Posted on 02/01/2006 9:27:22 AM PST by JTN
A San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy shot an Air Force security officer late Sunday night after the airman told the deputy that he was in the military and "on your side." A videotape of the incident, which was shot on a residential Chino street about 10:30 p.m., was of poor quality, showing only a silhouette of the deputy and the face of the man who was shot — illuminated by the deputy's flashlight.
But the tape appears to show the deputy opening fire as the man was trying to comply with the officer's apparent order to stand up.
Senior Airman Elio Carrion, 21, had been riding as a passenger in a Corvette that was involved in a brief, high-speed chase with the deputy that reached speeds of 100 mph before the Corvette crashed into a fence, authorities said.
The videotape, shot by Chino resident Jose Luis Valdes, shows Carrion sprawled on the ground and repeatedly telling the deputy, "I'm on your side."
The deputy then seems to shout, "Get up!" after which Carrion appears to lean forward. "I'm going to get up, all right?" he says.
The deputy then fires his gun three or four times from about five feet away. "Shut … up, you don't get up …!" he shouts.
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(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Ping
Yeah, I saw this. Something obviously wrong with the cop.
Seems to be a very bad shoot.
Disgusting.. Totaly Disgusting... This cop should face the max penalty possible... there was no reason to shoot that man...
One of the most alarming side effects of the federal government’s war on drugs is
the militarization of law enforcement in America. There are two aspects to the
militarization phenomenon. First, the American tradition of civil-military separation
is breaking down as Congress assigns more and more law enforcement responsibilities
to the armed forces. Second, state and local police officers are increasingly emulating
the war-fighting tactics of soldiers. Most Americans are unaware of the militarization
phenomenon simply because it has been creeping along imperceptibly for many years.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The problem is that the mindset of the soldier is simply not appropriate for the civilian
police officer. Police officers confront not an “enemy” but individuals who are protected
by the Bill of Rights. Confusing the police function with the military function can lead to
dangerous and unintended consequences—such as unnecessary shootings and killings.
Time to pull in the reins.
I haven't seen the video because I have really slow dial-up. Seems like the cop messed up; but, a witness said it was pitch dark. It's possible the cop thought the airman was about to pull a gun. Although it also seems the cop was acting pretty strange anyway, yelling for over a minute. This is a strange case.
I made the mistake of stopping to render aid at the scene of a single-car rollover that was apparently the end of a chase. Beat LEO there by about 30 seconds.
I was treated as a suspect and was for awhile in fear for my life in the presence of a young, highly-agitated LEO.
I won't do that again.
Not is you listen to the deputy's words. This was simply
Adrenalin pumped aggression. He told the Sr. Airman
to get up and then shot him and said you don't get up
as if it had been a taunt.
It sure sounds like the suspect was ordered to get up. It does not look good for the deputy at all. Fortunatly there is the video and witnesses.
While I can understand the stress that the police have to endure it also has bothered me for years as to the mindset of us vs them even in social settings. Throw in the militarization aspect and we have the beginings of a standing army.
Not if you listen to the deputy's words.
AGREED!
You know, something just occured to me: Where's the Hispanic outrage? This is a replay of Rodney King but with lethal force and an Hispanic victim. Whay aren't Hispanics burning their own neighborhoods right now?
I believe the minimum sentence for attempted murder in California is 20 years.
needs a JD
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