Missouri Police Officer guns down unarmed 18 year old

[xBiffx]

However, the Ferguson police department still needs to change the way it works, because the way they treat this community, the way they handled this investigation, and the way they dealt with the resulting protest, has been completely unacceptable.

I think you need to visit Ferguson before making blanket statements like that. I think if you spent a few hours there, talk to some people, and even visited some of the businesses there, especially after dark, you might change your mind.

 

[khon]

I think you need to visit Ferguson before making blanket statements like that. I think if you spent a few hours there, talk to some people, and even visited some of the businesses there, especially after dark, you might change your mind.

And you base that on what exactly ?

The people who live there don't seem to be too thrilled with the police, and judging by the photos/videos of the way the police has behaved, I can definitely see why.

It seems that noone has ever taught them not to point a gun at people, unless they intend to shoot, which is weird, because that's the first damn rule of gun safety.

 

[xBiffx]

And you base that on what exactly ?

The people who live there don't seem to be too thrilled with the police, and judging by the photos/videos of the way the police has behaved, I can definitely see why.

It seems that noone has ever taught them not to point a gun at people, unless they intend to shoot, which is weird, because that's the first damn rule of gun safety.

I lived 20 minutes from that town. I worked at my brother's car wash located in Ferguson as well as his friend's that was located in Dellwood and another in Florissant. The place is a complete shit hole filled to the brim with criminals. Look up the statistics on north St. Louis sometime and tell me its not the worst place in this country.

 

[khon]

I have no doubt that it's a high crime area, but that doesn't mean the police should start acting like criminals as well.

 

[xBiffx]

I have no doubt that it's a high crime area, but that doesn't mean the police should start acting like criminals as well.

When were they acting like criminals?

 

[zephyrprime]

I lived 20 minutes from that town. I worked at my brother's car wash located in Ferguson as well as his friend's that was located in Dellwood and another in Florissant. The place is a complete shit hole filled to the brim with criminals. Look up the statistics on north St. Louis sometime and tell me its not the worst place in this country.

Yeah but looking at this murder map, it looks like Ferguson isn't so bad compared to many other suburbs around st louis and st louis itself.

http://www.stltoday.com/st-louis-area-murder-map/html_3bf7a0a8-0440-5ada-aacf-11e4314a9956.html

 

[chowderhead]

Yes, it is the same guy, though the police officer who shot him, was not aware of that crime at the time of the incident.

even if the police officer was not aware of the incident, Michael Brown was aware of the strong-armed robbery. Perhaps in his mind, the police was going to arrest him for that and he resisted.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

When were they acting like criminals?

Here.

 

[khon]

even if the police officer was not aware of the incident, Michael Brown was aware of the strong-armed robbery. Perhaps in his mind, the police was going to arrest him for that and he resisted.

That's entirely possible.

I haven't seen all the evidence, so I haven't judged this case one way or the other.

What I have seen is the behavior of the police after the incident, and that hasn't been anywhere near acceptable.

 

[xBiffx]

Yeah but looking at this murder map, it looks like Ferguson isn't so bad compared to many other suburbs around st louis and st louis itself.

http://www.stltoday.com/st-louis-area-murder-map/html_3bf7a0a8-0440-5ada-aacf-11e4314a9956.html

That's because no one lives there. Its very small and filled mostly with businesses.

Plus, that map is only looking at murders.

 

[khon]

When were they acting like criminals?

When they repeatedly pointed loaded weapons at peaceful protesters and reporters.

Aiming a loaded weapon at someone is assault.

 

[Pantoot]

You might have a point except for the info released so far that shows that the officer wasn't aware of any incident brown was in. So basically you just gave the ok for a cop to shoot an unarmed black man because you know, he was a big scary looking guy.

I don't think I need to tell you what's wrong with that kind of thinking.

Just because the officer wasn't aware doesn't mean that Brown knew that. Guilty people tend to act pretty sketchy around cops, maybe the officer picked up on that and was put on guard. Police have a lot of experience dealing with people on their best and worst days, it's likely in this case something didn't feel right about the situation and that escalated things.

Either way, you don't get shot for robbing a store, so I don't understand why the officer being aware or not of the incident really matters.

 

[xBiffx]

Here.

I knew someone would respond with that. You guys are so predictable.

Yes, that was acting criminal. Problem is it was one cop, not the police. It was also a St. Ann cop, not Ferguson police.

Try again.

 

[Pens1566]

I knew someone would respond with that. You guys are so predictable.

Yes, that was acting criminal. Problem is it was one cop, not the police. It was also a St. Ann cop, not Ferguson police.

Try again.

How about detaining the reporters from the McD's and issuing an unlawful order that they stop recording? That was Ferguson.

 

[xBiffx]

When they repeatedly pointed loaded weapons at peaceful protesters and reporters.

Aiming a loaded weapon at someone is assault.

That's not criminal.

Bolded is not true.

 

[xBiffx]

How about detaining the reporters from the McD's and issuing an unlawful order that they stop recording? That was Ferguson.

How is detaining reporters who aren't following police orders criminal? Telling them to stop recording perhaps was criminal but if the police were trying to detain them (again for failing to follow a lawful order), well that would be why.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

How about detaining the reporters from the McD's and issuing an unlawful order that they stop recording? That was Ferguson.

The police issued a lawful order to evacuate the McD's, the reporters were detained for not doing so in a timely manner. Had they not wasted time arguing and followed the lawful order to evacuate nothing would have happened.

 

[Pens1566]

The police issued a lawful order to evacuate the McD's, the reporters were detained for not doing so in a timely manner. Had they not wasted time arguing and followed the lawful order to evacuate nothing would have happened.

The reporters were told to leave one way by one officer, and another way by a different officer. Kind of hard to pick which one is right (if either are actually). There's a reason they weren't charged and released as soon as a non mouth-breather superior realized what had happened.

 

[khon]

That's not criminal.

Bolded is not true.

Yes, it is

http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/assault

 

[MomentsofSanity]

That's not criminal.

Bolded is not true.

Actually pointing a weapon at someone who is aware that it is occurring will generally be classed as assault anywhere. Doesn't matter if they cause harm or not.

Interestingly if you did the same thing to someone who was sleeping, it wouldn't be assault as they did not have the impression of immediate risk of harm.

 

[QueBert]

even if the police officer was not aware of the incident, Michael Brown was aware of the strong-armed robbery. Perhaps in his mind, the police was going to arrest him for that and he resisted.

WHAT robbery? He left money on the counter and they put back the extra cigars they had took which they apparently didn't have money for. I've never in my life seen a robbery where they put shit back before they left. So the robbery has been debunked, as for the strong-armed part. The cashier put his hands on Brown and Brown lightly pushed him away. In a situation where someone puts their hands on you, in every instance you have a right to push them off. You can't just put your hands on someone, remember brown left money on the counter so you can't even excuse the cashier's actions with "oh Brown was stealing" no he wasn't.

I understand a random customer who didn't see the entire encounter who thought they saw a robbery called the police. But since the cashier didn't call the cops and has said it wasn't what people are saying, I can't see how Brown was walking down the street paranoid the police would be looking for him.

 

[xBiffx]

Yes, it is

http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/assault

1. Every state has different laws regarding the use of firearms.

2. It would be up to law enforcement or prosecutor whether or not to consider it assault. This is especially true in states where there are laws regarding brandishing and improper use of firearm. Neither of those are assault.

3. Police pointing a loaded weapon at someone isn't assault when its part of their normal duty. Apprehending criminals or defusing a riot would fit this description.

Not that 1 and 2 matter in this case either. Police, the topic of conversation here, pointing a gun at someone is hardly assault.

 

[xBiffx]

Actually pointing a weapon at someone who is aware that it is occurring will generally be classed as assault anywhere. Doesn't matter if they cause harm or not.

Actually, no its not.

Its considered brandishing a firearm and is charged as such. In many places its hit with an improper use of firearm charge. Depends on the state. Neither is assault, however.

 

[HumblePie]

The police issued a lawful order to evacuate the McD's, the reporters were detained for not doing so in a timely manner. Had they not wasted time arguing and followed the lawful order to evacuate nothing would have happened.

You didn't read the article I originally posted on this, nor all the subsequent articles then? Because it was not that situation at all. Due to the fact it was recorded, the journalists had a whole lot of leverage against the actions the police took in that instance. Extrapolate that into instances that haven't been recorded. Are there more? I bet there are. How many more? couldn't tell you for sure.

I'll say one thing, a pot doesn't boil over when empty and sitting on a counter top. It has to be filled and heated. How many injustices the local police/politicians have been putting on the people in that area are going to be hard to pinpoint. Suffice to say there has probably been a few more than what has been released to the public.

How much is that from stupid cops reacting to dealing with a fairly heavy crime area that doesn't respect authority in the first place? Doesn't matter as cops are paid to be above that while on duty.

 

[xBiffx]

WHAT robbery? He left money on the counter and they put back the extra cigars they had took which they apparently didn't have money for. I've never in my life seen a robbery where they put shit back before they left. So the robbery has been debunked, as for the strong-armed part. The cashier put his hands on Brown and Brown lightly pushed him away. In a situation where someone puts their hands on you, in every instance you have a right to push them off. You can't just put your hands on someone, remember brown left money on the counter so you can't even excuse the cashier's actions with "oh Brown was stealing" no he wasn't.

I understand a random customer who didn't see the entire encounter who thought they saw a robbery called the police. But since the cashier didn't call the cops and has said it wasn't what people are saying, I can't see how Brown was walking down the street paranoid the police would be looking for him.