# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942 "2014-10-10T07:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 206
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4101 "2015-06-23T17:43:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > First things first: Does this mean you admit I wasn’t talking to you in the first place? Is _that_ what’s important to you at this point? This really just is a “Nanny-nanny-foo-foo I was right and you were wrong!” pissing contest to you at this point, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4102 "2015-06-23T17:44:37Z")
Someone should make up a master list of things cops have mistaken for guns over the years. We could take turns laughing and crying. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4103 "2015-06-23T17:44:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > No. Have you not been reading this thread? At least I read my own posts, which is more than you can say. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4104 "2015-06-23T17:50:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Is _that_ what’s important to you at this point? This really just is a “Nanny-nanny-foo-foo I was right and you were wrong!” pissing contest to you at this point, isn’t it? Heck, Smapti, you give no sign of deserving more. Frankly, any time someone talks to you in even a halfway-decent manner, you should consider it unearned charity. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4105 "2015-06-23T17:50:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > At least I read my own posts, which is more than you can say. He’s been busy responding for **Steophan**. Apparently he has a problem telling the difference between the two names. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4106 "2015-06-23T17:52:15Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > He’s been busy responding for **Steophan**. Apparently he has a problem telling the difference between the two names. Sorry I misinterpreted your posting in a public thread as being an indication that you wished to take part in a public conversation. Good job backpedaling from having to acknowledge that you lied about his past statements, though. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4107 "2015-06-23T18:13:46Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Sorry I misinterpreted your posting in a public thread as being an indication that you wished to take part in a public conversation. > > Good job backpedaling from having to acknowledge that you lied about his past statements, though. Do you know what makes you an idiotic fuckwit? The fact that you seem to think that, because I didn’t call you an idiotic fuckwit in a private message, it could somehow be interpreted that I am calling everyone who posts in this thread an idiotic fuckwit, you idiotic fuckwit. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4108 "2015-06-23T18:16:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Sorry I misinterpreted your posting in a public thread as being an indication that you wished to take part in a public conversation. > > Good job backpedaling from having to acknowledge that you lied about his past statements, though. Did **Steophan** order you to suck his dick? I know you have a better-safe-than-sorry policy when it comes to that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4109 "2015-06-23T18:16:51Z")
So you _can’t_ quote when Steophan said what you claim he said, then. Thanks for owning up to that. It was very big of you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4110 "2015-06-23T18:28:20Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So you _can’t_ quote when Steophan said what you claim he said, then. > > Thanks for owning up to that. It was very big of you. Never said he said it, you idiotic fuckwit. Why don’t you kick off-line so he can answer for himself? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4111 "2015-06-23T18:29:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Never said he said it, you idiotic fuckwit. Why don’t you kick off-line so he can answer for himself? You should probably see someone about your anger management issue. ---
**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4112 "2015-06-23T18:45:48Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Yes, if you reasonably believe they are an imminent danger to you. Just the same as the cops. If someone has a towel wrapped around their arm which may hide a gun, and they don’t produce a gun and drop it when you yell at them “Drop the gun!”, are you reasonably justified in shooting them in self-defense? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4113 "2015-06-23T18:57:31Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > If someone has a towel wrapped around their arm which may hide a gun, and they don’t produce a gun and drop it when you yell at them “Drop the gun!”, are you reasonably justified in shooting them in self-defense? Did the person with the towel wrapped around their arm, threaten to kill, or physically harm you? Or were they just walking past your house? ---
**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4114 "2015-06-23T19:16:26Z")
[See #4048](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-man-with-towel-on-arm-shot-in-head-by-lapd-20150620-story.html). Were this not a hypothetical, Smapti or Steophan would slap it down as a straw man: “Of course I am not saying the Police can just shoot you for having your arm in a towel!” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4115 "2015-06-23T19:24:18Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > [See #4048](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-man-with-towel-on-arm-shot-in-head-by-lapd-20150620-story.html). Were this not a hypothetical, Smapti or Steophan would slap it down as a straw man: “Of course I am not saying the Police can just shoot you for having your arm in a towel!” You conveniently forgot to mention that he deliberately got the cops’ attention and then pointed his towel-covered hand at them like a gun. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4116 "2015-06-23T19:25:12Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > [See #4048](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-man-with-towel-on-arm-shot-in-head-by-lapd-20150620-story.html). Were this not a hypothetical, Smapti or Steophan would slap it down as a straw man: “Of course I am not saying the Police can just shoot you for having your arm in a towel!” Maybe, just maybe, you should consider sticking to what **Hooleehootoo** has to say? ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4117 "2015-06-23T19:31:51Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You conveniently forgot to mention that he deliberately got the cops’ attention and then pointed his towel-covered hand at them like a gun. Right! And this is a pattern with all these whiny liberal cry-babies in this thread! In the cop-shoots-4yo girl story, not one person has mentioned that the shooting all started because the girl’s aunt d_eliberately went out and got a police officer_ to help her sister (girl’s mother) with a medical emergency. Even led the cop right over to the house! Hell, in those circumstances of course the first thing you should do is shoot at the family dog while it’s right next to a small child. Otherwise, well you probably got another dead cop. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4118 "2015-06-23T19:33:25Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You conveniently forgot to mention that he deliberately got the cops’ attention and then pointed his towel-covered hand at them like a gun. Doesn’t seem like that’s the real story when (from linked article); L.A. police Chief Charlie Beck has said he was “very concerned” about the May shooting. “Any time an unarmed person is shot by a Los Angeles police officer, it takes extraordinary circumstances to justify that,” Beck told reporters in May. **“I have not seen those extraordinary circumstances.”** ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4119 "2015-06-23T19:33:30Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > Right! And this is a pattern with all these whiny liberal cry-babies in this thread! In the cop-shoots-4yo girl story, not one person has mentioned that the shooting all started because the girl’s aunt d_eliberately went out and got a police officer_ to help her sister (girl’s mother) with a medical emergency. Even led the cop right over to the house! Yes, let’s shift gears to a completely different incident rather than acknowledge that this was clearly a case of suicide by cop and the cops were justified in thinking that the man who waved them down and then pointed his concealed hand at them was armed. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4120 "2015-06-23T19:41:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > …this was clearly a case of suicide by cop and the cops were justified in thinking that the man who waved them down and then pointed his concealed hand at them was armed. See the post right above yours. Is this yet another Chief of Police knuckling under to the liberal media and scapegoating good cops? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=205) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=207)