Suspect nabbed in photo radar operator shooting

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Police arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a photo radar operator on a busy freeway near Phoenix, police said on Monday.

Police officers were called to the radar enforcement vehicle after reports of gunfire late on Sunday and found the employee shot several times, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a news release.

The victim, 51, was taken to a hospital, where he died from his wounds, the department said. He worked for RedFlex Traffic Systems Inc., which has a contract with DPS to operate photo radar vehicles on the state's highways.

Phoenix police said in a news release that they had arrested a suspect following a joint investigation with DPS.



Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE53K0E820090421

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I hate speed cameras (i.e. police work done for private profit), but this guy didn't deserve to die.

Now the local media are basically declaring that only murderous thugs are against speed cameras.

[MineralMan]

1. Quick! Someone ask him what his freepname is.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Doesn't the county get the 'profit' from ticketing speeders, i.e. law breakers, in AZ?

[Coventina]

3. The highway program is a partnership between the state & a private company

They split the profits.

IIRC, the private company gets more of the revenue than the state does.

[madeup64]

5. I wonder if he was a freeper

I was listening to JD Hayward (aka asshat) and he says that Napolitano is going to use this to justify her DHS memo (you know the one that Bush ordered) that right wingers are terrorists. There is lots of GOP push back against the photo radars here in Arizona. However there are some that are for it.

[Coventina]

7. He is a self-styled cowboy who gives (gave) jeep tours of the desert

& reportedly has lots of guns.

Don't know about his political leanings, but around here "cowboys" with guns are usually (but not always) right-leaning.

Not all those opposed to the cameras are right wing, though. I oppose them, and I am very left.

[Fumesucker]

4. Good.

I hope he gets a fair trial and any punishment is just, premeditated murder should mean life in prison simply to protect society I think.

I would allow exceptions for those under the age of adulthood, which I'm forced to say I think is twenty one.

dons nomex underoos/

[Coventina]

6. I don't think anything you said is flame-worthy

Any guy who is going to shoot someone on the freeway is definitely a danger to society and does need to be locked away, probably until death.

[Fumesucker]

8. Actually I figured someone would take issue with my saying the age of adulthood was 21

I'm really surprised no one jumped on me for that.

[Coventina]

9. I think most people can agree that the age of adulthood is a

pretty squishy concept these days.

It seems ridiculous to me that you can get married or join the army at 18, but can't get alcohol until 21, and (in many cases) can't rent a car until 25! But you can DRIVE a car unsupervised (and potentially kill people) at 16!