Cop Who Allegedly Said ‘We Don’t Have Time For This’ Before Shooting Schizophrenic Teen Dead Has Bee

[warrior1]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/02/04/3243731/bryon-vassey-keith-vidal-indictment/

A police officer who allegedly yelled “we don’t have time for this” before shooting and killing a schizophrenic teen has been indicted on manslaughter charges.

Officer Bryon Vassey was one of three officers from different North Carolina precincts to respond to a call by the family of 18-year-old Keith Vidal last month. The teen, who suffered from schizophrenia and weighed just 90 pounds, had apparently picked up a small screwdriver and wasn’t putting it down. But his parents say the two other officers already had the scene under control when Vassey walked in. They say the third officer simply tased Vidal, then took out a firearm and shot him dead, saying “we don’t have time for this.”

Records show Vassey was at the Vidal residence for just 70 seconds before calling in that shots had been fired, reports the North Carolina Star News.

In the wake of the incident, Vassey was put on paid administrative leave, while the two other officers at the scene were cleared by internal investigation. Outrage spread in Vidal’s North Carolina community, where a “Mental Health Awareness March” was held in his name. Vidal’s parents and sister also showed up outside a press conference about the shooting holding signs demanding justice.

snip

for Keith Vidal

[CBGLuthier]

1. Does anyone know of ANY cop who was found guilty and went to jail for killing someone?

I started to do a google search but the constant list of NOT GUILTY verdicts got kind of depressing.

I can think of no case in my state for the last 30 years and they once gunned down a 69 year old senile man armed with a weed whacker.

[JJChambers]

7. Yes

Various officers have been convicted for on duty shootings that were not justified. Officer Johannes Mehserle comes to mind. I would venture to guess that the vast majority of police shootings are necessary, appropriate and justified.

[abq e streeter]

21. "Vast majority justified " etc ? You forgot the sarcasm tag

Oops, you actually meant it huh? Guess you're not from Albuquerque ,home one of the most trigger happy bunch of cops in the US ,who virtually always get away with it, and it's become such an outrage that the U.S. Justice Dept has them under investigation.

[JJChambers]

24. I'm realistic, only a small percentage of police shootings are questionable

Nt

[Egalitarian Thug]

30. Not realistic, simply actively avoiding knowledge or pretending. n/t

[Cofitachequi]

97. I'd love to see the data you base your comment on, or...

...are you simply actively avoiding knowledge or pretending?

[Enthusiast]

35. Maybe you have it backwards.

Only a small number of police shooting are justified.

[abq e streeter]

37. Exactly.

[JJChambers]

38. You're not doing your position any favors by exaggerating

Nt

[quakerboy]

39. But you are doing your employers a great favor

by minimizing and diverting.

[JJChambers]

42. How?

How am I minimizing and diverting by focusing on the real problems, such as legitimate police misconduct? It isn't helping achieve justice for anyone when blowhards make extreme, irrational claims such as only a small percentage of police shootings see justified. Such outlandish claims simply discredit the poster making them.

We aren't going to achieve any reforms in policing by alienating average Americans with nonsense.

[blackspade]

64. And how is the claim...

that most shootings by cops are justified not outlandish?
That's like saying that most civilian shootings are justified.

[JJChambers]

69. Question for you

Under which circumstances do you think it appropriate for a police officer to shoot someone?

[morningfog]

121. Only in the same circumstances in which it would be appropriate for any other citizen to.

BTW, welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[JJChambers]

123. Thanks!

Sounds like most police shootings would be justified then, by your standard. This place is so welcoming, Ive had someone welcome me in nearly every thread in which I have participated.

[morningfog]

124. Actually, most police shootings are not justified. Not by a long shot.

Nice try, though.

[JJChambers]

126. Yes they are (nt)

[MrMickeysMom]

66. I'm with you on that argument, JJ...

I've said it here before...

[quakerboy]

113. Average americans are alienated by police actions.

The only nonsense is your claim. There is no real research to indicate what percentage of police shootings are justified, as far as I can tell.

If you ask our law enforcement, police mistakes are rare and normally inconsequential. And most police shootings are justified.

But if you compare us to other nations, one can make a strong argument that if our police forces were trained differently, and acted differently, and were held to account for their actions, virtually all police shootings are preventable. Can a preventable shooting really be justified?

Fact of the matter is that it is our Law Enforcement who are alienating average Americans. I know very few who have a positive view of law enforcement anymore, except those in law enforcement. Many of us have absolutely no trust that if a police commits misconduct, there will be any real repercussions to them.

[Live and Learn]

114. +1 nt

[abq e streeter]

36. From Nov 2012,and there have been LOTS more since then

Amazingly, every time the cops have investigated themselves, they too have always found that they're justified.

"The Albuquerque Police Department will be the subject of a federal investigation as the US Department of Justice tries to determine why law enforcement officers have been involved in 17 fatal shootings in the last two years.

The Justice Department confirmed on Tuesday that an official probe in the Albuquerque, New Mexico PD will soon begin after the results of a preliminary inquiry to get to the bottom of more than two dozen police shootings since 2010 suggested a more thorough investigation is warranted.

“We have concluded that a full Civil Rights investigation is warranted to determine whether APD engages in a pattern of practices of violations of the Constitution or federal law,” Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, told reporters this week. “In particular the investigation will focus on use of force by APD, including but not limited to deadly force.”


I personally, have met and talked with the father of a guy who was shot in the back by APD and it was(as they all are) ruled "justified"...In the back.....

[Ikonoklast]

41. When there only cops saying what other cops did was just fine and dandy, that is the usual result.

Police review boards controlled by the police themselves always seem to find in favor of their fellow officers.


Funny how that works.

[JJChambers]

46. Not true

Police boards regularly do find in favor of the officers because most police shootings are within policy. Most DAs and grand juries don't indicate police officers because most police shootings are justified. There are plenty of examples of officers who didn't follow policy being terminated and officers who violated the law being charged.

It most police shootings are within policy and legally justified, doesn't it make sense that most police shootings are cleared?

Why is it so hard for some on this board to accept the fact that there are bad people who do bad things and sometimes when these people cross paths with police, they end up (justifiably) shot? It's sad that there are also good people who do bad things or make mistakes and end up shot as a result of their own actions, but again, why blame police, acting appropriately, for a situation caused by the deceased to begin with?

Focus on the few true and legitimate cases of police a use of power, excessive force and misconduct. Don't paint with such a broad brush or else nothing positive will ever get done.

[A HERETIC I AM]

58. And who writes the policy?

"Police boards regularly do find in favor of the officers because most police shootings are within policy."

And those policies are written by whom? The police departments? You know, they have never stopped by my house and asked me to sign off on a policy.

"Most DAs and grand juries don't indicate police officers because most police shootings are justified."

Of course.

As mentioned, it comes as no surprise that when cops investigate cops, the result is usually favorable to the cops.

No police force should be allowed to investigate itself, or rather if they do, the results of that investigation should be given as much credence as it deserves.

None.

[azurnoir]

74. ^^^^^this^^^^^

[3auld6phart]

80. Statistic numbers please

Okay JJC you are on top of it. Can we have the numbers please. A 90 lb. youth who is unstable is under control of two peace officers. A 3rd shows up and shoots the kid, and in your way of thinking it was justified.I sure would like to see your statistics on shootings justified or unjustified? I'm going to include police beatings here also.Any numbers waiting, waiting.

[JJChambers]

84. Silly

I never said this officer was justified. In fact, this case supports my assertion that unlawful police shootings result in prosecutions.

[passiveporcupine]

88. How about the kid in the field who was shot dead

for having a toy gun and not putting it down when shouted at. How is a young kid supposed to know how to react? The kid probably didn't even know what was happening when he was shot down.

That was considered within policy too. Policy needs to be changed. The police are supposed to protect, not kill indiscriminately because policy says it's OK. Policy in dealing with the mentally ill also needs to be changed. And not just shootings. Beatings have been killing people too, like a recent one concerning a mentally ill young man. It was totally unnecessary, but I bet they all get off. Even the guy who sicked his dog on the guy held down on the ground.

[JJChambers]

103. Oh...

You mean the AK-47 replica? Calling that a "toy" gun conjures images of a child's multi colored, clearly obvious toy (although there are real guns now made to look LIKE toys, which throws a wrench into an already difficult issue). That was a tragic situation, but to compare that to criminal misconduct is, again, doing a disservice to legitimate victims of police brutality.

[passiveporcupine]

104. When I was a kid

boys (and some girls) played with toy guns all the time, that looked pretty damn real. In those days, cops didn't shoot everyone who was holding a weapon. You know...just in case. And they knew how to tell the difference between kids and adults too.

[kjones]

106. I don't know anything about the case you mention above...

but kids have shot and killed people.
Again, don't know anything about the case you are referring to.

[passiveporcupine]

108. His name was Andy Lopez and he was 13 and wearing a hoodie

He had a pellet gun that looked like an AK 47. He was alone, standing in an open field, facing away from the cops. From the time the cops called in a suspicious sighting to the time they shot him, 10 seconds had passed. One cop hid behind the open door of his car...the other yelled twice to drop the gun. The kid was just starting to turn around while raising the barrel of the gun when he was shot seven times.

The cop who shot him said he feared for their lives.

I don't believe there is a video of this incidents. I don't know if the kid could even speak English.

Rojas and Marquez (driving right behind the police car) saw the deputies turn on their police lights, then drive over to where the teenager was standing in an open lot.

Rojas and Marquez say they heard the deputies yell in english "drop the gun."

They said, almost immediately, both deputies then opened their doors, and shots were fired.

Rojas said they fired so quickly, they didn't give him a chance to do anything.

The deputy who opened fire believed Lopez was about to point the rifle at him. So he wasn't even holding it like he was going to take aim and shoot.

Here is a link to his story:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?id=9302840

I think fear too often makes officers react before they even have a gut feel for what is going on. I'm sure today's gun culture and all the shootings has something to do with this...but kids are kids. They are not thinking like an adult would with a real gun.

[Live and Learn]

115. Bad people? The mentally ill are not "bad people",

They are ill people and they make up an awful lot of police shootings.

And many of us have had unpleasant dealings with police officers (for minor, supposed offenses, like traffic stops) that have us questioning just who the bad people are? Nor, do the reality police shows help that depict officers using foul language and showing absolutely no respect to anyone.

The police are supposed to SERVE the community and that includes the mentally ill, homeless and all the rest of of us. Yes, they put their lives in danger sometimes doing their job but that is what they signed up (and get paid for). Being armed with a gun and shooting first does not count as putting your life in danger or serving the public.

[BetterThanNoSN]

53. ugh

JJ da Tool

[DFW]

55. That applies to hunters shooting as well

However, that small percentage involves innocent people getting shot that should never have been shot, and the shooter has to be held accountable. Zero tolerance for error MUST be the standard.

The same goes for "questionable" police shootings. I don't know what pressing appointment this cop/perp had that made killing this kid necessary due to time constraints, but I'm betting it does not cross the threshold of justifiable lethal force. "We don't have time for this?" Why not? He was on the job. What DID he have time for? Was he late for his coffee break?

[rhett o rick]

68. Depends on who they are questionable to. Of course the police department wont

question any of them without a public outcry. Since you are guessing, my guess is that most police shootings are not justified.

[JJChambers]

70. Your guess is silly

Police boards review policy and procedure, the DA and/or a Grand Jury determine legality. If the majority of police shootings were criminal, there would be far more prosecutions of police. No one, including me, likes the idea of police shooting anyone. But I am realistic enough to accept the fact that there are bad people, and good people who make mistakes, who force the hand of officers on a regular basis.

What circumstances do YOU think justify a police shooting?

[rhett o rick]

73. "If the majority of police shootings were criminal, there would be far more prosecutions of police."

That's a logical fallacy. The police and DA's wont prosecute police unless forced to by public opinion.

I could build a large list of cases where police are not warranted to shoot.

Not long ago in Seattle a homeless Native American wood carver was crossing the street and whittling a piece of wood. A policeman jumped out of his car and confronted the man at gun point demanding the homeless man put down the knife. The homeless man was mystified and clearly didnt understand. Boom and he is dead by multiple shots.
Two ladies were driving a pickup truck that was the same color (not the same model) as some fugitives and without warning the police fired like 100 shots into the pickup truck.
A mentally ill man was up in a tree and would not come down. Bang, they shot him.
A young man tried to out run the cops over a traffic violation and they killed him.
The cops busted into the wrong house and when a man moved wrong, bing-bang-boom, he was shot dead.
Parents called the police because their mentally ill son was being belligerent. When the cops got there they told the parents to stay downstairs and they went up stairs and shot the son.

The list is endless. Basically there is no punishment for police when they kill, unless there is a major public outcry.

[erronis]

81. Sad list of examples - there are many more

I hope someone from the ACLU or other organizations can chime in.

As far as I can tell the world of the state/local government judicial systems are very closely allied to the policiing forces. I don't think there is good independent review of these activities (in this case death by law enforcement) - it is usually done by the governments for whom the enforcers work.

[kjones]

107. You're starting from the position that all police/DAs are corrupt?

That's a little extreme.

I'm not some kind of invested defender of cops, but I'm willing to bet that
the list of justified police shootings are much, much larger than the list of
ones which are criminal or even questionable (though, if I'm not mistaken,
all police shootings are treated as "questionable" and are reviewed thoroughly).

[rhett o rick]

109. Wronggggggg. I started from the position that police look out for each other. To think that police

believe in some kind of uber-justice is naive.

Recently there was a homeless man that was beaten, strangled, tased in the face, by up to 6 or 7 police until he died. His final words were "Daddy help me." Two of the police were tried by a DA that didnt try and were found innocent. Those police-shits mocked the family of the deceased. And they are still out there to kill and kill again.

Not all police are psychopaths, but can you think of a better job for them?

[kjones]

111. Otherwise known as corruption?

And no, I've never made the claim that the police represent "uber-justice."

In fact, quite the contrary and in line with you last sentence, I'm willing to bet
there's a somewhat higher number of sociopathic and/or stimulation seeking individuals
than in the general population due to the nature of the job.

But that is far and away from "The police and DA's wont prosecute police unless forced to by public opinion." or
"Basically there is no punishment for police when they kill, unless there is a major public outcry."

[Scootaloo]

105. That's circular logic

An infinite loop of self-justifying, self-defending policy that is, by its very nature, bound to protect its own over those who may be victimized by it.

You really might as well save some words and stick with "the cops say it's cool so it's cool."

[rhett o rick]

125. Yes I agree. nm

[quakerboy]

128. And if torture were criminal

Then administrations enacting it would face prosecution.
And if dumping toxic chemicals in rivers were illegal, then CEOs that did it would face prosecution.

So clearly everything that any prosecuted CEO, Politician, or LE has done is legal.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

117. "my guess is that most police shootings are not justified"

The operative word there is "guess".

[truedelphi]

72. But the original point of this discussion was this one:

When a police shooting is very very questionable, do they ever end up being found guilty?

So very very often they don't.

[rivegauche]

79. Hey neighbor ... you are spot-on.

I live in Abq too, not a native. Lived here 10 years and I'm absolutely APPALLED at the police corruption in this state. They never get convicted and there are questionable shootings every week it seems. It's disgusting, and no one seems to care enough to do anything about it. I am deeply skeptical the Justice Dept will get anything done either, unfortunately.

[Egalitarian Thug]

29. Served 11 months. Still, it is far more than other badge-bearing murderers suffer. n/t

[paulkienitz]

49. and yet Mehserle walks free today

[sabrina 1]

57. Well that clears it all up. One person has been held accountable for the hundreds of

dead citizens killed by cops.

Enough of these 'internal reviews'. There has to be a completely non-biased review board that has zero to do with the police.

It is laughable that they get to decide whether they are guilty of a crime or not.

[heaven05]

77. just doesn't seem like the truth these days

just doesn't 'feel' right as blanket statement. Especially when police brutality can be googled and the sites that pop up are telling. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Still a relatively free country. Dontchaknow?

[niyad]

90. that must be some really strong stuff you are smoking, or you don't spend a lot of time reading

the news.

[alfredo]

91. It depends on the police force and precinct. I remember a precinct in Detroit that

had a reputation for being quick at shooting unarmed people, beating prisoners, intimidating witnesses, and planting evidence.

Ask any old inner city Detroit resident about S.T.R.E.S.S.

[dbackjon]

14. You must not be googling right

Here is another:

A former Phoenix police officer was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison on assault and manslaughter charges after the fatal 2010 shooting of man during a domestic violence call, concluding a 3-year-old case that boiled down to dueling accounts by the only witnesses — the defendant and his partner.

Richard Chrisman was originally charged with aggravated assault, second-degree murder and animal cruelty.


http://www.policeone.com/corrections/articles/6686848-Ex-Phoenix-cop-sentenced-7-years-in-10-fatal-shooting-case/

[Historic NY]

27. You can bet he will since the other two officers are witness's.

[notadmblnd]

78. Two went to jail for a killing in Detroit some years back

I can't think of the name or the officers names, but they went to prison.

[navarth]

85. That was the Malice Green trial.

I can't remember the names of the cops offhand, but googling Malice Green would come up with the whole shebang.

It was an ugly chapter.

[avebury]

122. A cop from Del City, OK was found guilty of

first-degree manslaughter. He is supposed to find out today what his sentence will be.




Jury finds Del City police captain guilty of first-degree manslaughter, gives four-year prison sentence

An Oklahoma County jury found Del City police Capt. Randy Harrison guilty of first-degree manslaughter Tuesday for shooting an unarmed man in the back.

http://newsok.com/jury-finds-del-city-police-captain-guilty-of-first-degree-manslaughter-gives-four-year-prison-sentence/article/3908689

[n2doc]

2. Psychotic cop

Hope he gets put away for significant time.

[Laffy Kat]

102. Well he won't with just a manslaughter conviction. n/t

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Another senseless murder by cop.

[grahamhgreen]

8. +1

[lame54]

4. Got time for a trial asshole?

[hootinholler]

5. Manslaughter, eh?

I wonder why this isn't murder, but I'm happy there were charges made.

[Iggo]

13. "I wonder why this isn't murder..."

Because he's a cop.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

118. I suspect it has to do with premeditation

According to my understanding of the law, manslaughter is the correct charge.

[christx30]

25. Right?

If it were anyone else that shot someone for the sake of expediency, they would be looking at murder and facing the needle. But with this piece of dog crap, he gets a break.
Two sets of laws, everybody.

[leftynyc]

51. It has to do with intent

which is everything when it comes to a murder/manslaughter charge. They probably thought it would be too difficult to prove he intended to kill someone.

[kcr]

6. Good, I hope he's convicted.

The fact he's even being charged is hopeful.

[niyad]

9. the mother now says, "don't call the cops on your mentally ill child". I am wondering why the

cops were called in the first place--keith weighed 90 pounds and was holding a small screwdriver. can someone explain why the parents might feel it necessary to call the police? surely there is more to this story.

I truly hope that cop is put away for a long, long time, but doubt he will ever see the inside of a jail cell.

[tblue37]

12. Maybe they called 911--hoping for help, maybe an ambulance or someone

trained to handle the situation they described to the dispatcher. The first cops who arrived handled the situation appropriately anyway. It was just the one psychopath who decided to save time by killing the "nuisance."

Most people do think, "Call 911," when faced with an emergency they don't know how to handle.

[uppityperson]

32. More kale is needed

[Hekate]

61. Calling 911 is the one-size-fits-all signal for emergency help: Fire Dept, Police Dept, Ambulance...

The kid's parents were screaming HELP US, SOMEBODY PLEASE.

They were trying to help their kid, they were overwhelmed by whatever was happening -- they weren't expecting him to be murdered in front of their eyes.

My heart just breaks for them.

[the_sly_pig]

62. EMS and Fire personnel

Do not enter into uncontrolled situations. Hence, police are 'first responders' in most all situations.

[gwheezie]

82. Each state has different mental health laws but pretty similar

Parents were probably trying to get their son evaluated and he wouldn't go with them, most people in that situation call 911. From what I've seen the outcome all depends on which cop shows up. Some are very good interacting with mental patients and some are deranged psychopaths. What I would like to see is the police work more closely with crisis workers to evaluate mental patients in the community, I suspect this young person already was hooked up with a mental health board or psychiatrist and when the parents called to get him help, they were told to call 911, that's what usually happens. If you called your doctor with complaints of chest pain, they would say call 911, when you call 911 for an agitated mental patient, they send the cops 1st,not ems.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

89. It has become obvious that the police need to be trained

in a different set of skills in dealing with an increasing amount of mental persons that they are coming in contact with, including, but not limited to non-threatening calming techniques.

[2banon]

95. commenting on a point you made: "some are deranged psychopaths"

I think I recall hearing it mentioned that cops go through some sort of 'psychiatric evaluation' before getting hired or maybe it's done before entering the academy or other training institution. ?????

Assuming that's true, there does seem to be woefully inadequate considering there does seem to be a huge number of psychotic killers armed and wearing the badge of authority to shoot to kill whenever deemed appropriate in their judgement.

So we have woefully inadequate policies in place, supporting this psychotic behavior, and woefully inadequate oversight in dealing with this behavior.

And that's as polite as I can put it.

I live in the SF Bay Area. and this happens quite often here.

Last week we had lethal shooting of a Bart Police officer, accidently shot by his partner in a circumstance that raises questions to me. They were not rookie cops. But this event occurred in a suspect's' apartment they were reportedly seeking to arrest.

The details were never made clear on who that suspect was or what crime he/she committed.

The suspect wasn't there and the apt turned out to be empty (of people) except for the two Bart Police officers. One assumes this lethal accident happened because they anticipated an armed confrontation, and therefore mistaken judgements were made, etc, then tragedy occurred.

Accidents do happen because of bad judgement, but it seems to me the 'shoot at anything that moves' culture within the institutions is just plain sociopathic at it's core.

The nature of the job doesn't do anything to help reduce these problems, but at the minimum a regular mental evaluation of all officers should be conducted as a matter of policy imo.

[riqster]

11. Here's hoping the motherfucker gets lots of time. NT

[W.J. McCabe]

15. His calendar suddenly opened up...

[MynameisBlarney]

16. Manslaughter?

How about fucking murder?

[LostOne4Ever]

17. Manslaughter? How is that not Murder?

This is of course a rhetorical question before anyone starts explaining

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

119. It was answered twice above

And if you don't want an answer to a question, then why ask it?

I am bothered by the automatic assumption of some posters here that the police are in the wrong if someone is shot. I also am bothered by the automatic assumption by some here that misconduct by police are almost always covered up.

[LostOne4Ever]

127. Okay

If you look you will see my post is number 17. Those post were not here when I made my post.

As for why ask a question you don't want an answer to:

Rhetorical Question

Further, I did not assume that the police are in the wrong just because someone was shot, I assumed this particular officer was in the wrong because of the report of the events. Nor did I assume a cover up.

[tblue]

18. He tased him and THEN shot him?

Lock that cop up. He's a danger to society. Way worse than some kid jailed for possession.

[sked14]

19. Why does he get until Wed. to turn himself in?

Anyone else would've been arrested on the spot.
Oh well, I guess some are more equal than others.

[George II]

23. Maybe they want to give him a chance to eat his gun first?

[TroglodyteScholar]

44. Maybe he'll take that opportunity and make this place safer for all of us.

I don't believe in the death penalty, but if this asshole wants to take the coward's way out--he clearly is a pathetic coward--then that's fine with me.

[Dawson Leery]

20. He should be tried for second degree murder, not manslaughter.

[MindMover]

22. "We don't have time for this" == today's attitude towards mental illness ....

[defacto7]

43. That's a fact.

[YarnAddict]

26. Malice Green case

In the 90's. Several officers were convicted and went to prison.

[Gothmog]

31. This is a step in the right direction

Manslaughter charges are weak but are better than nothing

[joeybee12]

34. Scum like that never should have been a cop, or even been allowed

anywhere near a gun...

Poor Keith, RIP

[busterbrown]

65. I wonder exactly what are the qualifications needed in order to become a Cop?

I know it depends on locality..but generally speaking...

[joeybee12]

67. My gut reaction is it's getting easier...

We're turning into a police state, so we need more police, and people who wouldn't have bene considered before are now getting in. My two cents.

[busterbrown]

75. The guys who were some of the poorest students in high school ended up

patrolling our streets... This was in the 70s and another fact was that almost all of them were not very social unless they were drinking... Certainly a generality to some degree..

However into my 60s I find that practically every cop I have ever met who was a friend, definitely had social issues, probably because they were raised by an extremely rough and punishing parent..

This is only my experience...But I’m just saying..

“We don’t have time for this”....Brutal isn’t it?

[joeybee12]

76. Yeah, his precious seconds were more important than the guy's life...

As awful as it gets.

[gopiscrap]

40. about time, but watch the fucking cop walk!

[sked14]

48. Seriously doubt it.

The other 2 police officers there that day refuted his written report and are being called as prosecution witnesses.
He's probably going to do some hard time.

[gopiscrap]

71. Hope you're right

[The Second Stone]

45. Manslaughter? Should be charged with Murder 2 also

so that the jury can convict him of it if they choose.

[otohara]

47. The Cops Freak Me Out

they are so mean and increasingly dangerous.

Spoke to a couple of em at an Occupy event, they kept calling the protestors
scumbags, dirtbags.

Then I said I was one of those scumbags.
They changed their tune - oh not you.

Them...

[msanthrope]

50. Good. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

52. Oh good

I don't know if he will go on to be convicted - but shame on him. He ought to be ashamed of himself. And he ought to serve time for manslaughter.

That poor kid. The other two officers had the situation under control - he didn't have to do what he did.

[PrestonLocke]

54. He may have been charged

but my guess is that he will be acquitted of any wrongdoing.

[indepat]

56. A recent article averred an American is 39 times more likely to be murdered by a cop than by an

Al Queda-type terraist. Is it any wonder with incidents such as this? Why is it so hard to come to grips with the fact that cops should never murder, that they don't have a license to kill wantonly, but when they do, should be accorded equal justice under the law.

[marble falls]

59. What the hell is in the water at headquarters that is making for so many of these acts by cops? ....

is there really so much Homeland Defense Act money out there mandating so many more cops patrolling streets that hiring actually actually is scraping the bottom of the barrel? And these guys are getting off 90% of the time and go back to $80 - $100k a year jobs with 20 years and out 75% of their pay. Sounds like Congress.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

60. I get sick of people thinking "it's a war zone out there"....

It's a neighborhood.

[blackspade]

63. Shameful.

There is no reason to have cops like this in uniform.
'Good' cops should want to get rid of these assholes but instead they rally around them.

[libodem]

83. So unjust

[Jamastiene]

86. I hope he serves hard time for that shit.

That poor kid is dead because of his assholishness.

[Faryn Balyncd]

87. It's about time

[ybbor]

92. I'm getting sick of these bad apples!

Our nations' police forces have become out of effing control! I have a horrible feeling he may still walk from this heinous CRIME of Murder! He took less than a minute to assess the situation and determine lethal force was necessary because "we don't have time for this". Effing disgusting! It seems everyday I believe that NWA was spot on in 1988.

[gwheezie]

93. I'm not a lawyer but

Why isn't this 1st degree murder? He used the taser and then purposely decided to pull his gun and shoot. I think you can call that pre meditated. He also made a statement indicated he intended to shoot the kid when he said we don't have time for this.

[niyad]

94. keith vidal:

[gwheezie]

96. thank you

for the human face to this story

[Cha]

98. JHC.. "paid leave". What the hell kind of cop is

that? wtf happened to at least a taser? more of a fucking chance.

[kentauros]

99. Here's the most important part of this story

and it's counter to what we keep seeing with regards to stories about police violence every day:

The first two cops on the scene had the situation under control by helping the family calm Vidal in a non-violent manner, i.e,, by talking to him.

Vassey alone turned it into a violent situation.

[Cha]

100. Exactly, kentauros!

[RKP5637]

101. Shit like this just boggles the mind! n/t

[KentuckyWoman]

110. Usually they end up clearing cops like this and promoting them

This cop must be on somebody's shit list to even get indicted.

[blkmusclmachine]

112. Sad.

[Not Sure]

116. Why didn't the other cops shoot the rogue cop?

That bastard should be dead, not indicted on manslaughter. Jesus, how much more of this shit do we have to take?

[nikto]

120. Is he a war vet by any chance?

Just askin'.