Posted on 02/22/2003 8:54:32 PM PST by knak
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A police officer searching for robbery suspects on the beach drove over two tourists Saturday, killing one and critically injuring the other.
Miami Beach police officer George Varon was driving a marked sports utility vehicle along the crowded shores, searching for two robbery suspects believed to be on the beach. He apparently didn't see two French s
isters lying in the sand, police said.
Stephanie and Sandrine Tunc were taken to a hospital, where Stephanie, 27, died. Sandrine, 26, was listed in critical condition Saturday evening. Police said the sisters, who lived in Britain, were on vacation.
Several witnesses said the officer's actions were reckless and that he wasn't using a siren.
``The cop was just running around like a crazy man,'' Stacy Kandell told WPLG-TV in Miami. ``I don't know what he was doing to run over two girls.''
Officials said speed did not appear to be a factor in the death.
Varon, a seven-year veteran, was placed on administrative leave following the accident, said Bobby Hernandez, Miami Beach police spokesman.
A decade ago, another European sunbather was killed by a police car on a Florida beach. Christa Lina Emilie, 67, of Berlin, was accidentally hit and killed by a police car in New Smyrna Beach on March 29, 1993.
So9
. . .as for his bad driving maneuvers; someone should have called 911.
Lying on the beach, eyes closed, relaxed in what should be the safest spot; you are run over. Killed/maimed. . .Incredible.
All kidding aside, this is very tragic and I hope not too much play is made of the nationality of these women.
Unless we're talking about Daytona, vehicles have no business on the beach, official or otherwise.
She was arrested and held overnight before her parents could post bail.
Seems to me "administrative leave" is much too light an immediate consequence in this case.
I know, it was an accident, yadda, yadda, yadda--but if an ordinary joe had done this he would be in a lot deeper trouble.
Very awful. Welcome to the U.S.
I bet it's gonna be big.. Because I can't think of a good enough reason for this accident that any jury would buy.
This payout is gonna be a whopper, because if it's not settled they will surely win in court, and I am sure they already know that.
From the article, it seems as though these "robbers" were not even in a car. If so, he should be charged with manslaughter (not the involuntary type) and reckless endangerment...as any other citizen would be. Sickening.
A word to police FReepers - sometimes, you gotta get out of your vehicle and walk or run. Also, when you go to do some routine work, and you see that the person you want to talk to has a large dog, see if you can reach for the scub or the spray first, instead of the service piece. They're dumb, and they tend to run off when they feel pain.
I'll also add that you need to safe your weapons when you go home, especially if you have small children.
The last thing I have to say to any cop FReepers or lurking chiefs or administrative types - the Glock is a military weapon, not a police weapon. There is no need for your average street cop to have anything larger than a .357 revolver, left uncocked on one empty chamber, so that the act of shooting someone is deliberate as opposed to accidental. If you take the Glocks out of your street arsenal, you can save a bunch of money that could be used to give raises, increase manpower, improve training, or **shock** return to taxpayers.
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