Posted on 04/22/2016 12:15:03 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
There are some serious questions about what happened in the hours leading up to three teenagers dying in a Florida pond after police dashcam video was released of the incident.
The video shows the marsh-like pond is too thick for deputies to save the girls early in the morning of March 31st.
In a press conference the following day, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said his deputies took off their belts, rushing into the water to try and save them, but were hindered by mucky conditions
But dashcam video only shows the officers standing near the pond, watching the girls' car sink, and calling for backup.
It's too late. 15-year-olds Laniya Miller, Ashaunti Butler, and 16-year-old Dominique Battle all drown. Now their families are hiring a lawyer and calling for a new investigation, saying officers aren't telling the whole story about girls they say deputies are painting as criminals.
"My daughter was not perfect," said Laniya Miller's mother, fighting back tears. "What 15-year-old is?"
The girls are accused of stealing a car in a Walmart parking lot and running from police several times before crashing into the pond.
On Friday, the Miller family's lawyer says she can't comment on the dashcam evidence until she goes through everything. But just last week, she told ABC News that there are inconsistencies in law enforcement statements and moments leading to crash.
"In my opinion, this has been a rush to judgment," Michele Whitfield said. "In my opinion, this has been a smear campaign."
I don’t have any major questions to raise. The criminals stole a car and then died from being stupid. Time to move on. Perhaps other parents will take their role more seriously and teach their kids that stealing cars is not okay, or maybe even that stealing is never okay.
The "girls' car"? Didn't they steal it?
Reminds me of an incident years ago in Tampa. A 14 year old was out at 2 AM with his buddies (on a school night) in a stolen car. In the ensuing chase the driver wrecked the car and the 14 year old died. His mom said, “They shouldn’t have been chasing them!”
Better questions would be:
1. Why is your 14 year old out at 2 AM on a school night?
2. Why was he with thugs who stole a car?
3. Where was his father?
4. Etc......
Is this the trio who had been arrested umpteen times already for auto theft?
Yes, that was about a year ago around Sulphur Springs, near the old dog track.
In comments on another news site it was mentioned that these girls have stolen cars before. I haven’t fact checked that, though.
So let's see, it's dark and that lake is murky and deep (I've read it's around 15 ft deep at some points). So no cop there chose to do something wildly dangerous. No crazy heroes stepped forward.
And I given the situation, I'm OK with that. It's tragic, but the cops did nothing wrong there. After all, there are some building fires that are so bad that even brave firemen choose not to enter.
Cops can't win. They lose no matter what they do, they get the blame.
The cops shouldn’t have lied about trying to save them.
But so what, in this case? What were they going to do, dive down to the car under the water in the dark and free the girls? The girls should have opened the doors themselves and swam out. Sh!t happens when you steal a car and run from the law.
“”My daughter was not perfect,” said Laniya Miller’s mother, fighting back tears. “What 15-year-old is?” “
These girls had multiple arrests for stealing cars. The car they drowned in was stolen.
I took a lifeguard class when I was 16. Most drowning victims will grab their rescuer in a bear hug which could result in both people drowning.
This was not the first stolen car for these girls.
Their unfortunate demise is their responsibility and probably a blessing for their future victims.
You forgot the cottonmouths and alligators that frequently inhabit these lakes around here.
Not to mention gators feed at night.
“Yes, that was about a year ago around Sulphur Springs, near the old dog track.”
They make old dogs run? BASTARDS!
The girls are accused of stealing a car
Umm, Ms. Miller, I hate to break it to you, but 15 year olds I know don't steals cars. They are not perfect, as you say. But they are not felons either.
Agreed. The loss is self-inflicted. Move on.
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