Mysteries of Policy and "I want my Garrity"

[Windpower]

Back in the spring I posted an incident where a policeman, Troy Meade, killed a man who was intoxicated by shooting him 7  times through the  back window of his car.

The case summary is here

http://heraldnet.com/assets/pdf/DH692701027.PDF

Opening statements in Troy Meade's trial for manslaughter and second degree murder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-2Fljk0gkM

The Jury found Meade was not acting in self defense and therefore not entitled to have his legal fees paid for by the state.

They also found him not guilty of all charges.

Troy Meade was quoted after the verdict

"I want to put it behind me and go back to work,"


http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100426/NEWS01/100429882


http://www.lewrockwell.com/grigg/grigg-w144.html
















 

[peternap]

Nice fellow!
I'll have to remember to leave him OUT of my prayers.

[NM_Shooter]

Wow.  No clue how a jury could find not guilty. 

[diyfrank]

I read it when it was in the news and thought the drunk got what he was asking for. I don't feel one bit sorry for him or his family. People that get intoxicated then get behind the wheel need to be shot full of holes

[Windpower]

 I am going to assume that your comment is sarcasm, Frank

[diyfrank]

Absolutely not! 
There is NO excuse for getting behind a wheel after drinking as this A-hole did. He could have cooperated and surrendered to the police but he chose his own death.

It certainly wasn't the first time this man drove drunk and if not stopped it wouldn't have been the last.

[peternap]

So DUI should qualify for the death penalty?

Come on Frank, you're better than that. Sure, he could have hurt someone, but he didn't.

People carrying a gun "COULD" hurt someone. Should they be shot on sight?
People with AIDS may spread it, candidates for the waterless showers?

Killing someone is an awesome burden to carry around. Decent people take that face to their grave. Trash asks for their attorney fees to be paid.

[muldoon]

Frank,

I think you should move to a third world country where that is the accepted process. I prefer America. Or at least what used to be America.

U.S. Constitution - Amendment 5
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

We have a legal system for this.  Police are not judges and executioners. 

Aside from that, I do agree with you that drunk driving is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous, however I also cannot help but notice; there is no victim in this story.  Your of the opinion that his execution for something he *MIGHT* do is ok? 

I was serious above when I said you should move to a Banana Republic, this is exactly what you find there.  You should be happy with it. 

[MountainDon]

I get very very upset when I read about the police here arresting a person for their 5th, 8th, 13th, etc. DWI offense here in NM. Upset that the "system" can not successfully deal with repeat offenders. But none of them deserve death as their punishment. Not even the ones who plow into oncoming vehicles while they drive drunk on the wrong side of the interstate.  It's difficult to comprehend how the jury could not find him guilty of something.

[NM_Shooter]

If this guy was threatening imminent harm to an officer with his vehicle, that would warrant shooting.  Short of that, it sounds to me as though there were adequate police cars to box him in.  I don't know why they didn't apprehend him immediately after tasing.  Obviously we don't have all the details, but from the written report it certainly sounds odd.

My grandmother was killed by a drunk driver before I was able to meet her.  I have no tolerance for drunk drivers, but I have less tolerance for hostile, above-the-law, excessive-force cops. 

[diyfrank]

All i can say is it may have been handled different but it wasn't. This cop will have to live with it.

There is a drunk killing a person  in a cross walks or taking out another vehicle killing the occupants. too often around here. The law dose next to nothing. I know many with out a license from DUI and continue to drive drunk. I know a few that did 3 years for vehicular homicide and they think It was wrong for them to do time for a accident. They don't even get it. Recently a lady stuck and killed a person in a cross walk and drove off. 3 blocks latter she was pulled over and had no clue. 2 girls standing out in front of a church, 1 was struck and killed and the driver keep going. the list goes on and on. you can't keep a drunk off the road, there is no way. Yes when I hear a drunk behind the wheel was killed, I don't feel at all sorry.

peternap, No I don't think a DUI should qualify for the death penalty.  It should get time for sure, not taking a class.

Everett is a tough town with a lot crime.

[glenn kangiser]

I won't say if this is right or not but keep in mind that an innocent victim of a drunk driver does not get a second chance.  There have been lots around here too.  Neighbor kid killed his best friend driving drunk - a few years later he was his own drunk driving victim.  Better him than anyone else.

[Windpower]

So then, Frank, you are good with summary executions by policemen ?

[engage sarcasm]

I see you are in Washington -- good luck next time you get pulled over for speeding --- speeding can kill people too --- maybe Officer Meade will feel empowered to put 7 bullets through the back of your head to keep you from hurting someone --(it probably wasn't the first time you broke the speed limit)

In the same vein maybe the police should have executed the bartenders for continuing to serve a man that was clearly too drunk to drive and not calling a taxi for him, they are as much to blame for his condition as he was and did nothing to stop it.

In fact let's empower police to execute anyone they suspect might hurt someone or is acting irresponsibly (like the bartenders).

[shaking head in disbelief]