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FatherStacks
reply to post by UnifiedSerenity
Valid points. But your take on the woman's perspective, I find a little thin (with all due respect, just my opinion), in that what threat did the officer present when he initially pulled her over? I would buy into the "fear of police brutality" argument more if he had smashed her windows and pulled her out of the car when he made the initial stop as I've observed in other videos that are out there...but he didn't. She only adds to her suspicious behavior, not demonstrating fear, by driving away.
UnifiedSerenity
From the outside looking in you're correct; however you do not know her history. What if she has personally been victimized by police who were oh so nice at first? I have no clue what prompted her to leave. Hell, she could think she makes a small run for it, will get beat up and sue the crap out of them. Until the facts come out which more than likely they won't we won't no anything beyond what we see here.
I have friends who have been ramrodded by a cop, beaten, killed, and there was no way I was going to stick around for that roid freak to kill my family. I was just trying to drive to a safe location where there would be witnesses, and he assaulted me, so what was I supposed to think when he got rough and three more pit bulls in uniform showed up?! I was scared for my life and that's all that happened!
The police are turning citizens paranoid, and as has been said, it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
AliceBleachWhite
While the mother was uncooperative, I saw the police office attending to the situation quite badly, and even escalating the issue.
The whole ordeal was over a TRAFFIC violation.
No 'real' crimes were committed until the officer gave cause for them to occur.
Additionally, what is shattering the passenger side window where a child is, and breaking off the passenger mirror going to accomplish but to terrify someone with their children even more?
True, the woman should have complied from the very beginning, but, the officer unnecessarily escalated the situation beyond what was needed.
On the second stop, the officer should have called for assistance to block the woman, and waited until assistance arrived before continuing. [ /quote]
When she drove off that was a crime!
The cop could have arrested her at that time, yet he chose to talk with her.
He was being very cool for the situation.
The boy attacked him he went after him that's why he was on the boys side of the vehicle.
When she tried to take off again she became a danger to the public! The cops screamed to unlock the doors, they tried to break in to prevent a chase, aka danger to the public.
The other cops showed up with probably no more knowledge than someone ran. There is no limit to reasons why someone would run from a traffic stop, and I'm sure most are considered a danger to the public.
The cop who fired was 5 foot away and there was no damage to the van!
I doubt even cops are that bad of shots, he aimed low probably the tires, no intent to kill.
The cops did their job based on the reckless and violent behavior of people in a potentially deadly vehicle.
edit on 17-11-2013 by terriblyvexed because: (no reason given)
My bad for the post I didn't realize I was typing in the quote.edit on 17-11-2013 by terriblyvexed because: (no reason given)
The " real crime" of resisting arrest and fleeing and evading were committed by the woman before the cop did anything to "escalate the issue". I totally disagree with police brutality and excessive force, but, when an individual tries to flee from a speeding ticket it is time to be a little more forceful. What if she had the van rigged to cause another Oklahoma bombing? What if the children were really kidnapped and being held against their will? In this case I feel that officers acted according the situation. Even the officer firing the gun is not totally wrong in my mind, although I do think he could have used better judgement.
AliceBleachWhite
While the mother was uncooperative, I saw the police office attending to the situation quite badly, and even escalating the issue.
The whole ordeal was over a TRAFFIC violation.
No 'real' crimes were committed until the officer gave cause for them to occur.
boncho
Xquizit
The police officers who drew his gun and shot at the vehicle showed up as the van sped off the second time. Maybe he wasn't aware that there were children in the vehicle. A lack of proper communication is obviously at fault here.
If he has to be told not to shoot at a van to which he has no clue who is inside, than it is more than a communication problem.
How is he to know there isn't a kidnapping victim in it? Just shoot cause it sped away from police? This is police logic now. "Running away from me deserves deadly force"
colddeadhands
The " real crime" of resisting arrest and fleeing and evading were committed by the woman before the cop did anything to "escalate the issue". I totally disagree with police brutality and excessive force, but, when an individual tries to flee from a speeding ticket it is time to be a little more forceful. What if she had the van rigged to cause another Oklahoma bombing? What if the children were really kidnapped and being held against their will? In this case I feel that officers acted according the situation. Even the officer firing the gun is not totally wrong in my mind, although I do think he could have used better judgement.
AliceBleachWhite
While the mother was uncooperative, I saw the police office attending to the situation quite badly, and even escalating the issue.
The whole ordeal was over a TRAFFIC violation.
No 'real' crimes were committed until the officer gave cause for them to occur.
sageturkey
She's an idiot for doing 71 in a 55, she's an idiot for pulling away from the traffic stop. Her son is an idiot for getting out and trying to start a fight with the cops. The cop who fired on the vehicle is an idiot for using deadly force where none was warranted.
Stupidity Abounds...