NC man reaching for cane shot in SC traffic stop

AP via [Myrtle Beach] Sun-News ^ | February 26, 2014

[Slings and Arrows]

CLOVER, S.C. — York County deputies say an officer shot a 70-year-old man reaching for a cane during a traffic stop because he thought the man was grabbing a rifle from the bed of his pickup truck.

-snip-

Sheriff's office spokesman Trent Faris said Knox stopped 70-year-old Bobby Canipe (kah-NYP') of Lincolnton, N.C., for an expired license plate Tuesday evening. Investigators say Canipe got out of his pickup and reached into the truck bed for his cane and Knox fired several shots, hitting Canipe once.

-snip-

Faris says the shooting was unfortunate, but appeared to be appropriate because Knox felt an imminent threat to his life.

[x1stcav]

Steroids?

When are the cops themselves going to be routinely tested for banned substances?

[cva66snipe]

Barney!!!!!! Serious was the officer 4’ tall and could not see into the bed of the truck?

[Navy Patriot]

Faris says the shooting was unfortunate, but appeared to be appropriate because the craven coward Knox imagined an imminent threat to his life.

[DoodleDawg]

LEO pulls the old man over for simple expired tags, never sees a rifle, yet shoots the man saying he feared for his life?

It worked for Michael Dunn.

[Navy Patriot]

Starting to wonder if gun control isn’t the answer after all. No guns for government workers. None. Nada. Period.

That is the ONLY gun control that I support, and I will support that absolutely.

[ImNotLying]

“Knox fired several shots” Not only is this police officer lacking proper skills in assessing a threat in this situation, he is severely incompetent in the use of a handgun. Sounds like he could use a little more time on the range. If this had truly been a bad perp, this officer would have been dead.

[wally_bert]

I grew up on the opposite side of Clover. I can’t remember ever hearing of a cop firing on a person while growing up there. No doubt it happened but in a small town like that back then, news of anything spread fast.

[DaveA37]

The old man can thank his lucky stars that the “multiple shots, all but one” missed their mark. Sound like the officer needs a lot more range time. My guess is the two were not more than 5-10 yards apart when this took place.

[mabarker1]

Just heard on the local AM news that the Man was on His way back from the Daytona 500.

So now Race Fans are fair game to PIGS also!?

I’m really getting sick of these STUPID shootings.

What’s next My 80 year old Mother getting shot for going to the mailbox???????

[Alas Babylon!]

People need to tell them that "the shooting was unfortunate, but appeared to be appropriate because Knox felt an imminent threat to his life" is absolutely inappropriate and that the imminent threat to an officer or deputy does not warrant or excuse such behavior, considering the outcome if they are wrong. The fact that it WAS only a cane shows the deputy was not under any threat at all, and the fact that he shot someone is unacceptable. Trigger-happy is what it was. I'll say it again: Trigger-happy. We cannot have such nervous nellies serve as police officers or deputies. The risk is just TOO high.

Contact information from the York County, S.C. Sherriff's office:

Mailing Address

York County Sheriff's Office
Moss Justice Center
1675-2A York Highway
York, SC 29745

Telephone: (803) 628-3059
Fax: (803) 628-3075
Or email us at : infoyorkcountysheriff.com@yorkcountygov.com

[lostboy61]

The average police officer has a I.Q. at a 100 or below and is mentally impaired. They only talk to other cops and are friends to other cops. They do not feel that they have to follow the law as they are special and above the law. Everyday they are told it's us against them by there leadership. One day this dream of there's will come true and they won't make it home.

[skinkinthegrass]

OH! he'll get it! ..lots of (useful) targets on "the streets";
fellow citizens, dogs/cats..even caged Parakeets.
my uncle (ret. LEO), is probably very disturbed by these accounts.

[from occupied ga]

Just what kind of people are being hired to be policemen? I have never heard of so many shootings by police.

The same kind as always. Two things (at least) going on. More coverage of these outrages since the internet broke the monopoly the government/police worshiping MSM had on information , and as police everywhere get away with more and more they get emboldened to push the envelope further

[OldPossum]

a full internal investigation will be conducted.

That's always the part I love. The noun could easily be changed to a "cover-up process."

[mabarker1]

My Uncle is spinning in His Grave.

ANY (back then) Officer in His Department would have been put on nonpaid leave until the investigation was complete and would have been fired for actions like this!

He started as a walking beat cop and retired as Chief after 52 years.

[jjotto]

LEOs and the military are chosen and trained by products of America’s amoral, anti-American education system. The idea that LEOs and the military could be some sort of repository of moral behavior is irrational. This irrational belief will cost many Americans their lives, and, sadly, FReepers will be among the victims.

[exDemMom]

One thing that everyone should do in a situation like this is communicate. Don’t just reach for the glove box—tell the officer that you think your registration is in the glove box and you are looking for it. If you are reaching for your backpack on the back seat, tell the officer that you think your driver’s license is in the back seat. Etc.

Don’t just start reaching for things without saying anything. That makes police officers nervous, and that is what makes them shoot.

I’ll bet this situation would have turned out a bit different if the old man had said he needs to get his cane before reaching for it. A cane could easily be mistaken for a rifle by a police officer who is already hyper alert. I’m glad the old guy is expected to recover.

[BuffaloJack]

I’d bet if you said “I though the officer was reaching for his gun” as justification for shooting a cop, they’d laugh and you’d break records getting booked for shooting a cop.

[heylady]

“LEOs and the military are chosen and trained by products of America’s amoral, anti-American education system.”

Sorry but I don’t put the military into the same group as police. Under the Obama’s rules of engagement our military is not allowed to fire unless they are fired upon. See the difference here?

[PapaBear3625]

What the heck is going in this country? Just what kind of people are being hired to be policemen? I have never heard of so many shootings by police.

My personal theory? They are purposefully hiring thugs whom they can count on to follow orders, even illegal orders. One thing about those thugs, though, is that they have a low tolerance for actual danger.