Posted on 12/04/2006 9:08:57 AM PST by jjm2111
The response was proportional. If he stole PlayStations, he deserved to die.
(See tagline for clarification of this post.)
Uhm, because the deputies were serving an arrest warrant that charged Strickland with armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and breaking and entering a vehicle. That's why.
Bad genes.
I have the feeling there is something big really missing from this story. If the dead guy had used a gun to steal the Playstation earlier, then I would assume he was armed and act accordingly. If not, then the police officers are in a world of sh** deservedly so, but I'll wait until all of the facts are in before passing judgement but at this moment I feel the kid set himself up for major failure by stealing in the first place.
I assume he had failed to appear on the charges, before a warrant authorizing a no-knock entry was issued. If you're charged with armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, you better show up in court or at the police station when summoned. If you don't, law enforcement will reasonably assume that you are in fact an individual who has committed armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, and who has subsequently shown contempt for the legal process. Accordingly, they will not assume you and your friends will behave like choir boys when they come to get you, and they will come to get you in a manner appropriate for fetching in deadly weapon-wielding felons.
"armed robbery" ~ you do that and they come after you with guns drawn.
Why do they always have to kill the dog??? Why??? Poor guy probably didn't do anything. If you or I shoot a dog for no reason we're going to jail for cruelty to animals.
Also I'm not so naive to think that just because they charged him with armed robbery does not mean that they were going to prosecute him for armed robbery. The game that they always play is to charge somebody with 1st degree homicide and then plead them out to jaywalking. Very effective strategy for the DA.
It's extremely unlikely that this was the first attempt to get this guy to appear for legal proceedings. Yes, the courts are supposed to be in charge of meting out justice. But if you refuse to appear when a court summons you, you are effectively vetoing the idea of court authority.
The armed robbery warrant comes to mind. Search warrants are one thing; an arrest warrant for a violent is something else entirely. The "knock politely and hope the punk doesn't decide to light you up" approach is not a viable option in that situation, IMHO. Your mileage may vary.
This guy pulled a gun in a malicious act toward some innocent to take their property. Everything that happened after that is his fault, cover the bastard in lime. Bad guys fearing the police is a GOOD thing.
"holding a video game controller "
How about holding a TV remote? How about any other bleeding legal harmless object in ONE'S OWN HOME? If you're carving a turkey and answer the door holding a knife?
Any of those things will get you killed.
No way would the cops ever stop and ask themselves "is that a gun or not". Their training makes them assume anything dark and held in the hand is a gun, and then, on automatic pilot they shoot.
They will apoligize. But they will not lose their jobs, go to court, go to jail.
Unless the innocent citizen they kill is a member of a certain minority group.
I guess the punk completed the last level of "Grand Theft Playstation".
Wow, this has not been reported in the local coverage.
Punk got what he deserved. Give the police a medal and a bounty.
No, no, NO! According to the American Criminal Liberties Union, law enforcement is obligated to invite the suspect down to the station house for a four-course luncheon (with a suitable vintage wine to wash it all down, of course).
I disgree with you. hgro is spot on. Not all cops are sadists, but the 'profession' sure does attract them. It's definitely not libel, either, as the truth is an absolute defense.
Well, it does kind of help if you conduct yourself in a manner that doesn't get the cops assuming that you're an armed robber.
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