Alyosha
11-07-2013, 12:34 PM
http://reason.com/blog/2013/11/07/never-call-the-cops-unless-you-want-some
The details from Des Moines Register (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20131106/NEWS/311060044/Exclusive-Interview-In-ISU-case-police-action-baffles-family?Frontpage&gcheck=1):
James Comstock refused to buy a pack of cigarettes for his 19-year-old son, Tyler, and now he’s planning his son’s funeral.
http://cloudfront-media.reason.com/mc/_external/2013_11/des-moines-register.jpg?h=273&w=170Des Moines Register
“He took off with my truck. I call the police, and they kill him,” James Comstock told The Des Moines Register on Tuesday. “It was over a damn pack of cigarettes. I wouldn’t buy him none. “And I lose my son for that.”
Comstock said he’s outraged police shot and killed his son Monday morning on Iowa State University’s campus.
Police began pursuing Tyler Comstock of Boone after his father reported the truck stolen. The truck belonged to a lawn care company.
Ames Police Officer Adam McPherson pursued Comstock into the heart of ISU’s campus. During the chase, Comstock rammed McPherson’s car. The truck eventually stopped, but Comstock revved the engine and refused orders to turn it off.
McPherson fired six shots into the truck. Comstock died from two gunshot wounds, according to the Iowa state medical examiner’s office.
James Comstock said his son was not carrying a weapon.
During the chase, an unidentified Ames police staffer twice suggested that police back off their pursuit, according to dispatch audio obtained by the Register through a third-party service. Audio: Listen to dispatchers and officers during the pursuit (http://desmoinesregister.com/videonetwork/2808789798001)
The audio linked to above is illuminating; the police knew from their own audio that it was a family dispute leading to a kid grabbing dad's truck, not a car theft desperado on the loose.
Undoubtedly, a more sensible person would not have done what Comstock did -- assuming the officer's story is true, he does say on police audio that Comstock "backed up into my vehicle."
A voice of reason on the police channel points out, hey, if Comstock is being that reckless in regard to police attempts to stop him, maybe the safest thing to do is back off. "We know the suspect," the voice points out. "We can probably back it off."
Regardless, the use of lethal force on someone for cop-defiance and traffic violations should, to put it mildly, happen less often
The lesson to be learned from this is to don't even start smoking.
The details from Des Moines Register (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20131106/NEWS/311060044/Exclusive-Interview-In-ISU-case-police-action-baffles-family?Frontpage&gcheck=1):
James Comstock refused to buy a pack of cigarettes for his 19-year-old son, Tyler, and now he’s planning his son’s funeral.
http://cloudfront-media.reason.com/mc/_external/2013_11/des-moines-register.jpg?h=273&w=170Des Moines Register
“He took off with my truck. I call the police, and they kill him,” James Comstock told The Des Moines Register on Tuesday. “It was over a damn pack of cigarettes. I wouldn’t buy him none. “And I lose my son for that.”
Comstock said he’s outraged police shot and killed his son Monday morning on Iowa State University’s campus.
Police began pursuing Tyler Comstock of Boone after his father reported the truck stolen. The truck belonged to a lawn care company.
Ames Police Officer Adam McPherson pursued Comstock into the heart of ISU’s campus. During the chase, Comstock rammed McPherson’s car. The truck eventually stopped, but Comstock revved the engine and refused orders to turn it off.
McPherson fired six shots into the truck. Comstock died from two gunshot wounds, according to the Iowa state medical examiner’s office.
James Comstock said his son was not carrying a weapon.
During the chase, an unidentified Ames police staffer twice suggested that police back off their pursuit, according to dispatch audio obtained by the Register through a third-party service. Audio: Listen to dispatchers and officers during the pursuit (http://desmoinesregister.com/videonetwork/2808789798001)
The audio linked to above is illuminating; the police knew from their own audio that it was a family dispute leading to a kid grabbing dad's truck, not a car theft desperado on the loose.
Undoubtedly, a more sensible person would not have done what Comstock did -- assuming the officer's story is true, he does say on police audio that Comstock "backed up into my vehicle."
A voice of reason on the police channel points out, hey, if Comstock is being that reckless in regard to police attempts to stop him, maybe the safest thing to do is back off. "We know the suspect," the voice points out. "We can probably back it off."
Regardless, the use of lethal force on someone for cop-defiance and traffic violations should, to put it mildly, happen less often
The lesson to be learned from this is to don't even start smoking.