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FBI identifies agent in shooting (of innocent man in Maryland)
Baltimore Sun ^ | March 9, 2002 | Gail Gibson, Michael James and Laura Barnhardt

Posted on 03/09/2002 3:58:14 AM PST by DE50AE

Edited on 09/03/2002 4:50:02 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

The FBI disclosed yesterday the identity of the agent who mistakenly shot an unarmed Pasadena man last week, describing the agent as a former U.S. Marine Corps captain and decorated Persian Gulf war veteran who has worked for the past four years on a highly trained FBI SWAT team.

Special Agent Christopher Braga, 35, joined the bureau five years ago, after seven years with the Marines. In the military, he was a firearms instructor and was a rifle platoon commander during Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s.


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


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; donutwatch
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To: DE50AE
"We're confident when all the facts come out that [they'll show] he acted in accordance with training and FBI policy regarding the use of force," said White,

Der SS Kapitaen Braga probably DID act according to FBI policy and training.

Now don’t you all feel better...?

21 posted on 03/09/2002 5:24:45 AM PST by InkStone
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To: DE50AE
First, Mr. Braga should be sent to the front lines in Afghanistan in the Battle of Gardez. Then, aftera tour of duty there (if he survives several special missions to single-handedly scout enemy positions), he should return to face trial for manslaughter.

P.S. Would love to take the children, relieve the Bragas of financial responsibility, and rear them correctly.

22 posted on 03/09/2002 5:34:19 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
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To: DE50AE
And they still refuse to release the time of the actual shooting. Why?
23 posted on 03/09/2002 5:36:59 AM PST by jackbill
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To: DE50AE
Special Agent Christopher Braga, 35, joined the bureau five years ago, after seven years with the Marines. In the military, he was a firearms instructor

hmmm...

24 posted on 03/09/2002 5:38:33 AM PST by fod
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To: DE50AE
Special Agent Christopher Braga

Christopher Braga. A name which shall live in infamy.

joined the bureau five years ago, after seven years with the Marines.

Does anyone else here question the wisdom of making a cop out of someone who was (legitimately) comprehensively trained to kill people? When put in a deadly-force situation (at least a perceived one), people revert to their training; putting an M4 in the hands of a Marine apprehending a suspected violent felon results in a good chance of the suspect getting shot. Marines are not trained to consider that a suspect might be an innocent Eagle Scout, they're trained to kill suspects.

(This is not a condemnation of police or soldiers - each has a necessary & legitimate job. I'm just saying that in this case, swapping jobs can be a really bad idea.)

25 posted on 03/09/2002 5:39:58 AM PST by ctdonath2
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To: ctdonath2
Does anyone else here question the wisdom of making a cop out of someone who was (legitimately) comprehensively trained to kill people?

Often.

The militarization of law enforcement agencies from the rural SWAT squads up the the feds is very troubling, and will contiue to have ominous and far reaching unintended consequences...

26 posted on 03/09/2002 5:43:16 AM PST by fod
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To: DE50AE
Braga "was faced with a difficult and dangerous situation involving the apprehension of an individual known to present a deadly threat to law enforcement officers."

No, he was faced with stopping an innocent young man and his girlfriend who had just bought Slurpees.

This is what happens when a militarized police force is unleashed on the public. It's happened time and time again (beginning with Waco), and is yet one more demonstration that running military-style operations and units within a civilian population is a dangerous trend in any society.

27 posted on 03/09/2002 5:45:30 AM PST by angkor
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To: fod
I'm reminded of a case during the LA Riots.

A cop was clearing out looters from stores, backed up by several National Guard troops. The cop said "cover me, I'm going in." When a cop says that, he expects his partners to observe the situation and be ready to shoot. The troops, being trained differently, began suppressive cover fire. The cop was rather, er, dismayed.

28 posted on 03/09/2002 5:47:48 AM PST by ctdonath2
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To: ctdonath2
thier roles should never have been mixed...

Where has the Peace Officer gone?

29 posted on 03/09/2002 5:49:23 AM PST by fod
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To: Donald Stone
FYI
30 posted on 03/09/2002 5:49:34 AM PST by nunya bidness
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To: zog
"Look back twenty years, look forward twenty years."

Excellent point, factor in $30 billion a year on our new Homeland Security forces, which Ridge seems unwilling to discuss, and I doubt we have 10 years of anything vaguely resembling a Republic left.

31 posted on 03/09/2002 5:50:53 AM PST by steve50
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To: TC Rider
I really appreciate getting dots connected, and finding out "the rest of the story". Thanks for the background on this FBI agent.

In other areas.... I would like to know what's happening with the White House vs Mary Frances Berry.

And I would LOVE to know that NC freepers are in a full frontal telephone and e-mail bombardment of Sen Edwards, for his partisan attack on Judge Pickering.

32 posted on 03/09/2002 5:51:04 AM PST by YaYa123
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To: DE50AE
Well, here's hoping that Christopher Braga leaves the employ of the FBI one broke sob after both his criminal and civil trial.
33 posted on 03/09/2002 5:53:26 AM PST by csvset
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To: DE50AE
"We're confident when all the facts come out that [they'll show] he acted in accordance with training and FBI policy regarding the use of force," said White, who declined to elaborate on the case.

IMHO, whether the agent acted rightly ("in accordance with training") or wrongly (panicked, etc.), he should at a minimum no longer carry a weapon/be in a situation where he might need to use a weapon, and preferably, leave the agency for a different line of work. Once he has shot an innocent man he is damaged goods for his line of work.

"Whoever battles with monsters had better see that it does not turn him onto a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.." - Nietzche, Aphorisms

34 posted on 03/09/2002 6:03:43 AM PST by FairWitness
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To: DE50AE
Special Agent Christopher Braga, 35, joined the bureau five years ago, after seven years with the Marines. In the military, he was a firearms instructor and was a rifle platoon commander during Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s.

Lynne A. Hunt, special agent in charge of the FBI's Baltimore office, confirmed Braga's identity to The Sun. Hunt also described Braga as a husband and father of three young children, ages 4, 3 and 8 months, saying she did not want him to be perceived publicly as a "faceless agent

Maybe we ought to use the Labels YOU FEDS us when the shoe is on the other foot, 'Right wing Supremist, Racist, Paramilitary Training, showed a Unusual attraction to weapons, loner...' I say this agent is a incompetent Jack Booted THUG. And I don't give a flying F@%$ where he learned his trade. With all his credentials, the SOB knew better than this. He attempted to KILL this kid, and it Demands that he be charged with attempted MURDER, reckless endangerment, wreckless use of a firearm atlest!

I hear Senator Grassley is already after your Sorry Asses. GOOD, Keep going in the path your on, and there will be another 50 plus Senators, a Couple hundred Congressman, and a Couple HUNDERED MILLION american Citizens that are gonna DEMAND answers not these SORRY ASSED EXCUSES!

Gestapo AMERIKAN STYLE!

35 posted on 03/09/2002 6:14:17 AM PST by Area51
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To: DE50AE
"..had not been trained in how to perform a felony stop."

This is a good point. Didn't they run a check on the license plate? They were way to presumptuous in this stop.

But, one has to look at who's leading this outfit mistrained agents. She obbiously didn't have all bases covered.

There's one other thought on this incident, it would build the case for scannable electronic I.D. on all subjects.

36 posted on 03/09/2002 6:25:40 AM PST by CWRWinger
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To: DE50AE
"He feels terrible for Mr. Schultz and his family,"

The girl who let the guy die in her windshield was sorry, too.

37 posted on 03/09/2002 6:38:14 AM PST by MARTIAL MONK
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To: cascademountaineer
This person should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for what he's done to this kid and his family. Prosecutions are reserved for us common folks.
38 posted on 03/09/2002 6:40:05 AM PST by 180grain
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To: csvset
Don't count on it. My bet is that our tax dollars will be used for his defense.
39 posted on 03/09/2002 7:00:19 AM PST by Principle Over Politics
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks;Hail Caesar;one2many
Ping!

I got your apoligy right here!

40 posted on 03/09/2002 7:09:46 AM PST by Gore_ War_ Vet
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