# South Carolina police officer charged with murder. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087 "2015-04-08T01:36:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [April 8, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/41 "2015-04-08T15:54:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Looks to me like the cop screwed up. Big-time. By allowing the execution to be caught on video? ---
**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:** [April 8, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/42 "2015-04-08T16:03:40Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Screwed up? As in a _mistake_? That looked pretty fucking deliberate to me. > [@kayaker](#): > > By allowing the execution to be caught on video? Geez. I can’t even _agree_ with you people without you finding something to complain about, can I? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/43 "2015-04-08T16:08:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Geez. I can’t even _agree_ with you people without you finding something to complain about, can I? Well, ya gotta have the enemy within and the enemy without so you can suspend civil liberties and declare martial law. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/44 "2015-04-08T16:22:45Z")
I posted this on Yahoo!'s website in response to this: “We appear to be making progress! After all, ‘back in the day’ that cop probably would’ve been rewarded in some way for what he did…” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/45 "2015-04-08T16:31:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Geez. I can’t even _agree_ with you people without you finding something to complain about, can I? “Screwed up” is, I have to admit, a strange way to describe the deliberate commission of a crime. One does not say Ted Bundy “screwed up” when he raped and killed women, or describe Ocean’s 11 as a movie about eleven guys “screwing up by stealing $150 million.” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/46 "2015-04-08T16:34:08Z")
It’s very possible the DA might deliberately throw the case. That’s EXACTLY what the Ferguson DA (McCulloch) did in his presentation to the grand jury. [Justice Antonin Scalia explains why.](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/11/26/3597322/justice-scalia-explains-what-was-wrong-with-the-ferguson-grand-jury/) The Ferguson case was one put before a grand jury, which is as different from a trial as a cat is from a catfish. In this latest case the charge of murder has already been laid, so the intentions of the DA’s office appear to be very different. As noted in [this story,](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/12/05/south-carolina-indicted-three-white-cops-in-four-months-and-its-probably-not-a-coincidence/) prosecutors in South Carolina appear to be quite willing to indict white police officers who shoot people without apparent justification, including of course the Levar Jones shooting, which was discussed quite a lot on this board because it was videotaped, too. Groubert is still awaiting trial, I believe, but he was quite clearly thrown under the bus by the police and prosecutor. They seem determined to send him to the big house. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/47 "2015-04-08T17:15:02Z")
There’s still a lot unknown about this case. Did the cop have time to run this guy’s name through his computer? Did he have felony warrants? The fact that a motorist takes off running is a pretty good indication either thats a stolen car, he’s got warrants or drugs in his pockets. A typical, law abiding citizen doesn’t jump out of a car and take off running. People run from the cops for a reason. Right now, based on the video I understand and support the murder charges. But this case hinges on whether this guy posed a potential threat to public safety. We know nothing about this guy. Except he was shot multiple times running. Do we really want an armed robber to get away? Perhaps shoot a store clerk a few hours later? Can you imagine the public outrage if it was learned the cops just let him run away (on foot) from a traffic stop a few hours earlier? We can change the law. We can outlaw shooting fleeing suspects. If the guy shoots your daughter in the face hours later in a carjacking.That’s just too damn bad. Whats more important? We the voters can tell our representatives to make that choice. You can’t have it both ways. Either let a suspect run and hope that he doesn’t harm somebody later. Or do whats necessary to capture him. I would like to know why this cop didn’t attempt a foot pursuit. That seems like his best option. Shooting is a last resort. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/48 "2015-04-08T17:16:10Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > How much of the murder charge could he deflect by making a simple change to his story? > “There was a struggle for my taser, and I lost control of it. I didn’t realize it had dropped and didn’t hear it hit the ground, because we were struggling. He ran and started to turn and I thought he had my stun gun, so I shot him. After he fell, I realized he didn’t have the stun gun, and I freaked out and fucked up.” From what I’ve read, the taser had already been discharged – or so it was claimed in the official police report. Which means there was no way for Scott to have used the stun gun on him at a distance of some 15 feet. At that point you have to press the contacts against a person’s body to stun them. There’s only one set of projectiles. I really want to be optimistic about this, but the Eric Garner video was pretty unambiguous too, and those guys didn’t even get charged. You’d think the ME’s report that Scott was shot in the back would be enough, even without video – how can the officer be in danger from someone running away? But that’s not how it has worked, historically. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/49 "2015-04-08T17:19:49Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > There’s still a lot unknown about this case. Did the cop have time to run this guy’s name through his computer? Did he have felony warrants? The fact that a motorist takes off running is a pretty good indication either thats a stolen car, he’s got warrants or drugs in his pockets. A typical, law abiding citizen doesn’t jump out of a car and take off running. People run from the cops for a reason. > > Right now, based on the video I understand and support the murder charges. But this case hinges on whether this guy posed a potential threat to public safety. We know nothing about this guy. Except he was shot multiple times running. > > Do we really want an armed robber to get away? Perhaps shoot a store clerk a few hours later? Can you imagine the public outrage if it was learned the cops just let him run away (on foot) from a traffic stop a few hours earlier? > > We can change the law. We can outlaw shooting fleeing suspects. If the guy shoots your daughter in the face hours later in a carjacking.That’s just too damn bad. Whats more important? We the voters can tell our representatives to make that choice. You can’t have it both ways. Either let a suspect run and hope that he doesn’t harm somebody later. Or do whats necessary to capture him. I would imagine that the existence of felony warrants, whether known to the officer of not, would have been the first thing the Police Department reported when trying to justify the shooting. Or if the car was stolen. I have to assume neither fact was present. And, shooting fleeing suspects is already illegal, unless the officer reasonably believed there was a serious threat posed by the guy. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/50 "2015-04-08T17:23:52Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > People run from the cops for a reason. Fear of death among those. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/51 "2015-04-08T17:30:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Fear of death among those. :rolleyes: yeah right. You’re really going to abandoned a $12,000 car on the street and run away because you’re so terrified of the cops. All because of a broken taillight. A $50 ticket and it becomes a felony for fleeing from the police. That makes a lot of sense for a law abiding, and upstanding citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Fallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Fallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fallen)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/52 "2015-04-08T17:33:03Z")
It’s part of the omnibus killer cop thread: > **[Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736919)** > > TLDR version: This is the law-enforcement omnibus thread. Discuss controversial shootings, tasings, pepper-sprayings, arrests, and other police encounter here. It’s in the Pit because these discussions sometimes get heated. Full version: I figured... While of course we don’t know yet what happened at the car, there’s the matter of Mr. Scott worried about being hauled away to jail over past due child support. I don’t know whether that was a legitimate fear, and I suppose it doesn’t really matter. (Nor does the value of the car, IMHO.) ---
**Author:** ![thenonepercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@thenonepercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thenonepercent)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/53 "2015-04-08T17:40:40Z")
Maybe he ran because he was tasered by a dude who is the kind of guy that will shoot someone eight times in the back, then lie about it and try to plant evidence. I’d run from a dude like that, though probably in a zig-zag so he’d have a harder time shooting me. Whatever reason dude had for running, I bet it wasn’t because he shot a dude eight times and then lied about it. Even if dude was Hitler Q. Satan, cops aren’t allowed to just haul off and murder him. It’s almost like they should be held to standards of professional conduct or something. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/54 "2015-04-08T17:45:31Z")
The problem for the police is they don’t know the reason why a suspect runs. Is it for something non-violent like drugs or back child support? If so, then there’s no reason to use force. But the cops don’t know why he’s running. Letting the guy run away is rolling the dice. If he’s a violent criminal the shit will hit the fan when he harms somebody a day or two later. It’s a dilemma for the police. Sure the cop can bravely run after a suspect that hasn’t been patted down. What if he has a gun? I wouldn’t run after a guy that might be armed. You’re pretty exposed if he turns and fires. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/55 "2015-04-08T17:46:22Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > :rolleyes: yeah right. You’re really going to abandoned a $12,000 car on the street and run away because you’re so terrified of the cops. All because of a broken taillight. > > A $50 ticket and it becomes a felony for fleeing from the police. That makes a lot of sense for a law abiding, and upstanding citizen. What cave have you been living in to have completely missed Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, John Crawford, etc. etc. etc.? Being black and male in the US **is** a legitimate reason to fear being killed by police. ---
**Author:** ![thenonepercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@thenonepercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thenonepercent)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/56 "2015-04-08T17:48:09Z")
If only cops had rules about who or when they could shoot people discussions like this would be easily resolved. If only! ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/57 "2015-04-08T17:54:48Z")
Have the police arrested the person who took the video yet? Can’t be too safe :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/58 "2015-04-08T17:56:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The problem for the police is they don’t know the reason why a suspect runs. Is it for something non-violent like drugs or back child support? If so, then there’s no reason to use force. But the cops don’t know why he’s running. > > Letting the guy run away is rolling the dice. If he’s a violent criminal the shit will hit the fan when he harms somebody a day or two later. It’s a dilemma for the police. > > Sure the cop can bravely run after a suspect that hasn’t been patted down. What if he has a gun? I wouldn’t run after a guy that might be armed. You’re pretty exposed if he turns and fires. This is a joke, right? You can’t possibly be typing that with a straight face. “Don’t know why he’s running, guess I’d better shoot him”. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/59 "2015-04-08T17:59:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by aceplace57 > The problem for the police is they don’t know the reason why a suspect runs. Is it for something non-violent like drugs or back child support? If so, then there’s no reason to use force. But the cops don’t know why he’s running. Keep is simple, when in doubt, don’t kill the guy ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087/60 "2015-04-08T18:05:22Z")
Right keep it simple. Don’t run from the cops over a silly tail light or back child support. Be a man, let the officer write the ticket and go on your way. If he arrests you for child support you’ll get bonded out probably that day or the next morning. This is simple stuff. Thousands and thousands of citizens interact with the police every day. There’s no reason to do something stupid like running. That just escalates it to a felony. I’ve had 3 tickets in my life. One time they let me mail in my fine. The other two were in small towns and I was required to go to court and pay immediately. A PITA that cost me nearly two hours in lost travel time. Running away never even crossed my mine. I’m not that stupid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-police-officer-charged-with-murder/717087.md?page=4)