Posted on 11/07/2013 6:52:20 PM PST by servo1969
The family of a 3-year-old killed in a northern Missouri house fire early Oct. 31 says it is outraged after police used a stun gun to subdue the boy's stepfather as he tried to run back into the burning house to rescue the boy.
Riley Miller, the boy, died in the fire at the home in the town of Louisiana. A city police officer fired his stun gun at the stepfather, Ryan Miller, as he tried to re-enter the burning home. Authorities at the scene reportedly determined it was too dangerous to make an attempt to save the boy.
"He was the joy of my life"
- Ryan Miller
Lori Miller, the boy's grandmother, says she witnessed two officers use the stun gun three times, twice after Ryan Miller had been handcuffed. Miller suffered chest burns and was later released from the city jail without being charged.
City Administrator Bob Jenne called the police response a "judgment call.” A firefighter tried unsuccessfully to enter the home and it was deemed too hot for the stepfather to enter.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I've stood a few yards away from a man as he burned to death in a mobile home. There was nothing we could do. We couldn't get to him. Long story.
I can see why the cops didn't want him to go in. But I can't blame him for not caring about his own life.
No winners here.
Did they shoot the dog? Neighbor’s dog?
Oh, I didn’t notice the cops stunned him after he was handcuffed. I guess I was thinking too much about that day. It that’s true then they’re @ssholes. I’ll never understand why cops think someone who is in restraints needs to be shocked some more. Seems like cops are learning to rely on stun guns to do their jobs for them.
LORD have mercy on this family. How tragic.
Tazered once, handcuffed, then hit two more times??
What were the cops just tired of hearing him plead for the life of his son?
That’s what I’m thinking.
“Calm down, Sir!”
zzzzzzzzzz
“I order you to calm down!”
zzzzzzzzzz
What jumped out at me was the statement that the “authorities” said it was not safe to go back in. I do understand why they would come to that conclusion but in a free society, shouldn’t that be the step dads call?
Can’t blame them for stopping him or him wanting to save his son but come on if a couple of cops can’t keep a man who is already restrained from getting up off the ground then they need some retraining.
Mel
“A Man has the god given right to sacrifice himself in an attempt to save his family, futile or not....”
That’s absolutely right.
agreed
if I choose to risk my life for another, that’s my choice... not some govt union goon
Nope, no winners here. Likely they saved the man’s life. Likely he would rather give his life to save his son’s.
I don't know how I could live with myself as a father if I didn't at least try.
But two tases while he was in handcuffs, according to grandmother. Could they have been excessive?
Drag the cop into the street and set him on fire in front of the entire community, including his kids.
We are no longer a free society we are a litigious society.
The emergency responders are responsible for the lives of those in there immediate vicinity. The fire fighters and police on a call are legally required to ensure the safety of those at the scene.
If they had permitted the man to enter an active fire when they could have prevented him doing so they would have been legally responsible for his death, the city or county would have faced wrongful death law suits.
I am a trained fire fighter so I can assure you if a fireman in his turnout gear could not enter the building the stepfather would have either have turned back or died a few feet inside the door.
We feel for the family... but at some point you gotta wonder why they came out of the house and left the 3 year old in there.... you know.
We did this last night.
Cops did the right thing and saved his life.
Which is why they removed him from the scene.
Too tragic..
They came to that conclusion because the fireman couldn’t enter the home because it was too hot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.