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.
Too much coffee with their donuts.
Don't Do Butts!
riots!
Them LEO boys weren’t taking any chances, were they. Shot him in the legs at close range? Guy was in the car looking for something they thought was a gun probably, and they shot him in the legs because that’s all they could see.
I bet he wasn’t even all the way out of the car. Probably has entry wounds on the back side of his leg(s) too.
They must have been upset that he didn’t have a dog.
Well, there weren’t any dogs nearby. They HAD to shoot at something.
Smoking, citizen?
Bang.
Beat me by mere seconds.
Too much coffee with their donuts.
...too much time spent watching SWAT teams on TV...
From another story:
The deputies reported they told Middleton to show his hands multiple times, but he lunged out of the car and spun toward them. Morgan said the deputies feared for their safety and opened fire, hitting Middleton in the leg.
grades lower had they killed him.
The lesson to be learned from this is never call the police.
It’s getting to the point where everyone should have guns EXCEPT police, at least in individual departments. This was NOT a lone Barney Fife incident.
Roid Rage.
Test every LEO involved with shooting for Steroids.
That will be the official story.
Probably too hard to look for someone walking their dog in the middle of the night.
Shoot an unarmed citizen without provocation, get yourself a paid vacation. How cool is that? /s
D@mn! The anti-smokers are getting out of hand. Maybe if he had a dog handy...
'Roid Rage from steroid and caffeine abuse.
There has to be more to this story.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.