The police said he was unarmed. Who was he a threat to?
What was he going to do to ensure he got away?
Car Jack?
Home invasion?
Or go to the library for a quiet read?
So should police just shoot any suspect on the off chance that they might do something worse in the future?
In Texas, police can shoot a fleeing felon based on violent acts committed and the thugs immediate threat to the public.
And what was the immediate threat to the public posed by this guy?
Just let him run away. . .after all, he din-du-nuffin after he got out of the car. . .
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
“Three officers fired their weapons in the incident that left [a gang banging car thief], 18, dead after police say he sideswiped a squad car and hit a parked car while driving a stolen Jaguar, injuring some officers about 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the 7400 block of South Merrill Avenue. Police officials announced Friday that two of the officers were relieved of their police powers, and the third was relieved of police powers on Saturday, police spokesman [...] said.
See that phrase, “injuring some officers”? That’s Aggravated Battery with a weapon weighing a ton-and-a-half. Seems kind of deadly to us. And the total disregard for uniformed officers traveling in marked cars? What’s to stop him from disregarding a little old lady crossing the street? State law and General Order seem to conflict with the prevailing “community” feelings, and everyone knows “feelings” are the new currency of the realm.”
Point 2 below is important on what happened after he got out of the car the incident isn’t over: “to prevent an arrest from being defeated by resistance or escape”:
“General Order 03-02-03, II-A:
A sworn member is justified in using force likely to cause death or great bodily harm only when he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary:
1. to prevent death or great bodily harm to the sworn member or to another person, or:
2. TO PREVENT AN AREST FROM BEING DEFEATED BY RESISTENCE OR ESCAPE and the sworn member reasonably believes that the person to be arrested:
a. has committed or has attempted to commit a forcible felony which involves the infliction, threatened infliction, or threatened use of physical force likely to cause death or great bodily harm or;
b. is attempting to escape by use of a deadly weapon or;
c. OTHERWISE INDICATES THAT HE OR SHE WILL ENDANGER HUMAN LIFE OR INFLICT GREAT BODILY HARM unless arrested without delay,
Forcible Felony - like the attempted murder of a Police Officer? Deadly weapon - like a car? Will endanger human life - like driving a hunk of metal at a human being? We just tore this apart with almost no effort. Imagine what a lawyer could do.”
I’ll bet your life and the lives of your family that they thug would not harm anyone else in his efforts to escape. I won’t bet mine.
That’s it. I’m moving on to more interesting stuff. Carry on.
Cheers.