Oakland police shoots unarmed man - caught on tape

[JetBlast]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/14/...est/index.html

Police officer has been arrested and charged with murder. Damn.

 

[apropos]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/14/...est/index.html

Police officer has been arrested and charged with murder. Damn.
Go Justice Dept.

 

[appolyon]

That's some good news!

 

[JayJay]

I heard this on the news this evening. I understand the officer had left the state due to death threats.

 

[appolyon]

Is he still an 'officer'?

 

[Tarmac]

He really shot himself in the foot (

) by running away like that. He could have done the typical White Cop Defense, said he thought it was a taser, the trigger accidentally went off, the black guy threatened him, the black guy had a criminal record and wore a scary hoody, etc. and probably got a lightened sentence (and a riot in Oakland, but what does he care).

Now, he's in the *******.

 

[JetBlast]

Originally Posted by appolyon

Is he still an 'officer'?

The article states he is now no longer an 'officer' in the police sense of the term.

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

He really shot himself in the foot (

) by running away like that. He could have done the typical White Cop Defense, said he thought it was a taser, the trigger accidentally went off, the black guy threatened him, the black guy had a criminal record and wore a scary hoody
and sprinkled some crack around the guy.

 

[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

He really shot himself in the foot

Ok, now that's tasteless . . . and funny.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

The article states he is now no longer an 'officer' in the police sense of the term.
On the news it was stated that he quit the police force so that he wouldn't have to answer questions. He then went to Nevada due to concerns for his safety.

 

[javyn]

I agree, if we can't stand up to this, then we deserve what we get. Glad to hear that scumbag cop was charged with murder though. But if there had been no protests or riots, he would have gotten away scott free like so many other police and authority figures do for breaking laws themselves that they are charged to uphold.

Originally Posted by Tardek

Now imagine how many firearms would be turned in if they added a few benjamins to the equation! Hear hear. Sorry folks, but it's only a matter of time until much of the west is ruled by outright fascism. The greatest scam ever pulled was giving people a vote and the illusion that they could change things. When it happens, remember that I called it.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by javyn

I agree, if we can't stand up to this, then we deserve what we get. Glad to hear that scumbag cop was charged with murder though. But if there had been no protests or riots, he would have gotten away scott free like so many other police and authority figures do for breaking laws themselves that they are charged to uphold.
The news commentator speculated that the cell phone pics posted on the internet may have contributed to the way this case was handled. It was suggested that had it not been for the pics, the outcome may have been different.

 

[javyn]

Yeah. I think EVERYONE should keep a voice recorder and camera around whenever dealing with the cops. You just cannot trust the police anymore (ever?)

 

[MCsommerreid]

The rioting was just sad, and had nothing to do with the event itself.

From what I've heard from people who were at the actual protest, the one that started and remained peacefully at the Fruitvale station, the marching was incited by the Oakland Radical Socialists and the destruction began with a member of the Black Muslim Coalition kicking a police car. It's really very sad, because the riots started by the scum, who will then go on to complain the next day about "oh noes! police brutalitiez!!", completely overshadowed the peaceful protest at the station.

 

[Tarmac]

Originally Posted by JayJay

The news commentator speculated that the cell phone pics posted on the internet may have contributed to the way this case was handled. It was suggested that had it not been for the pics, the outcome may have been different.

That's obvious and 100% true. In 2000 or even 2004 not many people would have a still camera on their phone, let alone video capability. Nowadays, about 50% of phones have video. There are at least 3, and possibly many more unreleased videos available of the incident from many different angles.

What would have happened in 2000? It would have been the police report vs. unreliable drunk NYE eyewitness accounts. His buddy cops would have backed him up that Grant tried to turn around and punch him, and then fell down on his face, and he would take a month leave and be back on the force. Not this time.