# 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:** 416
**Author:** ![Pylesos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@Pylesos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pylesos)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8302 "2016-05-30T16:34:55Z")
The arrests [have been made](http://wrbl.com/2016/05/28/harris-county-deputy-recovering-after-being-shot-on-interstate/) after Harris county deputy has been shot in the head in what appears to be racially motivated crime. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8303 "2016-05-30T17:26:51Z")
> [@Pylesos](#): > > The arrests [have been made](http://wrbl.com/2016/05/28/harris-county-deputy-recovering-after-being-shot-on-interstate/) after Harris county deputy has been shot in the head in what appears to be racially motivated crime. Where are you getting that it was a racially motivated crime? Nothing in that linked article even hints that race was a factor; in fact, the article doesn’t even list anyone’s race (although there is a picture of the two people arrested). Also: what, in your opinion, is at all controversial about this case you’ve brought to our attention? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8304 "2016-05-30T18:32:08Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Where are you getting that it was a racially motivated crime? Nothing in that linked article even hints that race was a factor; in fact, the article doesn’t even list anyone’s race (although there is a picture of the two people arrested). > > Also: what, in your opinion, is at all controversial about this case you’ve brought to our attention? Look at the join date: it’s today. Trolling, pure and simple. Just let it go. ---
**Author:** ![Pylesos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@Pylesos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pylesos)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8305 "2016-05-30T19:19:48Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Where are you getting that it was a racially motivated crime? The victim is a white police officer, the suspects are African-Americans. > [@](#): > > Also: what, in your opinion, is at all controversial about this case you’ve brought to our attention? The lack of nation-wide media coverage of the apparent hate crime we’re dealing with here. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8306 "2016-05-30T19:27:35Z")
> [@Pylesos](#): > > The lack of nation-wide media coverage of the apparent hate crime we’re dealing with here. 1. The fact that the victim and shooter are of different races doesn’t inherently make it a hate crime 2. It’s far more likely that the victim was shot because he was a cop than because of the color of his skin 3. Obviously there’s media coverage of it, because 3.1) Otherwise you wouldn’t know it happened 3.2) You posted a link to media coverage of it 4. If you don’t think it’s getting enough attention, go and protest or something ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8307 "2016-05-30T20:01:34Z")
Oddly written story. > [@](#): > > The deputy was taken to Midtown Medical Center, where he was last listed in unsatisfactory condition. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8308 "2016-05-30T20:20:12Z")
“…he was last listed in unsatisfactory condition. …” Well I would hope so. I mean, I don’t _hope so_, you know, but I mean, he was shot, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8309 "2016-05-31T01:08:56Z")
“He is now in Russell County Jail as a fugitive from justice, according to a jail official.” Such good writing. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2016, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8310 "2016-06-01T13:11:17Z")
Resolution of a encounter that has been discussed previously in this thread: A former volunteer deputy sheriff in Tulsa, Oklahoma was sentenced to four years in prison Tuesday for shooting an unarmed suspect after he had been taken into custody. Robert Bates, now 74 years old, said he mistakenly shot and killed Eric Harris in April 2015 during an illegal gun sales sting when he mistakenly drew and fired his handgun, which he thought was his stun gun. [Cite](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/05/31/oklahoma_deputy_robert_bates_gets_to_four_years_for_shooting_eric_harris.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8311 "2016-06-01T14:17:32Z")
Had he been an actual police officer, nothing would have happened to him. Sadly. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8312 "2016-06-02T14:39:03Z")
[Another follow-up](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/06/01/nouman_raja_florida_police_officer_who_shot_corey_jones_facing_manslaughter.html): Last October, a man whose car had broken down in the middle of the night in Florida was killed by a police officer while waiting for roadside assistance. Seven months later, the officer has been charged by Florida prosecutors with manslaughter by culpable negligence and attempted first degree murder. According to Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, a grand jury found that the officer’s use of deadly force was unjustified. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8313 "2016-06-03T15:58:06Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Seven months later, the officer has been charged by Florida prosecutors with manslaughter by culpable negligence and attempted first degree murder. Maybe one of the law-talking guys can explain the ‘attempted’ part. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2016, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8314 "2016-06-04T09:27:51Z")
Does “law enforcement” in thread subject include judges? What about [the Santa Clara County judge who gave a rapist only a short jail sentence](http://jezebel.com/ex-stanford-swimmer-gets-6-month-sentence-for-rape-desp-1780388299) because a prison term might have a “severe impact” on the white middle-class young man? I guess overcrowding in prisons means we need to give white-skinned rapists short sentences to save room for black thugs who sell cigarettes, or fail to signal turns. _ **While I’m here, let me plug Michael Moore’s latest movie. The comparison of the Land of the Free™ with civilized countries should be shameful to Americans.** _ ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8315 "2016-06-04T09:45:39Z")
What are you talking? Affluenza. It’s a thing now. Worked like a champ the last time they tried 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 4, 2016, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8316 "2016-06-04T12:30:07Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Does “law enforcement” in thread subject include judges? What about [the Santa Clara County judge who gave a rapist only a short jail sentence](http://jezebel.com/ex-stanford-swimmer-gets-6-month-sentence-for-rape-desp-1780388299) because a prison term might have a “severe impact” on the white middle-class young man? In 2011, [this same judge presided over an even worse rape case, and made an even worse decision.](http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17793153) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8317 "2016-06-06T16:25:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > In 2011, [this same judge presided over an even worse rape case, and made an even worse decision.](http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17793153) It looks to me like it was the jury who decided, not the judge. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8318 "2016-06-08T15:19:58Z")
[Dashcam footage of cop tasing, dragging, and dropping teen is unsealed.](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/dashcam-footage-of-cop-tasing-dragging-and-dropping-teen-is-unsealed/) “Graphic footage of the 2014 abuse of a 17-year-old by a suburban Kansas City, Missouri, police officer. Officer Timothy Runnels received four years in prison after the incident was captured on the officer’s dashcam.” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8319 "2016-06-08T15:27:50Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > [Dashcam footage of cop tasing, dragging, and dropping teen is unsealed.](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/dashcam-footage-of-cop-tasing-dragging-and-dropping-teen-is-unsealed/) “Graphic footage of the 2014 abuse of a 17-year-old by a suburban Kansas City, Missouri, police officer. Officer Timothy Runnels received four years in prison after the incident was captured on the officer’s dashcam.” There was a [link](https://theintercept.com/2016/06/07/tased-in-the-chest-for-23-seconds-dead-for-8-minutes-now-facing-a-lifetime-of-recovery/)in the comments that had a great write-up of the events. From that story I learned that “on October 12, 2009, Taser International, the Scottsdale, Arizona-based maker of conducted electrical weapons, released a training bulletin suggesting that officers should avoid shooting suspects in the chest whenever possible.” It’s been known for years that Tasers kill. Also, dropping people on their face doesn’t help either. Can’t believe that cop only got 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8320 "2016-06-09T07:55:33Z")
Anyone who’s a regular reader of this thread is probably already familiar with civil forfeiture and the gross abuses it’s enabled. You regularly hear stories of people being pulled over and having any cash they have on them confiscated without ever being charged with a crime and, conveniently, the districts where this happens the most are the ones where the police get to keep any money they seize. Well, the Oklahoma Police, not being content with mere cash anymore, [are rolling out a system](http://www.news9.com/story/32168555/ohp-uses-new-device-to-seize-money-used-during-the-commission-of-a-crime) where they can also seize the money on your debit cards. Not only that, the deal with the systems provider is that the state kicks back to them 7.7% of any money seized. Civil forfeiture has always been one of the most nakedly corrupt parts of the justice system and the brazenness of how it’s being extended over time is shocking and deeply depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/8321 "2016-06-09T22:35:39Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Anyone who’s a regular reader of this thread is probably already familiar with civil forfeiture and the gross abuses it’s enabled. You regularly hear stories of people being pulled over and having any cash they have on them confiscated without ever being charged with a crime and, conveniently, the districts where this happens the most are the ones where the police get to keep any money they seize. > > Well, the Oklahoma Police, not being content with mere cash anymore, [are rolling out a system](http://www.news9.com/story/32168555/ohp-uses-new-device-to-seize-money-used-during-the-commission-of-a-crime) where they can also seize the money on your debit cards. Not only that, the deal with the systems provider is that the state kicks back to them 7.7% of any money seized. > > Civil forfeiture has always been one of the most nakedly corrupt parts of the justice system and the brazenness of how it’s being extended over time is shocking and deeply depressing. > [@](#): > > OHP stresses troopers do not do this during all traffic stops, only situations where they believe there is probable cause. Meaning being OTW and having too nice of a car? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=415) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=417)