Deaf, Disabled Senior Citizen on Bicycle Deemed Threat by Police, Tased to Death
155 replies, posted
[QUOTE=CheeseMan;33445258]
Why are you people going on about him potentially having a gun anyway?[/QUOTE]
Because the officer saw him put something in his mouth. It was a mouth gun.
[QUOTE=HkSniper;33450167]Really?
Ask this officer what they think about your opinion on the matter....
[url]http://www.odmp.org/officer/20664-police-officer-tom-hayes[/url]
This individual may or may not have been drunk, but the officers suspected he was...
[url]http://www.odmp.org/officer/20830-police-officer-rolando-tirado[/url]
And many officers have been killed by individuals fleeing on bikes...
[url]http://www.odmp.org/officer/20786-police-officer-andrew-dunn[/url]
I know this one is off topic but you can not even pull over to help someone with what you think is a broken down car without being shot at...
[url]http://www.odmp.org/officer/20999-deputy-sheriff-james-jd-d-paugh[/url]
There were several more shooting incidents that I could reasonably suspect that the shooter was intoxicated but I did not post those because it does not directly say.
Let me remind you that most engagements are between five to six feet from an armed attacker in law enforcement. This is not the military where you may be getting shot at from over 100 meters out. Police shootings are typically up close and personal - and there for the poor motor skills of an intoxicated individual do not hold much ground. Intoxicated people are more of a threat than a sober person - because an intoxicated person usually makes very poor judgement calls and do not think properly. There for they can be unpredictable.
With all of this in mind, I can understand why the officer did what he did.
But before people start whining. "Then you are saying he was right to do that?!" No. I am not. I think it was still a poor judgement call. Just because I understand why does not mean I support what happened.
If the officer was afraid to approach the subject he should have called for backup. That should be your first priority if something 'does not feel right.' Call for backup before you put yourself into the situation. More badges on scene means more eyes to watch and more guns to shoot if something goes horribly wrong.
Like I said, I feel terrible for both parties involved. But it was still an accident. The officer's actions may have been intentional but at no point did he intend to kill the guy and you all know that. If he wanted to kill someone, why waste time with the taser when you have a sidearm....?
It was a mistake. A poor judgement mistake that unfortunately ended a life. But stupid mistakes happen on a daily basis that end the lives of other people....why? Because every occupation is held by human beings. Who, without any doubt, make mistakes and poor judgement calls. That's called being human and what we are. We all make stupid moves once and a while.
[editline]26th November 2011[/editline]
He was possibly involved in some sort of accident. I think the officer was well in his right mind to perhaps stop the man and see if he wanted medical attention or to see if he was intoxicated.[/QUOTE]
I think you find this whole situation to be a lot more innocent than it may actually be. I agree that I do not think he intended to kill the victim, that would be stupid as a police officer. However, his use of a taser on a senior citizen was negligible, especially since he was not violent and the officer (according to the article) made very poor attempts at communicating with the suspect. I honestly think a manslaughter charge would not be out of line, considering the situation; though I feel that any excessive length of jail time would be unfair.
Just my two cents.
[editline]26th November 2011[/editline]
A regular citizen can serve prison time for accidentally killing somebody, a cop should be no different in circumstances such as these. "Poor judgement" would not excuse a regular citizen.
I know it was a stupid move on the cop, but really, shit happens.
It's not like he tazed a non threatening skater, maced a bunch of students who were unarmed and sitting in a row, or maced a pregnant woman. He thought he was a potential threat and used non-lethal force, which just so happens to have been lethal.
However, the fact that the man wasn't even a clear threat other than bike/hand in pocket, and clearly an old man, possibly drunk, makes me believe the cop is simply stupid and acted stupidly.
[QUOTE=Dogchow33;33450197]Dick. I hope he's charged for murder.[/QUOTE]
Fun fact: Tazors to most people are non lethal.
[QUOTE=J!NX;33456084]I know it was a stupid move on the cop, but really, shit happens.
It's not like he tazed a non threatening skater, maced a bunch of students who were unarmed and sitting in a row, or maced a pregnant woman. He thought he was a potential threat and used non-lethal force, which just so happens to have been lethal.
However, the fact that the man wasn't even a clear threat other than bike/hand in pocket, and clearly an old man, possibly drunk, makes me believe the cop is simply stupid and acted stupidly.
Fun fact: Tazors to most people are non lethal.[/QUOTE]
Fun fact: it's against standard protocol to tase children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Also, you sound extremely biased. "It's not like he tased a non threatening skater."
Yeah, you're right. He tased a non threatening senior citizen on a bike ride.
I believe the cop made an honest mistake. I don't know what fueled that enormously stupid decision, but at the end of the day, he should be responsible. He did not handle the situation accordingly and should face some form of consequences.
[QUOTE=Funcoot;33456384]Fun fact: it's against standard protocol to tase children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Also, you sound extremely biased. "It's not like he tased a non threatening skater."
Yeah, you're right. He tased a non threatening senior citizen on a bike ride.
I believe the cop made an honest mistake. I don't know what fueled that enormously stupid decision, but at the end of the day, he should be responsible. He did not handle the situation accordingly and should face some form of consequences.[/QUOTE]
Skater seemed a bit biased, but you're going a little overboard there.
[QUOTE=SEKCobra;33449259]Yes, if someone gets hit by a car a cop stops by and drops a ticket in your lap.
And drunk drivers generally don't get stoped, no. Nor do illegal ones, like the ones who are deaf.[/QUOTE]
Well you're talking about something totally different. I'm talking about this situation that's in the OP.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.