Prosecutor: 'No explicable reasons' for officer to shoot journalists with rubber bullets

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Detroit Free Press

Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press
Published 7:04 p.m. ET July 20, 2020

A Detroit police officer, who the Wayne County prosecutor said fired rubber bullets at three journalists during a police brutality protest in downtown Detroit in May, was charged Monday with multiple counts of felony assault.

Daniel Debono, a 32-year-old corporal, had been suspended with pay while police investigated the accusation, Detroit Police Chief James Craig confirmed Monday during a news conference about an unrelated fatal shooting at a Coney Island.

. . .

The journalists — Nicole Hester, 30; Seth Herald, 28; and Matthew Hatcher, 29 — were covering the protest at Woodward Avenue and State Street, Worthy said. They wore press credentials.

They identified themselves as members of the press, had their hands up and asked to cross the street. As the three began to cross, Debono is accused of firing his weapon at them, striking all of three with rubber pellets.

Read more: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/07/20/detroit-officer-rubber-bullets-journalists-protest/5475343002/

[Cha]

1. KR

[warmfeet]

2. Not true!

There is an explicable reason to shoot journalists with rubber bullets.

We live in a fucking banana republic.

This is not a democracy, not any more.

Members of the press are targets. Speaking truth to power is now a very serious crime.

Don't believe me? Get out your note pad and camera and start walking the streets. Pin your press badge over your heart.

[PSPS]

3. "suspended with pay" -- back to the old "free vacation as a reward for your behavior" routine

[Thomas Hurt]

4. there could many reason why he did it...one come to mind.

Debono is a fascist and Trumper. He hates the press and has been egged on by the President with his attacks on the press.

He did it because he thought he could get away with it and be a hero.

[JoeOtterbein]

5. I try to be objective when thinking about police violence, but this story makes me...

...fervently red-hot angry.

[Merlot]

6. Stop calling them anything else than what they are: rubber BULLETS

As the three began to cross, Debono is accused of firing his weapon at them, striking all of three with rubber pellets.

[ManiacJoe]

7. And often times they are not rubber, nor anything soft.

[oasis]

8. (FOPT) Fraternal Order of Police Thuggery will get him off with

a slap on the wrist. He'll soon be back on the streets "earning" his pay by preying on the public.