Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

alp227

(31,961 posts)
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 12:59 PM Jun 2020

Body cam footage of Rayshard Brooks' death shows calm, then chaos

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Video footage released by the Atlanta Police Department show officers talking for nearly half an hour with Rayshard Brooks in a Wendy’s parking lot. The encounter would end with Brooks fatally shot. Hours later came the announcement that the city’s police chief had stepped aside and that the officer who shot Brooks had been fired.

By nightfall, the Wendy’s just south of downtown was in flames.

[...]

Brooks tells the officers he’s had one, maybe one-and-a-half drinks. Subsequent field sobriety tests seem to indicate otherwise. Brooks is unsteady on his feet and a breathalyzer registers a blood alcohol level of .108, slightly above the legal limit of .08.

“I think you’ve had too much to drink to be driving,” Rolfe says. A struggle ensues, and as Bronsan attempts to handcuff Brooks, he bolts away.

Read more: https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/breaking-atlanta-officer-who-killed-rayshard-brooks-identified/hBd198BmRV9Rgt7uSjvoZP/

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Body cam footage of Rayshard Brooks' death shows calm, then chaos (Original Post) alp227 Jun 2020 OP
Let's look at how this could have played out differently Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #1
Exactly. Why bother pursuing someone when you have their car and all the info? (n/t) forgotmylogin Jun 2020 #3
EXACTLY! Just like many PDs have called off high speed chases: not worth it. CurtEastPoint Jun 2020 #5
Arresting officers need to responsible for the well-being of people they take into custody. forgotmylogin Jun 2020 #6
Or better yet... PSPS Jun 2020 #4
No. DUIs are a serious crime that deserves a response NickB79 Jun 2020 #7
Once again, he was not DWI. He was asleep in a Wendy's drive-thru which is also private property PSPS Jun 2020 #9
The car magically appeared in the line Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #12
It could have. The fact is that the cop didn't witness any crime. PSPS Jun 2020 #15
Was he behind the wheel with the keys in the car? That is all it takes in most states. nt EX500rider Jun 2020 #19
Name just one. PSPS Jun 2020 #20
My State of Fla. And from what i have heard in other DU threads about this many others. nt EX500rider Jun 2020 #21
No way you convince a black person to get Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #11
Why impound the car? You're really after this guy for some reason. PSPS Jun 2020 #16
Agreed. Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #28
Was this a DWI attempted arrest or is this public intoxication? LeftInTX Jun 2020 #8
He fell alseep in his car in line Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #10
And, if he did take the taser, charge him with theft muriel_volestrangler Jun 2020 #13
Or this scenario MichMan Jun 2020 #17
Right. Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #18
We had a situation like that, murielm99 Jun 2020 #23
Shall we ask the Precogs about this? (n/t) DVDGuy Jun 2020 #26
In a situation in which the police did exactly what you suggested Sapient Donkey Jun 2020 #24
Until the police can conduct themselves professionally Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #27
I Know Jersey Devlin Jun 2020 #2
Had he not, resisted arrest, assaulted a police officer, stole his Taser and then fired it at them Baclava Jun 2020 #14
Exactly right madville Jun 2020 #22
Yeah, this literally didn't happen obamanut2012 Jun 2020 #31
They should have let him run until he passed out or gave up Sapient Donkey Jun 2020 #25
I agree with that too, no reason to shoot a fleeing man in the back like that, adrenaline trigger Baclava Jun 2020 #29
Yeah, this literally didn't happen obamanut2012 Jun 2020 #32
I totally believe he took the taser because the cop was hurting him with it, & he wanted it to stop. Judi Lynn Jun 2020 #42
He was intoxicated, but that shouldn't be a death sentence. SansACause Jun 2020 #30
Not a cop, not a lawyer, just my opinion discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2020 #33
He took an officers taser... TCJ70 Jun 2020 #36
I didn't say that he was shot for resisting discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2020 #37
I was going off of this: TCJ70 Jun 2020 #38
No problem discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2020 #39
I'm curious if you've watched the released body cam footage... TCJ70 Jun 2020 #40
I haven't seen 40 minutes of video discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2020 #41
Can someone clarify? Barbara2423 Jun 2020 #34
That was after 25 to 40+ minutes so whistler162 Jun 2020 #35

Miguelito Loveless

(4,438 posts)
1. Let's look at how this could have played out differently
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 01:24 PM
Jun 2020

Brooks runs away. The police ignore him and impound his car. He get a letter from the DMV telling him his license and registration are revoked until he comes in for processing on the DUI. His car will not be released.

End result: No drama. No death. No fires. No massive protests. No police chief resignations.

forgotmylogin

(7,496 posts)
6. Arresting officers need to responsible for the well-being of people they take into custody.
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 02:00 PM
Jun 2020

There should be a rule that any time a person is restrained (handcuffs, zip tie, back of squad car) then that person's safety is the responsibility of the arresting officer.

If they are seriously injured or die during that time, the arresting officer will be fired and possibly charged with assault or manslaughter unless camera footage can exonerate them.

No body cam or security footage? Too bad, Officer Knuckles, you prevented that person from seeking medical treatment no matter how it happened. No pension for you.

Some might counter that criminals will start self-harming in custody. All the reason to keep your body cam SWITCHED ON and the in-car surveillance operational at all times.

PSPS

(13,512 posts)
4. Or better yet...
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 01:33 PM
Jun 2020

He had already pulled the car into a parking space. Drive him home to sleep it off, or call a friend/relative/uber to come and fetch him.

NickB79

(19,113 posts)
7. No. DUIs are a serious crime that deserves a response
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 02:06 PM
Jun 2020

Drive him home or call a friend, sure, but impound his car and charge him via summons immediately after.

PSPS

(13,512 posts)
9. Once again, he was not DWI. He was asleep in a Wendy's drive-thru which is also private property
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 03:01 PM
Jun 2020

Miguelito Loveless

(4,438 posts)
12. The car magically appeared in the line
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 03:08 PM
Jun 2020

from it's previous location without driving on public streets?

He was impaired. That said, again, they should have let him go, and took the actions I suggested to deal with the matter.

PSPS

(13,512 posts)
15. It could have. The fact is that the cop didn't witness any crime.
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 04:31 PM
Jun 2020

Maybe Atlanta has public drunkenness laws, so that could be the hook you're looking for. But, hey! Have at it. Few are in the mood to accommodate badge-happy killer cops now so don't expect many converts.

Miguelito Loveless

(4,438 posts)
11. No way you convince a black person to get
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 03:05 PM
Jun 2020

into the back of a squad car to be driven home. Let him go. Impound the car.

LeftInTX

(24,549 posts)
8. Was this a DWI attempted arrest or is this public intoxication?
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 02:14 PM
Jun 2020


Could they have charged him without booking him?

If this is merely public intoxication, then it falls under community policing and it is all funded up. No reason to cuff him at all

muriel_volestrangler

(101,152 posts)
13. And, if he did take the taser, charge him with theft
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 03:48 PM
Jun 2020

They knew his address, from the car registration. Given his general condition before he ran, they could alternatively have followed at a distance; it doesn't seem like he was in a state to sprint away from them, or inclined to use the taser against anyone with the possible exception of the police.

MichMan

(11,787 posts)
17. Or this scenario
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 07:57 PM
Jun 2020

He goes home, borrows his girlfriend/spouse/friends car, goes out driving, crosses the centerline and kills a family.

Miguelito Loveless

(4,438 posts)
18. Right.
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 09:18 PM
Jun 2020

I guess the possibility that someone might commit another crime if a situation were de-escalated, means that to be safe, the maximum punishment must be administered.

murielm99

(30,656 posts)
23. We had a situation like that,
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 12:53 AM
Jun 2020

more than forty years ago. A man came to our house. He was a friend of my in-laws, an older man. He walked right in. He was drunk.

My husband took him out to the driveway and encouraged him to go home. He hit my husband. We called the police.

The cop had my husband drive the man home. I followed in our car. The cop followed us. We left the man in the passenger seat of his car, with the keys on the dash. We went home.

Some hours later, the cop came back to see us. We did not let him in. We had done nothing else but go home. The cop asked us if we had seen the man or heard from him after he left. We had not. It turned out that the man has woken up and driven around, still very drunk. He ended up in some woman's front yard. His car did a lot of damage to her yard before he stopped.

My husband did not like the accusatory way the cop questioned us. He remained polite, but he made a point of telling me that we did not have to let the cop in the house.

Sapient Donkey

(1,568 posts)
24. In a situation in which the police did exactly what you suggested
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 02:03 AM
Jun 2020

Then we'd have to worry about the possibility of him causing some sort other incident. Say he walks into the middle of the street and causes an accident that kills others or himself, or he commit a violent crime etc... If that happens then I have little doubt that eventually someone will attempt sue the police, and that there will be public outrage over it.

I am not against the scenario you suggested. In fact, I suggested something very similar when discussing this with people. But in doing so, we have to think through how we handle the situation when/if things play differently than the ideal situation of him getting home, sleeping it off, and then turning himself in when he sobers up. Really, I would think this would involve them having to maybe at least keep some tabs on him as he heads home. I also don't think something as serious a DWI should be overlooked. I don't think that is considered over-policing by most people.

Miguelito Loveless

(4,438 posts)
27. Until the police can conduct themselves professionally
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 09:55 AM
Jun 2020

and not mandate that every traffic stop of a black person become a potential road-side execution, I think no one should be pursued.

 

Baclava

(12,047 posts)
14. Had he not, resisted arrest, assaulted a police officer, stole his Taser and then fired it at them
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 04:28 PM
Jun 2020

It could have ended very differently. At least the police would not have aggressively pursued him in a foot chase that directly led to the shooting itself.

Devils advocate time







madville

(7,397 posts)
22. Exactly right
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 11:41 PM
Jun 2020

Brooks escalated the situation himself, he was obviously DUI and then proceeded to commit at least two felonies in the process.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
31. Yeah, this literally didn't happen
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 01:07 PM
Jun 2020

Hence why the Officer has been terminated and the death legally declared a murder.

HE WAS SHOT IN THE MOTHERFUCKING BACK!

But, you do you and keep excusing the baiting and murder of black folks.

Sapient Donkey

(1,568 posts)
25. They should have let him run until he passed out or gave up
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 02:17 AM
Jun 2020

He was drunk and the officers were probably (hopefully) in better shape than him. The taser has a limited range, so they would only have to stay back about 10 feet or so to avoid risking being incapacitated and having their firearm stolen from them. Plus there were two of them. So even if he managed to knock out one cop with the taser, the other would be there to prevent any firearms being stolen.

Yes, he shouldn't have resisted and if he didn't then the'd be alive right. However, I expect our police officers to be able to handle these situations even if the suspect is an asshole without resorting to shooting someone just 'cause it's easier.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
32. Yeah, this literally didn't happen
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 01:08 PM
Jun 2020

Hence why the Officer has been terminated and the death legally declared a murder.

HE WAS SHOT IN THE MOTHERFUCKING BACK!

But, you do you and keep excusing the baiting and murder of black folks.

Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
42. I totally believe he took the taser because the cop was hurting him with it, & he wanted it to stop.
Wed Jun 17, 2020, 06:53 PM
Jun 2020

What kind of person would simply lie there and enjoy it?

Natural instinct is to protect oneself if suffering.

If he took it with him, instead of throwing it far away from the cop, it's understandable for someone panicking, and in pain.

SansACause

(520 posts)
30. He was intoxicated, but that shouldn't be a death sentence.
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 12:23 PM
Jun 2020

I watched all the body cam footage. What struck me was why it went on for so long? You don't need >20 minutes to determine that someone is intoxicated, and in most states you can simply arrest them for public intoxication. I'm almost positive the Wendy's had cameras in their drive-thru, and the original complaint came from the Wendy's because he passed out in the drive-thru, so he could have been charged with DUI later. He was out of the car, and there were two cops there. All they needed to do was cuff him and take him to jail. How he ended up being shot to death is insane.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,470 posts)
33. Not a cop, not a lawyer, just my opinion
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 02:00 PM
Jun 2020

What were they thinking?

He cooperated. He failed the breathalyzer test. So I see it's valid to arrest him. In most states DUI is a misdemeanor. More serious than running a light or parking in a loading zone.

IMO having both cops within arm's reach of him isn't a good idea.
I also think the situation would warrant having to call for another car. It often takes several people to restrain someone in a chemically altered state. Yes he was drunk but he may also have had other drugs in his system.
IMO if you must arrest someone who is altered/drunk with less than 3 officers present, skip the wrestling. Both cops had Tasers.

Resisting arrest is not a felony in Georgia. This is not a major crime and should never result is shooting the suspect.
'Officers, sorry that your suspect ran away. You don't get to kill him. Doesn't matter if you'd be embarrassed or laughed at.'
This was entirely due to cops loosing control.

TCJ70

(4,387 posts)
36. He took an officers taser...
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 05:24 PM
Jun 2020

Last edited Mon Jun 15, 2020, 06:14 PM - Edit history (1)

...fired it at them, then he was shot. He wasn’t shot for resisting arrest.

There are some things you don’t do. One of those is taking an officers equipment and firing it at them. At that point you’ve opened yourself up to whatever happens.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,470 posts)
37. I didn't say that he was shot for resisting
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 06:11 PM
Jun 2020

My opinion is that the response by the cops was excessive and didn't rise to the level requiring deadly force. I witnessed and heard on the scanner the response to a cop having his handgun taken by someone at a block party a short distance from house. A city wide assist brought over 60 vehicles and over 100 cops to the scene.

I think it's a really bad idea to get drunk and then take weapons from cops responding to call about you. I feel the response was excessive. YMMV

TCJ70

(4,387 posts)
38. I was going off of this:
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 06:13 PM
Jun 2020
Resisting arrest is not a felony in Georgia. This is not a major crime and should never result is shooting the suspect.


Apologies for any misinterpretation.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,470 posts)
39. No problem
Tue Jun 16, 2020, 10:59 AM
Jun 2020
It's cool.

It was just the idea of THIS LEVEL of response while the country is focused on excessive force by police especially white cops and black citizens had me wondering what this cop was thinking.

I like to look at the whole picture when there are incidents like this and it did seem clear to me that Mr. Brooks wasn't trying to kill a cop. IMO his goal was to avoid arrest. Like the folks who try this in cars, the police have learned from them (in most places) not to play into it. They get choppers involved and wait for these guys to run out gas or try bailing on foot.

Like driving at 90+ chasing a suspect, shooting presents a danger. Shooting in a parking lot with several people nearby is a bad idea. Videos of the encounter clearly show that it's dark. I'm not sure if the area beyond Mr. Brooks is well lit. That area may have homes or stores in it. Brooks was clearly trying to escape and was unarmed other than the Taser. I can't see how he could possibly be perceived as an imminent danger to anyone which, in my mind, would be the only reason to use deadly force.

Maybe this is a training issue. Maybe the shooter has aggression and/or other psych issues making him unsuitable for police duty.

Again, no need for an apology.

TCJ70

(4,387 posts)
40. I'm curious if you've watched the released body cam footage...
Tue Jun 16, 2020, 01:13 PM
Jun 2020

...because the officers spend about 40 minutes trying to get a straight answer out of him. They're quite respectful to him the whole time and it doesn't go off the rails until he is arrested for being over the limit. If all you see is the 10 seconds where they shoot him you don't get the whole context of everything. It's not like they just rolled up and shot him. He doesn't know where he is, he changes what and how much he had to drink with each question and each retelling sometimes with only seconds between. The video shows a well lit area and even though even the best gun person can miss the officer didn't.

My thing with this whole incident is that it's not a good example of the police brutality we see in other examples. Not all police uses of force can be put under that label. There are times where it is necessary...like when a person escapes custody, steals a police weapon and fires it at them. You can't say he was unarmed other than the taser...that means he was armed. If I'm remembering right those tasers can also be used as stun guns after they're fired.

At the point that he takes the officers equipment he becomes a danger to others. Even though tasers are considered less than lethal, used improperly or against the wrong person they certainly can be.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,470 posts)
41. I haven't seen 40 minutes of video
Wed Jun 17, 2020, 06:44 PM
Jun 2020

I have seen several minutes of cops talking to him. I saw the initial encounter where they got him out of the car. I saw some questioning. I the DUI test. I saw surveillance video. I did see probably most of what there is but certainly not 40 minutes. I know they spent a while talking and questioning.

The Taser issue:
As far as I know, Tasers give you 1 or 2 shots and then some models can operate like a stun gun. In my opinion a drunk with a stun gun isn't a deadly threat, certainly much less of one than a drunk with a car.

I agree it's an atypical of example of excessive force but still an good example for police of what not to do.

Barbara2423

(459 posts)
34. Can someone clarify?
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 02:40 PM
Jun 2020

The first officer seemed calm and kept the situation calm. The second officer was immediately aggressive and tried to handcuff him and place him under arrest. The word "arrest" is what scared him. Which officer shot him?

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Body cam footage of Raysh...