Trooper Shoots Medical Courier For Seatbelt Violation

"Kevin Barrett" (kevinbarrett)
09/25/2014 at 15:53 • Filed to: police

In a disturbing trend of unwarranted police violence, a South Carolina officer fired four rounds at a medical courier after tricking him into fumbling for his license and registration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBUUO_…

The video begins with the officer’s (vertical) video behind a Shell station. The ambiance gives no indication of emergency lights or sirens, but there is audio, and then it is muted for 21 seconds. We see the nose of the cruiser point out to the street, and the officer appears to decide to fuel up before leaving the gas station, so he backs up and points his car toward the pumps.

Just then, a man appears from a parked car, and we hear the officer prompt him for his license. The man is immediately compliant, turns his back to reach for the required documents, and the officer seizes the moment to get rid of those last four rounds of the ammo he bought on sale but didn’t like so much.

That’s right, while the man’s back is turned, the cop puts two rounds into him. The man is still standing (no wonder he wanted to get rid of that cheap ammo) but he reaches to feel his wounds. BIG mistake. Wounds can conceal weapons apparently, so the officer puts one more round his way, then another once his hands are raised, just to be sure.

The victim is still polite while bleeding on the ground, all things considered. He calls the officer “sir,” apologizes, and asks politely why he was thus treated. He is still trying to produce his license for his assailant when the officer shouts at him to put his hands behind his back. When he asked why he was pulled over (was he pulled over?) the officer informs him it was a seat belt violation. If he hadn’t been in quite so much shock, I’m sure his response would have been “Well, thanks for keeping me safe!”

DISCUSSION (12)

CB > Kevin Barrett
09/25/2014 at 15:56

I just saw this video. This is why use of force training something that every officer needs to remember during any encounter. The guy was doing as he was told, and the officer immediately opened fire with what appears to be no perceived threat. According to CNN , the officer is now being charged. And good thing, too.

1finite > Kevin Barrett
09/25/2014 at 16:02

Man the victim was remarkably composed for having just been shot! There would be a lot more expletives and screaming if that was me.

CAR_IS_MI > Kevin Barrett
09/25/2014 at 16:02

we were just talking about this at work. The guy did make some jolty moves, which is always a no no around cops, but still, none of his actions warranted being shot at. you can see as the first shot is fired, the guy spins around with his hands already moving up. second shot is fired and the guy is clearly facing the cop with his hands up and noting in them. Even worse, after multiple shots are fired the guy moves away from the SUV but the cop is still shooting, but what he is hitting is the glass and the door of the SUV, and behind that door and glass is fuel pumps and civilians fueling up... This could have ended A LOT worse than it did. But I am glad the cop got arrested. I hope he gets jail time, and I hope the poor fellow who got shot gets some good money for his pain.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > CAR_IS_MI
09/25/2014 at 16:07

i agree, the quick jolty movements were a bad idea...in that situation one should say, "okay officer, it's in my console, i'm just going to reach for it" and wait for them to respond before moving...i hate to say it's good he got shot in the hip, but you're right, it could've been much much worse for him and a the bystanders

qbeezy > Kevin Barrett
09/25/2014 at 16:10

People wonder why black people "can't leave this in the past". It is sad that i have to fear for my safety when i get pulled over by the cops.

JDIGGS > Kevin Barrett
09/25/2014 at 16:14

This is why people hate cops and militarization of the police. THEY ARE CARRYING GUNS ON OUR SOIL PEOPLE NOT FOREIGN, BUT DOES THEY RECEIVE THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE OF A SOLDIER?

No they are basically a rent a cop in comparison.

Cops shoot random people all the time, it's a fact of life. If you don't believe it you are pure dumbfuck in origin. Look at LA when they shot about 4-5 different people because a cop had been killed, opening up fire on random vehicles.

What would happen if I accidentally killed a pig who drove down my street and said I thought he was a robber.

Shit like this makes me hate this country, and sad to be an american. You wonder why people join ISIS and the taliban?

Hopefully someone will prosecute this pig and try to rectify the situation to some degree. Sadly he is probably enjoying a nice vacation with Full pay on a desk. The brotherhood corruption of the police force, ahh ain't it wonderful.

CAR_IS_MI > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
09/25/2014 at 16:17

Yea any time I deal with a cop I make him aware of what I am doing before I do it.

"License and reg"

"no problem, my reg is in the glove box and my license is in my front right pocket. I am going to reach for them now, okay?"

[waits for acknowledgment]

Cops in my area are known to the public by the slogan of shoot first ask questions later, and so it is always better to play safe than sorry.

Rainbow > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
09/25/2014 at 16:20

Indeed. One time I agreed to a search (got off on a warning, for the record. I just didn't want any trouble) and my trunk release is on the ground next to the seat. So, I was standing outside of the car when the cop asked me to open the trunk, and without saying anything I opened the door and reached for the release... when I turned back around, the cop was backing toward his car with his hand firmly on his holster, and I swear my heart almost stopped upon realizing what was going on.

That said, my cop did the right thing by at least waiting to see what was going on. This one, on the other hand....

Supercharged-V8-Jag > Kevin Barrett
09/25/2014 at 16:21

And the fucked up thing about these cases is the worst the that happens to the cop after is usually something like paid leave. Trigger happy pigs.

jariten1781 > JDIGGS
09/25/2014 at 16:24

What would happen if I accidentally killed a pig who drove down my street and said I thought he was a robber.

Things like that happen. One example this year where SWAT entered a guys house and he killed one thinking he was a robber. The grand jury found that he acted in self-defense and he was not indicted. You're less likely to hear about it since they don't fit the currently popular narrative.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/06/hen…

JDIGGS > jariten1781
09/25/2014 at 17:17

Thanks, that is interesting. I feel like you would really have to have some evidence in your favor but who knows.

Two Drink Minimum > CAR_IS_MI
09/26/2014 at 08:00

I can't get over how pathetic it is that law-abiding citizens must be expected to manage the behavior of police when they are stopped, or risk being gunned down in the street. This whole thing is beyond perverse.