How sad for Mr. Sabeghi, we all hope he recovers fully. Horrible that he was not offered medical care, that he should not have required in the first place. Words can not express how sad and disappointing this is on every front.

I am not understanding why police are needing to use such force against Mr. Sabeghi.
What exactally are they hired for??? Maintaining lawlessness or beating people up?
This is why we live in America, so we can voice our opinions and demonstrate freely; and not live in some other Country like China or Iran where people are beaten and maimed for doing so.

Unbelievable that it has come to this. Are the police really that out of control - that in need of demonstrating their power? Apparently so... very sad - it is time for serious change.

Yikes! I saw that story on all the news coverage (without the mention of elevation 66) We just got to go there for the first time yesterday, and were so happy to have our own little brewpub. I cannot believe how messed up the police reactions have been, it's like they are taking it out on a few people at random. I am completely behind the Occupy movement, and am moving my $$$ today out of Wells Fargo. This movement will not go away, and we will all hope that Kayvan gets better and knows that he has many friends pulling for him.

I hope Mr. Sabeghi heals soon. I think the police conduct in this situation was reprehensible. And I fear, in this case, it may have been one of those you're-not-doing-exactly-what-I'm-saying-so-you're-resisting kind of dynamics that the police really should be trained not to do. Especially in cases of civil disobedience, where there are undoubtedly innocent people just trying to either voice their free-speech rights or to simply get home.

Enough! It's time for direct action. Either we stand shoulder to shoulder or they corporations/banks and their police goons win. I was at the first night of mayhem the night after Oscar Grant camp clearances and it was the police that provoked the violence. As we turned down Washington they had a firm line and simply attacked.

They had no regard to whom they were attacking just anyone standing there or trying to get away. Understand that police follow the policies of the elected officials who make policies to protect the interests of the banks and corporations that finance their elections. They have only regard to their money not human life. Does any one remember Dolores Huerta? she was nearly killed by the same police gutting with a baton. It's what they are trained to do . Police are trained in crowd control not to talk but to attack.

As a former prison nurse, I think the City of Oakland (or is it the Alemeda County Jail?) should look at who they are hiring to be Nurses and/or what they provide them by way of ongoing training for Nurses. The symptoms described in news reports should have informed any Nurse to do a more detailed abdominal assessment and keep their patient closely monitored. He did not have to suffer like this!!

The facile dichotomy Roger and John are drawing between "innocent bystander" and bandana-wearing anarchist would be funny if it weren't so dangerous. The bottom line is that the police do not have a right to beat any citizen within an inch of his life simply because they (like Roger, John, and a lot of Americans) are frustrated with the occupy protests. This was a clear abuse of power by fallible human beings and should be addressed seriously.

Out of control cops, yet another violation of our rights. Add it to the list of gov’t violations of our rights:
They violate the 1st Amendment by placing protesters in cages, banning books like “America Deceived II” and censoring the internet.
They violate the 2nd Amendment by confiscating guns.
They violate the 4th and 5th Amendment by molesting airline passengers.
They violate the entire Constitution by starting undeclared wars for foreign countries.
Impeach Obama, vote for Ron Paul.
(Last link of Banned Book):
http://www.amazon.com/America-Deceived-II-Possession-interrogation/dp/1450257437

Our hearts are with Mr. Sabeghi and hope he will be able to return to Elevation 66 as soon as he is able. I am saddened that this report has recently become a forum for discussing "Occupy Oakland" protests.

How terrible that Mr. Sabeghi served in two theatres of war and returned, only to be attacked by police forces here "at home."

There is a Facebook page in support of Mr. Sabeghi here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/We-are-all-Kayvan-Sabeghi/238099529584903

Karl, No one said I was frustarted with the occupy protest. I support the legitimate movement. I do not support the anarchist and excuses for violating laws. It's not s free for all. How ironic all the comments of 1st amendment violations. Yet I post my views of Sabeghi's side of his story and my comment is removed. All I am saying is I don't buy his story. So everyone is under the impression the the cops want to "beat up" citizens for no reason? Get real! I watched the arrest video and I saw no "beating" from the cops. All I saw was restrain. The only injury in the video is a cop injuring his hand. I guarantee they don't want to be out there either. I blame the Oakland leadership for this mess they created. I watched the video and I saw nothing but restrain from the cops arresting Sabeghi, however all I saw were taunts from Sabeghi towards the cops. He claims he is a veteran, ACT like one. I am a 11 year veteran and I still carry myself with professionalism and honor. For those of you that don't agree with my comments go ahead and flag as inappropriate for me expressing my opinion. You are no better than the persons you are "tyrants" you are venting about.
http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/oakland-another-iraq-war-veteran-injured/vD5pb/

Roger- I hope your latest comment stays. While I don't agree with your logic, I think it's important you be able to express it. I completely agree that your comment (and John's??) should not have been flagged for removal. I understand that it's hard for some people to hear but I don't recall it being hateful or inappropriate.

So, Roger, you watched the video and saw no "beating' from the cops. Perhaps 11 years in the military has distorted your view of how those authorized to use force should handle people.

In the pre-"take down" segment, Kayvan appeared to be calm and completely non-threatening to the police, albeit apparently not complying with commands to leave the area. I think the appropriate and vital question is how much force is appropriate to use against a non-threatening, passive citizen who is defying an order that he thinks is inappropriate in a situation that is clearly not dangerous.

The video shows about 20 idle cops in the immediate vicinity of the "take down." These are only the ones shown within the frame - there must have been many more outside the frame. Given the surfiet of cops available to handle Kayvan, what is the justification for a "take down," obviously involving a baton jab to the gut, and subsequently two cops on top of him (not resisting) on the ground, as opposed to two cops taking him by the arms, handcuffing him, and walking him to a police car? Were the cops afraid that Kayvan might suddenly become violent, surrounded by scores of cops? Is being defiant in a non-threatening manner justification for violent response by cops? Should those with a monopoly on the use of force be allowed to vent their frustration on a non-threatening person, however objectionable they regard his behavior? Is this what you would call professionalism? I call it hooliganism.