# 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:** 351
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7001 "2015-11-07T06:51:08Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > [Cop Accused of Shooting Man in Back Goes on Trial for Murder](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/11/03/us/ap-us-traffic-stop-shot-in-back.html?_r=0) > > Of course he was reaching for a gun and it was self-defence. It’s almost like there’s a script she’s following. Well that didn’t take long: [Jury acquits officer who shot unarmed man face down on the ground](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/11/06/3719933/jury-acquits-officer-who-shot-unarmed-man-face-down-on-the-ground/) Quite sickening. And can we please dispatch with the inane narrative that holding bad cops accountable for bad actions means we are demonizing _all_ cops? Fuck off, assholes. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7002 "2015-11-07T15:12:53Z")
> [@sweepkick](#): > > Well that didn’t take long: > > [Jury acquits officer who shot unarmed man face down on the ground](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/11/06/3719933/jury-acquits-officer-who-shot-unarmed-man-face-down-on-the-ground/) > > Quite sickening. > > And can we please dispatch with the inane narrative that holding bad cops accountable for bad actions means we are demonizing _all_ cops? Fuck off, assholes. I clicked and watched the video. Unbelievable. And very sickening. The cop, shrieking nonsense as the tasered man complies, should be in an insane asylum. This poor man’s criminal offense? Expired car sticker. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7003 "2015-11-07T15:57:56Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I guess the child’s father wasn’t aware that his child was sitting next to him in the car when the father decided to attack police officers with his vehicle. :smack: Charges filed: [2 Louisiana Officers Charged With Second-Degree Murder in Killing of Boy, 6](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/07/us/2-louisiana-officers-charged-with-murder-in-death-of-6-year-old.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-5&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article) Note that the usual racial stereotypes have been reversed in this case. Dark colored officers and very light skinned dead six year old kid. Interesting that charges were filed within 72 hours. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7004 "2015-11-07T17:25:21Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > This poor man’s criminal offense? Expired car sticker. And yet he decided to lead the cops on a chase and then continued to flee on foot. What else was he doing that he was afraid of getting caught for? ---
**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:** [November 7, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7005 "2015-11-07T17:39:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And yet he decided to lead the cops on a chase and then continued to flee on foot. What else was he doing that he was afraid of getting caught for? Maybe he was afraid of getting killed. This might seem far fetched, if one overlooks the fact that he was indeed killed. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7006 "2015-11-07T17:48:12Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Maybe he was afraid of getting killed. This might seem far fetched, if one overlooks the fact that he was indeed killed. Police don’t kill people over expired tags, and this case was no exception. He chose his fate and the jury agreed. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7007 "2015-11-07T17:56:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Police don’t kill people over expired tags, and this case was no exception. He chose his fate and the jury agreed. Didn’t watch the video, did you? ---
**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:** [November 7, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7008 "2015-11-07T18:11:46Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Didn’t watch the video, did you? I did and so did the jury that acquitted the officer. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7009 "2015-11-07T18:40:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Police don’t kill people over expired tags, and this case was no exception. He chose his fate and the jury agreed. Evidence suggests otherwise, juries notwithstanding. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7010 "2015-11-07T18:47:06Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And yet he decided to lead the cops on a chase and then continued to flee on foot. What else was he doing that he was afraid of getting caught for? Driving while black? ---
**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:** [November 7, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7011 "2015-11-07T20:09:01Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Driving while black? Didn’t watch the video, did you? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7012 "2015-11-10T06:25:43Z")
[ > [@](#): > > A police body camera recorded the father of a 6-year-old autistic boy with his hands up and posing no threat as police fired into his car, severely wounding the motorist and killing his son, the man’s lawyer said Monday. > > “This was not a threatening situation for the police,” said Mark Jeansonne, an attorney for Chris Few, who remained hospitalized and could not attend Monday’s funeral of his son, Jeremy Mardis. > > Derrick Stafford, 32, of Mansura, and Norris Greenhouse Jr., 23, of Marksville, were ordered held on $1 million bonds Monday on second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges, Jeansonne said. > > The lawyer said he hasn’t seen the video himself, but its contents were described during the hearing. Louisiana’s state police chief, Col. Mike Edmonson, said Friday that “it’s the most disturbing thing I’ve seen - and I will leave it at that.” ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_BOY\_KILLED\_LOUISIANA\_SHOOTING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-11-09-17-55-59](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BOY_KILLED_LOUISIANA_SHOOTING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-11-09-17-55-59)) This just popped up on my AP feed; thought I’d update the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7013 "2015-11-10T07:29:25Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Police don’t kill people over expired tags, and this case was no exception. I look forward to you advising why the police killed Jeremy Mardis. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7014 "2015-11-12T12:25:35Z")
[Unarmed man tased to death in squad car.](http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/driven-hospital-virginia-man-tased-shackled-and-dies-police-custody) Police pick up a guy for being noisy at a hotel. They figure out he’s high or something and handcuff him and take him to the ER, repeatedly telling him he’s not under arrest and they’re going to take him in for medical attention. When they get to the hospital, he kicks out the back window of the car, gets out, and runs to the ER door, frantically trying to get in. Yes, I know, he shouldn’t kick out the window. But he was high and not in control. So the cops tase him repeatedly right outside the door of the place they were taking him in the first place, shackle his legs, and throw him in the back seat of the car. While shackled and handcuffed, they tase him repeatedly. When they get to the police station, he is unresponsive so they call in the ambulance and a half hour later, he shows up DOA at the place he was tased. The prosecutors found that the use of force was reasonable, but that was before this video surfaced this week. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7015 "2015-11-12T13:27:36Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > [Unarmed man tased to death in squad car.](http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/driven-hospital-virginia-man-tased-shackled-and-dies-police-custody)The prosecutors found that the use of force was reasonable, but that was before this video surfaced this week. But those policemens were _scared_! Any time a policeman is afraid, he can kill somebody. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7016 "2015-11-12T13:29:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > But those policemens were _scared_! Any time a policeman is afraid, he can kill somebody. It would have saved everyone a lot of time and trouble if the police had simply shot him dead at the hotel. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7017 "2015-11-12T13:33:53Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It would have saved everyone a lot of time and trouble if the police had simply shot him dead at the hotel. Presumably, the cops had not peed their pants yet, so they didn’t have probable cause. Got to follow the law! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7018 "2015-11-12T13:38:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The prosecutors found that the use of force was reasonable, but that was before this video surfaced this week. That’s what really gets me about all these cases. “We took the cops’ word until they were proven to be liars”. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7019 "2015-11-12T13:58:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > That’s what really gets me about all these cases. “We took the cops’ word until they were proven to be liars”. Particularly galling because the video evidence didn’t actually just “surface” recently; this was all available from the beginning to police and prosecutors. No, what surfaced just now, two years after the fact, is _news media_ possession of the footage. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7020 "2015-11-12T14:00:52Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > Particularly galling because the video evidence didn’t actually just “surface” recently; this was all available from the beginning to police and prosecutors. No, what surfaced just now, two years after the fact, is _news media_ possession of the footage. That’s even worse. How could a prosecutor look at that and not find grounds to press charges? How could the coroner not account for that in establishing the cause of death? How many more cases like this are out there without videos that show the full story? How many times did this go on in the days before video? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=350) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=352)