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News & ArtsTuesday, August 31, 2010
Crime SPD Calls for Eyewitnesses to Come Forward in Yesterday's Shooting Fatality
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 5:32 PM
The Seattle Police Department offered a firmer time line of the events that led to the fatal shooting of a 50-year-old man on Boren Avenue by Officer Ian Birk—a two-year veteran of the department—but few details on what led to the fatality or if it could have been prevented, in the end, called on potential witnesses to come forward with more details to help with the investigation.
"We don't know why [the officer] didn't call for backup first," said Deputy Chief Nick Metz. Metz also said that it was unclear if the man made any gestures or lunged at the officer before the shooting, but said that when interviewed, the officer believed his safety was in danger.
- The knife confiscated from the victim (click to enlarge)
Metz said the officer wasn't equipped with a Taser. But even if he was, "We don’t recommend officers using a Taser [when approaching someone with a knife]," explains Metz. "A knife is considered a deadly weapon."
However, the knife the victim was carrying had a three-inch blade, which is legal under the city's municipal code.
As for more de-escalation training, "that works for a benign situation," says Chief Diaz. "It becomes much more dicey when there’s a situation with a potential deadly weapon involved."
In its entirety, from reviewing police footage, SPD says the incident—from the officer pulling over to the time of the shooting—happened in under a minute. The officer saw the man crossing Howell Street with a wooden board and a knife. He stopped his patrol car and turned on emergency lights, which activates the in-car patrol camera. SPD confirmed that the footage shows both the man with the knife and the officer cross in front of the camera and then go out of view, but the department has no footage of the actual incident. "We could hear through microphone, the officer tell the man three times to drop the knife," Metz reiterated. The man refused the officer’s orders. From approximately nine to 10 feet away, the officer fired four rounds. "The man went down, the officer called for backup, and officers arrived within a minute and a half," Metz explained. The man was declared dead at the scene.
Chief Diaz reiterated that the situation is still under investigation. "My pledge to you is to conduct a transparent investigation, and a complete investigation," he said. Chief Diaz then called on anyone who might have been a witness to the incident to contact SPD's homicide department with information.
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People in Atlanta GA are concerned that their rights to whittle and carry green peppers are being sold out for paranoia.
Soon, we will only be allowed to accept tourists who have no clothes on, at the rate we're going.
Either that or the SPD needs to not think that Driving While Black, Walking While Brown, or Whittling While Native are shooting offenses ...
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I dont give a flying fuck that the guy was told to drop the knife, he was walking away and posed no threat. Fucking lazy ass rookie cop too bothered to get off his ass and chase down after a suspect or even call for backup in order to give the guy an official ass beating.
All for the crime of minding your own business. Lots of people carry knives, he was using it to make art, to sell for food or booze. That isnt a crime, never will be. Cop should be fired and arrested. But dont worry, it will never happen. It doesnt matter what I say. It doesnt matter what the majority of people think. Cops will continue to fuck up, on the job, and face little or no reprimand.
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Possibly make all cops wear those neck cameras.
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"In the past 20 years he has 30 such convictions, including public indecency (5 convictions); lewd conduct, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure."
Apparently it’s ok when your wave your First Nation cock at tourists while holding an open beer in Pike Place, it’s a native greeting.
I suppose if he was advancing towards the officer or lunging at him with the blade (legal length or otherwise) shooting in self-defense would be justified. If he was walking away or refusing to cooperate but holding his ground, etc. then it seems like pepper spray or waiting for backup would be more appropriate.
More details needed.
Did that happen at all? The guy clearly wasn't threatening anyone and had the knife in plain sight.
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