I am gonna tell a story, one that some of your have heard, but one part I usually have left out when telling it, I am not even sure my wife knows one part.
Long time ago, I was working at Wal-Mart, was training to be management. Was working the graveyard shift and just started it, when just after 10pm had a situation where the electronics clerk called me to approve a check over $300 dollars, to buy a huge TV. I got there and the only physical ID the customer could show, the ink was smudged. Ya smudged under the plastic. Told him I could not accept that, he said he had another ID in his car, and was gonna get it. I figured he was Full of S... but he had a friend who actually stayed behind in electronics, so I figured I would wait. The friend walked around for a minute or two so I had an idea to call the phone number on the check he tried to use, turns out the owner of the check answered, and said they had just the day before reported stolen checks and credit cards. So the friend was still in view, so I called the cops who came pretty quick. I met the cops at front entrance and pointed out the friend, and as cop #1 went to talk with him I took cop # 2 outside. We saw the guy who I thought was the customer who tried to use the fake ID about 30 yards off in front of the alberstons next to the Wal-mart, but it was dark so was not sure, and I pointed him out. The cop got on his walkie asking for more officers, then went towards the suspect asking me to follow to be sure to identify him. I did and the cop called out to him. The guy did not respond, and had both his hands in his pockets. He just kept walking. We ran, and the cop again yelled at the man to stop and put his hands in the air, addressing him by describing what he was wearing. He then stopped, put one hand up but not the other. I stopped about 10 yards away. The cop ran with his hand on his gun, ready to draw it, again yelling for the man to put both hands in air. but the man did not. The cop reached him just as he turned. The cop grabbed him and slammed him up against some coke machines, and struggled with him for a bit, but had him pinned pretty well. even to the point the suspect was yelling out in pain, at that time another cop car pulled up, and cop jumped out and helped get the suspect in cuffs. I identified him as the one who gave me the fake ID, then went back to the store, where cop #1 had the friend in cuffs as well on the sidewalk.
I went back inside, and for about 30 minutes cops filled the lot. It ended up there was a 3rd man in their party, waiting in a U Haul type truck, and he too was apprehended, and in the truck was a bunch printing equipment to make ID's, multiple handguns and a couple rifles. As well as some large screen TVs. I had to write out a full statement of what happened for the officers. After an investigation, it turned out these 3 men had storage units of over $45,000 in TV's and other electronics, they had purchased with stolen checks and credit cards. An article was put in the paper a few days later about this stolen goods ring, and I was mentioned as an"Unnamed manager at Wal-Mart" as the reason they where apprehended.
If I told you about this then you heard all of this before.
One part though I have always left out though, not sure why but I have. The suspect I had to go identify with the cop outside the store. Well I mentioned he did not remove one hand from a pocket, and that he was yelling out in pain when being apprehended. Well he kept yelling, AWWWW your crushing my chest. and your breaking my arm, when the cop was trying to get him under control, and slamming him against the coke machines. Well one might say the cop used excessive force, one might even be right. But I am so glad he did, cause that pocket his hand was stuck in had a fully loaded hand gun. And given that he raised one hand but not the other, leaves me only to wonder, was this man thinking about pulling out his gun, and using it on the cop, and possibly myself standing 10 yards behind the cop?
So in this most recent story about the man in NYC who died after getting a choke hold put on him, and was yelling out I cannot breath, but the cop/cops did not let up. I ask you this. Do you really want the cop to let up, when he/she is trying to apprehend a suspect, just because the suspect is yelling out in pain, or saying he/she cannot breath?? Do you?? Do you want the criminals to know that all they have to do is yell, AWWW I CANNOT BREATH, then the cop has to let go, and give the criminal an opportunity to fight back, or worse grab a weapon he might have. Or give the suspect an opportunity to do this??? https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10205538434408949&set=vb.1494731896&type=2&theater
HELL no, if the suspect does not obey then they have to be considered hostile, and then they have to be treated as hostile. Now am I saying the cops did not go overboard, no I am not. They do at times, and yes that needs to be addressed. It is an issue. But I also am going to say that its a fine line to try and judge what overboard is when its not your life that is not being put on the line every day. And though they at times get it wrong just like we all do, I am OK with a cop using "Excessive force" when a suspect is not obeying the commands they are being given. Cause the criminals are sure as heck using excessive force. and it could be your life hanging in the balance. If it is, who would you want using this "excessive force?" The cop putting his life on the line for YOU, or the suspect who could take YOUR life.
