White Police Officer Shoots and Kills Unarmed Black Man.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

We're all left playing the 'what if' game Ajax, I'm not claiming to 'know' why or how either.

And this incident is more inciting than most because practically the entire situation was video taped and in direct odds with the report that was filed; we're not left having to rely on a 1-sided report of what happened behind those stores and wondering what really happened.

This will be interesting how this plays out, because I have a hard time seeing how any of his peers are going to be able to stand beside him and justify his actions, knowing the national attention this will draw and the immediate local tension that this has created.

[Ajax]

And this incident is more inciting than most because practically the entire situation was video taped and in direct odds with the report that was filed; we're not left having to rely on a 1-sided report of what happened behind those stores and wondering what really happened.

I think that's part of why I feel so upset about this.  We would have to be pretty naive to think this is the only time this has happened.

[sheclown]

And this incident is more inciting than most because practically the entire situation was video taped and in direct odds with the report that was filed; we're not left having to rely on a 1-sided report of what happened behind those stores and wondering what really happened.

I think that's part of why I feel so upset about this.  We would have to be pretty naive to think this is the only time this has happened.

there are a lot of pretty naive people on these forums. (and in the country in general) you should check out the old Kiko Battles discussions.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=8887.0

yup

[I-10east]

This North Charleston case is an open & shut case; You can clearly see what happened. The same like the State Trooper is Columbia, South Carolina (again SC...) who shot a man getting his ID.  The DANGER is labelling every cop shooting case as a 'one size fits all' just because a black man is involved; The Cleveland Arms case, and otherwise. 

These buzz words like UNARMED holds no weight with me; If I'm UNARMED, and I assault you, an an armed person; We are struggling for your gun, do you have the right to shoot me? Damn right you do! Have there been cases when cops got off swaying the evidence? Damn right there has been! Get mad at me and troll, add twenty funny GIFs mocking me, I don't care, I tell it like it is, and I won't fall for a certain agenda.

[Ajax]

This is the local newspaper article that was written *before* the video of the shooting was released.  Incredible.  I've probably read hundreds of articles like this and never given the official version of events a second thought. 

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150406/PC16/150409558/1268/north-charleston-police-say-officer-who-fatally-shot-man-pulled-him-over-because-of-brake-light&source=RSS

Attorney: North Charleston police officer felt threatened before fatal shooting

Andrew Knapp  Email  Facebook  @offlede
Apr 6 2015 1:09 pm  Apr 7 4:37 pm

A North Charleston police officer felt threatened last weekend when the driver he had stopped for a broken brake light tried to overpower him and take his Taser.

That's why Patrolman 1st Class Michael Thomas Slager, a former Coast Guardsman, fatally shot the man, the officer's attorney said Monday.

Slager thinks he properly followed all procedures and policies before resorting to deadly force, lawyer David Aylor said in a statement.

"This is a very tragic event for all of the families," Aylor said. "I believe once the community hears all the facts of this shooting, they'll have a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding this investigation."

Monday's developments filled in some of the blanks in what was South Carolina's 11th police shooting of the year. Authorities publicly identified Slager, an officer with the city since December 2009, and gave his reason for the traffic stop that led to the fatal confrontation. Police documents also revealed that Slager announced within seconds why he had fired.

"Shots fired, and the subject is down," he said into his radio, according to an incident report. "He took my Taser."

Walter Lamer Scott, 50, of Meadowlawn Drive in West Ashley died soon after the encounter near Craig Street and Remount Road.

He has been arrested about 10 times in his lifetime, mostly for failure to appear for court hearings and to pay child support.

The only indicator of violence in his past came with his first arrest in 1987 on an assault and battery charge.

Slager, 33, served honorably in the military before joining the North Charleston Police Department more than five years ago, Aylor said.

He has never been disciplined during his time on the force, the attorney added.

A complaint
Slager was on a boarding team when he served in the Coast Guard in Port Canaveral, Fla., his personnel file showed. The 91 pages of documents were released Monday after The Post and Courier filed a S.C. Freedom of Information Act request.

He passed courses on how to use the Taser X26 when he was hired in North Charleston and performed well on shooting tests with his .45-caliber Glock 21. Supervisors indicated in performance reviews that he met expectations as an officer and kept a tidy patrol car.

Of the two complaints in his file, one dealt with a resident's allegation of unnecessary use of force.

Slager went to the man's Delaware Avenue home in September 2013 to investigate a burglary. When the resident opened the door for Slager, the burglary victim yelled that he wasn't the suspect, the documents stated.

The man also insisted that he wasn't the perpetrator, but he later told internal investigators that Slager threatened to use a Taser against him if he didn't come outside. When the man followed the order and stepped outside, he said Slager "Tased (him) for no reason and ... slammed him and dragged him."

But another officer there said Slager had been forced to use the device during a struggle. The investigators exonerated Slager of wrongdoing.

Slager will keep working during a State Law Enforcement Division investigation into whether Saturday's shooting was justified, but Pryor said he would be on administrative duty.

While the police released Slager's file, one lawmaker said the episode again points out the need for body-mounted cameras whose footage can stave off community speculation.

The city is expected to get 115 of the devices through $275,000 in state funding for that and other anti-crime initiatives.

Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston, said it can't come soon enough. Gilliard has authored legislation to require police agencies to outfit their officers with cameras. As an alternative, he also offered a bill calling for a study of such programs. But he expressed frustration because the measures had not advanced.

"People will say I'm using this (shooting) as a springboard," he said. "But I've said these types of incidents will continue, and when they do, it's going to be unfortunate that we are not using modern-day technology to stop the speculation and rumors."

The authorities have not said whether anyone else saw Slager's struggle with Scott.

No one called Charleston County's 911 Center after the gunfire, and Slager's communications with dispatchers will not be made public until SLED approves it, county spokeswoman Natalie Hauff said.

SLED spokesman Thom Berry said prosecutors also would have to review the recordings and be "agreeable and amenable" to their release.

'Quickly escalated'
North Charleston community leaders have mentioned the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in urging residents not to grow violent in light of Scott's death. But, like Missouri police said of Brown, Slager saw Scott as a threat when the officer decided to pull the trigger.

Around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Slager noticed a Mercedes-Benz sedan with a brake light that was "out and not working," the police spokesman said. He stopped his cruiser behind the sedan that had pulled into Advance Auto Parts at 1945 Remount Road.

"What started out as a routine traffic stop quickly escalated after the driver fled," Slager's attorney said.

Scott ran down Craig Road, which parallels the store's parking lot and stretches southward toward the Singing Pines community. A passenger in his car stayed put.

Slager told other officers through his radio that he had gotten into a foot chase, according to the report. The police have not given details about the confrontation that followed behind the Mega Pawn shop at 5654 Rivers Ave.

But with other officers on the way to help, Slager announced on his radio that he had "deployed" his Taser, according to the report. But it didn't work.

The statement from Slager's attorney, though, did not say that Slager actually fired the device. Aylor said he could not offer further clarification until the officer talks with investigators.

"When confronted, Officer Slager reached for his Taser — as trained by the department — and then a struggle ensued," Aylor said. "The driver tried to overpower Officer Slager in an effort to take his Taser."

'Felt threatened'
Seconds later, the report added, he radioed that the suspect wrested control of the device. Even with the Taser's prongs deployed, the device can still be used as a stun gun to temporarily incapacitate someone.

Slager "felt threatened and reached for his department-issued firearm and fired his weapon," his attorney added.

The report indicated that Slager fired multiple times, but it was not specific.

Backup officers did first aid and CPR on Scott until paramedics showed up. But Scott was pronounced dead.

Loved ones have said that Scott was a family man who recently got engaged. They insisted that he wasn't violent.

His most serious arrests came decades ago, according to his SLED rap sheet.

County police officers arrested him in 1987 on a charge of assault and battery, and he was convicted in 1991 of possession of a bludgeon.

Ten years passed before he was arrested twice in 2001 on contempt charges. He would face several similar charges occasionally during the next decade until his last arrest in 2012.

He also had convictions from 2008 for driving under suspension and having an open alcohol container in his car.

Anthony Scott met with the police near the scene soon after his brother was shot. The report did not specify, though, whether he had been the passenger in the Mercedes.

The police took his cellphone as evidence. The next day, he promised in a public statement to find out the truth about what happened.

Dave Munday contributed to this report. Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414 or twitter.com/offlede.

[I-10east]

^^^Didn't I said that this North Charleston cop was guilty? Why are you acting like I denied the video? I got a bridge to sell you if you think that race isn't a factor with the media, you can't be that naive...Why do you care so much about my opinion? I only said what I said because Cleveland Arms, a different case was tied into this thread; Otherwise, I wouldn't have went there. I make no apologies for telling it like it is, so no need for that weak attempt at shaming 'bad taste I-10' crap.... 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

dumb. and no one cares, frankly.

Seems to be your go to word this week.  Dictionary.com has an app you might want to check out.

I guess lifting this from the other thread is pretty appropriate:

...Frankly, calling someone else's opinion dumb while elevating your own is a petty way to debate anything when you have nothing to substantiate your argument other than 'opinion'...

I-10 makes a pretty valid point.  None of these shootings are one-size-fits-all and you have to analyze each based on the information presented. 

There's another case on the forum of an officer shooting a man in the back http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,10722.0.html, and while it's a common trend to package all police shootings in the same wrapper, these 2 cases are apples and oranges, or night and day if you will.  One was a repeat offender with what could be deemed as 'a danger to the public' felony conviction(s);  Scott had an issue with paying child support and showing up for court.  The linked incident happened after dark;  Scott's was in broad daylight.  One fled in a vehicle through a residential neighborhood and ultimately rammed it into a police cruiser;  Scott was on foot running through an empty lot.

Did either man deserve to die?  No.  But with the facts as presented, I tend to side with the LEO on the one and the victim on the other.  And I don't see an instance in I-10's post or any other on this thread siding with the Police department in this case. 

The video that was shot directly refutes the officer's testimony, and that is the damning aspect that is going to get, and should get IMO, the most attention in this case because it begs the question in Ajax's statement:

This is the local newspaper article that was written *before* the video of the shooting was released.  Incredible.  I've probably read hundreds of articles like this and never given the official version of events a second thought.

How many other 'official' versions have played out and been completely wrong to CYA?

Edit in Blue

[I-10east]

^^^Thank you NRW, I appreciate it man. 

[Jax native]

^^^Didn't I said that this North Charleston cop was guilty? Why are you acting like I denied the video? I got a bridge to sell you if you think that race isn't a factor with the media, you can't be that naive...Why do you care so much about my opinion? I only said what I said because Cleveland Arms, a different case was tied into this thread; Otherwise, I wouldn't have went there. I make no apologies for telling it like it is, so no need for that weak attempt at shaming 'bad taste I-10' crap....

Please, I-10 enlighten us to the facts from Cleveland Arms?  Do you have a video? How in the hell do you know "a different case" or set of facts of Cleveland Arms shooting didn't have this entire scenario?  The JSO shooting the UNARMED man at Cleveland Arms has everything to do with this.  Many police can not be trusted to tell the truth.  Again, many police can not be trusted to tell the truth.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind the JSO "followed procedure".  I'm seen them work.  I know their work.  This work is imperfect at times, and many times when they are in the present of different individuals. 

YOu can troll me, but I'm wasting time with you after this, but you are wrong.  You are prejudice and you seemed very racist.  You are giving white cops too much credit and withholding factual truth you know is correct.  A man is shot to death on cold bloody death and you're first action is to yell about this is not like all police.  Well, This guy was NOT LIKE ALL BLACK MALES.  Get a grip on reality you are living in.  It's 2015, not 1956.  People got rights and I stand up for people using them!

[Jax native]

We're all left playing the 'what if' game Ajax, I'm not claiming to 'know' why or how either.

And this incident is more inciting than most because practically the entire situation was video taped and in direct odds with the report that was filed; we're not left having to rely on a 1-sided report of what happened behind those stores and wondering what really happened.

This will be interesting how this plays out, because I have a hard time seeing how any of his peers are going to be able to stand beside him and justify his actions, knowing the national attention this will draw and the immediate local tension that this has created.

NO, YOU ARE NOT LEFT PLAYING THE WHAT IF GAME?   Cleveland Arms shooting by JSO is the what if game.  This is not.  This is a police person assassinated a man in cold blood with ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL RIGHT TO DO SO.

It's not hard to process the facts, it's hard when you refuse to acknowledge the facts. 

[I-10east]

^^^Didn't I said that this North Charleston cop was guilty? Why are you acting like I denied the video? I got a bridge to sell you if you think that race isn't a factor with the media, you can't be that naive...Why do you care so much about my opinion? I only said what I said because Cleveland Arms, a different case was tied into this thread; Otherwise, I wouldn't have went there. I make no apologies for telling it like it is, so no need for that weak attempt at shaming 'bad taste I-10' crap....

Please, I-10 enlighten us to the facts from Cleveland Arms?  Do you have a video? How in the hell do you know "a different case" or set of facts of Cleveland Arms shooting didn't have this entire scenario?  The JSO shooting the UNARMED man at Cleveland Arms has everything to do with this.  Many police can not be trusted to tell the truth.  Again, many police can not be trusted to tell the truth.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind the JSO "followed procedure".  I'm seen them work.  I know their work.  This work is imperfect at times, and many times when they are in the present of different individuals. 

YOu can troll me, but I'm wasting time with you after this, but you are wrong.  You are prejudice and you seemed very racist.  You are giving white cops too much credit and withholding factual truth you know is correct.  A man is shot to death on cold bloody death and you're first action is to yell about this is not like all police.  Well, This guy was NOT LIKE ALL BLACK MALES.  Get a grip on reality you are living in.  It's 2015, not 1956.  People got rights and I stand up for people using them!

Very moronic statements. I'm 'racist' against myself because I don't see myself as a constant victim? Okay... 2015 is the era of continuous black victimhood, without indulging into the facts of every individual case? Okay.. Just throw an 'innocent blanket' over every 'victim' and there you go...As I said earlier, the North Charleston cop is guilty as hell, there is no denying that.

On to the Cleveland Arms case (why you linked that to this SC case, I have no idea, other than an agenda) You mentioned everything that guy did was a misdemeanor, when I can easily name three felonies through that instance, and I'm being freaking lenient!! Hell, give the guy a boy scout badge, he's such an innocent person, with simple 'misdemeanors' through that ordeal, like kicking people's door down, assaulting a woman, resisting arrest among other things...You don't have a leg to stand on with your typical liberal-esque comments; When all else fails, call someone a 'racist, and it isn't 1956' etc. Just because you wrote a long post (on the other thread) doesn't mean it has any substance...You can't even stick to the script on your own thread...

[Jax native]

Just to put this out there, and in no way am I even remotely trying to justify the cop's response and based on what I saw, I hope he receives a punishment commensurate with his actions.  On the flip side and from more experiences in dealing with LEO than I'd like to mention, I've never been hit, tazed, shot, etc....

Is it because I'm white or is it because I never ran, fought back or resisted? 

Was the guy going to end up going to jail for failure to pay child support again?  Probably, but while not making him a 'criminal' per se, he knew what was coming and made a really bad decision.  The cop just exponentially amplified that bad decision with another horrible decision and now 2 people's lives are forever changed and the collateral damage is incalculable.

So I think about that every time I read one of these articles.  And since memories tend to run a little short and people sometimes read what they want and not what was written, I'm going to repeat myself:

"...in no way am I even remotely trying to justify the cop's response and based on what I saw, I hope he receives a punishment commensurate with his actions."

I'm not quite sure what to start on these words.  Maybe it is because you are white.  Maybe you are bland.  Maybe you don't go out much.  Maybe you don't encounter others or maybe you just keep yourself protected alone/  I have no idea. But, let me throw you out something;

Let's say you are a law abiding white male who has a concealed weapons permit.  YOu like your concealed weapon.  You want to keep it with you most of the times.  You even have a miniature copy of the 2nd Amendment, Sarah Palin gave out her last visit.  What if we have police who don't like people having guns?  What if we get to a point, police are irritated by people who have guns, especially white guys?   What if you haven't renew you concealed weapon permit?  The police pull you over for a bad tail light?  The police see you have a concealed weapon.  They ask for your permit, and you know you need to pay to renew but you haven't.  But, this is not the first time police have done this to you.  You keep forgetting and not have the money to get your permit, so police keep harassing you about it.  What if they took to jail a couple of times for not having permits?  What would you do if people pulled you over while just driving your car, you realize you don't have a permit, and the police have kinda, or maybe a lot abused you in arguments about your gun permit.  So, your driving Saturday afternoon and the police pulls you over because you have no tail light.  YOu have anxiety, maybe a little panic attacks, because you are now living in a world where black males are not threatening,but whites males with guns are.  Police don't give a crap about black men who owe child support.  They now want to get your gun.  There are a rogue crew of police who want everyone unarmed.  YOU ARE THEIR BIGGEST TARGET NOW.  You know your a target, because police (in a world you will never understand, but stay with me here) have beat up your friends who carry, handcuffed you on bogus charges because you carry, followed you to your house because you carry, and watch from their cars seeing a white male who looks suspicious because they are while, older, etc. the typical profile, there cops hate.  So, now they have pulled you over and you're in your anxiety phase, where you are sick and tired about being pulled over for petty crap.  You don't want to go to jail.  Police start treating you worst than others, because you are the target profile they dislike.  Not because you are white, but because you guys always have guns.  Police then starts badgering you, not unlike the previous 8 -12 times in last 6 years. 

You know you have the 2nd amendment right not to give up your gun but he's mad your permit isn't up to date.  He pulls you out of car, yells at you, intimidates you, and you are scared of going to jail over such a PETTY, PETTY ,PETTY issue..to you.  You think to yourself, I'm sick of cops trying to take my gun, I tired of being pulled over, I do not want to go to jail. I run because police is threatening me with who knows what.  You fight or flee.  Normal reaction when your back against the wall in a situation that's difficult to handle.  Your not going to fight the police, you run.  he pulls his gun and shoot you dead.  He looks at your dead body and screams, 'PUT YOUR HANDS AGAINST YOUR BACK' while you are not breathing.  He then plants some evidence on you, and everything cool.  Maybe it's not you this time, it's the guy you meet at Denny's every Tuesday morning for coffee.  How do you feel?

This man who was murdered has a 4th amendment right to no illegal searches, and a right to drive peacefully on the road.  The police couldn't arrest him, but they could try to search him, ask him questions not legally and violate each of his Constitutional rights. 

YOu can not want the government to abuse your second amendment, and the rest of us, don't won't police to abuse out 4, 7th and the rest.  YOu cannot cherry pick what amendment you want to protect and give up the rights of others.  The NC police had no right to pull him out of car, chase him down or kill him in cold blood.  This man had rights, and I do also.  I don't know about you, but I'm fighting to keep mine.  Not just your's MINE. 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

We're all left playing the 'what if' game Ajax, I'm not claiming to 'know' why or how either.

NO, YOU ARE NOT LEFT PLAYING THE WHAT IF GAME?   Cleveland Arms shooting by JSO is the what if game.  This is not.  This is a police person assassinated a man in cold blood with ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL RIGHT TO DO SO.

It's not hard to process the facts, it's hard when you refuse to acknowledge the facts.

Easy.....  Calm Down Mr. CAPITAL LETTERS PANTS....    Goos - Fra - Ba.......   Con-text

The guessing game regarding why he was pulled over to begin with, not what we witnessed on the video.

Cliff's Notes:

The cop pulled the man over for having a tail light out.  As the guy was pulling into the parking lot of an auto parts store.  I think this issue is larger than just some random black guy who hadn't paid his child support. 

Why?  I'm not sure of procedure, so this is an assumption.  The cop runs the tag and sees a warrant out for unpaid child support.  Let's also assume that they can't serve those warrants on that basis alone, so the cop notices a tail-light out (suspect IMO) and makes a stop.  The guy, knowing he's going to jail, makes a tremendously stupid decision and runs.

While we're playing the 'what if' game, how ignorant is it to flee after a traffic stop in the first place?  Assuming the car is registered in your name, they already have your information and you just made whatever situation you were in 1,000x worse.

Edit:

Just read your post above mine that you obviously spent a lot of time typing while I was responding to your first.  The short answer to your super long scenario - you know you fucked up, you take your lumps and you go to jail.  You don't fight.  You don't flee.  You pay the price for being a dumbass.  Some of us have done pretty much the exact same thing, but substitute 'concealed weapon' for 'valid driver's license', and you have a scenario that many people can relate to, myself included.

[strider]

A few posts ago, non-redneck westsider, you mentioned that Stephen had brought up Kiko battles but the scenario you used for that incident was completely incorrect. It was in broad daylight, he did not run in a vehicle and there was at the time some amount of doubt as to whether he really had a gun or not.  Most accept that he did, including me, and that it was a tragic set of circumstances, but now, I am wondering what really happened. I also understand, we will never know with absolute certainty.

In this latest case, every situation that every officer involved with this incident was ever involved in will be questioned and perhaps rightfully so.  How can the public, especially one already so distrustful of the police, have faith that any of these types of incidents, including the death of Kiko Battles, happens the way the officers have claimed?  That is the long lasting effect this latest incident will have: the distrust of all of the officers on the streets just increased ten fold.

The jobs of the honest and upstanding officers just got much harder.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

A few posts ago, non-redneck westsider, you mentioned that Stephen had brought up Kiko battles but the scenario you used for that incident was completely incorrect. It was in broad daylight, he did not run in a vehicle and there was at the time some amount of doubt as to whether he really had a gun or not.  Most accept that he did, including me, and that it was a tragic set of circumstances, but now, I am wondering what really happened. I also understand, we will never know with absolute certainty.

That was my mistake.  The thread that was resuscitated that I pulled my info from is here:

JSO Shoots Unarmed Fleeing Man in the Back 

I wasn't familiar with the Kiko incident and thought those incidents were one in the same.

The jobs of the honest and upstanding officers just got much harder.

Agreed.