Snkfanatic
Banned
You have no idea what you are talking about if you really believe that. Police in the US need a MAJOR reform.
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British man charged after US gamer is shot by Swat police following hoax call
- Thread starter Gowans
- Start date
You have no idea what you are talking about if you really believe that. Police in the US need a MAJOR reform.
I think the anti-police sentiment often goes above what is reasonable, but here you have them shooting someone in the face while they are asleep. There's nothing the guy could have done to harm them.
Although I agree they could get more because this is practically terrorism, I don't think 20 years is getting off easy. That's a large chunk of one's life and the guy will be over 40 when he gets out. Enough time to grow the fuck up (literally as well).
As for the cops, I'd be fucking pissed if I got shot in the face for doing nothing because some dumbasses thought a sleeping man is holding hostages. Fucking pay for my medical bills and rot in a cell as well, you damn lunatics.
Holy crap.
Saying that an unarmed innocent man should not be shot is not an "anti-police sentiment".
This is ridiculous.
Prithee Be Careful
Industry Professional
When you get a ransom call involving fifiteen hostages and stack of explosives and you arrive at the property to find zero hostages, zero explosives and the main suspect asleep in bed that might be the moment you pause to wonder if someone's pulling your leg.
That's what I'd expect of the average Joe. What I expect of armed law enforcement is a much, much higher bar.
Shooting an innocent (sleeping) person in the face and chest with rubber ammo off an anonymous tip from outside the county deserves criticism. Someone fucked up. When people in other jobs fuck up spectacularly and in a way that causes harm to others, there's consequences. What's anti-cop about wanting an investigation in to this?
The same reason murder is funny to some people - they are psychologically deranged.
Maintenance
Member
The police fucking shot him? What the hell, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
He's lucky they were using rubber bullets.
He's lucky they were using rubber bullets.
LifEndz
Member
So, two people told the cops there was no hostage situation and the alleged hostage-taker is asleep in bed...yet he still gets shot in the face with a rubber bullet? I hope he gets a lawyer and brings suit against that police department. Unreal. Hopefully the jerks involved in making this false accusation get the book thrown at 'em.
TheOohChild
Member
I understand the police not being able to thoroughly investigate the threat before responding, but it is insane that they fired their weapons at a dude in his jammies.
Yeah, this is premeditated attempted murder.
The problem then is that is a tacit admission that the police in America are a deadly force that can be used to kill innocents.
It's true, but prosecutors will shy away from the warranted charges for their career's sake.
hey_it's_that_dog
benevolent sexism
Lots crazy in this story but I have to ask why the fuck are they going for headshots with supposedly non-lethal bullets? The risk of extreme injury seems astronomical and therefore defeats the purpose of non lethal incapacitation, doesn't it?
Was it just chance that he was hit in the head?
Was it just chance that he was hit in the head?
Jangowuzhere
Banned
This was a planned attempted murder. This wasn't an an attack that was produced in the heat of a moment or someone thinking irrationally for a just a couple seconds.
These people made it their mission for someone to be potentially killed by a swat team. It's fucking gross. These people should not be allowed to interact with society.
casey_contra
Member
Because the one time they don't and it's legit then it's a disaster for everyone!
I agree with you actually, that they should do more research, but I completely understand why they feel the need to react.
They went to the house with the intentions of diffusing the situation? Great! That's what I'm paying for (whether I like it or not)... but not taking the time to further assess when they got there and actually shooting someone? Yeah, not cool. They need to be punished and training/protocol needs to be revisited.
LelouchZero
Member
What the fuck is wrong with these people? Fuck man, swatting? Seriously? Could have cost this man his life or seriously impaired him! Why would you do something like this?
I don't think so
They have to. The day they don't and it turns out to be real would be a frigging nightmare for everyone else. That's why I don't falt them too much for running in guns blazing.
Another poster did make a good point about reconnaissance and that made me wish they had a drone of some sort they could deploy to get a grasp on the situation before moving. But I don't know how the logistics of that would be like or even if it wold easy to use without it being seen.
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
Fuck those guys, hope they get the full 20 years. No sympathy for assholes like this.
The Greek Freak
Member
Welcome to America where running into an actual gang member is way safer than sneezing across the street from a cop.
Proud I'm in the one state where cops didn't kill anyone last year. They aren't perfect but way better than any other place i've lived.
Lister
Banned
The problem with Police in the Us is... many faceted really. From institutional corruption, racism, to poor training.
As discussed in this fantastic article: http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2017/investigations/florida-police-shootings/why-cops-shoot/
One of the issues, aside from the asset forfeiture laws that have essentially turned our police forces into highwaymen, is that police escalate situations, instead of de-escalating them, coupled with placing themselves, needlessly, into possibly dangerous situations and then shooting out of fear.
As the main incident in the article describes, the police officers immediately rushed the guy in his car, weapons drawn (for what they later claimed was just a stop for an unbuckled seatbelt) and one of them moves in FRONT OF THE CAR. The scared driver probably mistakenly puts the car in neutral, so it's still rolling a bit and the police then order him to stop the car.
That's all it takes, two incopetent cops to cause someone's death, because you see, if he hadn't moved to stop the car (placed his hands up), the car would have continued rolling towards the officer, and they woudl have shot and killed him. And if instead he tried to stop the car (as he did) they would have (and did) shoot and kill him for not having his hands up.
The moemnt the cops rushed the car this guy was going to die, no matter what actions he took. Thats the scary as hell part. If you're in that situation, there's almost nothign you cna do to aviod being shot at by police, and almost nothing will ever happen to the cops responsible nor will the system correct in order to prevent further similar situations.
As discussed in this fantastic article: http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2017/investigations/florida-police-shootings/why-cops-shoot/
One of the issues, aside from the asset forfeiture laws that have essentially turned our police forces into highwaymen, is that police escalate situations, instead of de-escalating them, coupled with placing themselves, needlessly, into possibly dangerous situations and then shooting out of fear.
As the main incident in the article describes, the police officers immediately rushed the guy in his car, weapons drawn (for what they later claimed was just a stop for an unbuckled seatbelt) and one of them moves in FRONT OF THE CAR. The scared driver probably mistakenly puts the car in neutral, so it's still rolling a bit and the police then order him to stop the car.
That's all it takes, two incopetent cops to cause someone's death, because you see, if he hadn't moved to stop the car (placed his hands up), the car would have continued rolling towards the officer, and they woudl have shot and killed him. And if instead he tried to stop the car (as he did) they would have (and did) shoot and kill him for not having his hands up.
The moemnt the cops rushed the car this guy was going to die, no matter what actions he took. Thats the scary as hell part. If you're in that situation, there's almost nothign you cna do to aviod being shot at by police, and almost nothing will ever happen to the cops responsible nor will the system correct in order to prevent further similar situations.
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
Yeah fuck people expecting the police not to shoot a clearly innocent guy square in the face
There's 2 issues here, SWAT don't and shouldn't be investigating crimes, SWAT is a response team for evil shit. They are not detectives, they are essentially urban special forces. They are a hammer.
But as a hammer, they should not be dispatched to respond to phone calls that nobody has investigated. That's what allows Swatting to continue to happen. Investigation puts non special forces cops into the line of fire in case the phone call is legit, but without it, innocent until proven guilty is not being upheld. It is the polices job to assume the risk of investigating crimes, in order to protect Innocent lives.
People will continue being shot in the face because a phone call can direct a full on fast twitch C.O.D. team into someone's bedroom to neutralize a non existent threat.
Swatting is vile.
But as a hammer, they should not be dispatched to respond to phone calls that nobody has investigated. That's what allows Swatting to continue to happen. Investigation puts non special forces cops into the line of fire in case the phone call is legit, but without it, innocent until proven guilty is not being upheld. It is the polices job to assume the risk of investigating crimes, in order to protect Innocent lives.
People will continue being shot in the face because a phone call can direct a full on fast twitch C.O.D. team into someone's bedroom to neutralize a non existent threat.
Swatting is vile.
Majukun
Member
good,let the bastard rot in jail
what's the alternative?
going slowly and give time to the guy to blow up the house?
what's the alternative?
going slowly and give time to the guy to blow up the house?
Princess Carl
Member
Gain some reading comprehension and additional facts about the story before posting?
Cops did a terrible job and should absolutely be held accountable.
The video report that DC's ABC 7 did is required viewing IMO: http://wjla.com/features/7-on-your-...d-both-locally-and-nationally--115595#photo-1
Frozenprince
Banned
People will keep doing this and it'll be another black kid and thay time he'll end up dead.
Disgusting, hope he gets life.
Disgusting, hope he gets life.
Get the fuck out of here with that crap any other country the police would investigate the call try to negotiate either to bring the situation to a peaceful conclusion or give them enough time to use force without anyone getting hurt. If someone does wrong it doesn't matter who they are it's still wrong
ColdDeckEd
Member
Anything fired from a gun to the face carries the risk of death, or at the very least permenant damage. Or disability. The system has to change.
Jerry Orbach
Member
How did the police know which man to shoot between the eyes? Apparently the best defense against rubber bullets is "nah man I'm his cousin." Especially if you can say it without your natural Die Hard terrorist British accent slipping through.
Just think, if this situation had played out just a little bit differently, that guy could've woken up to find $15,000 in a red bag on his doorstep.
Lister
Banned
Yeah, dude is lucky he didn't lose an eye.
What makes charging in guns blazing dumb is that even if the suspect doesn't manually detonate the bomb as soon as they bust in, it's entirely posible to have rigged the house itself. Terrorists have done this before to trap investigating police.
I agree with the post but disagree with calling these criminals Pranksters. These guys planned out and enacted a plan that could have easily murdered their target.
Agreed.
The police really is incompetent.
They shoot unarmed people. They shoot children. They shoot pregnant women.
They shoot people that happens to have a different skin colour than their own.
They shoot everything that doesn't pose a threat...
It happens again and again on a yearly basis, and people still say something like this?
They shoot unarmed people. They shoot children. They shoot pregnant women.
They shoot people that happens to have a different skin colour than their own.
They shoot everything that doesn't pose a threat...
It happens again and again on a yearly basis, and people still say something like this?
Frozenprince
Banned
It's absurd how one unverified phone call is all it takes to have SWAT break down your door (which they won't replace) destroy your house (which they won't pay back) and almost kill you (which they won't face consequence for).
Like, really, one phone call with a vaguely "terrorists" sounding name and that's all it takes?
Like, really, one phone call with a vaguely "terrorists" sounding name and that's all it takes?
Interesting characterization.
Are you sure it's not that some people are anti innocent people being shot in the face by trained professionals who should be held to a high standard of excellence that befits their position? I would honestly think that people who think the police should not be held accountable for their own actions and cannot be expected to behave responsibly that think very little of police officers, both as people and as a position of authority.
Not sure if this was posted but here is the police statement. https://www.scribd.com/document/271698829/Howard-County-Police-Statement-on-Swatting-t
I guess that explains the rubber bullet to the face. The real problem here is that the SWAT team should NOT have been there in the first place. Investigation should take place before action.
I guess that explains the rubber bullet to the face. The real problem here is that the SWAT team should NOT have been there in the first place. Investigation should take place before action.
chrominance
Member
A good read on the subject of SWAT teams in America is Rise of the Warrior Cop by Radley Balko, a journalist and opinion writer for the Washington Post who's covered civil liberties and police issues for years. The gist of it is that US policy has encouraged police to militarize in multiple ways. Nixon granted police expanded powers to enter people's homes without announcing their presence or intent. For decades, police have been able to purchase surplus equipment from the military, a program that expanded greatly under President Clinton. The use of asset forfeiture to seize assets alleged to be involved in crime allows police to redirect the proceeds from those assets back into their own budgets, which then allows them to buy more SWAT gear that can be used on more drug busts to seize more assets to buy more SWAT gear etc., etc.
The point in bringing this up is that the environment in the States where SWAT teams are just "doing their job" by breaking into someone's home unannounced and shooting people is not some unquestionable norm everyone has to accept blindly. Federal policy over the course of decades got the US to where it is now. Absolutely, the people who call up police to swat people should be held accountable; you might even be able to make the case for attempted murder. But in the end, they're taking advantage of a system that overwhelmingly leads to dangerous and frightening outcomes, and it doesn't have to be this way.
The point in bringing this up is that the environment in the States where SWAT teams are just "doing their job" by breaking into someone's home unannounced and shooting people is not some unquestionable norm everyone has to accept blindly. Federal policy over the course of decades got the US to where it is now. Absolutely, the people who call up police to swat people should be held accountable; you might even be able to make the case for attempted murder. But in the end, they're taking advantage of a system that overwhelmingly leads to dangerous and frightening outcomes, and it doesn't have to be this way.
talkingood
Member
Really, you can't blame the officers? Not even the one who shot a sleeping man in the face? I mean perhaps I'm missing something here, but from the sounds of it, it sure seems like they were just really excited to shoot someone and decided nothing would get in the way of that.
Lister
Banned
I wonder how much fo this is true, and how much is completely and utterly made up?
ColdDeckEd
Member
How can you understand that when there's no evidence at all that there was a dangerous situation at the house. There was literally the home owner saying WTF are you talking about. They didn't even need to investigate everything was laid out in front of them and they still fucked up.
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