Deputy shoots airman after 100-mph chase (w/video)

MSNBC ^ | 9:42 a.m. ET Feb. 1, 2006 | AP

[Smogger]

CHINO, Calif. - A videotape released Tuesday shows a sheriff’s deputy shooting an unarmed Air Force policeman who recently returned from Iraq as he appeared to obey an order to get up off the ground.

...

'Get up' Carrion is heard telling the officer he is unarmed and is in the military.

At one point, a voice is heard saying several times: “Get up.”

Carrion says: “I’m gonna get up.” As he rises, at least four shots are fired and Carrion collapses, crying out in pain.

“Shots fired! Shots fired!” someone shouts.

In a telephone interview conducted in Spanish, Valdez said after the shooting, Carrion asks the deputy, “Why did you shoot me if you told me to stand up?” That alleged exchange cannot be heard on the video.

...

[cva66snipe]

Civilian Peace Officers are subject to errors under stress just like everyone else. Sometimes there are terrible consequences, that is unfortunate, not a reason to condemn. They are constantly being compromised by the political process and their leadership. It is a wonder at times they can more or less function. They need training, guidance, supervision, direction and most importantly good leadership like everyone else. Further they need knowing support and encouragement not the phony "We Support Law Enforcement" Sticker political garbage but one on one encouragement and acknowledgement that what they do has meaning and their contribution is valued. That is the responsibility of the community, the people hiring and paying them. But, just remember when you’re terrifically stressed and or all amped up during a dangerous event it is hard to keep it all together each and every time. We have allowed the Media and people with political agendas to create such a vision of danger beyond reason that the Officers are constantly being kept in an unreasonably high state of stress. This contributes to overreaction and generally makes their lives miserable. It also likely decreases rather than increases their safety.

I would bet if we were not such a legalistic society the Officer would have already apologized to the young man and would be at his bedside doing what he can for him and his family.

You've never dealt with a Bad Cop have you? Yes many actually most are just persons wanting to earn their wages and live life as we all do. They are honorable cops doing a rough job. I respect them for it.

Some others however {a small minority} when the belt goes around their waist they actually change personalities. These are not good persons to start with. When police belt with weapon and badge are added they become a menace to their fellow officers and a free society. Many like this are also a menace to their family as well. It is unfortunate some such as these are in uniform because of political connections not political pressures except on their supervisors who can not fire them.

I've only met personally one bad cop in my life. He was a family member. He would just assume beat you half to death with his fist or night stick as to look at you if he arrested you. He would gladly run you off a bridge in pursuit and then go get dough nuts to celebrate his profound achievement. He lived his private life in constant fear and parinoia from worrying about all the people he had purposely and with enjoyment done wrong.

We have a legal process and hopefully in this case justice and truth will prevail.

BTW IF the Cop actually did what he is accused of No he doesn't want to apologize as such cops see themselves as being above the law.

[magslinger]

Some consideration is good for safety, perhaps moreso with an unmarked car with a light than with a marked patrol car... But common sense needs to rule too.

At the end of the day, I'd rather stand next to my daughter as she explains it to the angry judge than describe her to the sympathetic police officer taking her missing persons report.

[HairOfTheDog]

Of course... assuming those are really the reasonable choices. You might also find yourself nursing a daughter who got dragged out of the car when she finally stopped 10 miles from where the lights came on. I can understand wanting to go to a public place, but when a marked patrol car is trying to stop you for a violation of some kind, and you don't pull over in a reasonable distance, it might be a hard sell.

[cva66snipe]

Agreed, while I don't think most cops would be pleased to see a car drive very far after the lights go on, most cops will follow the car until in a safe place to even make the stop. And yes, public settings and witnesses can work in everyone's favor. I'm a little leary about cva66snipe's post where he said he's taught his daughters not to pull over until they get to a store, even if driving slow and with flashers on... Maybe it's because I'm pretty rural, but I don't know a lot of cops that would have the patience to want to follow 5 or 10 miles to the nearest store... Or even the next freeway exit if there's a good shoulder on the freeway. Some consideration is good for safety, perhaps moreso with an unmarked car with a light than with a marked patrol car... But common sense needs to rule too.

The nearest store from me open 24/7 is 6 miles away. They know to either go to a store or pull in a friends driveway and start honking the horn. They are grown adults. There is one place in my county it is 45 minutes to a store across a mountain. The cop will follow you down as he doesn't have any place else to go anyway. But they nor myself ever go up there especially at night.

I would advise anyone with a female family member who drives at night to have a cell phone. You do not have to have paid service to use 911 from a cell. They are a dime a dozen at thrift stores. No reason not to have one. If you live in a rural area watch for a transportable phone as they have 3 watts power on an outside antenna. They work real well in rural areas.

If an unmarked car tries to pull me over at night I'm going to the next safe place. Unmarked car stops at night should be outlawed. It only encourages crackpots.

On the other hand I have an ace in hand :>} If I'm getting pulled over {very rare} I usually know it before the blue lights ever come on. I watch the headlights pull up behind me then back off then I listen for my tag to go through to dispatch :>} Then I hear {officer's number} & 10-81 on a .........I always come back negative wanted on locals no stollen record.

[HairOfTheDog]

Understood... it is probably your rural setting that makes the cops a little more relaxed too. Drive more than a block in some urban places, and I think you'd get pulled out of the car.

Around here most unmarked cars are detectives... they don't do traffic stops unless they see something that is outrageous.

[magslinger]

Of course... assuming those are really the reasonable choices. You might also find yourself nursing a daughter who got dragged out of the car when she finally stopped 10 miles from where the lights came on. I can understand wanting to go to a public place, but when a marked patrol car is trying to stop you for a violation of some kind, and you don't pull over in a reasonable distance, it might be a hard sell.

That would be bad. Still, her being raped and murdered by some slimeball, cop or no, because she stopped where there was no one around would be worse.

[cva66snipe]

Of course... assuming those are really the reasonable choices. You might also find yourself nursing a daughter who got dragged out of the car when she finally stopped 10 miles from where the lights came on. I can understand wanting to go to a public place, but when a marked patrol car is trying to stop you for a violation of some kind, and you don't pull over in a reasonable distance, it might be a hard sell.

There's places in my county the cops and VFD's tell their own family not to pull over at night for anyone.

[BurbankKarl]

Uh yeah, and all the other witnesses hearing the officer yelling get on the ground...

[metalcor]

There is such a thing as bad cops. I was once pulled over for doing 42 in a 30 at 5 am , Arlington, TX. The young white cop who came to my window acted like he was on crank or something, very agitated and shaky. I put my hands on the wheel and didn't move while he checked me out with his flashlight--he told me to get my proof of insurance and I said 'it's in the glovebox--do you wnat me to get it out?' He said do it--I reached in and he started screaming Drop it now!--out of the corner of my eye I could see his weapon aimed at my head. Then I heard his partner--a black guy--ask him what the f are you doing now? Lower your weapon who stupid ........i thought he was going to beat the hell out of his partner--he then walked over to me and apologized--looked sideways at the guy and told me I was free to go--two days later I am watching the news and see that cops in Arlington shot and killed a Mexican man sleeping in his truck. Guess who the shooter was?--same cop. The investigation was 'inconclusive' though there was no weapon found on the victim, but the cop was released. Two years later the guy makes the news again. This time he is working as a Dallas County constable and shoots and kills someone who came out of their house holding a fork. I am not sure what became of him after that. From what I can see in that video, this cop is from the same cloth.

[cva66snipe]

Around here most unmarked cars are detectives... they don't do traffic stops unless they see something that is outrageous.

It reminds me of something I still laugh at. My first wife got pulled over in the day time. She knew she wasn't speeding or anything. She saw his agency emblem on the cruiser door before he got to her. It was for a town 10 miles away. He asked her did you know you were speeding? She said do you know you're out of your juristiction and then pulled off. He was even in another county. A few weeks later he was caught up with for trying to get bribes.

[BurbankKarl]

Wait, you're supposed to jump to conclusions like every other Freeper on these threads!

>>>Serious question. If the officer was in pursuit, pulled them over, and had them ordered to the ground, where was his back-up?

[djf]

My point is only that since I was a young child, my mom would always tell me if I had a problem, to find a cop and he would help me.

Of course, that was a very rural environment in upstate New York. The guys there were truly "peace officers" who worked for the community, heck my dad was on the FD, so they all hung out together.

But the mentality now seems to be that they automatically assume we are gang bangers or something. And that's not a good situation.

[frgoff]

Next question is, do we have the whole tape? Don't forget Rodney King where the news only showed the cops beating King and conveniently left out the footage of him repeatedly trying to brain police officers.

[cva66snipe]

Wait, you're supposed to jump to conclusions like every other Freeper on these threads! >>>Serious question. If the officer was in pursuit, pulled them over, and had them ordered to the ground, where was his back-up?

My hobby is police scanners. I'm serious about it. Three desk tops and two hand helds connected to two outdoor antenna's and amplified. And no I never ever jump in the car to go have a look see. I can find out more where I'm at :>}

I can hear police, fire, parimedics, troopers and even some feds as well from almost to Chattanooga to almost Nashville, and east into North Carolina. North though is the biggie. I can often enough reach across Kentucky into Ohio at times. I test the scanners using NOAA weather stations if at least 5 out of 7 don't pick up I start checking wiring. I hear a lot of chases in both rural areas and cities though. Some are high speed some are 45 MPH.

This one just seems a bit odd being in a city area if that's where it happened. Also his shift supervisor should have known most of the situation especially if he stopped them and was out of the car.

[Glenn]

Don't forget Rodney King where the news only showed the cops beating King and conveniently left out the footage of him repeatedly trying to brain police officers.

Don't believe your lying eyes, eh?

I'm just finished watching that footage. This cop is a dog. He was pissed and wanted this guy in a position that would look more reasonable to an ME, in my opinion. Had it not been taped, he'd be a hero about now.

There are bad apples out there, whether you want to believe it or not.

[HairOfTheDog]

I love listening to the scanner too... I'm disappointed that nowadays all the longer descriptions of what's happening are done via cell phone or on-board computers... lots of 'sent to your screen' or 'calling your mobile'.

Robbed! We used to be able to hear everything.

[BurbankKarl]

I have my 296D right here, and my Pro 2006 listening to a WMD exercise in LA Harbor right now. That is why I am not so quick to jump to conclusions on this incident.

I want to hear the 9-1-1 calls, the transmissions of the deputy, the wants and warrants on the Corvette and if they were communicated to the deputy prior to the shooting.

(the driver is reported to be on probation for DUI and has other priors....he didnt want to go to jail, so he ran IMHO)

I will wait til the FBI chimes in, after their analysis of the 1st generation video tape...not the 3rd generation airing on TV.

The City of LA just hung out an officer to dry yesterday, regarding the shooting of a 13 year old after a pursuit last year. The "media" described the boy as an honor student gunned down by jackbooted police, and left out that the car was stolen, he was out at 3am, was on drugs, etc. The LAPD cleared the officer in the shooting, but Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's STAR CHAMBER met in secret, and said it is "out of policy." No reason given of course....apparently they dont have to give a reason. And they wonder why they can't recruit new officers.

[vrwc0915]

Just because it is on the air don't make it true all the time. Did you hear this call on your scanner? If so I have a few questions for you

[VaBthang4]

Like I said...looks clean to me.

Not the best way to handle the situation...I'da prolly just put my knee in his back but hey...if a cop has you dead to rights...you should prolly shut up and do what he says...instead of trying to enlighten him. Sit [lay] there, shut up [trust God] and be patient...the cop'll figure it out in due course.

...unless of course you are one of the retards predisposed to think cops are jackbooted thugs.

[hispanarepublicana]

Wow. I'd have wet my pants seeing that on TV after that encounter. You're lucky to be with us.