Cop charged with murder of motorist after jarring video surfaces

NY Post ^ | 4/7/15 | By Associated Press

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Cop charged with murder of motorist after jarring video surfaces

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A white South Carolina police officer has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a black motorist after a traffic stop. North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey told a hastily called news conference that city Patrolman Michael Thomas Slager was arrested and charged Tuesday after law enforcement officials saw a video of the shooting following a Saturday traffic stop. Authorities say the victim, 50-year-old Walter Lamer Scott of Charleston, was shot after the officer already hit him with a stun gun.

[americas.best.days...]

The MSM finally have the case they’ve been dreaming of.

Did he cuff him as he lay dying? Wow.

[21twelve]

At first I could almost think the cop could (heck, he still might) us as his defense that he didn’t realize that the guy dropped the taser. It looks like one part falls to the ground and the cop’s feet, and the other gets flung behind the cop. “It all happened so fast, I thought he still had it....”

But after the cop gets the guy cuffed he quickly gets up and jogs back to pick up what was dropped. No looking around for it in the grass where the guy dropped, no rolling over the victim’s body (”Hey, were did that thing go? Oh - there it is - way back there! Crap, now what am I going to do?”)

[DoodleDawg]

what you don’t see is the physical altercation between cop and perp prior to the shooting!!

And that justifies shooting a fleeing man 8 or 9 times in the back?

[Cboldt]

-- I came across a supreme court case Tennessee v. Garner which says cops must have a reasonable belief that a fleeing suspect poses a danger to police or others. --

This is what the case says, in part ...

Thus, if ... there is probable cause to believe that he has committed a crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical harm, deadly force may be used if necessary to prevent escape, and if, where feasible, some warning has been given.

That is a broader class of situation than "imminent threat."

[DoodleDawg]

Not saying the shooting was justified, just saying that cops don’t need to perceive any imminent threat to themselves or others in order to justify use of deadly force.

What you've just said was that police can shoot anyone on sight for no cause.

[wally_bert]

Would not be pretty.

[familyop]

True, though, that police are trained to repeatedly yell at someone like that to stop. It’s highly unlikely that the patrolman mentioned in the article forgot to do that. And yes, the altercation is not shown in the video.

Maybe the cop is being prosecuted, because North Charleston, South Carolina doesn’t want the riots. Maybe cities without large, black neighborhoods will maintain the policy of shooting anyone who refuses to obey commands, that is, where “perps” don’t appear to have enough cash flow to sue.

Sit, boy! Play dead! Arf, arf! R-r-r-r-ruff! Bang!

[AppyPappy]

Good. We need a long hot summer for entertainment.

[SecondAmendment]

Any bets on how long before the "Agitator in Chief" interrupts his busy "scheeeduule" to have a "long overdue" national conversation about (white) police violence ?

I give the preezy until 2300 EDT tonight.

[bigdaddy45]

are you kidding? unclear? The perp is running away, and the cop is unloading his weapon into his back. Its about as clear a video as you’re ever going to see.

[sport]

I saw that one, but it went right over my head. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Karl Spooner]

Not only does he plant a weapon, he gets caught planting the weapon.

Whowever filmed that did not have permission to film police!

[TigerClaws]

This man was unarmed and it was a traffic stop. It’s a stretch to say he was in danger of harming others.

This looks like a clear case of a cop getting ticked off and gunning down a suspect. They had the car and could have arrested him later if the officer didn’t want to give chase on foot.

Without the video, it would have been cop’s word versus a dead man.

With the video, it’s manslaughter.

I’m perplexed on FR that so many defend ANY action of the police or government actors (NSA, etc.).

We need a Constitution to protect us FROM government. Our protectors can quickly become our oppressors.

[Cboldt]

Me: ... cops don't need to perceive any imminent threat to themselves or others in order to justify use of deadly force.

DoodleDawg: What you've just said was that police can shoot anyone on sight for no cause.

Hahahahah. I sure don't want to engage in a battle of wits with you, you are sharp as a tack.

[bigdaddy45]

So you can see a scenario where this was a legitimate shoot? I’d love to hear it.

[Cboldt]

I know the thread is mostly about this shooting, but FWIW, my remark was aimed to correct the impression that cops have to practice more restraint than citizens, when it comes to use of deadly force. Cops can hide behind probable cause, the public cannot.

Now, that remark is a general remark, and I understand how (being in this thread) people will jump to the conclusion that I am asserting that probable cause exists in this case - even though I expressly said that I was not rendering an opinion about this case.

[bigdaddy45]

you think the occasional white guy doesn’t try to mix it up with the cops? Why just “people of color”?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

Seems to me that fighting with cops is a risky endeavor, but people of color seem to enjoy it.

As far as I can see, the only evidence so far that the victim was even fighting with the cop was the cop's own say-so. The cop who is on video planting evidence on the victim. So, I'll take his version of events with a grain of salt, to say the least...

[Regal]

” Cops can hide behind probable cause, the public cannot.”
__________

Probable cause is required for a warrant application, a traffic stop or an inquiry. It does not insulate a police officer from liability in a shooting.