AFTER ONCE THE GAME WAS OVER!
Posted by: ECU adopted Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:15 PM
all this is great... and it can go back and forth for all of eternity... i have heard people say you couldn't hear the announcement... thats understandable in ROWDY DOWDY!! i heard the stadium from my apt.... IT WAS LOUD!! the COPS were WRONG!! and are due the just penalty for their actions... desk job, prison guard, parking lot guard, or fired... i don't want some power happy cop on the street!! now lets see we haven't heard anything come out of Saturday night downtown?? i guess all us drunk disorderly people behaved ourselves b/c i ain't heard nothing about any thing bad happening downtown other than waiting in line to get into the clubs! hmmm... KINSTON/LENOIR COPS SUCK thats all there is to it!! the video is there... let the lawsuits roll... Kinston cops get out of Pitt county and clean up your on dang town... hwy 11 to vernon ave. and downtown would be a good start...
Posted by: Jesse Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Don't be ignorant BK2, we all know Skip Holtz doesn't need those police officers to protect him front ECU fans...how much sense does that make? Fact is, most of the police officers in Lenoir County are thugs and will always hold a special place in the hearts of everyone here in Greenville for what they did to those students at the game. I hope ECU uninvites Lenoir County from helping with any further games and charges are brought against those morons that chose (imagine that, holding someone responsible for their stupid actions..?) to beat up fans celebrating an unprecedented win against WVU. Don't give me that "poor me my job is hard so I reacted in that way" bullcrap that has bailed so many officers out of stuff like this...if anyone is in a job they aren't cut out for especially of the variety where people's health may come into play, then hit the road, go back to school, do anything but stay in that job and let things come to a head like it does in this case. Thats just my take
Posted by: Steve Logan Location: Kinston on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:13 PM
How can the Lenoir County Sheriffs Department say they were not involved? Billy Smith needs to issue a formal apology for false information to the public.

POST EDITED
Posted by: Stuart on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I just saw the video of the police brutality on the news and online. All that I can say as a ECU alumni and Greenville resident for the last decade is: " ECU STUDENTS PROTEST AND FIGHT THE NAZI POWERS!!!!" This is obscene....police attacking students in the crowd! The police have crossed the line, and there is a long history of this sort of abuse of power. Greenville and ECU police grow up and join the 21st century! In other parts of the country, the students would have burned the city down and made Sherman's March to the Sea during the Civil War look like a picnic in the park. Beware very aware...you have REALLY pushed it this time!
Posted by: Bud Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:07 PM
The students should all be charged with trespassing. They call it enjoying the win but they have no idea how much damage they can do to the field. In addition, if ECU athletic department had not purchased goals that could be lowered, it could have cost the University $30,000 as it did in 1999 when the students "just having fun and celebrating," ripped down the goal post at NC State.
Posted by: Robbie Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:06 PM
I am shamed that i give tax money to these redneck cops that they think they can do whatever they want. They are a disgrace. And bump the cop that tried to hit me with a night stick just because i was running on the field. I hope your fired.
Posted by: Dave Location: Greenville, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Your darn right those police offers used excessive force. I was there I saw it and they should be disciplined for this. Yes they were up against a lot but they elevated the level of force above what was neccessary. I have been at ECU for both my graduate and undergraduate education. My experience with police officers in eastern NC is that they are overly aggressive. I am surprised more aren't punished more. Maybe if they can get their own officers in line they can reduce the crime rate in Greenville and prevent our girls from being rapped and our bikers from being hit by drunk drives.
Posted by: JustMe Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Thanks to WITN for leaving this at the top of home page. Let's continue to allow ECU's accomplishments be overshadowed by a unfortunate situation. Report the facts and continue the story lifecycle by moving on.
Posted by: Mike Location: Holly Springs on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:47 PM
What everyone, including fans and students need to know and understand is this: The field is OFF-LIMITS to fans and non-credentialed persons. It is not negotiable. I understand completely how the fans felt after that game. After the performance the team put on last week and this week, EVERY Pirate fan should be excited! However, that does NOT give them the right, privilege, or "resonsibility" to enter the playing field, even though the game was over. It is still a restricted area. Were the officers wrong in how they handled the crowd? I don't know. I saw The lone security staff member, lone ECU PD officer, and lone NC State Trooper trying to keep the fans away from the ESPN reporter and Coach Holtz. What I saw was a large group of excited fans, some likely intoxicated, entering a restricted area in mob-like fashion. If the officers felt they or another person was in danger, they have to act. Let their respective agencies and ECU determine if they were right or wrong.
Posted by: Jimbo Location: Newport on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I think the officers caught on tape should be arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct.
Posted by: Brother Blue Location: G-ville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Unless you know all the facts STOP post opinions. You are only able to see one part of a UNLAWFUL TRESPASSING and ASSAULT On LAW ENFORCEMENT, Maybe the Law Enforcement world should just stop one day and say they dont like what we do..so we all quit, walk out, blue flu, what every you want to call it...Officers do what they are told. Officers Do what they are trained. Times of over the line cops are few and far.... Fact one: The fans where trespassing. They didn't do anything to win the game, it was the football team that won the game. Fact two: Officer have been told and were told to do exactly what you saw. Never mind the ECU chiefs statement, backstroking fast than Phelps.
Posted by: been there done that Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:39 PM
the chief was not in the breifing, major mcknight told the officers that the first ones across the fence were to be taken down and arrested, that maybe that would deter the others, it did not, officers are trained to take people to the ground to be arrested, the students were trespassing and resisting arrest once they were told to stop, nc law says an officer can use what force is reasonable and necessary to effect an arrest, you try to stop a drunk wild person by just saying please.
Posted by: Wake Up...Come On Location: Greenville NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I cant believe you could justify in any way police officers acting in this manner...its scary and amazingly wrong. The fans like all the other amped up college fans around the States that make college games College games! deserved to rush that field. You dont like it watch the game from your house. If ECU doesnt want it to happen build a bigger fence.
Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Naxt game no security, problem solved....
Posted by: BK2 Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Finally the all mighty Pirate Club Members are brought in to settle things. These are the "I give money to ECU so I am above the law and can do what I want" fans. Hey Sharon P, I am sure that the police administration in charge of the game passed out a roster and said make sure you only get the students on this list and not the non-students/adults or teenagers/children! Now that is funny. I also like the comment Skip made about the fans were just trying to celebrate and not cause any harm. Then what's the need for the two cops that follow you around? Kind of sends a mixed message doesn't it? These fans are just trying to have fun BUT I need two cops so these same fans don't "celebrate"to close to me.
Posted by: Mike Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:14 PM
As usual blame the cops! Yes I was just as excited sitting in those stands as everyone else. But as usual we the public as well as the media are using a few seconds of video to crusify these officers. Did the student assualt one of these officers? Was he complying with commands to stop resisting an arrest? Did any of you stop to think that this officer was not just "punching/beating" this person but that this is called a peraneil stike to the leg taught by every law enforcement academy across this country? Or that tresspassing on private property A.K.A. the field is an arrestible offence? My point is this, maybe there was some excessive use of force but please use your common sense and educated minds and realize there is always more to the story than just a few seconds of video that the media checks into or tells you about. I didn't see where this station or any other checked into the acts showed on this tape to see if it was just a maylay or educated techniques used by these officers.
Posted by: Kate Location: Raleigh on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I was at the game on Saturday and witnessed and videotaped the attacks on random people as they rushed the field. It made me and those around me sick to see such brutality by the police force. What a ridiculous display of authority! That I could see, there was no danger, vandalism, or any other violation - other than perhaps trespassing on the field being committed by these individuals. NO ONE should be subjected to abuse by police officials. I was sitting on the floor of the RBC Center in 2007 when State beat UNC in basketball. The students/alumni stormed the court then - and guess what - police/security maintained control by "directing traffic" and ensuring a peaceful celebration. What I witnessed in Ficklen has stained the victory of a great game... and tarnished my view of law enforcement and ECU.
Posted by: Joe Location: Apex on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Will, I hope you were not referring to Joe from Apex. If so, I would kindly ask that you re-read my post.
Posted by: Will Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:55 PM
All of you saying the students deserved to be treated the way they were would feel much different had it been you, your grandkids, or your own children. Some of you are an embarrassment to humanity....mainly you two, Chris and Joe.
Posted by: Sharon P Location: Raleigh on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:50 PM
I suggest these police departments settle claims as fast as they can. In addition to the ESPN, University and various news organization video recordings, there is an abundance of evidence (photos, video) taken by PIRATE CLUB MEMBERS documenting the excessive force. A plaintiff attorney's dream. I was surrounded by PIRATE CLUB MEMBERS commenting on how brutally the police were attacking certain students. Funny how NONE of the non-students/adults or teenagers/children were targeted by the police. The students were not attacking/hurting anyone or destroying property. These fans were enjoying the moment, plain and simple just like other fans across the country get to do on any given Saturday. School administration support your tuition-paying students for a change! Now, not all the police were abusing their authority--solid training pays off. However, there was no savvy police work here; police were beating students like shooting fish in a barrel. Shameful behavior and its all on tape.
Posted by: mfrock Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:33 PM
I used to work event security at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Our procedure during major NCSU basketball victories was to form a perimeter and try our best to direct the flow of students. We knew it was going to last long, and eventually we would be overtaken. Once overtaken, we were to step to the side for our safety, and let the students do their thing. We were only to intervene if we saw people who were way "getting excessively out of control and posed a risk to the safety of others". These cops looked unprepared to me, and did not know what they were doing.
Posted by: Chris Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:20 PM
Guess what idiot fans, you are not supposed to go on the field after a win or loss. So, I hope law enforcement beat you down like ECU beat WVU,"like a rented mule."
Posted by: Joe Location: Apex on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:18 PM
"Students broke the rules, pay the price. WITN should ease up and focus on the reason to not break rules when announcements are made: "Do Not Run on Field." Therefore the LEO that were holding open the gate are therefore guilty of aiding and abetting? Running onto the field to peacefully celebrate a home team victory should always be a part of college football experience. Don't we see this all the time with basketball? I am sure that there will be charges bought against the LEO for this incident. Punching and kicking should never be considered normal if the suspect is not resisting or posing a threat to the LEO! ECU fans are welcome at Duke home games where a Duke victory guarantees that home crowd (all 200) are charging the field!
Posted by: James Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:18 PM
I attended the game and as far as I'm concerned ECU is accountable for the incidents that happened. The Game was great but ECU did a very poor job at organizing the event as a whole. They did not have adequate security or event staff to handle such an event. Until ECU can provide a safe atmosphere I will not be attending another football game with my kids. I had to sit with my kids in front of out of control college kids that were cussing and intoxicated. It was a bad experience all around.
Posted by: BK2 Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:15 PM
I have a feeling that the same ones saying the officers were wrong and they should have just let the college students or "little kids" as they like to say for a better effect run on the field, would being calling for the Chief's job for not doing something about the large crowd,if someone got trampled and seriously injured. But when a few keep mentioning it on here no one that is against the police wants to answer that question or comment on it because they know they would complain either way. No one mentions that these "innocent little kids" are the same ones that set fires through out the neighborhoods adjacent to ECU yelling "Purple and Gold!". I guess they should be allowed to do that too. I mean we did beat WVU so burning furniture in the roadways should be allowed too! As a matter of fact when ECU wins games, maybe we should write the Governor to suspend state laws and the great Pirate Nation "who are little kids" should be able to celebrate however they want. Give me a break
Posted by: Justin Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:10 PM
I hope you guys consider posting my comment proir to this one!! If so, the negetivity was addressed for the bottom two comments, not the top two. Great win for ecu! Bad judgement by the law enforcement who were involved! I hope your badges are stripped and the dads of those kids take you behind the woodshed and well you know!!!!!!!!! Go Pirates!!
Posted by: Michael Location: Pinehurst, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:08 PM
The officers needed to gain control of the situation. Give instruction on the PA for all non-athletes to clear the field within 5 minutes or be escorted. Its called "prior notice". There was no reason for any beating to take place. That goes beyond the definition of "reasonable force".
Posted by: Bob Location: Washington on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Hey Jim of Washington, the next time you are caught speeding, what are you going to do when the police officer drags you out of the car and beats the mess out of you?
Posted by: o yea Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:00 PM
O i cant wait for the next game when the Highway patrol brings their riot team in to control the crowd bc no other agencys will work with ECU again. Shields and sticks baby cant wait to watch the excitement. maybe the military will bring some guys to and it will be so exciting i think thier taught never give up or sarrender Ewww this is going to be great. It will give soccer moms and rich dadys something to complain about again.
Posted by: laughing at citizens Location: somewhere on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:56 PM
well everyone is talking about the little celebration that went on after the game. how about lets look at the whole picture. the entire rest of the night officers responded to the burning of couches, trash, and mattresses. numerous fights and intoxicated irrate college kids. i dont know what all that says to you guys but that show actions of a mob. if they act stupid and cant follow simple directions well then they suffer the consequences. it is a huge safety issue for 100's or 1000's of people to run and trample across each other. I think the officers did the best they could at keeping the crowd under control. stay safe out there!!
Posted by: Louis Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:51 PM
There is no excuse for the force used against the students. The fact that so many LEOs defend what they did shows that they have lost good judgement. The also can't follow instructions. One would have to think that this kind of abuse must happen all the time and it just got captured on video this time. It is time to pay more attention and capture every event where this kind of thing happens. If you all want to go on strike go ahead. We might find that the crime rate goes down and we just have too many cops now.
Posted by: Tony Location: Kinston on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:34 PM
ecu grad, reside in kinston. hope law enforcement agencies do a thorough investigation in this matter. it is a shame that a great win for ecu is marred by this incident. both sides can blame each other but in the end hard to justify stopping 3 or 4 people out of a mob rushing the field. it is easy to take sides and place blame. don't assume all cops are bad and don't assume all students are drunks. hope everyone (students and cops) are held accountable for their actions.
Posted by: me Location: lenoir co on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:26 PM
I think it is sad when every officer that was at the game is being judged and blamed. Not every officer took part in the misconduct. Those that were wrong should be punished but not all them. I for one am glad that the police are willing to put on that uniform and do what most people are not brave enough to do. They leave their families on a daily basis not knowing if they will be coming home for all of us. The next time you want to judge all of the cops try putting on their uniform and seeing what they have to see. Picking up the abuse child, the girl who was sexually assualted or having to scrape someones child u
Posted by: Pirate Fan Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:13 PM
The majority of people on here are blaming the Police for the problems after Saturday Afternoon’s Game. Maybe they were, I don’t have all the facts so I will wait until I do to place blame on the Police. If any are guilty they should and will be punished. The one thing that is certain from the tapes is that hundreds of people violated the law when they rushed the field. Justice in this case is a two way street. While the police are being investigated the persons that rushed the field should also be identified. There are hundreds of photographs so quite a few of them could be identified. When they are they should as well as the police who acted improperly be disciplined. They could just as easily be charged with trespassing as the police can be with excessive force. It appears to me that there is more than enough blame to go around for this incident. The incident should be viewed as learning experience and laid to rest. The excitement and attention of this past weekend should
Posted by: Pirate Fans Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Wonderful point Jason. I guess NONE of these people (who think the students somehow "deserved" being beaten) have EVER broken ANY law. And by the way, I don't think that "storming the field" is actually breaking any law. I completely acknowledge that it is a safety issue, but for all the haters out there regarding how "stupid" our ECU fans looked by storming the field, I would like to remind you that ECU fans are not the first, nor will they be the last fans to do so! If it were not expected that fans might storm the field, the officers would not have been instructed to step aside and ensure the safety of those on the field. Those videos do not support them doing what they were asked to do anymore than the students who you are chastising for not following the announcer's appeal for fans to stay in the stands. From what I saw, the highest threat posed on the field came from the few officers who did not follow command. Our focus should be on the OUTSTANDING WIN, it's a shame it isn't!
Posted by: teacher Location: here on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:00 PM
I think the students and the police are at fault. The students did NOT listen nor did they follow the laws(rules) of the stadium. The officers should not have singled out students. It appears to be a drunkfest, and you break the rules, you pay the price.
Posted by: Jenn Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:53 PM
I'm an ECU alumnus, Pirate Club member, season ticket holder and now a mom. We never drink before or during the game. I think some students rushed the field too early, but it did not warrant this type of force. My husband and I, with our friends entered the field after the game through the gate which was being held OPEN by a police officer. On the field it was more than just students. I saw dads with their kids taking pictures and other alumni. I appreciated the many officers that stood by, protected the goal post and made sure everyone was safe. The officers that attacked students were excessive. I saw a few of the incidents and in every one of those the student weren't doing anything besides celebrating. I didn't see any unruly fans on the field. Just a bunch of people glad to be Pirates. Some of you need to recognize how much the students contribute to the area. They volunteer, work, and contribute greatly to our economy. Shame on you that generalize all the students as drunks.
Posted by: Greg Location: Clayton on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:53 PM
The video doesn't show everything that happened. I was there in the stands overlooking what was occurring. The officers were kicking the shins of fans running by in hopes of knocking them to the ground. When on the ground they proceeded to throw punches, kick the ribs, and beat some students with batons while facing chest down on the ground in handcuffs. The field goals were down very quickly prior to the end of the game. The people rushing the field were just being fans showing their excitement. That excitement is what makes the college experience great. The officers on the field were undoubtedly the aggressors and had caused the violence. It was not the other way around at all. The officers should have just made sure that no one got hurt but instead of preventing they inflicted.
Posted by: ha Location: Geenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:46 PM
i would love to come to east Kinston were do i sign up i learned some good moves from the police at the ecu game good job guys
Posted by: me Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:41 PM
i think all police officers should go on strike for a month to protest and see how everyone feels with out us.. i would love a vacation and not have to baby sit your children that hang out on street corners till 5 with their children setting a great exsample for them, it would be great. O and i deal with gangs, drugs and shootings every day you thinks its easy dealing with death people that dont care about their on familys and would love to put a bullit in you please rich people that have nothing better to do with their time come join.
Posted by: Dee Location: Kinston on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:33 PM
Incidents like this are to be blamed on first the school secondly the fans and third the few officers who acted in a questionable manner. Winning a ball game is no excuse to riot. It does not matter if they had just beat the Dallas Cowboys. This is no excuse for unlawful conduct. Had the crowd made a civilized exit the offices would have had an easy job and no civil or criminal actions would have occured. The officers were assigned a task of securing an area where they were outnumbered hundreds to one. I am assume that many of these people had been consuming alcohol so now we not only have a riot but a riot of intoxicated people who know they can over run the few officers working. It is shown in the video that not everyone ran onto the field it was the minority that chose to openly disreguard the police. In the future the ECU police, Greenville PD and Pitt County S.O. along with the NCSHP and NCALE should police these events.
Posted by: Cameron Location: ECU on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:25 PM
NOT EVERYONE who runs on that field is drunk or unruly and when students are just trying to live up their college experience with their friends by rushing the field... LET THEM! They just beat a number 8 ranked team and it was awesome! It didn't hurt anything by letting the students on the field, speaking from experience. The only thing that was unruly about the situation was the over excessive law enforcement. The law enforcement should just be there to manage the situation if for some reason it does get out of hand.
Posted by: Michael Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:06 PM
I was at the game and i did rush the field the cops had no right to hit the guy when they were just standing there letting other people rush the field there was no need to punch him 3 times and then there be other cops just standing there watching so what was the point of arresting him if they stood there and let other people rush the field?
Posted by: DThom Location: GLand on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:01 PM
We can argue each side until death do us part. The cop clearly threw that student to the ground and commenced to beating him. That is just WRONG !!!!!!
Posted by: Curt Location: Snow Hill on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:51 PM
I believe that the cops were way out of line. The fans were just enjoying the victory! The police should never have reacted like they did. That kind of excessive force was not necessary. By the way, the surrounding counties have a bad record of officers using excessive force, not to mention other things!!! I have several friends that work for these organizations and I would just hope that the communities of these organizations do not look down on the other officers not involved in this childish act of authority !!
Posted by: Larry Location: Raleigh on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:46 PM
The Lenoir county sheriffs department is taking the brunt of this. But there was an overwieight police officer in a dark blue uniform that chased 1 kid 20 yard before tackling him. It was a really nice bulldog tackle around the neck. I wonder if he has any college eligibility remaining. We could use him on the football team. Maybe Skip could teach him to follow orders.
Posted by: Tracey Location: Eastern NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Roger, The goal posts came down with 17 seconds left on the clock. The fans could have cared less about those posts. They only wanted to share in the glory of a top ten win. This is a huge Celebration. Give me a break!!
Posted by: Mary Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:33 PM
My pride of being a Pirate Fan was quickly shattered Saturday. As I watched law enforcement officers tackle, assault, and basically just be bullys to students who were just trying to make a memory. I understand their was some mixed communication between students and officeers. Some officers told them it was ok to charge the field just let them take the goldpost down first, whild other officers sait it was ok but to come thru the gate open on the side. In the future officers should have a game plan in effect even if it takes Coach HOltz to give them the plays. It was obvious they had no leader Saturay evening.
Posted by: Kay Location: Greenville nc on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:31 PM
While I do not condone any police misconduct, I would like to find out if there was any action other then what was going on the field that would have caused the police to do the action they did. Were people being hurt by the students storming the field. We do not see all the action preceeding the police action. I think the students have to share in all of this. They were asked NOT to storm the field and if you look at an interview a reporter was having with Skip Holtz, the students were rushing and pushing him. The students didn't seem to have any regard for his safety nor any of the players that were on the field. It will be a shame if because of the students action will keep the players from greeting EVERYONE after the game. I commend the school and police for investigating for the whole truth.
Posted by: ECU Grad Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:29 PM
I was standing in the end zone the entire game and right before the rush began, I, along with several around me, was told by a police officer that we could go on the field as soon as the goal post was down. Amazing how we were told this yet several were beaten for doing just that. It was a great victory, who wouldn't want to celebrate? No harm would have come to anyone if the police would have just let the fans celebrate.
Posted by: Jim Chesnutt Location: Washington on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:29 PM
Students broke the rules, pay the price. WITN should ease up and focus on the reason to not break rules when announcements are made: "Do Not Run on Field."
Posted by: Janice Location: ECU on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:26 PM
It's sad that everyone is feeling sorry for students who were spitting at and being disrespectful towards the officers. No one deserves brutality but how interesting that it's brutality when it's drunk Caucasian kids who are actively not following the rules and being disrespectful to law enforcement. You have no idea what these men do on a 24 hour basis. You also have no idea what it's like to have to be in charge of the safety of that many people. I don't feel bad for then at all and I am a Caucasian student. If they weren't acting like idiots they wouldn't have been taken down by force, excessively or otherwise.
Posted by: Marcus Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:21 PM
I feel that it was both the police and the Event Security, every school does it with a big gane, is it right (NO) but it is school spirit, and having worked in the security field dealing with riot control in a case like this you try to control the flow show authority, but with a gentle hand, when in a riot control, you try to control the crowd and the first time someone breaks ranks there is your weak spot, the smart thing with this would have been to keep them from climbing the fence but let them go to the sides, and those that come to help should know these are students and how to handle themselves in riot control,and you have to put yourself in the officiers place too, you stand out there and let a hundred not to mention the thousands that were in the stands come running at you and see where your blood pressure goes
Posted by: Roger Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:17 PM
The sooner they stop letting people on the field the better. Fans do not need to be on the field , before, during or AFTER. The police are there to protect everybody. If it means using more force on several drunk or unruly people so be it. When you have 40,000 people there, you have to be in charge of the situation. The fact that students or so called fans would rush the field and tear up their own schools goal post and field is insane. That is not a celabration!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: eastern nc on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:16 PM
the officers should lose thier job. these students are just enjoying what the college experience is all about. i understand the the officers have a job to do but 15 law officials cant keep a crowd of 40 thousand people in line. the officers should have just let the students enjoy the experience of their team beating the number 8 team in the nation! the law officials should have to face the consequences! i will never contribute to my own county law enforcement ever again. it is a disgrace to law enforcement and lenoir county.
Posted by: Lee Location: ECU on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:15 PM
There were in fact a couple of Greenville PD partaking in the excessive use of force Saturday. I saw it myself from a distance. Anyone else think that maybe this abuse of power might have something to do with lack of leadership in Greenville PD?
Posted by: mike Location: Washington,NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Those officers should be fired. I guess its too easy to beat up students that fight real crimes.... like going after gangs
Posted by: Edward Location: Washington, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Law enforcement should expect students and fans to rush the field after a win like this and be prepared for it. This one officer was way out of control and used unecessary excessive force which could have caused bodily harm. If I was the student, I'd be pressing charges against him.
Posted by: CHARLES DELPH Location: Vanceboro on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Itz just like when my friend was murdered on my porch, the KEYSTONE COPS tried to arrest me for it.....YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK !!!!!
Posted by: seth Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:07 PM
EC10RET hopefully you or your family are the ones that are attacked next, we ll see how you feel then
Posted by: fan Location: ecu on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:07 PM
i hope these kids sue the pants off of these police.

POST EDITED
Posted by: ECU Mom Location: Greenville, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:56 PM
The behavior of the police at the ECU game was horrible. When is Greenville going to recognize that ECU and the students contribute greatly to this community and quit treating them like second class citizens. Something needs to be done in this community to stop tagging students as easy prey for the police. There are plenty of criminals out there, but I guess going after students is safer for the police.
Posted by: EC10RET Location: NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:53 PM
The one's I feel sorry for are the poor witnesses to this monsterous behavior. I mean picture them, their eye's wide in horror, quivering with indignation, hands over trembling lips, tears welling up in their eyes, while they shriek in horror as a deputy pushes a 27 year old nonstudent on the ground and hits him in the leg three times with his hand. Oh, the HORROR! You poor witnesses! You must be traumatized after seeing that. ECU should provide immediate counseling for all of you in case you develop Delayed Stress Syndrome. I mean having to actually SEE somebody hit in the leg with a hand. It's absolutely HORRIBLE. I feel for you, I really do. Boo hoo hoo.
Posted by: Matt on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:49 PM
People are saying the students did nothing wrong. The PA announcer made the comment of staying off the field. It went wrong with the placement of the officers. if you dont want people on the field you need to surround the field with officers. At NC State games the field is completely surrounded by law enforcement and you also see pepper spray in containers the size of a small fire extinguisher. i think the ECU Staff needs to do their own investigation into how to handle that next time. dont place all the blame on the law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers are always bad people until you need them and they help you out. give them a break. thousands of students vs. say maybe 100 officers...
Posted by: sue Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:42 PM
A lot of citizens act surprised that these cops are so over the top with force. WELCOME TO BEING A STUDENT AT ECU. cops have always been this bad, you give someone a little bit of power and they go crazy. these are bad cops and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law
Posted by: bob Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:40 PM
All these officers are an embarrasment to NC and to their families. I hope they are fired and serve time in jail where they can be the ones getting beaten down.
Posted by: hello Location: goldsboro on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Do not come on the field is what they said.Either abide by the rules or get your butt thrown down!!! I GUESS loud music has affected their hearing after all.I watched the game and heard it plain as day.OBEY the rules !!!!!
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Are Lenoir County citizens paying taxes for a sheriff's department so they can go and work in another county? If they were off duty, then they should not be allowed to use county uniforms and weapons to do a second job.This is just setting Lenoir County up for a lawsuit. No other county employees are allowed to use county equipment to perform a second job after hours.By the way Mitchell, you sure got it right on that one.
Posted by: thug Location: hood on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:20 PM
ECU next time call in the SWAT or NCSHP's MFF with tear gas and bean bag bullets, I bet they wont rush the field then.
Posted by: mitchell Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:17 PM
too bad they're not that agressive in east kinston... maybe Kinston would have a better reputaion than it does?
Posted by: ecu fan Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 05:01 PM
I hope that everyone who is upset about the students running on the field gets just as upset when other colleges do it. ECU is not the first team in history to do this and we will not be the last. ECU didnt even do much. I was there we ran on the field and jumped around and cheered. we were not looking to riot or rip down the goal post. we just wanted to celebrate one heck of a game and that is not a crime. and if the cops would have just grabed a few kids no one would be saying anything its the fact that officers were video taped beating students. I hope this goes national since anyone watching ESPN saw it happen.
Posted by: Brenda Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:49 PM
If the job of the police was to keep people safe why were they punching kids repeatedly and body slamming them as seen on the video? Do they treat criminals this way, I don't think so. It's a disgrace to the police uniform for them to have acted the way they did on Sunday. The one's that participated should be fired and have to stand on the 50 yard line at the next home game and each give an apology to all the students and fans. What if a student had been killed Sunday? Who would have taken responsibilty then?
Posted by: David Location: Raleigh on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:49 PM
Without much more information as to specifics it's hard to judge both sides..did the guys the officers grab curse or do something prior to the arrest to be individually sought out. As for saying someone was singled out...if you three people breaking the law as an single officer who take the first person in view or that's closest...you can't deal with all three..if the other two get away then I imagine it's part of the deal..but you don't just let all three go because there are too many of them...
Posted by: Ted Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:48 PM
So, ya break the rules then complain about the treatment. While it may appear the police overreacted I'll hold my opinion until all the facts are in.
Posted by: Ralph Waldo Emerson on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:40 PM
As a man with much wisdom, I dont see how you people could even begin to blame the students. What you witnessed was probably one of the biggest vicory's ECU has had in the last 5 years! They need to rush the field to let the team know Pirate Nation is behind them and supporting them. Next time something in Chapel Hill happens take a look at Franklin Street. They light stuff on fire, turn cars over, throw bottles. What ECU students did was celebrate in what was suppose to be a safe manner. What the KINSTON police department did was ruin a good thing and put a damper on what has started off as a great season. If you think what the students did was wrong your not a FAN and you shouldnt come to any more games...
Posted by: Jesse Location: Kinston on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:39 PM
David well put, college students trying to have fun are the real criminals! Sounds like some stiff Kinston police or Lenoir Co. Sheriff that would fight some college kids. Scared to grab real criminals like that!
Posted by: Pirate FAN Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:35 PM
It amazes me that people like "ECU ALUM" can justify this.How could they of deserved getting "beat down" for trying to join 5000 other people. I guess Skip Holtz should of been beat down for being out there high fiving "the Stupid field rusher's" People like you give ECU a bad name. Not the fans but opinions such as your's is what cast's a black cloud over this. I guess as an ecu alum you probably never attended a game or got excited if we won. It was a great WIN!! It will always be a great win regardless of the excessive force that surrounds it!
Posted by: Jeffrey Location: Wilson on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:32 PM
It needs to be pointed out here again that nobody was hurt running onto the field. ECU officials and college sports in general acknowledge and even make preparations for students taking the field after a bigtime win. ECU officials told every police officer at the game to LET THEM GO!! If Mac Manning actually said it was a "riot" he is covering for the criminal acts of his fellow "law enforcement" officers. He is trying to portray this as something it was not in hopes it will justify the police officers attacking a subdued college kid laying on the ground. The cops are pretty tough ain't they?? It is obvious that we have fans from teams in the triangle and some Lenoir County cops posting here. To the triangle fans. Maybe someday you will win a game so you can storm the field. To the cops. You are on tape. We have seen how pitiful and weak you are. Hopefully you will be in jail soon!!!
Posted by: TheWholeStory? Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:29 PM
I would be interested to know what the "victims" did that caused certain officers to target them. All we are seeing is one side of the story. Were they drinking? Did they hit another student? What caused those officers to react that way? Did they have to use additional force because the individual would not cooperate? I know it is very easy to cast stones at the police but they are the first people we all call for protection when we need help. If a student was harmed for no reason then absolutely that law enforcement officer should be have consequences but let's make sure we have both sides of the story first and let's remember that it was not all of the police in question. There are a lot of good officers that go to work everyday to protect each of us and for them to be stereotyped because a handful of people MAY have done something out of line is not right.
Posted by: Rob Location: Atlanta on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:24 PM
I love the stereotype below that all students are drunks.
Posted by: Jason Location: Wilson on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:23 PM
How did the two kids in this video deserve to be thrown to the ground, punched over and over again? How blind can you be? Sure students were asked to stay off the field...was it going to happen at any other university with an upset like this? No...Those "stupid" kids have the same rights as you! ECU kids are out of control...so I guess Stanford, Michigan, Duke, or Carolina kids are "stupid" too. The students are a reason you have a team to pull for...I am almost as repulsed by some peoples comments than I am with the video!
Posted by: David Location: Kinston on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:21 PM
I think the attacks were premeditated.Officers knew they would run on the field after a victory of that magnitude.Police seized the opportunity.No need to stop a few fans whenever 40,000 others made it through.
Posted by: David Location: Kinston on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:16 PM
Maybe the cops should patrol East Kinston and stop bullying college students.
Posted by: hillbilly Location: washington on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:08 PM
All cops that used this type of force should all be charged with crimes and FIRED.THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Posted by: Jeff Location: Goldsboro on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Sounds like when I was in school in 1971. Only they just beat you with no witnesses.
Posted by: ~It will be Televised~ on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Some of you look so dumb right now. No one is saying the kids shouldn't stormed the field. What we are trying to get to you meat-heads IS excessive force was used on about 5 people when it looked as if 5000 were around the team. Those 5 were being punched and hit repeatedly. What can't you understand about that? Rushing the field after a big win happens, the only one's that are whining is the cops and vbush.

POST EDITED
Posted by: Concerned Pirate Fan Location: Winterville NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Mac Manning says this is a post game riot! Who caused the riot Mac? The Cops or the celebrating kids???
Posted by: ecu alum Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:53 PM
i dont agree with how some of the students/fans were treated. but they probably deserved it. ecu college kids are completely out of control. its always been that way, and until something is done, it will continue to be that way. we just dont know when enough is enough. it just takes a few to ruin it for the whole. had the stupid field rushers just followed directions none of this would even be taking place. thanks stupid fans for casting a black cloud over one of the biggest wins in ECU history.
Posted by: Chris Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:51 PM
I am a ECU graduate and I am also a Pirate Club member. What I saw out there Saturday night was joy from the students. I remember when ECU beat teams that was in the top 25 and students rush the field including me and there were no problems. I think sometime older ECU Pirate Club members forget how thay acted back when they were students. It was a good clean celebration that some law enforcement officers took to far. I even saw a female office chase a kid all the way to the middle of the field with her night stick out. Let the students have fun.
Posted by: DK Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Its clear that the cops couldnt handle a stressful situation so they attack. Plus, they probably felt like their badge and gun didnt get the respect that they thought they would get so they attack a 130lb. kid to prove themselves. I bet half the people up here defending the cops are actually other cops posing as "Pirate Club Members" and stuff. How could you possible defend them? Its right there on video. Do you think we are stupid? The cops adrenaline was pumping to hard and they couldnt handle it. Plain and simple. They should be trained to keep their composure.
Posted by: Stacey Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Shame on those deputies. I mean I have been stopped for speeding, ie breaking the law and I am glad I didn't get bodyslammed or punched in the face. Way to go officers of the law. You just lost my respect. Regardless of this incident the game will go down in ECU history. Go Pirates!!! PURPLE!!!! GOLD!!!!!
Posted by: unk on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Here is an idea for the games. All law enforcement officers, when it looks like ECU is going to win, report to the nearest exits and leave. All ECU fans and students, you are now on your own. Enjoy the game. GO PIRATES!!!!!
Posted by: Jason Location: Wilson on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:26 PM
The video tells the story. For people defending the police...99% of the police at this event took the right action and did what they were advised. The ones in this video did not. What happens if the one getting punched dies of head trauma. The kids storming the field are doing what normal college kids do when a win of this magnitude takes place. That is a fact. This should not bring shame to anyone but the officers that slammed and punched the kids. These are college kids and they ARE acting their age. Yes they are immature and make bad decisions but there was no way from keeping them off the field. An announcement was made several times to stay off the field and the ones that made the decision to go on the field did at their own risk. Own risk means you may fall and get stepped on...NOT grabbed and slammed to the ground or punched repeatedly. The students trespassed. They broke the law. Say I was pulled over for speeding..is it ok to punch me..celebrating is normal not this video!
Posted by: ECU STUDENT Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:22 PM
I think that every officer that is found guilty of assault or using excessive force should have to stand at the 50 yard line and apologize to the pirate nation at the next home game.
Posted by: Why?? Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:13 PM
All i have to say is if they couldn't stop everyone from going on the field, they should have not stopped anyone... They took it to far with the body slamming and hitting... 3000 on the field 5 getting beat up... what sence did that make...
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:50 PM
I hardly think that trying to celebrate one of the biggest wins in ECU history by going out on the field and maybe bumping into an officer on the way is considered assault. What you see on those videos is assault. No, maybe we don’t have any "law enforcement experience", but we do have common sense. All we wanted to do was celebrate with our team. There wasn’t a person out there that was trying to hurt anybody. The police need to get over themselves. Yes I understand they are "doing their job", however, doing their job doesn’t involve beating up students. This is ridiculous that you people are defending what they did. There is no excuse for that in any instance. You never hear about this at any other schools where students rush the field and that happens all that time.
Posted by: Petey Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Greenville police using excessive force? That's a tune I haven't heard before. Not only during the post game celebration, but around the campus streets police where being quite excessive with their "power". It's as though they have an inferiority complex or a need to display bravado because they have a piece of tin on their lapel. However, by the same token there are really good officers in and around the city of Greenville that are intelligent enough to quell an escalating situation with words rather than force. It's the neanderthals that give good police a black eye. That boy that was thrown down looked like he may have weighed 130 pounds soken wet, did it really take 3-4 officers to subdue this "out of control" student? I wish those same officers would harness that aggression and use it towards campus security so that events like the one at Fleming Hall the other week would never have the opportunity to take place.
Posted by: Michael Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:41 PM
I'm an ECU GRADUATE!!! I know a great deal about ECU football. I'm also a Pirate Club member, and I'm ashamed of our students for how they represented the university. How about show some class and act like we have been here before after we win a football game!! You should compare rushing the field to the running of the bulls. If someone falls and gets trampled or dies, you would be all over the police for why didn't they stop them. You can't have it both ways...

POST EDITED
Posted by: Thomas Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:41 PM
This is the only way the Pirates will be beat this year! Go Pirates!
Posted by: Billy Location: Rocky Mount on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Maybe next time they are told to stay off the field the cops should use bullets
Posted by: George Location: Baltimore, MD on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Why is it when UNC or NCSU fans run the filed it's a celebration but when ECU fans do it, it's called a riot?? These cops should be fired and charged. What I saw reminded me of the original "Brown Shirts" you see on the History Channel. Compared to SEC and most other fans, ECU faithful are actually well behaved. Just ask the WVU or VT fans and most will agree.
Posted by: Grow Up Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:37 PM
What happened Saturday was a disgrace. Of course they had to make an announcment. But from where I sit, sec 18, I could barely hear it. NO one seemed to have a problem in 99 when we beat NCState. Let the kids enjoy the win and fully reprimand teh officers who used "EXCESSIVE FORCE". I also dont recall any problems during the basketball game against NCState last year when fans stormed the court. Same situation and it was handled properly by the cops. What make Saturday's event any different. It doesnt! That it the whole point.
Posted by: George W. on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Punching? Come on....you're a cop, there is no need to punch. It's pretty obvious that this particular deputy has anger issues. He basically attacks this person. But since it's the "Law" it's O.K.
Posted by: Zach Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:32 PM
As a student who went to the game to cheer on my team and didn't have a single drink before the game I'm completely dissappointed with our police force. I ran onto the field as well and watched as me and countless others ran by officers who didn't do anything to us but when a smaller male student ran by this one particular officer he grabbed him and body slammed him to the ground and then put his knee to his face while another officer put a knee in his back and put handcuffs on him. We were all celebrating but the cops went on a power binge and took it way to far. I've already been contacted and plan on going to court to file complaints against the officers. I hope they get the book thrown at them and don't take their power trips over the limits again.
Posted by: Carol Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:32 PM
The majority of the fans who stormed the field on Saturday were not DRUNKS! Most of them were celebrating as PIRATE FANS should after a huge win, and that's it. I see the danger in storming the field, but I am also certain after viewing the video's that the police got out of hand. Plus, not everyone heard the announcements for the noise, especially those in the restrooms. I know someone who got tackled by a Kinston officer and all he was doing was running around the field yelling and having fun! Football fans and ECU fans aren't ALL drunks! GO PIRATES!
Posted by: bigfruitbasket Location: NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:32 PM
I smell lawsuit! I was there and even I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Posted by: phyllis Location: Buxton, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:29 PM
My son has attended ECU for the past three years and is now starting on number four. He also plans to attend graduate school.He has attended every home game and supported the pirates in every way. If my child was treated like this everyone involved would be sued! Everyone involved should he ashamed of treating these kids that ment no harm this way. I hope that everyone of them loose thier jobs. ECU - DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU RECEIVE GOOD MONEY TO EDUCATE AND KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE!
Posted by: MKB Location: NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Look here Michael and Brad...ya'll apparently know nothing about how big of a win this was and how much of a fan base we have at ECU so don't post something if you don't know anything about it. And with the excessive force issue cops need to follow the laws not just the citizens so I dont think that police have any room to talk if they can't even follow rules given to them.
Posted by: A pitt citizen Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Less start by saying Both LEO and the fans(students) both need to improve there public actions. LEO is always in need of more training but do they get it, NO! You get the reply, "we dont have the money to train you from goverment." On the other hand the students are not "KIDS" 99% or more are atleast 18 years old and now legal adults not KIDS as noted below by others. They should follow the rules giving to them. They will have all week to celebrate the victory over WV. Maybe a taller fence at that end of th feild would fix the problem? Its just a idea! They had to have a ticket to get in so there is a seat for there butt to go in just like there was for mine that I used and celebrated in!!! Good job Brad on the half time Kick....Good job to Sgt. Crumpler in keeping the ECU coach safe! GO Pirates!!!!!!
Posted by: Angry abd Embarrassed Location: 10th Street on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Lenoir officers should stay in Lenoir.It sounds like these officers have their hands full just controlling Kinston crime alone.
Posted by: Jeffrey Location: Wilson on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:15 PM
ECU Police have reported there was police brutality.The Pitt County sheriffs dept. was very quick to point out they had nothing to do with this.These are 2 very obvious signs that even the Police believe some of the cops were acting like thugs. ECU has released their policy on storming the field. Have a show of force from the cops, if that does not work, LET THEM GO ON THE FIELD! Just keep everyone on the field from getting hurt. As it turns out it was the cops hurting people. Storming the field is as commonplace as the game itself. That is why the goalpost collapse! At worst the only thing these students did was trespass. That does not deserve a severe beating at the hands of several cops. There is a reality that very few people will say. I will say it now.Being a cop is not some glorious job. Most cops are cops because they are not able to do anything else and are usually not very educated. This is what happens when a ignorant person,with nothing else,has a badge handed to them.
Posted by: Louie Location: Rocky Mount on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Who was wrong? Let's see...fans were told to stay off the field. Officers were told to try and deter folks from going on the field...but to step aside if they were unable to stop them (sounds like Chief Shelton knew that it was inevitable--just trying to keep it as safe as possible!). Seems like both parties were wrong. But the officers/deputies who thought that manhandling students would solve the problem were VERY WRONG! For Police Supporter...what falsehoods have been reported? I was there and it looks accurate to me--plus WITN tried to help the officers by taking their cameras off of the officers when they were beating and slamming fans. And I hope that you didn't complete the academy, because if you did---you have certainly forgotten the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics and what was taught in Crowd Management. The students disobeying orders didn't look good, but the actions by LEO's doesn't do much to help the reputation of those of us in law enforcement.
Posted by: Michael Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:10 PM
All we get to see is a 4 sec. video of an officer punching someone several times. How do we know that moments leading up to the punching of the "victim" that the "victim" didn't push the officer, or swing at the officer for not letting him by? Or, after the officer took the "victim" to the ground that the "victim" may have continued to wrestle and struggle and maybe kick the officer? Then, other officers see that their partner needing help to subdue the "victim" they begin to use necessary force to keep the "victim" from fighting with the officer like they were trained to do. He didn't use a taser gun, a hand gun, or a baton to beat the "victim." He only used fists to get the "victim" to cooperate. I believe that there isn't enough video tape to show you the whole story, only the part of the story the "victim" would want you to see. Regardless if no fans come on the field, no fan gets hurt on the field. I thought the officers did a fine job trying to first protect the players & coachs.
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:07 PM
A direct order to not storm the field? These are celebrating college kids, not unruly kids looking for a fight. According to the video, it looks like some law officers were looking to flex their pseudo authority. Poor example of professionalism. Do they teach anger management in "the academy"?
Posted by: Phillip Location: Mt. Olive on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:54 PM
PIRATE or not, thats pretty childish. if your adult enough to go off to school and party and drink, then your grown enough to follow diections. and no the poice coulded get everyone, but they didnt arrest anyone that WASNT ON THE FIELD.
Posted by: thomas Location: camp lejeune on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Humm...accountability...neat concept. Next time little Johnny freshman may think twice before doing the exact opposite of what he was suppose to do..or Sally, sorry ladies.
Posted by: ECUFAN Location: Hiding Behind Stands on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:48 PM
I bet Kinston is the safest place in the world, I'm sure if their law enforcement is that brutal on college kids running on to a football field, then a "REAL" criminal is usually shot on site. I think the County Fair will be in Kinston next week, just let your kids know that if they jump in line for a ride, or litter, then they will take a beat down by the Deputies that are working. When it all comes out in the wash,we will see how much training(or lack of) that these so called Law Enforcement Officers had in crowd control. GO PRIRATES!!!!
Posted by: David Location: Raleigh on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:44 PM
The police actions were wron...but the kids actions were wrong too. You cant have it both ways..in let them celebrate by ignoring warnings and then expect them to be law abiding at other times. If they trampled in your front yard you would dial 911. Plus this is the stage ECU wants to play on...act like it. Winners know how to celebrate without something like this...just think how many times have you seen Nebraska or Notre Dame fans rush the field.
Posted by: michelle Location: raleigh on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Welcome to Greenville and East Carolina University...Home of The Pirates...
Posted by: michael Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:38 PM
First of all let me say I support all law enforcement and respect the jobs they do. They make a great sacrifice to keep us safe and I respect them to the upmost. But if you will watch the video from saturday that was clearly excessive use of force. Yes the students were told not to storm the field but as anyone knows who has been to any game whether high school, college or on a national level, knows when the fans get excited over such a victory as this(and yes this was something to definately get excited over go pirates!!!!) they are going to do things like storm the field, or court or whatever. The officers should have used their common sense and judgement in dealing with the fans. How about holding their hands up to tell someone to stop...no they didn't do, they body slammed someone as they ran by. That is not the proper escalation of force, no one was in danger of being hurt by these fans. And then to see that officer repeatedly punching an already subdued individual was appalin.
Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:37 PM
An investigation is only fueled by the whiners that created the situation to begin with. There is no need to placate these morons. The people who charged the field did so thinking 'what are they going to do, arrest all of us?'. There were specific instructions not to do it. They chose to ignore those instructions and some of them paid the price. Too Bad! Maybe some of them will think twice next time. It is time people realize that if you go around doing what ever you want to, at some point in your 'it's all about me' life you will pay the price.
Posted by: layla Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:32 PM
why are police always on power trips?? gv police are just bad as kinston... i know a cop w/ in the gv force who said he couldnt wait for the college kids to get back in town to start handing out tickets.
Posted by: Police Supporter Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:10 PM
With a direct order not to strom the field, that they will bring the team to us, should have been fair warning not to go down on the field. People being pushed around down on the field resulted into injury. When the police officers themselves are shoved by fans, what options are they left with. It is their duty to keep the fans, players, and coaches safe and we as the fans put that in jeopardy when fans went on the field by pushing and shoving the officers. Had the police not been out there, there would have been complaints as well. The main goal is to keep people safe here and the fact that people with no law enforcement experience are trying to tell the police how to do their jobs I find to be extremely funny. Also with the press printing falsehoods from students is completely disgraceful as well. Instead of bashing first and the truth later, why don't we just let the investigations happen and see what comes from it. I don't see any of you completing the academy anytime soon.
Posted by: Paige Location: Wilmington on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:09 PM
so...I guess all of these people posting comments about staying off the field have never had any fun in their entire lives! How can the police pick and choose the ones they are going to arrest....the might as well put on a blind fold and picked randomly! Skip and all the football players were right there in the middle of and LOVED every second! Have a little fun once and a while and punish those stupd cops who are on some sort of power trip!! I AM PROUD TO BE A PIRATE!!!
Posted by: Ms Location: NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Michael and Brad from Winterville, you are both exactly right, maybe the fans learned a lesson, next time you are told to stay off the field, STAY OFF!
Posted by: thug Location: hood on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Yes, there was too much force used. Next time when they say to not rush the field, ECU PD should have about 50 buses waiting to lock them all up. Thats what is wrong with the world today these kids have no respect for anything or anybody. If some one would have been trampled to death yall would be crying about the police not stopping them from rushing the field.
Posted by: Appalled Location: Durham on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Fans at App. State have torn down their goal posts and taken them to the chancellor's front lawn. He laughed. Fans at UNC have stormed Franklin St. so many times who can remember. Drunks climb trees, have turned over a car, jump over bonfires in the middle of the street. Fans at Duke storm the quad and light bonfires (some planned when the adminstration gave up trying to stop it). Fans at State have stormed Hillsborough, dragged a sofa and chairs out of the dorm to start a bonfire. From what I saw on the UTube video, the fans in Greenville stormed the field and mostly jumped up and down or walked around. If there was some dangerous behavior that the cops felt the need to curtail, I surely didn't see it. Once they had the goalposts down, they should have just let them have the field and left them alone. They would have eventually wandered off, no harm done. Kids are pretty much the same at all campuses. Leave them alone unless they're doing something threatening.
Posted by: Matt Location: Clayton on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Its great to see so many officers rushing to help their fellow officers w/ a little PR damage control in this comments section. Very important work. You couldn't possibly be doing something more useful w/ your time because we all know how well of handle y'all have on crime in Pitt County; especially in west Greenville. Its a good thing college kids are around to beat up, intimidate, and hassel. I mean, its not like ECU and the students are the life blood of Greenville or anything. That and they are much easier targets than actual criminals. Rock on brothers and sisters in blue. Rock on.
Posted by: N/A Location: N/A on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Keep in mind that the question is not whether the students were wrong, drunk, obnoxious, or "deserved what they got". Whether you agree with what the students did or not, the question is did law enforcement personel use excessive force. The answer is clearly YES. An officer of the law is only permitted to use force when he or she is under immediate threat of physical danger. No officer in any of the videos shown was in danger. Further, the officers involved disobeyed orders as has been confirmed by Chief Scott Shelton of the ECU Police in a different article on WITN. To quote Chief Shelton, "all officers were told that if ECU won the game and fans attempted to come onto the field, officers should try to deter them by making themselves visible. But if that failed, he said, officers were instructed to step back and focus on making sure that those on the field stayed safe." Slamming and punching the students (whether in your mind they are right or wrong)is not the way to keep them safe.
Posted by: the moment on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Poor choice on the part of the police...the students were caught up in the thrill of victory...the police were not.
Posted by: Johnny Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Im thankful that so far all of our departments are not involved in the incidents (speaking of Pitt County). Lenoir County law officers should not be asked to be a part of any games from here out. This should be a good lesson to both sides as well. The officer which did the punching on the video should have to apologize to the entire East Carolina crowd at the next home game. But im still curious on why the officers watched one of our own Pirate fans get beat on. So does running out on a field give good enough reason to get beat on? If it does then fine, lets start executing everyone on Death Row and cutting off limbs of criminal that steal. If you punish one, punish all. Im cool with that, and I can assure you youll never see me on that field. After that game somehow the living room seems alot safer for my family and I. Thanks for keeping it safe! To all officer wives, you need to stop letting your husbands watch the fake wrestling shows on t.v., its not helping them at work.
Posted by: George Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:43 PM
If it is Lenoir County deputies, I suggest that all Pitt County residents and ECU students and alumni boycott anything having to do with Lenoir County (shopping, tourism, restaurants, etc.) until a public apology is made to these students who were brutally assaulted for celebrating like any other fan at any other institution across the country after a big win. Celebration on or off the field does not deserve this. And incidentally, the officers failed to follow their instructions for crowd control and should not be paid.
Posted by: Ken Location: Greenville, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:43 PM
This is just plain crazy! What the heck were the cops thinking? Makes me think twice about calling the police if I'm in trouble.
Posted by: nobody Location: ECU on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:39 PM
If the kid had was storming the field with a baseball bat then maybe the officers behavior would be acceptable, mabye.... Regardless of what rule he did or did not break, or whether or not students should be allowed to run on the field, that was excessive force, PERIOD. Not only should the officer be fired, he should be prosecuted. That was ridiculous and uncalled for. If I was that kids parents I'd have somebody's head on a platter already. I don't care what rule he broke. I don't think ECU should get to bow out either, they hired those cops, they should be responsible as well.
Posted by: Courtney Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:34 PM
This just shows you that they will allow anyone to become a police officer. And we are suppose to trust these people. Yeah right, I wouldn't trust them to help me do anything. I dispise the police dept. and this is why, they never want to help all they want to do is show that they are above the law. Idiots is what the Kinston PD is, they need to stay in Kinston from now on, I hope these folks get fired, what they did was uncalled for.
Posted by: Jason Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Police brutality makes me a sad panda...
Posted by: jay Location: EAST CAROLINA on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:13 PM
THIS IS SAD. LET THE FANS CELEBRATE. BEATING A FAN BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE WITH THE TEAM, LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER FANS. WHY IS IT THE FANS IN THE END ZONE WERE STOPPED, WHILE ONES JUMPING FROM THE STANDS WERE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD?
Posted by: disgusted Location: ECU on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:09 PM
This was nothing more than a complete and total abuse of power by those officers. Lenoir county has nothing else going on so lets go to the ECU game and beat up on someone celebrating a huge victory. Like was said earlier, they didn't belong out there in the first place, but they didn't hurt anyone running to the center of the field PAST the cops who tackled everyone.
Posted by: Homer Simpson Location: Springfield on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Just like anything else, the top is where the problem begins. Management must not have expected ECU to win. Why in the world would you not want to see happy fans storm the field after such an event. Big schools always allow this to take place.And i'm curious, did anyone get hurt other than the kids that the police beat up? What a shame and embarrasment...
Posted by: Melissa Location: Plymouth on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Even the football schools who are used to winning rush their field after a big win. I mean come on ECU just beat the #8 team in the country if you can't celebrate that what can you celebrate? Its all in good fun. Those cops at ECU have been acting stupid for years. Its about time someone caught them. And if ESPN hadn't been there we wouldn't be hearing about it right now. I think they should all be fired and replace with people who want to do their job the right way. Not the "good ole boy" way.
Posted by: Michael Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:00 PM
If you rush the field as a fan, you are trespassing. It doesn't matter if it's before, during, or after the game. The Police were trying to keep order until they were overwhelmed. In many videos you see fans jump the fence and are confronted by police and they climb back over the fence. The PA announcer said several times, "For the safety of the players and coaches, DO NOT COME ON THE FEILD." The fans that came on the field didn't care about anyone's safety when they ran onto the field including their own. College is about growing up and learning to take responsibility for your actions. Maybe next time you will think twice before running onto a playing field.
Posted by: Brad Location: Winterville on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:59 AM
No one ever stormed the field when we beat UNC at home last year, or Boise St. in Hawaii, or in Charlotte last week when we beat Va Tech. All huge games and the fans somehow stayed off of the field in every instance. Stop defending these fans for their actions and let them take responsibility for what they did. They were wrong for storming the field and everyone knows it. I only wish that the police could have done more to protect the players and coaching staff. Poor Skip nearly got trampled while doing an interview. The crowd was electrifying all night during the game, but the fans that jumped walls and fences to get onto the field not only got what they deserved form the police, but THEY have left the black eye on the university. It’s time to grow up kids!!
Posted by: Thin Blue Location: Pitt County on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Zach I agree, those rules are put there for a reason. To Leslie, what would you do if hundreds of people rushed you while you tried to maintain order? It's obvious that these people cant follow rules, so the only other option is to go hands on! If they would've stayed off the field, we wouldnt be having this discussion. Good job Brothers/Sisters in Blue!!!!!
Posted by: Wayne Location: Havelock on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:32 AM
People crying about the poor student....He shouldn't have been there in the first place. Apparently the students think that they can do as they please and are above the rules. Maybe the law enforcement went to far. It should never have to be decided if they did or not if the "Oh we won a big game, so we can do what ever we want" students did what they were told. Next time Law Enforcement......Just throw lots and lots of pepper spray grenades into the crowd!! Then they would listen. Much cheaper than the lawsuits that are sure to follow because someone got put down for doing what ever he pleased.
Posted by: zach Location: Jacksonville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:57 AM
What do you mean "how can we expect them to stay off the field?" It's real easy. THEY SAID STAY OFF THE FIELD! You would think that some college students would be able to follow SIMPLE instructions. I bet the next time this happens those same kids won't be out there and there will be some other group of people that don't listen get the same thing!
Posted by: Annoyed Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Hopefully as ECU continues to grow we can act like the other big teams' fans do and our security will know how to act during a big win. This is such an embarassment for Greenville after such a big win. Good to know ESPN caught it on tape! How about we have a little more education for our police staff and more faith in our fans and students!
Posted by: TO:Leslie From Pitt County Location: Williamston on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Fans may need to have stayed off the field but we you beat a top 10 team like WV how can you not expect fans to rush the field. NO ONE deserves the beating like those boys got. With that many people already on the field it was alittle to late to try to stop anyone... Don't ya think? Beating someone after body slamming them to the ground is way too extreme, that is not a life lesson, that is police brutality!!!
Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Law enforcement were reportedly told to not use force. Just one "resisting an officer" conviction can change a college students future forever regarding job hiring/placement. Why are the officers "caught" on camera not being charged with a crime? It is clear that some officers did not follow their instuctions. Regarding the Pitt County Sheriff's comment that it wasn't his men: It sure appeared to be a sheriff deputy from somewhere wacking away on camera. Law enforcement in Pitt County seems to be untouchable when it comes to accountability.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Leslie-Really? The fans didn't listen so hold a select few down and beat the crap out of them? Maybe then they'll learn? Wow...
Posted by: Cat Location: Gboro on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:19 AM
So heres how much you people know. The cops in question appear to be Kinston PD, not ECU or Gville PD. 2nd, you look at the tape and you can't even see where the guy is getting struck at. Cops are trained to hit (closed fist if necassary) certain pressure points. O and lets see.. there were others rushing past them that weren't getting stopped. Well, how many people were there and how many cops were there? Maybe they had no reason to go as far as they did, OR maybe they did! And they were just rushing the field. Not raping and robbing. Ok, well, they were told not to. Who cares why? I'm sure they have a reason why. Its like most laws and rules. People don't understand them therefore don't think they have to abide by them. People don't understand going through a metal detector before entering a courthouse even though its to protect THEM! Thing is cops can't win. They either do too much or too little. Somebody is always going to feel like they got done wrong one way or the other.
Posted by: zach Location: Jacksonville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:15 AM
LEE-that's real good go ahead a blame the police that we doing their jobs. Don't blame the stupid students that can't follow simple instructions. If a kid got his butt kicked because he can't follow simple instructions like "STAY OFF THE FIELD" then he got what he needed. I wish I was the judge in that lawsuit. I'd throw your kid in jail for not following directions and you for not raising them to have respect for the law and rules. I guess that's what a higher education gets you at ECU.
Posted by: Leslie Location: Pitt County on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Life's lessons are sometimes hard to learn. Fans need to stay off the field.
Posted by: Jason Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:11 AM
I bet you if those who say that the Greenville Police department were just, "Doing their job", were the ones getting Slammed, Wrestled to the Ground and Punched they would see things a lil differently. I see no harm in Celebrating a victory. I once attended ECU and cant remember how many times i walked onto that field after a game, of course it was well after the game had ended. I think that the Greenville police Department as well as the Students show have some kind of consequence because the whole incident could have been avoided!
Posted by: Linda on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:10 AM
These were not even officers from Pitt County doing this they were from another county assisting ECU.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Were the gates open to the field? It looks as though they were in the videos.
Posted by: GoPirates Location: GVegas on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:06 AM
First of all, I dont think that any of you that are commenting against ECU have ever watched sports in your life until Saturday. If you have watched past games and ESPN (to 50 best plays, games, etc.) you will see, as far as history goes back to short shorts and chuck taylors, that fans storm the field/court after a huge win. I do agree that the cops were trying to do their job, but what is the point taking down 2 or 3 out of thousands?? To prove a point? Yea some people were drunk, but some of the people who stormed the field were sober, and the players and Holtz loved it!!Yea, storming the field could potentially turn into something dangerous quickly but come on, dont put a bad name on ECU! All schools do it or have done it!! Keep the faith alive!! GO PIRATES!!!
Posted by: Pirate Fan Location: Wilmington on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:59 AM
I was at the game and witnessed the incidents. One female policeman even chased a guy from her "spot" in the far endzone underneath the scoreboard to the middle of the field, put his hands behind his back and walked him off. In all of those people! Why? As long as big games are played and won, fans are going to rush the playing area in any of the major sports. This sense of pride for your team is what makes college athletics what they are. Drop the goal posts and get out of the way. There was more people in harms way with the excessive use of force by the policeman than the safety of having them there. Review the tape, charge the officers who were in the wrong as the citizens would be, and lets play ball. Go Pirates!
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:52 AM
Let me guess...are all you fussing about this rivals of ECU?
Posted by: Rena Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:46 AM
I beleive there was overreaction on both sides. The students should not have rushed the field and the police in my opinion too things too far. Both things should be addressed.
Posted by: Laura Location: Gville on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:35 AM
come on... you let how many students/fans by you and then you start grabbing and beating a few?? IF you cant stop them then why beat up on a few?? Too bad the "police" cant go beat up on all the CRIME around greenville but they love to take it out on students. I have lost a lot of respect for greenvlle police this past year. Way to go ECU!!!

Editor's Note: We'll have more on this today but it looks like Greenville Police had no role in the incident.

Posted by: Witness Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:44 AM
I scene the incident at the end of the game and agree it was an impossible situation. I believe in the future students should not have been allowed to gather at the fence under the score board. I witnessed these individuals that went on field and get grabbed by police, they continued to try and run from the officers. I was always thought that if you are grabbed by a police officer you do not continue to to wrestle yourself free. I know other people where on the field and unfortunately there was not 2000 officers there to detain each one. I witness one officer push a student back that was crushing a crying female student against the chain link fence. The lesson I learned was dont continue to try and get away when an officer has his hands on you.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:39 AM
SIMPLE SOLUTION: Get the fire departments to assist the LEO's ... and when the ignorant, riotous crowds "storm the field", turn the hoses on!
Posted by: jackson Location: kinston on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:37 AM
I am with Michael down below. Why is it when we win and rush the field it always a bad thing. The players and coaches loved it. I didn't see one player running for his life to the locker room. Even Holtz ran back to the 50 yard line to celebrate. I think Holland and some of the folks on this forum need to remove the stick and understand when michigan, ohio state,florida, florida state win they do the same thing. We have not beaten a team ranked this high since '91 season this is huge. To Josh down below see ya! I here meredith college has some openings.
Posted by: Denise Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:30 AM
The police are hired to do a job. And I think they did their job well. Leave them alone. And no ECU fans should not run on the field
Posted by: Lee Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:22 AM
I was a student at ECU and now live in Greenville as an adult. I was at the game and feel the police were WAY out of line. As a parent of a college student, I was horrified to watch what the security guards were doing to these students. If one of those students were mine, you WOULD be hearing from my lawyer! I have it on tape if anyone needs more evidence!
Posted by: ECU Pirates Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:20 AM
I was at the game on Saturday night and I stayed in the stands after the game was over. It was announced SEVERAL times before the game was over, "for the safety of the players and coaches, please STAY OFF of the field at the conclusion of the game." I thought that police and security were just doing their job and what they were paid to do which was to protect those on the field from possible drunk or dangerous individuals. The fans were on the field before West Virginia had even made it to the locker room. I only with the security and police would have done more to prevent the fans from storming the field. Those who are shown being punched repeatedly, if they wouldn’t have stormed the field it never would have taken place. Secondly, if they would have stayed down and not tried to wrestle or fight with police I don’t think it would have happened either. I see it as enter at your own risk and if you went onto the playing field at anytime before or after the game you got what you deserved!!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:12 AM
What is the rule for being on the field??? These are suppose to be mature-grown up people. I say they got what they deserved.The officers were only doing their job, if they had done nothing some one would have been mad over that. There are other thing more important than rushing on the field to show how stupid you can be over winning.Grow up!!!!! Going to a ball game is not the most important thing ,you are there to LEARN
Posted by: Jon Location: Grimesland on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:58 AM
Devil Dog, that might be the single most ignorant post I have seen on this web site, and that's saying something. What that has to do with anything, I have NO idea. If you want to talk standards, look towards our local law enforcement's hiring standards, not at the best university east of Chapel Hill. As for more legitimate posts concerning media overreaction, that boy got beat down for celebrating a team victory. It isn't Europe, where fans set fires or really riot, it was a student body celebrating peacefully over the biggest win in their school's history. The cop wasn't hit first, in fact as far as I could tell no police where being attacked. Why would they be? Students avoid cops whenever possible. It was just kids celebrating, and the local yokels acted like they were robbing and raping. The worst thing that could happen? The goal posts come down. As much tuition as students pay, they can be considered a great sacrifice in an exciting victory.
Posted by: in nb Location: New Bern on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:42 AM
If they were told NOT to get on the field then everyone that got on the field should have been arrested....taken straight to JAIL...and no time to pass GO..
Posted by: asklater Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Thank goodness they didn't fire their guns into the crowd.Thats how GPD handles any situation shoot first asked later.I saw the video and it does look like some were singled out while everyone else rushed the crowd only a few were stopped.ECU police is ill equiped in knowledge and training to deal with large crowds.
Posted by: Devil Dog Location: New Bern on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:12 AM
When you lower standards for enrollement, you get this caliber of individual. Their actions, represents a cross section of our society,that could care less about others. Two out of every three college students will never complete their studies anyway. Why are the police to blame? I would think the university would have had big time security for a big time nationally televised game. Somebody stand up and accept responsibility!!!!
Posted by: Fan Location: Morehead City on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:02 AM
I was at the game Saturday. Where were all these policemen when I waited in line for over 25 minutes with my two small kids in that humidity to get in the stadium and people kept jumping ahead to get in? Where were these policemen when my husband tried to get the attention of the policewoman at the ticket gate who was LETTING these people in ahead of those of us who waited our turn? This was the first game we'd ever attended in Greenville and I don't know that we'll go back because of the lack of organization before the game. I will be writing a letter to ECU letting them know our experience and how bad it makes the University look.
Posted by: Ed Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:52 AM
No Rayu, the media didn't over react, the officers over reacted and very much so. Shame on those officer's body slamming and punching people for the "crime" of running on to the field.
Posted by: zach Location: Jacksonville on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:30 AM
We did not beat anybody the ECU team did! The students and fans had no business on the field. The players and coaches should have been able to enjoy the win without a bunch of dummies running around acting like they were in the game and did something. All this does is put a stain on what should be a great win. If you don't play on the team stay off the field!
Posted by: James Location: GV on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:44 AM
He should have gotten out of the way if he didnt want to be run over. Bye Josh, please dont come back to visit. LOYAL and BOLD WE are the PURPLE and GOLD!!! GO PIRATES!!
Posted by: rayu Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:37 AM
media always over reacts to things. like this one especially. i was at the game. officers were trying to keep the field safe though some fans ran into the field. the officers did what they were suppose to when they are on duty. If anyone in common day over forces the officer the person gets the same punishment as some fans did yesterday and mentioning one more thing fans did run over a police officer.
Posted by: Michael on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:54 AM
This is amazing to me, to listen to some of these people below talk about how horrible it is to rush the field after a huge win for the ECU Football program. You did not see this kind of reaction a few years ago when Rutgers stormed the field on ESPN or other schools after big wins as well. It is a tradition to do this after a huge win like this one. People need to lighten up, our Head Coach sure did not mind it if anyone watched his interview after the game. What should have happened is there should not have been a resistance to the students, the law officers should have supervised the field for any acts other than running and celebrating the win on the field. Sad day when students are not allowed to do that. The law officials were completely wrong and should be penalized for they were doing to college students (Slamming to the ground, Punching them in the face) excited about winning this game. Unacceptable! Anyways GREAT WIN!!! For the PIRATES OF ECU!!! GO PIRATES!!!
Posted by: thats good Location: greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:35 AM
transfer... its like this any where you go if you go to a big state school...josh go ahead and find a little rinky dink community college with the old people since you can handle a BIG SCHOOL!!
Posted by: June Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:20 AM
The ECU fans didn't do anything more than what fans at schools all over the country do (in fact, they did less). Both Penn State and Michigan State fans had drunken celebration riots over the past few years after their football teams won, and I am sure that there are schools at which much worse than rushing the field has happened. I agree that fans being drunk and disrespectful as a way of celebrating is an extremely unappealing aspects of college sports, but nothing will change until there's a larger cultural change so that sports are not such a huge focus for school pride at thousands of schools across the country (it's not just ECU, not by a long shot). Josh--you might want to go to a small liberal arts school, one that doesn't even have a football team.
Posted by: Blythe Link Location: Greenville on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:13 AM
ECU is not a "drunkfest". It is a fine school that I couldn't be more proud to attend. People get drunk at nearly every college, in every state. Not everyone here drinks, either. Your school is what you make of it. I haven't seen any of the parties that ECU is supposedly so famous for. I don't let that in my life, therefore it doesn't affect me. I agree that it is embarrassing when people don't follow the instructions given, but it is kind of a big deal! We beat a team that was in the top 10, something that hasn't been done here since 1999. ECU is finally starting to get the national recognition we deserve. I also think that the students WERE acting their age. We're all really still kids. We are going to school, and most of us don't have real jobs and real responsibilities yet. That doesn't come until after we graduate. Its unfortunate that you don't have the Pirate Pride that caused the overwhelming atmosphere Saturday night. GO PIRATES! #14!
Posted by: Will Location: ECU on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:56 PM
That's the problem a bunch of old Alumni Boosters want the fans to come to the game stay seated and quiet and not celebrate when we beat a top ten team! It's part of college football and basketball to storm the field/court. Now to Josh-BYE BYE! Now to WOW-I belive the LEO's are getting the bad name not the students!
Posted by: jeb Location: ECU on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:51 PM
As a student who was not drinking at the game, I was still very excited and if not been sitting as far up in the stands as i was, i would have gone to the field to celebrate as well. This is perhaps one of the biggest ECU football wins in the past few years and it put ECU's football program on the map once again. Those of you who stereotype all ECU students as typical drunks do not know many ECU students who do alot for the Greenville and Eastern NC region. Without this school, your hometown of Greenville would be nothing. If you notice the videos, the officers getting brutal with students are either Pitt deputies or highway patrol. I know many of the ECU police and they would not think of using that much excessive force on students who were just happy that their team won.
Posted by: Josh Location: ECU on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:35 PM
I will be transferring from ECU this fall because this school is a drunkfest,and, I am embarrassed that students dont know how to act their age and follow directions of those in authority who are there to protect us. Ecu has once again became an embarrassment of a school.
Posted by: Lee Location: Greenville on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:34 PM
The two people who posted below me are morons. No, the students did NOT have the right to rush the field in the first place, I will completely agree with that. HOWEVER, there was absolutely no need in the violent actions I SAW from several officers. Pretty disturbing to watch a man slam another person while the other 43,609 people were running past. Makes absolutely no sense. PS. I was sober, so hows that for your "drunken" argument.
Posted by: Wow Location: Greenville on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Typical ECU students giving the school a BAD NAME. These students should be embarrassed and banned from anymore games this season.
Posted by: holly Location: greenville on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Leave it up to a bunch of drunk ECU fans to show their immaturity. Come on people....at least try to show a little dignity for the school.

Click one of the pictures below to see more or to upload your own photos and videos.
Special Sections
CarSoup
Search inventory from local dealers and private sellers.
Rental Guide
Video tours to help you find your next apartment.
Double Dollar Deals
Save 50% from local merchants.
Classifieds
THE place to buy and sell items. Most ads free.
Experts
Got a question? Ask Eastern Carolina's Experts.
Business Break
Two minutes of info from local businesses.
Attorneys On Call
Free legal information on a variety of topics.
Video Home Tours
Tour Eastern Carolina homes from your computer.
AP Video