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Officer charged after allegedly killing suspect with chokehold: 'I’m going to f*** choke you out, bro'
The Blaze ^ | June 10, 2020 | Aaron Colen

Posted on 06/10/2020 5:21:05 PM PDT by Twotone

A former Las Cruces, New Mexico, police officer was charged with involuntary manslaughter Friday for allegedly killing a suspect who was fleeing and resisting arrest with a chokehold, NBC News reported.

Former Officer Christopher Smelser reportedly killed Antonio Valenzuela on Feb. 29. Valenzuela was pulled over and he had warrants for parole and probation violations. He tried to run away, and officers were unable to subdue him even after tasing him multiple times.

Body camera footage records Smelser telling Valenzuela "I'm going to f*** choke you out, bro," followed by the apparent sound of Valenzuela choking. He died at the scene.

The autopsy report lists the cause of death as "asphyxia injuries due to physical restraint," and noted that methamphetamines "significantly" contributed to his death.

The police report indicates that Smelser restrained Valenzuela with a "lateral vascular neck restraint," a controversial method that has since been banned by the Las Cruces Police Department.

(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: brutality; police
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To: Twotone

“He’s allegedly dead, Jim.”


21 posted on 06/10/2020 6:14:25 PM PDT by gundog ( Hail to the Chief, bitches!)
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To: RedStateRocker

There is a protocol for officers who have used a neck hold. If the perp went unconscious, he is to be checked for pulse and breathing for several hours, and transported to a hospital

Of course, this might have changed in the passing of the 20 years since I was under this regulation!


22 posted on 06/10/2020 6:16:30 PM PDT by Does so (Neo-Venezuelans = Democrats = Rioters = Looters)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

happening now...look how the murders have jumped up....everybody enjoy ...


23 posted on 06/10/2020 6:22:10 PM PDT by basalt (w.h.)
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To: Mr Rogers

There have probably been dozens of similar restraints of drugged-up felons since George Floyd’s arrest.

It shouldn’t be long before another case is promoted by the Commies.


24 posted on 06/10/2020 6:22:26 PM PDT by Does so (Neo-Venezuelans = Democrats = Rioters = Looters)
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To: Skywise

I know. All I hear is what they cant do.

What is the proper procedure?


25 posted on 06/10/2020 6:32:15 PM PDT by joshua c
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To: Twotone

The state is going to lock you up, bro!


26 posted on 06/10/2020 6:33:22 PM PDT by Meatspace
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To: Twotone

Sounds quite different than Minneapolis...there’s little doubt of intent here.


27 posted on 06/10/2020 6:43:07 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (The Rats Just Can't Get Over The Fact That They Lost A Rigged Election!)
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To: Spktyr
"There are some alternatives on the horizon or on the market now. Sticky Foam is one..."

"Problems with this technology include: the serious risk of smothering (suffocating) the subject; skin clean-up (the foam may not be toxic, but solvents are often harsh); "gun" clogging; targeting and firing; and gun cleaning."

28 posted on 06/10/2020 6:43:34 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
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To: marron

Intent is key here.IMO in Minneapolis I see no intent to seriously injure.I see huge negligence...for which the kneeling cop should do at least *some* time.But “I’m gonna choke you out” eliminates any doubt regrading intent.


29 posted on 06/10/2020 6:47:57 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (The Rats Just Can't Get Over The Fact That They Lost A Rigged Election!)
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To: Twotone; All



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30 posted on 06/10/2020 6:55:44 PM PDT by musicman (The future is just a collection of successive nows.)
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To: Twotone

Time to bring out the “Mancatchers.”

https://www.technology.org/2019/09/03/this-bizarre-looking-thing-was-actually-a-very-effective-weapon-but-how-was-it-used/


31 posted on 06/10/2020 7:10:11 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: Twotone

Pro wrestling banned choke holds decades ago for being dangerous. They are way behind the curve here. LOL


32 posted on 06/10/2020 7:14:51 PM PDT by Zack Attack
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To: Zack Attack

They should have a gun that shoots out a net that will subdue the person they’re trying to arrest. Or just have Spiderman ride along.


33 posted on 06/10/2020 8:00:14 PM PDT by Texan4Life
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To: Mr Rogers

Didn’t say it was perfect, but suffocation like that would be accidental (again, assuming that the cop wasn’t deliberately abusing it) and cops would be less blamed for fatalities - along the line of tasing.


34 posted on 06/10/2020 8:14:22 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: johniegrad

Knowledge of a choke hold or any other means of neutralizing an enemy, is an asset that could save your life.
Train, practice, stay current with your arms. There might be a day you need to fall back on routine responses!


35 posted on 06/10/2020 8:17:54 PM PDT by BatGuano (Ya don't think I'd go into combat with loose change in my pocket, do Ya?)
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To: Twotone

Frankly, if a police officer needs to use a choke hold to subdue a violent suspect, I’m okay with the cop skipping that step and just shooting the thug. If shooting is excessive force, the investigation should determine that, and the cop should face charges. Otherwise, we’re better off with one predator less in our society. Also, I suspect that choke holds are particularly appealing to the cops who have no business in that line of work. Why not remove that tool from their arsenal and let them escalate further instead, when necessary?


36 posted on 06/10/2020 8:42:33 PM PDT by Pollster1 ("Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed")
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To: Texan4Life

Joking aside, police in other countries do have not-dissimilar restraint weapons.

And even in the US, there’s gear that works like that: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:yoCcrc_d9_0J:https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-03/lapd-new-restraint-device+&cd=21&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyoUIJjCFgo


37 posted on 06/10/2020 9:36:09 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Twotone

If I ever get called to jury duty again...I’ll never vote guilty again. For anyone. I don’t care what they’ve done. The justice system is broken and too whacked out. Until I see politicians and bureaucracy employees going to jail no one else can be guilty.


38 posted on 06/11/2020 5:22:13 AM PDT by sheana
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To: sheana

I’ve said the same thing. If the elites are not held accountable, no one can (or should) be held accountable.


39 posted on 06/11/2020 7:39:18 AM PDT by Twotone (While one may vote oneself into socialism one has to shoot oneself out of it.)
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To: Twotone
Cops also need to learn that anything they say (captured on a video cam) can be used against them.

Oh, they know. That's why police unions fight so hard to get rid of them.

They just can't help themselves. It may even be that doing it on camera provides a little extra kink to killing people.Video released from 2019 death of Austin-area black man in deputies’ custody (Live PD destroyed videos)

40 posted on 06/11/2020 7:52:14 AM PDT by Arones (When Leftists are in a minority, then they look for other ways to win.)
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