Deputies Lose Federal Civil Case

[falcon]

The familys of the deceased scumbag and his wounded scumbag brother sued in federal court and won: In PRCA, of course. This does not pass the common sense test.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...tory?track=rss

A federal jury has ruled that L.A. County deputies used unreasonable force when they fatally shot an armed man and wounded his brother in Compton three years ago, and awarded the family $2.65 million.

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"These were armed suspects who are now wrongly being portrayed as victims," Baca said. "I am sure the county counsel will appeal this verdict."

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A patron suspecting that they were about to rob the place alerted authorities while the owner pulled out a gun and pointed it at the men. The family's attorneys say the pair paid for beer and left.

But when the two brothers were at Central Avenue near 148th Street about 9:45 p.m., two sheriff's cruisers responding to the attempted robbery call pulled up. Knowing that they had concealed weapons and did not want to get caught, the pair began to run, according to the family's attorneys.

Sheriff's officials said Deputy Russell Helbing and Sgt. James Tatreau Jr. opened fire after Freddie Davis Jr. revealed that he had a sawed-off shotgun and made a motion like he was going to fire it toward the deputies.

Freddie Davis Jr. was hit five times in the back with rounds from Tatreau's department-issued weapon, and Keyonte Davis was shot once in the calf by Helbing, according to the Davis' attorneys. Freddie Davis Jr. was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he died.

[CalHunter]

Sheriff's officials said Deputy Russell Helbing and Sgt. James Tatreau Jr. opened fire after Freddie Davis Jr. revealed that he had a sawed-off shotgun and made a motion like he was going to fire it toward the deputies.

The 2 brothers didn't help the situation by running away. This quote from the article would seem to give the Deputy the right to defend himself from a perceived threat/attack. It would be good to get more information before rendering a final opinion.

[nodog]

Five times-in the back?

Don't these people work in groups anymore? Seems like it would've been a good idea to surround these guys, instead of pushing them to desperate measures.

What's with the store story. Guy thinks he's being robbed, pulls a weapon and the would be robbers pay for their stuff and leave. Way out of a normal day to me. One things for sure, if you go there you'd better be packing, everyone else is.

I doubt the "family" (more like a pack) gets more than beer and cigaret money after the legal system takes their cut.

Just my .000000000002 on the article.

[petasux]

Guy thinks he's being robbed, pulls a weapon and the would be robbers pay for their stuff and leave.

Kinda off topic but I was watching watching worlds dumbest criminals yesterday and a guy on there was caught on film doing just that.Him and his girlfriend got to the counter at Taco Bell and he revealed a gun in the waistband of his pants.He told em to give him the money, the kid refused and then called his manager over.The manager refused and told the guy he wasnt going to rob thier store.

The guy did a 360 and placed a food order, payed for it out of his wallet and joked with them about it, the guy and his girlfriend then took thier food to a table in the restaruant and sat down to eat while cops were called.It was funny as hell, but goes tio show you, criminals arent always the brightest people in the world.

[CalHunter]

Originally Posted by nodog

Five times-in the back?

Don't these people work in groups anymore? Seems like it would've been a good idea to surround these guys, instead of pushing them to desperate measures.

What's with the store story. Guy thinks he's being robbed, pulls a weapon and the would be robbers pay for their stuff and leave. Way out of a normal day to me. One things for sure, if you go there you'd better be packing, everyone else is.

I doubt the "family" (more like a pack) gets more than beer and cigaret money after the legal system takes their cut.

Just my .000000000002 on the article.

I don't have all the facts and would like more facts before rushing tio judgment (we obviously differ on this point). 2 males go into a liquor store, one of them carrying a sawed off shotgun (a felony crime). The other had a concealed pistol I believe which is a crime also. I don't remember if both were on parole/probation or not but if so, that would be an additional crime. The liquor store owner suspected they were going to rob them and points his gun at them. they made some kind of purchase and left the scene.

When the police contacted them, they didn't stop and try to file a complaint about the bad ole liquor store owner brandishing his gun at them. Instead they tried to get a way. They didn't put their hands in the air, try to show they weren't a threat, wait for the proper time to explain all of the above, etc. They ran like criminals.

According to the newspaper article quoted, the one with the shotgun made some kind of motion as if to point the shotgun at the police. Whether intentional or not, that definitely put their lives in danger. I can see why the police would shoot at that point.

I really don't have all the facts of this situation and would be curious to get more facts. I willing to withhold judgment until I get more facts but you apparently are not. We disagree on that.

[cvtrapper]

Originally Posted by CalHunter

I really don't have all the facts of this situation and would be curious to get more facts. I willing to withhold judgment until I get more facts but you apparently are not. We disagree on that.

+1 it's a bit fuzzy.