Posted on 07/30/2013 3:23:16 AM PDT by Wolfie
Roy Middleton, Unarmed Florida Man, Shot By Police In Own Driveway While Retrieving Cigarettes From Car
Florida law enforcement officials are investigating reports that an unarmed man was shot by police in his own driveway while retrieving cigarettes from his mother’s car.
Roy Middleton, a 60-year-old resident of Warrington, Fla., was shot in the leg by Escambia County sheriff’s deputies on Saturday, the Pensacola News Journal reports. The shooting reportedly took place on Middleton’s driveway, as he attempted to retrieve a cigarette from his mother’s car. That’s when police arrived on the scene, investigating a report of a possible vehicle break-in, Fox 10 reports.
Middleton claims that he was searching the car for a loose cigarette when he heard someone say, “Get your hands where I can see them,” the News Journal reports. The 60-year-old initially thought a neighbor was playing a joke on him, but he turned to find Escambia County police standing with guns drawn.
The 60-year-old says that he exited his mother’s car with his arms raised, but police opened fire anyway, the News Journal reports. “It was like a firing squad,” Middleton told the paper. “Bullets were flying everywhere.”
Middleton remains in a local hospital and reportedly faces several weeks of recovery. “I’m just glad they didn’t hit me here or here,” he told the News Journal, indicating his chest and head. “My mother’s car is full of bullet holes though.”
“He was just coming home like he usually does. I don’t understand why they had to use so much force under the situation,” Middleton’s mother, Ceola Walker, told Fox 10. “I don’t understand how they could fire so many shots at him. He wasn’t resisting or anything and he was at his own house.”
Middleton added that he doesn’t understand what caused officers to perceive him as a threat and shoot him. “Even if they thought the car was stolen, all they had to do was run the license plate,” Middleton told the News Journal. “They would have seen that that car belonged there.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the Middleton shooting Saturday, but the incident is currently being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the News Journal reports. The deputies responsible for shooting Middleton have reportedly been placed on administrative leave.
Updated Gannett article [link only]
http://www.pnj.com/article/20130729/NEWS11/130729006/Mother-of-man-shot-in-his-front-yard-speaks-out
“I say they were TRYING to shoot the car because it had been seen emitting CO2 and he just got in the way”
I say, the car was a Nissan and the cops were racist against Asian cars!
YIKES
A man shot his yard?
LOL, who writes these titles?
This caller, how long has he been in the ‘hood? Can he identify anyone at 2:38 am who is behind a windshield?
Cranking and reaching down under the dash are two different things.
On the bright side of things,good thing he didn’t drive to the store to buy a pack of smokes. It might have ended up being a car chase and him being charged with stealing a car.
Cops are typically the poorest shots at the range.
I'm guessing at least one is black. I could be wrong.
OTOH, if both deputies were white I expect the outcry would be deafening.
Some cops join the force for the adrenaline rush of being allowed to shoot and kill someone without any fear of prosecution.
It doesn’t matter who and under what circumstances.
Yes.
Probably no dogs nearby to shot.
” Too much coffee with their donuts.”
Too much roids with their workouts. Although the coffee might explain the sniper quality aim.
“The lesson to be learned from this is never call the police.”
Since I live in out in the county, I would only call the Sheriff’s Office to come out and clean up the mass.
I wonder if the man got “swatted” by the caller. Might be interesting if the caller and the injured man have a bad history between the 2 of them!
Seems to me the neighbor is the one who is dangerous...
I agree.
What’s important to remember here is not the man in the hospital but that the officers went home safe at the end of the day. Their outrageous action will be swept under the rug by the union and administration. There may be some small settlement for the victim but even that’s doubtful. The officers will lie and claim the victim appeared to be reaching for a weapon. Good thing there wasn’t a dog around.
These cops are dangerous this day and age.
It is similar to the education problem. It is the teachers AND the parents. There is a remnant of good teachers and parents but the majority?
There are no easy solutions.
As a former LEO and Corrections Officer I gotta ask, do we even provide weapons training to current law enforcement officers? So many of these incidents coming to light nowadays. Even in cases of authorized/legal shootings these guys/gals are firing off 20-30-40 shots when all that were needed was 2 or 3.. Shooting every dog in sight, and entering and firing in the wrong location. How do you get the wrong location in this day and age?
Yep. We make fun of the UK’s bobbies with just a nightstick, but there’s got to be some happy medium somewhere.
Yep, you really gotta watch out for them sprightly 60 yr old men; might have had his ninja gear on too. Prob. thought he was Chuck Norris and feared for their lives /s
I guess this county sheriff's department spent the Taser budget on extra ammo.
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