I withdraw my prior post. After having seen the security tape video. This one was indeed, different that what I am used to seeing here. The guy did appear justified in thinking he was being robbed by gangland thugs, and when he tried to escape the cops had no business firing at him.

I’ll admit I was suckered, by the past history of what gets posted on this site regarding this general topic – into thinking this was yet again one of those examples of:

Oh woe is us – we’ve lost all our liberties and live in a Police State, because another jack-booted gestapo kicked/tased/shot some poor kid after a high speed chase which endangered a dozen other innocent lives; and when oh when dear Lord will the cops ALWAYS follow proper police procedures 10,000 out of 10,000 stops/arrests instead of only following them 9,999 out of 10,000 stops/arrests.

I promise to watch the video first from now on before making a decision on whether to post the Chris Rock video – and will do so, the next time there is a “OMG, look what those cops have done NOW!” posting.

But on this particular one, I’m right with you. I would have ended up dead too, just like that guy.

And yes – I agree that the war on drugs has been a complete failure. Partially because prohibition doesn’t work if enough people want something; and partially because of the manner in which the “war” has been conducted.

That was my first reaction to when I skimmed the story before reading it again later. But there is one detail you seem to be glossing over: these were police officers who were not in uniform coming out of unmarked vehicles. Do you mean to tell me that you would have calmly surrendered to just anyone who flashes a badge and claims they are the police? If so, you sir are a damn fool.

Believe it or not, there are criminals out there who commit crimes by posing as police officers (such as was the subject of one of my posts awhile back). Unfortunately, whenever it becomes acceptable for police to act like thugs (as I have documented here on numerous occasions) it becomes harder to tell the difference which kind of thug you might be dealing with.

This incident was completely avoidable and continuing to excuse this behavior is unacceptable.

First thought:

1. The video is inconclusive of any definitive conclusion. HOWEVER,
2. This all occurred very quickly. It doesn’t appear there was time for an officer to calmly walk up to the window and tap on the glass before brandishing his weapon.
3. The [plainclothes] officers were driving an [unmarked] Escalade. I hate to say it, but if I see someone jump out of an Escalade brandishing a weapon, my first thought is NOT that this is a police officer. Maybe a Merc Grand Marquis, but not an Escalade.

This is clearly a tragedy. I’m sure Ayers was scared and thought he was being robbed (supposedly he had just stopped at the ATM). I’m sure the cops will claim they did EVERYTHING in their power to alert Ayers to the fact that they were cops and not robbers. And yet he’s still dead.

The culprit here, though, is the War on Drugs. When you criminalize a consensual victimless act, one that must rely on possession of a substance (and snitches rather than ‘victims’) to be proven, you end up with a situation where things like dynamic entry, undercover operations and “surprise” are the only way to catch the lawbreakers. Add a human element and human emotions, adrenaline, and fears, and you’ll end up with innocent people needlessly killed.

This didn’t have to happen, EVEN IF AYERS WAS A RECREATIONAL DRUG USER OR SMALL-TIME DEALER (which I don’t think there’s evidence at this point to make that case). The country is not safer today, but a Georgia pastor is dead leaving his unborn child fatherless. Would Ayers have been alive today if he’d assumed those men were cops instead of assuming they were thieves? Probably. But Ayers would also be alive today if we didn’t treat the War on Drugs as a reason to outfit our police forces like paramilitary enforcers and rely on the element of surprise to carry out their mission.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8

Not to generalize or anything, since each situation is unique, and perhaps in this particular instance, the reverand was rightfully exercising those Liberties we all cherish, in attempting to run over the law enforcement individuals with his car and then make a getaway that could make one nostalgic for the halcyon days of Bonnie and Clyde…..but as this video points out, in GENERAL it is typically and often even advisable to simply calmly exit your vehicle, when told to do so a police officer approaching you with a badge.

Even if your lady friend is possibly involved in the sales and distribution side of the recreational pharmaceutical business, and so therefore you would, ideally, prefer not interacting with law enforcement right this very minute.

PUNISHED FOR WHAT, EXACTLY?