It doesn’t help the case of Officer Michael Slager, who has been fired from the force, in the least
(WISTV)The State Law Enforcement Division has released a copy of the dash cam footage from North Charleston police officer Michael Slager’s patrol car in the moments before he fatally wounded Walter Scott. (you can see the video at the link)
In the video, Slager pulled over Scott and asked to see his license and registration. Scott tells the officer he is missing some paperwork, saying the car is not his but he plans to buy it and the current owner has all of the documents. Right after Scott pulls over, you can also hear Slager tell him his third brake light was out.
Once Slager returns to his car to check Scott’s license, Scott gets out of his vehicle and Slager tells him to get back inside. Scott gets back into his car, then suddenly gets back out and takes off on foot.
You can’t see Slager, but through his microphone you can hear him as he runs after Scott.
There was a warrant out for Scott for unpaid child support. This in no way necessitated the use of force by Slager, especially in light of the video taken by a citizen of the actual incident. It was unjustifiable. He was not a violent felon, he was not carrying a weapon, he was not a danger to society. Let him go. You know where he lives, you have his car.
Slager has been accused of excessive force previously. A big question is, does this have anything to do with racism? Or just give the appearance of racism, due to the fact that the white officer is going to have lots of interactions with Blacks because of where he is patrolling? I certainly cannot say for sure, and nor can anyone else who does not know the officer. One thing that stuck out to me, though, is how easily he dropped what appears to be a Tazer next to the body, without really attempting to check the body for life. It’s like something out of an old cop movie, with the dirty cop ready to drop a “throw down”, ie, a handgun, to frame the perp and protect themselves from charges.
Let’s remember, though, that the vast majority of police officers are good people, and not paint the entire community for the actions of one or a few.
Thinking Walter Scott stole the car.
Also, I don’t think it was Michael Slager’s first rodeo
Yes, let’s pity poor Slager. He lost his job, what more does the race-government complex want from him?? The needle?
Yes, most cops are good people, except for the ones caught on video shooting unarmed Black men and children.
If there had been no video from the courageous citizen, there would be few problems from Slager. Who you gonna believe – a white cop fearing for his life or a dead Black man with outstanding warrants?
You’re taking that entirely the wrong way in which it was intended, Jeff. We should not pity Slager in the least.
Well, for one thing, I’m not going to think of race first. That’s what you lefties are conditioned to do.
as usual the left foams off at the mouth when its a white guy, but are silent at the mush larger problem of black on white crime and cops shooting white and brown people too.
regardless, let the system work and the law take its course. knee jerk to anything is counter productive and shows why our Republic is in the mess it is in
The dash cam certainly put a new picture on the shooting. Certainly I don’t feel a cop should draw his gun unless he or someone else is under threat of life. But consider this, the black guy was guilty of stealing a car in the officers mind. He then ran. Why? Perhaps he had killed someone to get the car. If the cop let him get away, then what would the reaction be? The cop will now not be looking at a serious murder charge. I hope the blacks will understand when the verdict comes in.
desserttrash That black on black crime is not being directly funded by public tax money and in this case that policeman was working and being paid
I say first thing is to stop paying for blacks to be shot in the back
Then sure let’s try to work on the bigger and probably more difficult isssues
The shame is, based on a video this officer is being trashed. The meme is being laid out and the details that follow in a real investigation will matter not one wit to the machine.
I think, if the law is followed, the officer will be no-billed by a grand jury. Everyone will go nuts, but it will come out that Walker ran and then when caught, fought with the officer. It is not acceptable to expect to do that and run away. No way. AND this had nothing to do with race
I don’t think that you could be more wrong, Ron.
The doesn’t allow for the cop to shoot a fleeing suspect except under the circumstance where the suspect presents a deadly threat to the officer or others. That didn’t happen here. The man was not a deadly threat to anyone.
Secondly, the officer lied to investigators and in his report. Those lies certainly shows that the officer knew what he had done was wrong.
I am more than willing to let all the facts come out, but as it stands right now, what we do know is that the cop broke department policy and the law. Without facts contrary to what we know now, he has to go away.
Each case should be looked at separately- but in this one it looks like it’s almost outright execution.