Cop Fires on Van Full of kids (Viral Video)

reply to post by UnifiedSerenity


After going back and watching the video more closely, two things are perfectly clear.

The officer did fire no less than three shots at the van full of children.

Not one shot fired found it's target. The cop missed all three shots..

Would it help if I added this updated information from a local news source?

KOB Eyewitness News 4 has learned more about the driver who led New Mexico State Police on a wild chase, all while she had her five children in the vehicle.

Oriana Farrell and her five kids were visiting from Tennessee on what police say she called an “educational trip of New Mexico.”

Dashcam video shows 39-year-old Oriana Farrell and several of her five children in a screaming match with a state police officer, minutes after he pulled her over for a speeding ticket. The video shows how Farrell stopped, then took off.

After she was stopped again, two more officers arrived and the action escalated. It ended with one officer bashing the rear window in with a baton, and another firing three shots at a tire. Farrell then led the officers on a high speed chase, ending with her arrest.

Farrell is now charged with child endangerment, evading, reckless driving and drug paraphernalia for the two pipes and end of a joint police found in her car. Farrell has had one other arrest, for a DUI in Tennessee in 2008.

KOB found YouTube videos of Farrell – sharing parenting tips for single moms and singing her own original rap songs. Friends say she was also going to seminary school.

State police say they do have some concerns about the officer who fired at Farrell’s tire. The police report says it was Officer Elias Montoya – one of the two officers who arrived as back-up on the scene.

The original traffic stop was made by Officer Tony DeTavis. State police haven’t said whether his actions are also under review.

www.kob.com...-XnbIV

reply to post by charles1952


Thanks for the update! Now I understand the scene better and can sleep in peace, or head over to the UFO section for kicks =)

Apparently both sides acted inappropriately -

The State Police have fired the officer involved.

Officer in New Mexico minivan shooting is fired

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico State Police officer who fired shots at a minivan full of children during a chaotic October traffic stop has been fired, a spokesman with the law enforcement agency said Friday.

Lt. Emmanuel Gutierrez, a State Police spokesman, said he confirmed with State Police Chief Pete Kassetas that Officer Elias Montoya was no longer employed by the department. Montoya's termination was effective at 5 p.m. Friday.

Montoya has 30 days to appeal his firing to the Public Safety Advisory Commission, which is made up of civilians appointed by the governor. Montoya, who had been with the department for about 12 years, doesn't have a listed phone number.

The officer was placed on administrative leave with pay earlier this week following an investigation into the shooting outside the northern New Mexico tourist town of Taos. On Tuesday, he was notified that the agency proposed to fire him, and Kassetas, in consultation with Department of Public Safety Secretary Gorden Eden, made the final decision after a disciplinary hearing Thursday.

Gutierrez issued a brief statement on the firing, but agency rules call for no additional public comment because it's a personnel matter that can be appealed.

Ive stated time and again that there are many facets to police shootings..

The investigation involved -
An IA investigation into the officers actions with regards to department policy.
An investigation into the shooting itself, usually handled by several agencies.
An investigation into the shooting itself by the Prosecuting attorney's Office.
An investigation into possible civil rights violations.

Any of the above can occur, and does not require the same outcome.

As an example while the officers actions may be justified under state / federal law (*use of force) his actions may very well have violated Department Policy, resulting in termination.

This has been in the news recently...

See links below for updates:

Appeals court judge suggests dismissing charges against Oriana Farrell
www.taosnews.com...

Oriana Ferrell, Mom Whose Van Full Of Kids Was Shot By Police, Breaks Silence
www.huffingtonpost.com...

Judge Paternoster, Oriana Farrell, a Smoking Gun? and a Gap in the Tape
www.taosfriction.com...