Phoenix Cop Fatally Shoots Domestic-Violence Suspect -- and His Dog -- For No Apparent Reason

Phoenix New Times ^ | October 06, 2010 | James King

[Immerito]

Yesterday, we told you about an officer-involved shooting in Phoenix. Details were limited, so we said to check back later. We got the details and they're pretty nuts.

According to court documents obtained by New Times, Phoenix Police Officer Richard Chrisman has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after fatally shooting 29-year-old Daniel Rodriquez.

Rodriquez's mother called police about noon yesterday to report that she and her son had gotten into an argument and that Rodriquez was breaking things in her trailer home near Baseline Road and Central Avenue.

Officer Chrisman and another officer found Rodriquez's mother at the trailer next to the one where Rodriquez had thrown a fit.

The two officers went next door and tried to talk with Rodriquez, but he didn't answer.

The mother told the officers that the trailer was hers and that they were allowed to enter.

The officers entered the trailer and found Rodriquez standing in the living room.

Rodriquez told the cops they had no right to be in his trailer, and that's when things got wild.

[Immerito]

“I’m speculating rage when hearing the words, you have no right to be here, do you have a warrant. “

Very likely accurate speculation; were that cop talking with any Freeper, we’d be reading about the murder of one of our own, simply for pointing out the unconstitutional nature of the cop’s actions.

[xjcsa]

A Google search indicates he has been indicted for 2nd degree murder.

[IrishCatholic]

No, the guy will likely be found guilty of murder.

But what I find sad is the fact that the shooting occurred October 5, 2010 and no one here seems to want any facts before going off on their own little rants. I guess facts don't matter.
Here are some links. It seems the latest is November, which probably means the trial will be in another four or five months, if even that quick.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2010/11/richard_chrisman_phoenix_police_department.php
http://www.kpho.com/news/25391310/detail.html
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2010/11/richard_chrisman_phoenix_pds_k.php

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2010/11/judge_rules_in_favor_of_office.php

It seem pretty plain with the other officer right there that this Chrisman guy committed murder.

[Bronzy]

I try to keep tabs on my Dachshund barkers. The yard is fenced; however, it seems that cops don’t care if they are on a patrol. Apparently, it is not our private property anymore.

[AlmaKing]

Your last link says this cop is still employed by the Phoenix police department and that a judge ruled that the department can’t fire him just yet because he may beat the murder charge.

[gigster]

One of our county sheriff’s deputies shot a cat here about five years ago.
They came into the home on a domestic situation and the kitty didn’t take kindly to that.
The newspaper didn’t print the name of the deputy, but this is a small county population-wise, and it didn’t take long for us to find out who the trigger-happy deputy Fife was.

[waterhill]

Hey, did you ever hear the one about the Barney in a small town near Cedar Creek Lake who shot a pet pig? True story: I am setting myself up, so I will shut up. PM me if you want details...

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I know this has nothing to do with the story, but why don’t they ever shoot the cat?

Cats are smart enough and self-absorbed enough to make themselves scarce when a commotion arises. Whereas a dog will stick around to try to help.

[Bronzy]

Exxcerpt...
What cops can always count on is that, no matter how aggressively they escalate the confrontation in the name of ““control,”” no matter how quickly they resort to violence, and no matter how obviously innocent or helpless their victims are, they can always count on their bosses and their colleagues to repeat absolutely any lie and make absolutely any excuse in order to find that Official Procedures were followed. As long as Official Procedures were followed, of course, any form of brutality or violence is therefore passed off as OK by the boss cops, and the judgment will be dutifully repeated by fellow cops, by prosecutors, by judges, by much of the news media, and by the hordes of freelance howling cop-enablers who rush into any media forum they can find to publish excuses for any and every cop accused of brutality, while they also use absolutely any means necessary to smear, humiliate and blame any and every victim who ever comes forward.

http://radgeek.com/gt/2008/05/10/cops_are/

[IrishCatholic]

How did that amazing piece of reasoning rise from what I posted?

[IrishCatholic]

I know, crazy isn’t it? You would think the grand jury indictment would be enough. It sounds like the courts just won’t let them until the trial is over.

[thecabal]

Me too. I rip on bad cops all the time here on FR, but I have to commend this guy for breaking the code of silence. As for Mr. Roid Rage, it sounds like a plain ol’ murder to me, but I guess the friends of the cops knows as the DA Office don’t see it that way.

[thecabal]

Did you see that video in post 5? The scumbag came on to private property to ask for directions and plugged the dog running in his own freaking front yard. Sometimes you don’t have to be the kind of person who needs to deal with cops; that trouble will come and find you.

[hoosierham]

That amazing piece of reasoning is all too similar to what happensin 999% of the cases.

[SaraJohnson]

I am glad to see the other officers told the truth and did not try to protect the illegal action of this off-the-rails officer.

If this happens more where good officers are more loyal to the rule of law than to their fellow officers who violate the law, the police abuse we have been seeing will diminish quickly.

Most officers are law abiding and respectful people and they should be weary of covering for the losers and criminals in their ranks. This wild west/Mexican behavior of some is wrecking the hard earned reputation of the profession.

I think he should be charged with manslaughter.

[MacMattico]

I am in no way justifying this. But as the wife of a firefighter with many police officer friends, I have heard a lot of stories of how cops are called to drug houses and when they arrive the dogs attack. In many cases the drug dealer uses pit bulls with their vocal chords cut (they are silent to approaching officers) to attack the cops and give them enough time to escape out the back. Occasionally the home seems like a normal home in a perfectly good neighborhood and the police officer has no clue what's about to happen. The dog(s) gets startled, warning the drug dealer/ person with a warrant/ illegal, and the guy takes off. The police officer enters the front door and several dogs than attack. I know a police officer who was devastated that he had to shoot a dog, and he would also be the first to say there are to many cops that shoot dogs to quickly, but when you go through what some of these guys face everyday it's got to be tough. Don't get me wrong, I hate it just as much as everyone else when a family pet is shot for no reason, and police officers need to evaluate the situation better and not be so trigger happy sometimes, but I think a lot of the fault for this behavior needs to be laid at the feet of drug dealers and other criminals out there. I know an officer missing a large part of his forearm because he didn't want to shoot a dog that looked like your typical black lab, but this dog was trained to attack the cops.

[Finny]

I know this has nothing to do with the story, but why don’t they ever shoot the cat?

Because cats don't bark.

It's one of the nicest things about them.

[cycjec]

“Wrong house, wrong person” happens much too often.

[Don W]

Spare us the “it’s a dangerous job” tear-jerking story. If you find the job too dangerous for your liking, get into another line of work, like needlepoint.

Police and firefighters do have a tough job, but they are NOT some kind of super hero saving the world, it’s just another job where they are entrusted to UPHOLD THE LAW, or put fires out.

They CHOOSE to be in that line of work. It seems that more and more of our fellow citizens who don that badge and peaked cap seem to think that THEY are the law, not the words on paper they are paid to enforce.

Police MUST remember that they are not some “chosen elite”, they are just another group of citizens. As long as every time they encounter a dog they shoot it, they will continue raising the wall between the rest of us and themselves.

[Fido969]

Spare us the “it’s a dangerous job” tear-jerking story.

Here's a list of the top ten dangerous jobs - cops aren't there:

http://top-10-list.org/2010/08/07/top-ten-dangerous-jobs/

More dangerous than cop? Garbage collector.

Next time you go to the dump, shake the attendant's hand and say: "Thank you for your service!"