White Cop Shoots Black Man in Back as He Runs Away After Being Tased

[preachinjesus]

The truly sickening two parts to this tragedy are, first, that Slager openly executes this man who is fleeing and, second, the official police reports justify the shooting via lies corroborated by other officers.

I'm beyond sickened at the state of our country. We deserve nothing but the judgment of God these days. It is only by His mercy that we don't receive it.

 

[Zaac]

I am still just flabbergasted watching this video. How does another human being CALMLY stand and just shoot someone like that as though it's just target practice?

Officers who are afraid for their lives usually keep their weapons up ready to fire again as they approach a suspect. He just nonchalantly walked over to the guy as he seemed to then radio something.

Just crazy! God help us.raying:

 

[Zaac]

The truly sickening two parts to this tragedy are, first, that Slager openly executes this man who is fleeing and, second, the official police reports justify the shooting via lies corroborated by other officers.

I'm beyond sickened at the state of our country. We deserve nothing but the judgment of God these days. It is only by His mercy that we don't receive it.

WOW! I hadn't heard about that second part. It's systemic. They do this stuff and then cover for one another.

 

[InTheLight]

The truly sickening two parts to this tragedy are, first, that Slager openly executes this man who is fleeing and, second, the official police reports justify the shooting via lies corroborated by other officers.

Here is an interesting take on how the story might have been reported.

[This article is written as if the alleged murder of Walter Scott had not been captured on video that was made public Tuesday by The New York Times and other outlets, and we could only rely on police reports.]
-------------------

A North Charleston police officer was forced to use his service weapon Saturday during a scuffle with a suspect who tried to overpower him and seize the officer's Taser, authorities said.

The man, who has a history of violence and a long arrest record, died on the scene as a result of the encounter, despite officers performing CPR and delivering first aid, according to police reports.

The shooting was the 11th this year by a South Carolina police officer. The State Law Enforcement Division has begun an investigation into the incident.

Police identified the officer involved as Patrolman 1st Class Michael Thomas Slager and the suspect as Walter Lamar Scott, 50, of Meadowlawn Drive in West Ashley. Slager, 33, served honorably in the military before joining the North Charleston Police Department more than five years ago. He has never been disciplined during his time on the force, his attorney said.

The incident occurred behind a pawn shop on Craig Street and Remount Road. Slager initially pulled Scott over for a broken taillight. During the stop, police and witnesses say Scott fled the vehicle on foot. When Slager caught up with him a short distance from the street, Scott reportedly attempted to overpower Slager. Police say that during the struggle, the man gained control of the Taser and attempted to use it against the officer.

It was during that scuffle that the officer fired his service weapon, fatally wounding Scott.

“Shots fired, and the subject is down. He took my Taser," Slager radioed immediately following the shooting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/08/walter-scott-shooting-without-video_n_7024404.html

 

[InTheLight]

I do not agree with your "alarmist" approach to this incident, brother. It may show that there are cops that are cowardly and use the power of the badge to commit murder, but truth be known, this does not say to me that there is, as you said, "serious problem in the U.S."

As far as I remember, since December 3, 2014 we have Eric Garner, the Cleveland 12 year old (12/12/14), and this one today. By my count that is three incidents of over use of power ending in the death of a suspect by police. And this means, that in five months, there have been 3 horrible deaths of blacks by cops, and when you consider the size of this nation, the number of cops; the number of criminal incidents taking place every day; etc., three deaths does not equal a "serious problem!"

Pure foolishness! <I'm channeling Zaac>

Why South Carolina indicted three white police officers in four months

In South Carolina, a state with a long and deep history of racial discrimination against African Americans, three white law enforcement officers have been indicted in recent months on charges stemming from incidents in which they shot — and in two cases, killed — unarmed black men.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ur-months-and-its-probably-not-a-coincidence/

-------------

I can't be bothered to do the search but I'm going to assume that RD2 has railed against voter fraud. In other words, "one illegal vote is one too many", but he can rationalize cops killing people as "not serious" because of the size of our country.

 

[Don]

Here is an interesting take on how the story might have been reported.

[This article is written as if the alleged murder of Walter Scott had not been captured on video that was made public Tuesday by The New York Times and other outlets, and we could only rely on police reports.]
-------------------

A North Charleston police officer was forced to use his service weapon Saturday during a scuffle with a suspect who tried to overpower him and seize the officer's Taser, authorities said.

The man, who has a history of violence and a long arrest record, died on the scene as a result of the encounter, despite officers performing CPR and delivering first aid, according to police reports.

The shooting was the 11th this year by a South Carolina police officer. The State Law Enforcement Division has begun an investigation into the incident.

Police identified the officer involved as Patrolman 1st Class Michael Thomas Slager and the suspect as Walter Lamar Scott, 50, of Meadowlawn Drive in West Ashley. Slager, 33, served honorably in the military before joining the North Charleston Police Department more than five years ago. He has never been disciplined during his time on the force, his attorney said.

The incident occurred behind a pawn shop on Craig Street and Remount Road. Slager initially pulled Scott over for a broken taillight. During the stop, police and witnesses say Scott fled the vehicle on foot. When Slager caught up with him a short distance from the street, Scott reportedly attempted to overpower Slager. Police say that during the struggle, the man gained control of the Taser and attempted to use it against the officer.

It was during that scuffle that the officer fired his service weapon, fatally wounding Scott.

“Shots fired, and the subject is down. He took my Taser," Slager radioed immediately following the shooting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/08/walter-scott-shooting-without-video_n_7024404.html

A Taser is being used as justification for the use of deadly force?

The cop should go down for murder.

 

[Jedi Knight]

From what I saw later in the video the cop drop a taser by the guy as if planting it! That's messed up! If the guy was running away and the cop cannot tackle him let him go! Cops have a hard enough time then some jackass cop pulls this?

 

[kyredneck]

...The cop should go down for murder.

From watching the clip I'd say that's exactly what will happen.

 

[777]

This whole thing is strange. From the video, the cop knew he was being filmed yet he just stood there calmly firing shots into some overweight older guy running away. Then yet another cop just stands over the deceased while the first cop goes away and drops something at the scene.

Well, videotapes can be very deceiving and they can be easily doctored but there are ways to blow up that drop to see exactly what was put there and why. I think judgement should be reserved here, to me it looks like voluntary manslaughter at best, not murder one as charged.

 

[Rolfe]

This whole thing is strange. From the video, the cop knew he was being filmed yet he just stood there calmly firing shots into some overweight older guy running away.

How can you tell that he knew?

 

[Rolfe]

A Taser is being used as justification for the use of deadly force?

The cop should go down for murder.

Yep. Agree.

 

[777]

How can you tell that he knew?

It was shot using a cellphone and at one point Slager turned and looked directly at the witness. He should have known that the cellphone could be used to tape.

Murder One will be hard to prove but I think they are deliberately overcharging here.

 

[Use of Time]

It was shot using a cellphone and at one point Slager turned and looked directly at the witness. He should have known that the cellphone could be used to tape.

Murder One will be hard to prove but I think they are deliberately overcharging here.

What? Deliberately overcharging? Huh?

 

[777]

What? Deliberately overcharging? Huh?

Yes, in order to get the cop to plea to a lesser charge. Supposedly, Slager's attorney just quit because of a conflict with the client.

Unless this video has been proven doctored, the cop will not skate. But the bar for a successful murder one is very high - you have to prove a depraved mind and malicious forethought and there looks like there's little premeditation here by this alone. *If* he did indeed plant the laser, that opens the door to second degree but not first, as it would be like covering up a known crime.

 

[Use of Time]

Yes, in order to get the cop to plea to a lesser charge. Supposedly, Slager's attorney just quit because of a conflict with the client.

Unless this video has been proven doctored, the cop will not skate. But the bar for a successful murder one is very high - you have to prove a depraved mind and malicious forethought and there looks like there's little premeditation here by this alone. *If* he did indeed plant the laser, that opens the door to second degree but not first, as it would be like covering up a known crime.

Thanks for elaborating. An interesting possibility.

 

[Rolfe]

It was shot using a cellphone and at one point Slager turned and looked directly at the witness. He should have known that the cellphone could be used to tape.

Missed that.

 

[Jedi Knight]

Reports are saying the cop picked up the taser off the ground like the guy dropped it when he was shot. I still like to know why is a 50 year old dude running from the cops?

 

[carpro]

That's exactly what it looks like. A man is dead because of a burnt out taillight.

No. He's dead because he resisted arrest and attempted to flee.

But with just the video as evidence, it certainly appears to be an illegal use of deadly force by the police officer.

 

[Zaac]

No. He's dead because he resisted arrest and attempted to flee.

But with just the video as evidence, it certainly appears to be an illegal use of deadly force by the police officer.

He's dead because an officer broke the law he had sworn to uphold.

There is just nothing in that video that says the officer murdered this guy as though it were target practice. There was NOTHING in his stance that said he feared for his life. He had his gun down as he approached the down suspect. And cops never do that if they are afraid. They keep that gun drawn.

 

[carpro]

He's dead because an officer broke the law he had sworn to uphold.

What is it about "illegal use of deadly force" that you don't understand? I'm sure the police officer will pay for his crime if the video holds up as what it appears to be.

That doesn't change the fact that there is no evidence at all to indicate that any kind of force would have been used if the victim had not stupidly resisted arrest and tried to flee.

The fact that he paid for his stupidity with his life is a tragedy, but, in real life, that happens sometimes with such decisions.