Man shot by South Carolina state trooper receives $285,000 settlement

http://coladaily.com ^ | February 3, 2015 | By Allen Wallace

[redreno]

The state of South Carolina has paid $285,000 to a man shot by a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper at a Columbia gas station last September.

Levar Jones was wounded Sept. 5 by then-trooper Sean Groubert after being pulled over for a seat belt violation on Broad River Road. Jones was unarmed, and an investigation determined the shooting was unwarranted.

Groubert fired four shots at Jones, hitting him once. The incident was captured on video from Groubert’s patrol car.

Groubert was fired from his job as a trooper, arrested and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. He is awaiting trial on the charge.

[SJSAMPLE]

The video clearly shows the cop’s actions were outrageous. He was involved somewhat heroically in a previous shooting, so maybe he was a little jumpy. You can’t let this stuff slide, but he’s not a scumbag, either.

[The_Media_never_lie]

The trooper acted foolishly. He should not have shot the man.

However, never make sudden moves when stopped by the law. Always have hands in view. Always ask officer if you can get registration out of glove compartment, etc. Always be polite, and expect polite treatment.

Just common sense.

[posterchild]

On those rare occasions I’ve been pulled over I;
make my hands clearly visible
verbally explain what I am about to reach for (registration, license,etc) and where
wait for officers acknowledgement
move VERY slowly

[Jack Hydrazine]

Video of shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yEQDBSt58w

[The_Media_never_lie]

Cannot downplay the trauma effect and possible Post Trauma of the officer’s previous incident. Also, high crime area. Should be delt with leniently, imho, without all the facts.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Dittos you post #4, and never travel with a mad woman.

[Uncle Miltie]

"They hate the cans truck!"

[posterchild]

I ditto your ditto as I see you predittoed me on 3:)

I also find it’s a good idea to keep a spare headlight and tail lights in the car to help avoid stops anyway.

[momtothree]

“... the trauma effect and Post Trauma..”

Then perhaps the departments need to have officers involved in legitimate shootings cleared by a department psychiatrist before returning to duty. I watched the video.. the officer demanded the man get the license. The man reached into the truck and was shot. You could hear him yelling, “I got the license.. you asked me to get the license.. it’s right here”. Bad shooting and if it was my son, or my husband that was shot like this.. I wouldn’t want the officer treated leniently.

[piytar]

I’m with you. No leniency. Bad shoot.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Then perhaps the departments need to have officers involved in legitimate shootings cleared by a department psychiatrist before returning to duty. I watched the video.. the officer demanded the man get the license. The man reached into the truck and was shot. You could hear him yelling, “I got the license.. you asked me to get the license.. it’s right here”. Bad shooting and if it was my son, or my husband that was shot like this.. I wouldn’t want the officer treated leniently.

I watched this several times; don't know what happened, but it did not look good. We really need to know what happened. What was the officer thinking? Note that the motorist seemed to abruptly reach into his car; not a good move. Let us see what comes out in the trial.

[Thud]

There is nothing the victim could have done to avoid being shot. The officer shot him for promptly obeying the officer's orders. You can hear it on the video. The officer told the victim to get his license. The victim turned to reach into his car for his license, turned around with his license held out and the officer shot him.

Listen to the officer's tone of voice ordering the victim to get his license. The cop was excited then. He had already made the decision to shoot if the victim moved quickly, but the same excited tone of voice told the victim that he had better obey immediately.

The cop and his apologists can't have it both ways. If he wanted the man to move slowly, he should have said so. His tone of voice said he demanded instant obedience.

This cop should not have been on the street, period. He was a bomb waiting to go off. I completely agree with the poster you quoted:

"Then perhaps the departments need to have officers involved in legitimate shootings cleared by a department psychiatrist before returning to duty."

For the record, I have @ 800 hours experience in police brutality litigation, and @ 40 hours in reviewing, for my state, the propriety of shootings by police officers.

Letting this officer back on the street was negligence by his superiors. His degree of prior stress is not a factor in his potential criminal liability for shooting the victim, but would be a factor in sentencing.

His law enforcement career is over. No law enforcement officer can safely employ him in a sworn capacity.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I agree that the officers career is over. He acted improperly and did not maintain control of the situation.

The victim, out of self-defense, should have taken it upon himself to move more slowly. Not that he was obligated to do that, but just from common sense.

However, only $285,000 award? That seems small for all the victim went through.