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September 23, 2012

Maybe He Wanted An Autograph?


From Fox News:
A Houston police officer shot and killed a one-armed, one-legged man in a wheelchair Saturday inside a group home after police say the double amputee threatened the officer and aggressively waved a metal object that turned out to be a pen.
I don't care if it was a Parker, I think my head just blew up. Seriously... what was this cop thinking when he pulled the trigger?

11 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

He was probably just afraid the guy would jump up and beat him to death with his "club."

Kid said...

This cop's name wouldn't be Joe Biden would it?

jay son said...

this will probably have a real tough time getting over the "reasonable officer" hurdle.

Doom said...

Yeah, I guess I am a minority reporter on this one. If I saw someone, trap someone else with his wheelchair, and begin swinging something long and shiny, I'd shoot. Bet your ass I would. Partner, civilian, other inmate, wouldn't matter who was being attached.

I know one thing about life. It is very easy to lose it. And even a child can take even my life. I don't negotiate with extreme aggression well, toward myself or others. From what I am seeing, he did the best he could with what he had. A taser might have been better, but if he didn't have it or couldn't have gotten a clear angle, then... *bang* I don't condemn his actions. At all. The world has gone insane, and that kind of threat has to be treated as lethal.

Fradgan said...

Siggie...

Have you read this?

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/opinion/columns/frank/article_7924e4f0-0468-11e2-8da2-0019bb2963f4.html

sig94 said...

Doom - in your condition I don't think there is much of an issue. However, a police officer is supposed to be better condition. If a cop can't take a pen away from a one-armed, one-legged guy, then he'd better turn in his badge and get a job elsewhere. And that includes female officers.

And where is the urgency? Why employ deadly physical force - what was the offense?? The cop couldn't back off and call for assistance? There are many more questions that could be asked.

sig94 said...

Fradgan - no, that link appears to have been removed. Just a 404 message.

Woodsterman (Odie) said...

See, the pen isn't mightier than the sword ... or hand gun. Sounds like they need just a little more training to help them recognize their surroundings in them parts.

Anyone who confronts a cop aggressively is not all there.

Derfel Cadarn said...

There was no coherent thought process involved! I will wager that his Chief says it was standard procedure and will defend his actions. If that occurs they should both go to jail.

WoFat said...

I'd like to see more information about the cop; age, experience, was he alone with the subject at the time, etc.

sig94 said...

Most likely there will be a complete shut down of information as the PD gets a new set of brains from the City of Houston Corporation Counsel attorneys. Doubtless there will be a grand jury investigation as well as a civil suit. The discovery process may turn up some surprises.