To the police officer, he was a fleeing felon, and not only is he allowed by law to use force to subdue him, but he is expected to do so.
We empower our police with deadly force, true. But as a consequence of that empowerment, we expect greater discretion, judgment and self restraint from them. When that equation doesn't balance, there is a problem.
He was a suspect (totally innocent in retrospect), not a felon. Maybe the cop should have showed a little more restraint if he categorizes everyone a felon.
First of all, what is your definition of a "FELON"?
To the now brain damaged civilian, he was some innocent guy being chased by two big guys dressed in black, one of whom slammed him into a wall after he had stopped to face them with his hands shown. At that point pursuit should have terminated and he should have been apprehended then questioned........It has not been substantiated that the cops identified themselves as police officer, the story reports conflicting reports.
What has been determined is
"Investigators later determined that Harris wasn't involved in the brawl, or a later fight at the convenience store".
So we had two cops in hot pursuit of a suspect in a "bloody brawl" ....They may have been found innocent of their actions via internal investigation but I can guarandamntee you that they are going to go down following the civil lawsuit that is now starting. And that city is going to pay dearly........
“To the police officer, he was a fleeing felon, and not only is he allowed by law to use force to subdue him, but he is expected to do so.”
You have no idea how many layers of ignorance you displayed in that one sentence.