4 ms·

> And I’m saying, ‘Sir, why did you shoot me?’ and his words to me, he said, ‘I don’t know.'”

mywittyname 10y ago
The best thing to do in a situation involving the police is ask them, in the heat of the moment, to be very specific as to what their reasoning is behind something. Being human, they may slip up and say the wrong thing, and that's really the only "out" you have. Otherwise, the prosecutor will put themselves in the officers shoes and find a reason why their actions were justified. Once you get something, shut up.
- brador 10y ago
  I disagree. Never talk. Just freeze, hands up slowly. Then freeze. Stand there and let them come to you and throw you to the ground. In most cases they shoot when they detect unexpected motion.
  - talmand 10y ago
    This was a serious problem with the situation though. He was eagerly complying but his continuing speaking to the officers was due to his concern of the other guy who was likely unable to comply with the officers that currently had their guns drawn. My first guess on this from what I've read is that the officer fired because of answering a call of a man with a gun, seeing the toy truck as a gun, not hearing or ignoring the other man explaining the situation, man with toy truck makes sudden movement with toy, and finally officer fires missing toy guy and hitting the man on ground. All within the span of a few moments. But that's a guess because I have no information on angles or distances of officer, toy guy, and shot guy. I would not be surprised that the officer didn't intend to shoot the guy on the ground but that's the way it turned out. I would expect it to be ruled a bad shoot but who knows these days.
    - spacemanmatt 10y ago
      If you or I did that, we'd be prosecuted for attempted murder. Police privilege is a national nightmare.
      - talmand 10y ago
        That is very true, for several reasons. If it is determined a bad shoot, the officer may face such charges as well. But police privilege is necessary, because otherwise everyone will simply look the other way. No one will accept the potential consequences of intervening in criminal activity otherwise. Proper training would help prevent the negativity of allowing such privileges.
        spacemanmatt 10y ago
        While I disagree, thanks for taking the time to respond.
  - mywittyname 10y ago
    Having audio proof that contradicted a citation saved my ass before. When my lawyer was talking to the prosecutor, he kept coming up with justifications for the officers claim. When my lawyer pointed out a contradiction in the audio, the case was dropped. Had I not pushed for clarity, I would have needed to go to trial, my word against his (in which I would lose).
  - gremlinsinc 10y ago
    You also described what to do in case of a bear attack I think. lol

The best thing to do in a situation involving the police is ask them, in the heat of the moment, to be very specific as to what their reasoning is behind something. Being human, they may slip up and say the wrong thing, and that's really the only "out" you have. Otherwise, the prosecutor will put themselves in the officers shoes and find a reason why their actions were justified. Once you get something, shut up.

brador 10y ago
I disagree. Never talk. Just freeze, hands up slowly. Then freeze. Stand there and let them come to you and throw you to the ground. In most cases they shoot when they detect unexpected motion.
- talmand 10y ago
  This was a serious problem with the situation though. He was eagerly complying but his continuing speaking to the officers was due to his concern of the other guy who was likely unable to comply with the officers that currently had their guns drawn. My first guess on this from what I've read is that the officer fired because of answering a call of a man with a gun, seeing the toy truck as a gun, not hearing or ignoring the other man explaining the situation, man with toy truck makes sudden movement with toy, and finally officer fires missing toy guy and hitting the man on ground. All within the span of a few moments. But that's a guess because I have no information on angles or distances of officer, toy guy, and shot guy. I would not be surprised that the officer didn't intend to shoot the guy on the ground but that's the way it turned out. I would expect it to be ruled a bad shoot but who knows these days.
  - spacemanmatt 10y ago
    If you or I did that, we'd be prosecuted for attempted murder. Police privilege is a national nightmare.
    - talmand 10y ago
      That is very true, for several reasons. If it is determined a bad shoot, the officer may face such charges as well. But police privilege is necessary, because otherwise everyone will simply look the other way. No one will accept the potential consequences of intervening in criminal activity otherwise. Proper training would help prevent the negativity of allowing such privileges.
      - spacemanmatt 10y ago
        While I disagree, thanks for taking the time to respond.
- mywittyname 10y ago
  Having audio proof that contradicted a citation saved my ass before. When my lawyer was talking to the prosecutor, he kept coming up with justifications for the officers claim. When my lawyer pointed out a contradiction in the audio, the case was dropped. Had I not pushed for clarity, I would have needed to go to trial, my word against his (in which I would lose).
- gremlinsinc 10y ago
  You also described what to do in case of a bear attack I think. lol