"W" Actors Arrest Details: Tasers, Pepper Sprayed, "N" Word Reports TMZ

UPDATE:
Thursday afternoon TMZ reported the following:

A spokesman for the Shreveport PD tells TMZ the chief has reviewed all in-car audio and video and found the officers used "professionalism" in the arrests. We're told witnesses at the scene say the arresting officers used extremely foul language -- including the "N" word -- and there's cell phone video of at least a portion of the confrontation.

We're also told other officers heard the offensive tirade, but Shreveport police tell us none have come forward. So far, the Department has not taken any action against the officers.

PREVIOUSLY:
Saturday in Shreveport, LA actors from Oliver Stone's Bush biopic "W" were arrested around 2 am in what has been billed a bar brawl, and Wednesday night new details about possible repeated tasering, pepper spray and use of racial slurs emerged. If the reports of cell phone video existing are true, the story won't end here.

THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: Shreveport police confirm video and audio from patrol car cameras exists and is being reviewed. Details to come.

The altercation involved Josh Brolin (who plays President Bush), Jeffrey Wright (Colin Powell) and five others.

Late Wednesday TMZ reported the following:

Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright, who were arrested this past weekend at a Shreveport, La. bar, were pepper sprayed and tased by cops. And, we're told, police went on a vulgar rant -- and portions were caught on cell phone video.

The incident occurred during a wrap party for Oliver Stone's movie "W" about the Prez. Local station KTBS reports and TMZ sources say Wright, who plays Colin Powell, was repeatedly tasered and pepper sprayed as he lay prone on his stomach in the street. We know witnesses heard the officers using extremely foul language, including the "N" word, directed at Wright.

Our sources say Brolin was observed by witnesses attempting to make peace and standing still as he was repeatedly sprayed in the eyes by cops.

Brolin is known for roles in films like "No Country For Old Men" and "In the Valley of Elah" while Wright won a Tony and Golden Globe for the same role in "Angels in America" and costarred in "Syriana" and Bond flick "Casino Royale."

Comments

[JamesRiddle]

Get off it. The majority ( not all) of cops everywhere display major attitude and think it's a profound affront when you ask them the simplest question. We have ALL experienced this. Granted the job can be tough but that is not an excuse for irresponsible behavior. Police are civil servants. When they cross the line and act unprofessionaly they should be terminated. Other professions recognize this. The reason a lot of the public are fed up with much of the policing in this country is becuase cops seem to be held to little to zero accountability. All reviews of any reported police abuse should be absolutely taken out of the hands of internal affairs and investigated and prosecuted, where applicable, by an outside agency. There should be a zero tolerance for any type of police abuse. Be that verbal or even projecting attitude. If simple fundamental steps like this were implemented across the board the citizenry of this country could again respect the police.

[andvoodoo2]

I am from New Orleans and have been to Shreveport many times (to see relatives, to pass through, etc.). Shreveport is not the kind of town where you would want to mess with the local police (or local anything). It is very backward and good ol' boy racism runs rampant there. I would bet money the cops were way over the top in their conduct.

That said, could everyone please not think of the rest of LA when they think of New Orleans? We are NOTHING like the rest of the state.

[maidinlouisiana]

andvoodoo2...don't talk about SPD when your own cops were filmed internationally robbing stores during Katrina, and how they have robbed the city after Katrina. And you are right...NOLA is NOT like the rest of the state...it's the home of corruption for the state.

What TMZ doesn't tell you is: 1) Shreveport is majority black 2) We have a black mayor 3) We have a predominately black city council 4) We have a black police chief 5) We have mostly black judges 6) Our school board is predominately black 7) Our school system is predominately black 8) You will be waited on or served by blacks in the retail businesses 9) If you go to the hospital, you will have blacks taking care of you. Supposedly, 10 policemen were called to this brawl, which consisted of an all white crew with the exception of the young man who plays Colin Powell. I would venture to guess that 9 of those policemen were black. Who uttered the N word?

This will be skimmed over because the city wants to stay on the good side of movie production companies. However, the citizens probaby wouldn't have recognized any of these yahoos on the street...we live our lives daily, and it usually does not include actors or their stupid antics. We have better things to do than worry about how assanine some people can be.

[andvoodoo2]

Hate to tell you maidinlouisiana, but Shreveport is widely thought of as the armpit of the state.
Sure, NO police looted after Katrina. And, I would say that I would love to see what would happen in YOUR town if the levee failures occurred in Shreveport. The thing is, I wouldn't wish what happened to us in NO to anyone, not even y'all.
But, here's a few examples of recent Shreveport scandals:

2 Shreveport judges convicted on corruption charges. www.newshorn.com/forums/viewthread/22248

Jury finds former Shreveport Officer guilty.
www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n638/a06.html

Longtime Shreveport city marshall resigns amid corruption scandal.
http://www.topix.com/city/shreveport-la/2008/05/shreveport-city-marshal-resigns

LOL! This was only a small portion of the first page of a Google search of "Shreveport corruption". Even I had no idea it was so bad!

[jubo]

Remember whom in high school became cops?

[Anonani]

Excessive use of force by "some" police officers make it look like that is the play book that most of them follow. Abuse of power by people who legally carry guns for a living leads to meglomania of enormous proportions. If this turns out to be true, I hope that the City of Shreveport LA is hit with the biggest civli rights suit ever lodged.

[plooger]

Maybe Eliz. Hasselbeck needs to read a few more stories like this before she understands that her lily white, Norman Rockwell perspective of the world isn't what every person experiences out in the real world.

[vallon]

yup. Although I kinda wish I was as sheltered in my childhood as she obviously was.

[generaldelivery]

What an anti-caucasian racist comment.

[jubo]

Syntax error; 'anti racist caucasian comment'.

[wavydavy]

Racist and anti-caucasian in what way, exactly? Because it suggested that EH should broaden her world view? I had no idea she was as infallible as the Pope supposedly is, or that criticizing her was somehow racist.

But thanks for your deep insight.

[Nooneyouknow]

Please demonstrate how the comment is "anti-caucasian." Plooger sounds spot-on to me.

[barackobama4prez]

Right, because we should never criticize whites about race, right? Gimme a break.

[SkyPilot126]

Unfortantly the police - lately - seem to be always wrong, thugs and bullies. I think they are empowerevd by our Prez and his group of thugs.
But in this case, my guess is these actors are METHOD actors and they were in Character, form beleiving themselves to (also) be above the law of the land - thus becoming the very thugs and bullies they were hired to portray, it is so obvious.
But on the other hand, once again the police seem to have fu*ked badly AGAIN and it was in the South. Da!

[Plus15]

You say "my guess is these actors are METHOD actors and they were in Character, form beleiving themselves to (also) be above the law of the land - thus becoming the very thugs and bullies they were hired to portray, it is so obvious"

It's not clear from your comments whether you understand that the thugs and bullies the two actors were playing in the movie they had just finished shooting are President George W. Bush and former Secretary of State General Colin Powell. They were at a party - they were just being people at a party.

[LWkcma]

SARCASM

[greginwva]

Sky,are you serious?

[LarBear]

ACTUALLY: And, we're told,.......... Details to come...... has been billed a bar brawl.... We're told witnesses at the scene say..... cell phone video of at least a portion of the confrontation... about possible repeated tasering, pepper spray and use of racial slurs emerged... we're told, police went on a vulgar rant....

NOT ONE FACT, other then some actors were arrested, and the "public jury" is already condeming the Police! So much for "innocent" in America until proven guilty...

[westreal]

Shouldn't you presume the actors are innocent until proven guilty? The police are public servants and therefore should always be under scrutiny. It's part of their job.

[THEhillbilly]

"If the reports of cell phone video existing are true, the story won't end here."

50/50.

If the video doesn't show what you're hoping for, it will sure as hell end here.

[truthynesslover]

They should pack up and come to massachusetts if they dont apreciate all the great jobs and tax money we do!

[robXdion]

They now realized what they've done and are doing serious damage control.

[chrispychilla28]

Publicity Stunt.

Is that Brett Favre on the right ?

[rationalthought1]

Maybe the cops heard it was a "rap" party.

[dukeman]

Thank God for the invention of the taser, otherwise he would have been shot.

[chrispychilla28]

Publicity Stunt.

[DarkWitch]

I so hope they litigate in civil court. We all know the cops anywhere in the U.S. can do this stuff with no repercussions. Nothing at all will happen to them, except maybe a token writeup in their file and a class or two.

Maybe if cities start having to pay big dollars everytime this sort of abuse happens, they will get serious about proper training and control of their police force.

[wvinvent]

NEVER go to the south, especially if you are a minoroty.

[andvoodoo2]

Why? Are you saying ALL of the South is bad for minorities? Wow, what an ignorant and racist viewpoint.

[DarkWitch]

I lived in North Carolina for a year, first duty station. It's a beautiful place, but I very much disliked the racial tension. I was not a very happy Yankee there.

But actually I was not only thinking about the South when it comes to police abuse. It's alive and well, and living in CA where I just left, as well as around the country. The cops in the town I lived in have "Bust a Mexican Monday" as an unofficial way to relieve bordom, since their nightly schedule revolves around their bull sessions at the 7 Eleven snarfing donuts. That, and harassing kids whose crime is walking down the street at night with dark skin.

[BadgersBite]

It's not the cops fault thats just what they teach them to do when they attend A$$hole school

[Annette]

It is their fault, whatever they are taught in "cop training" they made a choice of what to say and how to act. Decent people do not use that sort of language.