How long before this makes the national media...

[B1GDeal]

Not sure why you shoot through the window at someone walking in your direction. She had another car there to assist her. She doesn't get out and give any commands to this man... nor did she use pepper spray, taser or anything... just shoots???

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...bolinger-dancing-man-vanessa-miller/71010592/

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

I think how this gets reported, or not, will be telling as to the tendencies of the national media to sensationalize certain stories and virtually ignore others.

 

[pablow]

Thank God the officer wasn't hurt by the shattered glass.

 

[B1GDeal]

The whole thing sounds weird... doesn't really make sense. Oh, and "walking with a purpose???"

 

[moral_victory]

The whole thing sounds weird... doesn't really make sense. Oh, and "walking with a purpose???"

Walking with a purpose is a very serious offense.

 

[Pinehawk]

Fearing for one's life appears to have a pretty low bar these days...

 

[Madman_1]

This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "White men can't dance"...


It's the law.

.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Fearing for one's life appears to have a pretty low bar these days...

I would bet (without commenting on the facts of this case specifically) that this gets a different response, largely based on the officer's sex. I think people inherently believe that a woman should be more in fear, and be more protective of themselves, and therefore will get more of a pass.

 

[DanL53]

A couple problems:

No video
Evidence won't be released until a Grand Jury hears it.
By the time we hear the recordings this will be considered old news.

I will bet that how this is reported will depend on what is on the recordings we don't get to hear for awhile. And, on what else is in the news that day.

For example:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/0501_river5.html

April 1865 was a busy month.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Dispatch audio is already up on the DMR, her patrol may have been recording audio, not sure it will reveal anything.

 

[MitchL]

These are tenuous times for LEO. This sounds like an incident where they'll justify her actions with the fact he pulled up alongside the other vehicle earlier. Who the hell does that? Toxicology report will tell a lot. I'm guessing mental issues with the "suicide by cop" motive. Feel sorry for all involved. Things like this can ruin an officers' career even if it's ruled as justified.

 

[theIowaHawk]

You claim to be sorry for all involved...but your post almost entirely feels sorry for the cop. Just pointing that out.

 

[HotelAlphaWilcoKilo]

"To Protect and Serve"

each other.

 

[pablow]

Ah, I remember the good old days when cops killed suspect who pulled weapons or appeared to have weapons. Recall when police planted knifes and whatnots on dead suspects? Now "walking with a purpose" gets you a bullet.
What in the hell is going on? How did we get to this pathetic state of affairs?

I generally support police and believe they deserve a comfort zone in dealing with idiots, but I'm starting to side with the rabble on this crap.

 

[22*43*51]

This won't get attention due to this fact.

"Both Miller and Bolinger are white."

Unless the media determines that this is the first time in recorded history that an officer has shot an unarmed white man.

 

[B1GDeal]

The race of any of these people isn't what I found interesting... it was the fact that she shot the man through the window. She didn't get out of car to tell him to freeze and get on his knees. She didn't tazer or pepper spray him. She didn't even just remain in the car waiting for the other office who was also there to deal with him. She shot what appears to be an unarmed drunk or mental disturbed man who was slowly driving through the area and danced along the side of the road through the window of her vehicle. Then, the claim to justify or explain her action was he was walking (not running or charging) with a purpose. Just so weird. I thought this would be all over the news by now.

 

[BABiscuit]

Permitted: They're allowed to fire in five situations: At an approved firing range; to destroy injured or dangerous animals; when legally ordered or authorized to do so by a commanding officer; and when they believe such force is necessary to protect himself or another person from the use or threat of deadly force.

Officers also may use their firearms to arrest someone who is known to have committed a dangerous felony, has threatened or use deadly force and the officer has already made a reasonable attempt to make their intent to arrest known. All other methods of apprehending the person must be exhausted first, and the officer must also believe that discharging their firearms can be done without substantial risk of injury to innocent persons.

Unless her commanding officer told her to shoot, it looks like walking with a purpose is now a legitimate use or threat of deadly force.