Posted on 05/27/2014 9:31:07 AM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
The Arkansas police officers who fired 15 rounds into a fleeing vehicle, killing both the driver and passenger, were justified in doing so, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.
In 2004, police officers in West Memphis ended a high-speed car chase by firing shots into the fleeing vehicle. The drivers of the car werent armed and were killed as a result of the firing, leading many to argue the use of force by the police squad was excessive. Not so, declared Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the decision for the court.
Under the circumstances present in this case, Mr. Alito said, we hold that the Fourth Amendment did not prohibit petitioners from using the deadly force that they employed to terminate the dangerous car chase. If police officers are justified in firing at a suspect in order to end a severe threat to public safety, the high court held, the officers need not stop shooting until the threat has ended.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Not cool; read #110 above.
You're mixed up. The driver started a chase by running.
It’s the current system and it’s not likely to change. What’s likely to change and easier is to end sovereign immunity. It’s judge-made law and is unconstitutional.
An arrest is a "seizure." The argument was that shooting to kill was an "unreasonable" method of "seizing" the driver.
An arrest is a "seizure." The argument was that shooting to kill was an "unreasonable" method of "seizing" the driver.
we’ll just have to deploy more lawyers..
I pull over when a cop lights up behind me. So far no bullet holes.
So what? Once they've identified the vehicle and plates, they can just wait and pick them up later. I see no reason why cops need to escalate situations to the point that they only option they have left is lethal force.
-Like the newspaper ladies who were mistaken for Christopher Dorner and were shot at by officers over 80 times? Do you “sane people” *respect* that?
http://www.laweekly.com/imager/newspaper-delivery-ladies-shot-by-lapd-in-dorner-manhunt-see-42-mil-settl/b/original/4176576/4ba3/dorner_open_fire_meme.JPG
What about the fifth, asshat?
Simple: the American citizen's life is worth less than the foreigner's.
Hm, I think you miss both the letter and the spirit of the following:
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Some older freepers have contemplated the difference between a peace officer and a law enforcement officer.
Going by their distinctions, I'd be fairly open to condemning the entire function of law enforcement
.
Well, maybe if the police were interested in upholding justice… there's a lot of videos that show that to be a thing of the past.
(Remember the vet in AZ who was SWAT-ed? How the SWAT-team was leaning into the door and shooting over the shoulders of those in front… no, they were out to shoot the guy.)
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