Traffic stop in PA with shootout!

[wyntrout]

Dang! Just saw this. Traffic stop in PA and two officers shot in resulting shootout! One officer wouldn't have had a chance with this bad guy! Two almost died.
https://nypost.com/video/heart-stop...shot-by-man-pulled-over-for-speeding/?ref=yfp

[Ed M]

That incident happened last year. I used to drive that section of highway every day.

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/new...of_pa_sta.html

[Bobshouse]

That semi truck driver could have ended it all. Glad the officers made it, tough recovery for both. I think the perp had a little more than marijuana, maybe laced with PCP.

[Ed M]

This more recent shooting is really causing quite a stir around here.

This happened just a few blocks from my parents house. It seems the suspect was walking up and down the road and "assaulting" vehicles as they passed through an intersection. From the damage that was shown to some of the vehicles, he's lucky he didn't get shot by a motorist. Castle doctrine also applies to your vehicle, and if someone attacks you and forces entry by smashing the vehicle glass, well....

The officer was charged with voluntary manslaughter - it'll be interesting how this all plays out.

[Ed M]

And the latest news on this incident...

[lantern]

Having several other means of deterrent on his person and seeing both hands of the guy empty will just about seal this case for the rookie as far as public opinion goes. Especially since the guy's family is putting on the sickening saintly show.

[Bawanna]

Many officers have died at the hands of a bad guy with empty hands. Many because they feared shooting a guy bigger than themselves with empty hands or they were a minority.
Unlike the old days PC requires departments to hire all kinds, not just BIG GUYS anymore, and being a BIG GUY wasn't always the key to survival.

It's tough these days for officers, the court of public opinion is mammoth and unforgiving, not that officers need forgiveness the majority of the time.

[dustnchips]

We expect our police to stand up to protect us and then some jury condems them for using too much force against a dangerous person that is totally out of control and refuses to obey orders. What the heck is wrong with this picture?

[lantern]

Many officers have died at the hands of a bad guy with empty hands. Many because they feared shooting a guy bigger than themselves with empty hands or they were a minority.
Unlike the old days PC requires departments to hire all kinds, not just BIG GUYS anymore, and being a BIG GUY wasn't always the key to survival.

It's tough these days for officers, the court of public opinion is mammoth and unforgiving, not that officers need forgiveness the majority of the time.

Yeah, but the officer had pepper spray, a baton and taser on his person along with the gun. It'll be tough to swing opinion when those options were available immediately. Also, if he really did say "I effed up" to his fellow officer..... oh boy that'll hurt.

[Ed M]

Yeah, their taser did the two officers a lot of good in the first incident that Wynn posted about.

Scuttlebutt has it that the toxicology report from the autopsy will weigh heavily in the second case.

If the deceased was not under the influence, and just mentally challenged, this could get ugly.

God bless our law enforcement officers. The thin blue line could be destined to get a lot thinner.