Quote Originally Posted by withm View Post
Just to play devil's advocate.... We don't know if the victim was in fact taunting the police officer... On the other hand, these Critical Mass Rides probably don't do anything to further the cause of responsible cyclists either.
If a cop doesn't have the self-restraint to refrain from attempting to cause serious physical injury to someone who's taunting him, or who's a member of a group that engages in rude behavior, they shouldn't have a badge (and especially a gun).

If a private citizen physically assaults someone who's taunting them, that's a crime, that's not self-defense. Even more so when it's someone who's paid to use self-restraint.