Posted on 05/13/2005 4:43:49 PM PDT by kingattax
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ten sheriff's deputies who fired 120 rounds at an unarmed driver at the end of a chase in a quiet neighborhood appeared before news cameras Friday with a lawyer who apologized to residents on their behalf.
Wearing suits and ties or dark sweaters, the deputies stood silently while lawyer Gregory Emerson explained that each had voluntarily told investigators what happened during Monday's videotaped shooting in Compton.
"They're not hiding," Emerson told reporters. "They're honorable, decent individuals. They're proud professionals of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and they're willing to stand up and tell the community that they do apologize."
"Each one of them, to a person, that stands here today, wishes that things would have been a little bit different."
Emerson said the deputies didn't try to "harm or injure or otherwise jeopardize the safety of the individuals" on the street where 44-year-old Winston Hayes was shot.
The men fired 120 rounds in the early morning incident, striking Hayes four times and bruising one deputy who was hit in his bulletproof vest. Hayes is recovering at a hospital.
The shooting followed a brief pursuit. Some deputies thought Hayes, who was driving a sport utility vehicle, had shot two deputies while others thought he was trying to ram them, sheriff's officials said. Hayes has not been charged.
Bullets penetrated several homes in the area, prompting outrage from some residents. Sheriff Lee Baca offered to double the typical payment for damages incurred.
One resident, Reyes Valencia, who saw the shooting that left a bullet hole in his wooden fence, said he doesn't accept the apology.
"I'm glad they did apologize. It's not going to change what they did," said the 41-year-old Valencia, who has lived on the block for 35 years. "The guy didn't have a gun. It's no reason to shoot the guy."
Baca said 70 to 80 shots were fired during the first five seconds of the confrontation. He said he believes some deputies emptied their guns while others fired once or twice.
The deputies are undergoing counseling and will return to work, Baca said.
In this still video image released by Joshua Harville, deputies surround a SUV after firing a barrage of gunfire at the vehicle early Monday morning, May 9, 2005, in the Compton section of Los Angeles. The driver, Winston Hayes, 44, and a sheriff's deputy were wounded, police said. (AP Photo/Joshua Harville)
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Associated Press Writer Chris Nguyen contributed to this report.
"I'm sorry I didn't stand there and possibly let that lunatic shoot me, so that I'd never be going home to my wife and kids agains."
Say what?
Apology accepted. Now, get to work on your marksmanship, fire control, fire distribution and weapons handling.
The guy took 4 bullets and LIVED?
This sounds like a scene out of the new movie CRASH.
Does anybody know why the deputies were chasing the car in the first place?
"Hayes has not been charged.
Doesn't look too good. Usually they at least charge them with obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.
Which lunatic? The unarmed civilian, or the cop that shot the other cop?
What "lunatic"? This wasn't the guy, and even if it was he wouldn't have been able to shoot them because he was unarmed.
Exactly what are you talking about? Do you read the articles or just glance at the title and run your face?
I refer you and all FRepers to the current issue of
The American Enterprise magazine. It's MUST reading to
understand what's happening in the City of Angels. On
p.18 it begins one article titled " HOW RACIAL PC CORRUPTED
THE LAPD." It tells the dreadful story of what was once
known as "the world's greatest police department" is
now riddled with incompetence and corruption -- primarily
due to affirmative action run amok. It's important also
because we see that what's destroying the LAPD is ALSO
destroying us in so many areas other than law enforcement
-- education, business, etc., etc.
I believe the LAPD and the LA County Sherriff's deputies are two entirely different forces.
The line of lawyers that had formed outside the Hayes' residence had reached all the way to Hong Kong as of noon today.
LAPD refers to the city of L.A and the sheriff to L.A.
County - I was referring to the LAPD.
Well, the folks involved in this incident and the topic of the thread were not from the LAPD.
Earth to Kingattax: Please re-read the article.
I lived for a short time in L.A. and in those days the
jurisdictions overlapped. If a notorious crime occured
in the city the county sheriff's dept often was on the
scene along with the LAPD. The article simply has the
dateline of "Los Angeles" without specifying city or
county. But in either case the point I was making was a
generic one and the article is cited only for that purpose.
If this guy lives, his lawsuit would bankrupt the LA government. If he dies, then he could bankrupt all of CA.
Where are the vocal supporters of cops in FR who defend these idiots no matter what?
No. They should be fired. But then again the union would probably come down on the city. I say they should still be fired.
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