Posted on 02/21/2012 8:54:11 PM PST by smokingfrog
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is probing the weekend shooting death of an Iraq war veteran in an armed standoff near Appling Countys Surrency community, Appling Sheriff Bennie DeLoach said.
Neighbors of James M. Dixon III, 31, called the Sheriffs Office about 3:50 a.m. Sunday to say someone had fired a shot through their house, DeLoach said in a release.
Deputies went to Dixons house but decided for safety reasons to wait until daylight before confronting whoever fired the shot, DeLoach said.
As they waited, Dixon left the house and drove to his parents house about a half mile away on Holland Road Extension, Chief Deputy Lee J. Sweat Jr. said.
Deputies were not in position to stop Dixon but tried to stop him as he came back home, Sweat said.
When he returned, he ran through a [partial] roadblock and we pursued him, but Dixon made it back into his house, Sweat said.
The Georgia State Patrol SWAT team came to the scene and took over, and Dixon came outside the house just before 9 a.m. armed with a shotgun, DeLoach said.
When Dixon refused orders to put down the weapon, the SWAT team fired on him hitting him twice, Sweat said.
(Excerpt) Read more at jacksonville.com ...
Damn.
“Dixon had served several tours in Iraq and had friends among the Appling County deputies, Sweat said.
Its a regrettable situation, Sweat said.
Dixons older sister, Serran Aaron, said her brother suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was 100 percent disabled.”
Wow, these cops really went out on a limb for their buddy. It seems like cops these days are really trigger happy and trained accordingly. So his “friends” at the Sherrifs department gunned a sick man down like a dog. I recall a story where a mentally retarded teenager was shot down after being badly burned in a vehicle accident. He was jumping around “acting erratically and growling” instead of following deputy dog’s commands. So they shot him down. He refused to lay down on hot asphalt with first degree burns all over his body.
Me neither; but, and I really hate to say it, it seems like the police are being trained to kill anyone who does not OBEY.
Yes, he had a weapon; he was in fear for his life. (Combat-zone mentality.)
No, the was not an immediate threat; he was not threatening anyone else or behaving in an actually violent manner.
...and yet they (the police) say the need/opportunity to kill him.
I just said much the same thing.
I recall a story where a mentally retarded teenager was shot down after being badly burned in a vehicle accident. [...] He refused to lay down on hot asphalt with first degree burns all over his body.
That doesn't sound retarded at all to me.
What does sound retarded is: vehicle-accident survivor* —> shoot-him!
* Esp considering a vehicle accident could easily be a cause for traumatic brain injury, in which case that "acting erratically" is actually a symptom.
Judge jury and executioner.
Not saying it is smart to hold a gun after cops say to put it down - but - shooting the guy for disobeying? Where was the imminent threat?
When did “not rapidly following police orders outside your own house” turn into reason to use deadly force?
So, I guess if I’m sitting on MY front porch (private property) with my rifle across my lap and a cop drives up, rolls down the window and tells me to put down the gun, he has the right to kill me if I don’t “OBEY” the POWER.
As an old cop and former mil I can tell you how I would have handled the situation.
I would have just walked up and said lets talk.
I have seen officers that could turn a jay walking into a riot and then I have seen officers that could turn a riot into just a jay walking.
In the end its whether you honor the code: To SERVE AND PROTECT
Thanks Steve!
Prayers for his family.
Only if he was asleep.
No, I did not watch the video, but just wondering if this might have been a case of suicide by LEO.
Thank you for your service Marine. RIP
Prayers up.
How about slipping the suspect a Mickey Finn at his favorite bar?
You sound to have a very good head on your shoulders, I would of done to same to a brother in arms, however to serve and protect doesn’t seem to hold much sway anymore. It seems to be the “Us and them” mentality.
“Air guns with tranquillizer darts should be part of any SWAT team’s arsenal. “
No they shouldn’t. If they are given a new “tool” they’ll find a way to abuse it.
You are correct. Brain injury is very often leads to violent and irrational behavior. This behavior of a stunned, injured motorist can lead to a field execution by a cowardly cop who has no desire to sort things out. Much easier to just start shooting. Safer for the cop who just wants to preserve his own skin and his gubment cheese fueled lifestyle.
These cops knew this guy. Story says he was “friends” with some of the deputies. We can infer that this man and his disability were well known. Yet cops seem to specialize in making a bad situation worst.
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