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Houston officer kills unarmed man walking with trousers down
BBC News ^ | 28th March 2018 | BBC News

Posted on 03/28/2018 2:26:40 PM PDT by Ennis85

A US police officer shot dead an unarmed man walking in traffic with his trousers down, and his family says it looks like "premeditated murder".

Police dashcam video shows Danny Ray Thomas, 34, walking towards the officer on a road in Houston, Texas, last Thursday before a gunshot rings out.

Deputy Cameron Brewer repeatedly shouts "get down on the ground" before firing. Both the officer and victim are black.

Mr Thomas' family say he suffered from depression after his children died.

His sister, Kita Thomas-Smith, attended a Houston City Council meeting on Tuesday where she tearfully urged politicians do to something about "police brutality".

Mayor Sylvester Turner told her: "I certainly feel your pain. We are certainly sorry for any life that is taken."

Outside city hall, Ms Thomas-Smith told the Houston Chronicle of the dashcam video. "It feels like premeditated murder.

"He was clearly walking, not running, toward the deputy not trying to hurt or harm him."

Deputy Brewer, who had a Taser with him, has been placed on administrative leave as police investigate the shooting.

Houston Police Department said in a statement last week that Mr Thomas was found "walking in the middle of the intersection" of a busy road in the city.

Deputy Brewer noticed him with "his pants around his ankles, talking to himself and hitting vehicles as they passed by".

"Thomas then struck a white vehicle, and the driver exited and engaged in a physical altercation with the suspect," Houston police said.

The Harris County Sheriff's deputy saw the fracas and stopped his car to intervene.

"Fearing for his safety, the deputy discharged his duty weapon, striking Thomas once in the chest," said Houston police, which is leading the investigation.

In a different video taken by a bystander and published by the Chronicle last week,

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: death; houston; police; shooting
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To: infool7

“So are you really advocating for excluding all women from the workforce entirely?”

Doing something “all” and “entirely” is almost always overdoing.

I want a return to a culture in which the woman’s contribution to the family is properly esteemed, in which her civilizing role is revered, in which the roles of wife and mother are correctly seen as essential to civilization.

There must be exceptions. For instance, if a woman’s husband were killed in the Korean War, leaving her with a small child, she should be able to get a job that would allow her, with frugality and sobriety, to raise that child.

But things like that must be the exceptions. The intact family must be seen as optimal.


161 posted on 03/29/2018 1:33:39 PM PDT by dsc (Our system of government cannot survive one-party control of communications.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

“The stupid argument here is that police are justified in the use of deadly force against an unarmed person.”

Restating opposing argument as an irrational extreme is a typical leftist debate trick.

I’m not saying that they’re always justified, but you are saying that they are never justified.

Remember, the first rule of Dunning Kruger Club is that you don’t know you’re a member of Dunning Kruger Club.


162 posted on 03/29/2018 1:38:47 PM PDT by dsc (Our system of government cannot survive one-party control of communications.)
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To: GuavaCheesePuff

Just wondering how a cop, or anyone, could communicate well with a raving lunatic wandering in traffic with his pants down. Who already didn’t listen to what the cop told him to do.

I am not making any judgement about this shooting.


163 posted on 03/29/2018 1:49:40 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: TXSearcher

Excellent comment.


164 posted on 03/29/2018 1:54:47 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: dsc

I agree with you 100% after my Dad had a massive heart attack and died when I was 16 my brother 14 and sister 12 my Mom(Ruth) pulled us through a very difficult time. She just turned 91. She was a telephone operator at Leo Burnett for 16 years and before that At&t.

Looking back I can only admire her strength and courage rearing teenagers in the 80’s.

You are asking for a miracle and as much as I desire that same thing I am very doubtful we will see that day return. All we can do is be the best example for our children and those that know us.


165 posted on 03/29/2018 1:56:16 PM PDT by infool7 (Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
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To: Paal Gulli

Good point.


166 posted on 03/29/2018 1:58:20 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: RegulatorCountry

Did you watch the video?

Please do.

The wandering pantless man was walking fast, tried to assault another man, and was big, strong and coming up to the cop car quickly.


167 posted on 03/29/2018 2:00:23 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Have you actually tried to get mental health help for an adult in recent years? It truly is nearly impossible. Those that need it the worst often refuse, then there is nothing anyone can do. I have been though it, and it is heartbreaking.

Even wealthy families fail, if the person is not willing to get help, and is not medically compliant if they do get help then there is nothing to be done. Most people who are mentally ill enough for the families to seek help, are usually the last to agree to get it, or not mentally capable to comply with their treatment.

Even if there is reason enough to involve law enforcement and get people put under 72 hour hold for evaluation- they are often released before the 72 hours and without an evaluation if they appear to “straighten out” and do not want help. Been there, done that. Everyone is afraid to violate their civil rights, so are not willing to do things against that person’s will even if it is legal to do so.

Mental health is a serious problem in this country, and until we admit that some people must have help or be detained whether they want to be or not we can do nothing. Our hands are tied, as a society and as a family.

It is not that we are dense, some of us know the difference between how it is supposed to work and how it actually is in real life.


168 posted on 03/29/2018 2:01:26 PM PDT by Tammy8 (Please be a regular supporter of Free Republic !)
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To: infool7

Another good point. I’ve read the warning issued to first responders about fentanyl. Super dangerous killer stuff.


169 posted on 03/29/2018 2:02:35 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: dsc

I think RC has always been like this.

Even the bereaved and angry family member admits the pantless guy was “walking toward the deputy” - and he was walking very fast, hitting or pushing someone on the way. He looked aggressove, not just meandering or wandering.


170 posted on 03/29/2018 2:05:27 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: dsc

Wow, another very good point.


171 posted on 03/29/2018 2:06:20 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: infool7

“You are asking for a miracle and as much as I desire that same thing I am very doubtful we will see that day return.”

No one knows the future, but with God, all things are possible.


172 posted on 03/29/2018 2:07:12 PM PDT by dsc (Our system of government cannot survive one-party control of communications.)
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To: wita

Watch the video. The big, tall and aggressive pantless man was walking fast and purposefully towards the cop and shoved or hit a person on his way.


173 posted on 03/29/2018 2:08:31 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: Ennis85
biggest problem, besides the trigger happy cops, is that our society is actually GROWING weird people who run around with their pants down...

there is no shame anymore...we allow everything..

how does that go...the accepted become the acceptable...

174 posted on 03/29/2018 2:11:05 PM PDT by cherry
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To: RegulatorCountry

Unarmed...unarmed. I assume you don’t mean an armless person? Anyone with arms, fists, legs and feet is not necessarily “unarmed”, and someone crazed and/or on drugs can - believe it or not- actually kill someone. They can also grab a gun from someone else.

Your ravings on this thread are some of the worst ones I’ve ever seen from you.

Sometimes people hate cops because they’ve been on the wrong side of the law....


175 posted on 03/29/2018 2:11:13 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: infool7; dsc

I totally agree with your points about women and families.

I am sure this sanity will return because it is natural law.

Some more crap may have to happen first, though.


176 posted on 03/29/2018 2:12:39 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: Secret Agent Man

That was not my experience. I tried to get help for a female, she was obviously depressed and obviously mentally ill. No help was available, there was no way to get her mental health help or support.

These things do not work the way you think they do or the way they should. They just don’t.


177 posted on 03/29/2018 2:13:45 PM PDT by Tammy8 (Please be a regular supporter of Free Republic !)
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To: fr_freak

That is true, but many are not allowed nightsticks and other ways of subduing people have also come under fire. Choke holds for example though not the only issue- the thing is fear of lawsuits has limited what force law enforcement is allowed to use. Choke holds and night sticks are thought to be too dangerous with some deaths resulting- but I would bet they saved more lives than they cost. The people who are shot instead of using a night stick or choke hold on them are not counted in the equation.


178 posted on 03/29/2018 2:21:09 PM PDT by Tammy8 (Please be a regular supporter of Free Republic !)
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To: dsc

Yes you are correct, I will be standing honor guard at tonight’s vigil praying for that very intention and that we might live to see it.

God Bless


179 posted on 03/29/2018 3:10:35 PM PDT by infool7 (Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
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To: infool7

And you.


180 posted on 03/29/2018 6:16:12 PM PDT by dsc (Our system of government cannot survive one-party control of communications.)
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