Americans used to have rights. Primarily the Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Also we supposedly have the the right to be "secure from unreasonable searches and seizures of property by the government" -- "without warrant or probable cause."
It seems in some sections of America however, rogue police officers and the one-sided courts, have effectively made these American Rights -- null and void -- with respect to any common sense understanding of these rights.
It's kind of hard to "pursue happiness" -- when you've just been shot 137 times!
When can police use lethal force against a fleeing suspect?
pbs.org -- April 8, 2015
[...]
Can police officers shoot at fleeing individuals?
Only in very narrow circumstances. A seminal 1985 Supreme Court case, Tennessee vs. Garner, held that the police may not shoot at a fleeing person unless the officer reasonably believes that the individual poses a significant physical danger to the officer or others in the community. That means officers are expected to take other, less-deadly action during a foot or car pursuit unless the person being chased is seen as an immediate safety risk.
In other words, a police officer who fires at a fleeing man who a moment earlier murdered a convenience store clerk may have reasonable grounds to argue that the shooting was justified. But if that same robber never fired his own weapon, the officer would likely have a much harder argument.
“You don’t shoot fleeing felons. You apprehend them unless there are exigent circumstances -- emergencies -- that require urgent police action to safeguard the community as a whole,” said Greg Gilbertson, a police practices expert and criminal justice professor at Centralia College in Washington state.
[...]
“Am I creating more of a danger by chasing this person than if I let this person stay at large?” Drago said. “Especially in a vehicle pursuit, is it worth risking everyone on the road to catch this guy?”
Good questions. When do Police in "hot pursuit" -- become
a bigger problem, than the one they are supposedly chasing?
Very, VERY, disturbing Case in point (this week):
Police arrest 71 during protests after Cleveland officer's acquittal
foxnews.com; Associated Press -- May 24, 2015
[...]
The chase and shooting began when Russell's car backfired as he sped past Cleveland police headquarters. Police officers and bystanders thought someone inside had fired a gun. More than 100 Cleveland police officers in 62 marked and unmarked cars got involved in a pursuit that saw speeds reach 100 mph during the 22-mile-long chase.
Authorities never learned why Russell didn't stop. He had a criminal record including convictions for receiving stolen property and robbery and had been involved in a previous police pursuit. Williams had convictions for drug-related charges and attempted abduction. Both were described as mentally ill, homeless and addicted to drugs. A crack pipe was found in the car.
[...]
The grand jury also charged five police supervisors with misdemeanor dereliction of duty for failing to control the chase. All five have pleaded not guilty. No trial date has been set for the supervisors.
Well long as he was
"afraid" -- then anything goes, it would seem ...
What about the unarmed Suspects/Victims ... Do you suppose they were "afraid" too?
Judge: Cleveland officer not guilty in killing unarmed pair
by CNN Wire -- q13fox.com
[... Officer] Brelo had told investigators he thought he and his partner were in danger, believing the couple in the car were shooting while they were in the parking lot, CNN’s Martin Savidge reported.
Brelo told investigators, “I’ve never been so afraid in my life. I thought my partner and I would be shot and that we were going to be killed.”
Brelo’s defense argued that not only did he and other officers believe the suspects were armed and that the officers’ lives were in danger, but also that prosecutors couldn’t be certain whether Brelo’s final 15 shots were the fatal ones, CNN affiliate WJW reported.
71 arrested during protests over acquittal of Cleveland police officer
by Marcus Harun, foxct.com -- May 24, 2015
[...]
137 rounds.
Brelo, 31, was accused of firing the bullets that killed Timothy Russell, 43, and Malissa Williams, 30, on November 29, 2012, after a 22-mile police chase ended in a middle school parking lot. Authorities said Brelo stood on the hood of the car Russell was driving and fired 15 shots through the windshield.
Though about a dozen officers fired a total of 137 rounds at the car, no other officers were charged with manslaughter.
With civicly-condoned Law-enforcement tactics like that, I don't think I'll be driving in the neighborhood of Cleveland police headquarters any time soon.
Not unless, I want to face their 'government-sanctioned firing squad' -- and expect to live to tell the tale.
But then again, I'm not black -- so I'm not "automatically assumed" to be "armed and dangerous" -- so my odds of surviving their "shoot-first" tactics, are no doubt much better than that of the average American citizen of color.
Verdicts like this one are to our great national shame.
Like I said, as Americans we used to have Rights ...
When any of our citizens lose their Rights, we are all a lessor nation, for these on-going travesties of injustice.