Posted on 01/05/2014 9:05:36 PM PST by servo1969
Two North Carolina parents are in shock after local police shot and killed their 18-year-old son in their own home, while they watched helplessly.
The family called police because they were worried about their son, Keith Vidal, who is schizophrenic and suffers from depression, according to local news. Vidal, armed with a small screwdriver, was apparently having a psychotic episode. Mark Wilsey, Vidals father, called the authorities to help deal with the situation.
An officer from the Brunswick County Sheriffs Office and another from the Boiling Spring Lakes police department showed up to the house soon after. Eventually, a third officer from the Southport police department entered the home as well, and ordered the use of tasers to subdue Vidal. According to Wilsey, Vidal was pinned on the ground by two of the officers when a third said, we dont have time for this, and shot Vidal, killing him.
Vidal had just turned 18, and weighed a mere 90 pounds. He couldnt have hurt anyone with the screwdriver, and had no history of violence according to family and friends.
There was no reason to shoot this kid, said Wilsey in a statement. They killed my son in cold blood. We called for help and they killed my son.
After her son was killed, Vidals mother suffered a mental breakdown and was treated by medical staff.
The New Brunswick County Sheriffs Office told The Daily Caller that no statement has been released yet, but the district attorney and state investigators are looking into the shooting.
A similar thing happened to a Georgia family in October. (RELATED: Family calls 911 for medical help, cops show up and kill son)
an assault screwdriver with the changeable tips in the handle. Snap-On must be banned.
I’m willing to get the whole story about this tragedy and if it happened like it’s reported that officer needs to go to prison for life.....or get the needle. You say the news is full of stories like this? Then keep up with the end result after a thorough investigation is all I’m saying. Justice will prevail.....it has down here and I’m sure more times than not it has in every instance all over the country. Law enforcement doesn’t want the likes of cold-blooded murderers in their ranks.
or someones’ dog killed
There are screwdrivers, and there are SCREWDRIVERS.
Most screwdrivers are about 3-4 inches long. The only thing worthy of "weaponhood" is the tip. A real man could easily take a screwdriver in the forearm without skipping a beat. Apparently, roid-ragin' Blue Barrage Blimps don't like to muss their manicures or coifs.
I have REAL BIG screwdrivers, which most people don't have laying around. They are about 6-10 inches long, and I could put the hurt on you with one of them. I'll bet the kid didn't have one of those, nor would he have known how to use it. (In the immortal words of the Marine preparing for the defense of Midway in 1942: "Good for the ribs")
There are too many conservatives who don't even see the Police State for the Jackboots (a takeoff on 'forest for the trees')...
I follow these stories. Most times cops are exonerated, or at least not found criminally culpable as they should be. Such as this one which I have followed since 2005.
http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2010/03/clackamas_county_settles_for_1.html
google this kids name to get the full awful story.
This is one of the BIGGEST problems with American police:
The confrontation never ends until someone gets shot to their satisfaction.
Leave the kid in the car. He'll get tired of it. Nope - the "brave defenders" have to go at him like a pack of hounds on a treed coon. They're TRAINED to do this.
I'd go further. Call the cops if you need paperwork filled out, or need them to drag some worthless former piece of scum off your property after they've been properly ventilated.
Not taking a position but adding to the information.
Had a nephew who is a police officer tell me that in the last few years, mental health issues are taking much more of their time. They are not equipped, trained or designed for this. Note the parents called the police for a problem that was NOT what we have police for.
On the other hand, I can remember local police and sheriffs called in for drinking problems 50 years ago. It was handled with common sense.
So my point is that these guys are for the most part just "Andy-n-Barney" types, but some of them have an attitude. Some are good folks. Just like every other group of humans. Right now it doesn't sound good and I hafta wonder what the justification could possibly be. But experience has taught me to wait till I have more information before passing judgement. Knee-jerk reactions fugg a situation up worse and seem to be more of a liberal type reaction. Just sayin'. d:^)
My bad. 5150 is the California code for a 72 hour involuntary psych hold, used when someone is an immediate threat to themselves or others.
Long story, old professional colleague and dear friend who had struck it rich (sold a patent for $5M), blown her fortune, and lost everything, including her mind.
Ultimately she moved to Fresno where one day she was found dead on the floor.
But the point is, even under those circumstances the San Jose PD was a model of professionalism.
Probably because they figured (incorrectly as it turns out), that "trained professionals" could take care of the situation without killing him.
Why didn't you just shoot her?
How often do you respond to a 911 call? How likely do you think such a call is to turn violent, as compared to just going about your daily business?
Many cops respond to several such calls per shift, and you think they aren’t any more likely to be involved in a violent confrontation than Joe CCW?
Yep. There are two more levels of maturity not generally recognized.
Something happens between 20 and 25, a 25 year old has a much higher maturity level than a 20 year old. I can't quite define it, but for the longest time I wouldn't bother date anyone younger than 25, even when I myself was only 20. (now my cut-off is closer to twice that...)
And the Founding Fathers recognized that a 35 year old had made the final plateau, and made it one of the few requirements for holding the office of the President. For that matter the number of first time arrests plummets after 35.
While I realize that this is a terrible situation for families, I'm not sure that this was the smart thing for them to do.
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I agree. I still wouldn't call the police these days, unless I was sure that whatever was happening was likely to result in my death, or the death of a family member. I would also expect the likelihood that with the police on the scene, there would be violence that might end in injury or death.
That seems to be the reality that we face today.
Did you forget the /sarc at the end of that question?
“Thank you! My Hub is a retired police officer, our son and son-in-law are active police officers in 2 large cities here in Texas. We have a few on this site that broad-brush when it comes to police officers. I too find it hard to believe an officer would willingly shoot a kid thats down for no reason at all.
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“...no reason at all” Well, apparently the shooting cop’s reason was “we don’t have time for this”. Not a good reason, but that may be all that particular cop needed.
Can you read? I just said they are as fed up as most Americans with what is going on. Try to keep up.
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