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In reply to the discussion: Teenager Alerts Police That They Left Their Brights on -- 5 Minutes Later They Shoot Him Dead [View all]brush
(61,033 posts)The cop used horrible judgment, first by just not letting the kid go once he explained that it was a courtesy flash because the cop's brights seemed to be on. Remember the cop admitted that had already happened two other times that night.
There never had to be any "let me have your license" or any of that. The kid was letting him know he was endangering drivers with extra bright lights but the cop, with his huge ego, couldn't admit that he may have had his brights on. It should have been a simple "okay, thanks for letting me know. I'll get it checked out, now drive safely". That whole protect and serve thing. Ever heard of it, or the 4th Amendment?
But no, the bully's ego couldn't allow that. He had to take it further by showing he was large and in charge. Then he couldn't wait for back-up. By not doing that, which further escalated the situation, everything spiral out of control needlessly.
The cop was dealing with a typical teenager whose judgment was not mature. The video showed that the adult cop's judgment no more developed than the kid's. Since he had made a huge deal out of a courtesy flash, by not letting the kid go all he had to do was be patient until another officer got there then both could get the kid out of car easily.
Instead he pulled the kid out, couldn't control the scrawny kid eve after tazing him, then, off-camera all of a sudden, he killed him.
All of it could have easily been avoided by the cop using just sensible, adult judgment. No way the cop handled it properly.
No one can be taken seriously who contends that. That kid is dead.
Here's another video that's very eye-opening on this case. Pls watch it and see if you feel the same way about this cop.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017301422