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WashPo on officer mistaken shooting of an arrestee
It's here. Apparently the SWAT team was called out to arrest a bookie, he made no resistance, but a member wound up killing him by mistake. (Memo to SWAT team: keep finger out of triggerguard unless you're ready to fire).
Alan Gura sends the following comment (which was blocked by the spam filter because it included "bet" -- due to a massive onslaught by online gambling comment spam, I've had to block bet, wager, poker, etc):
Dr. Culosi was not a bookie. He was an optometrist. His crime was that he liked to bet on football with some of his friends at a local bar. An undercover cop befriended him and started betting with him. The cops knew he was a non violent doctor who owned no weapons, had zero criminal record, and was arguably entrapped. They blew him away outside of his house for no apparent reason.
Typically in cases like this, the killer gets prosecuted. Intent can be inferred from one's actions, as the prosecutor would tell you in any case but one involving a police officer. Police officers are simply not prosecuted for any misconduct in Fairfax. Apparently it hasn't happened in 30 years. Must be an extremely clean department. Right now, the law is that if the police murder someone in Fairfax County, but claim it is an "accident," then that's the end of the matter.
End of comment. Alan also cites to this website established by the victim's parents. They in turn link to a Fairfax PD press release announcing a crackdown on illegal gambling. I wonder if the use of the SWAT team against a rather harmless suspect was meant to "send a message?" It's also rather ironic that the press release talks about how gambling can ruin lives -- when Virginia promotes its state lottery.
Comments
Much, much more here, among many more horror stories about SWAT raids gone wrong. Be sure to follow the several mentions of the prosecutor Robert Horan and his refusal to charge the negligent officer (or any others over the years).
There are more mentions of the Culosi case in the main section of the blog as well.
Posted by: Jason at April 3, 2006 02:52 PM
And the police wonder why many citizens (not just blacks) are coming to view them as "the enemy"?
Posted by: wrangler5 at April 4, 2006 08:43 AM
We've come to view them as the enemy because they have become the enemy. They view their jobs with an "us against them" attitude that's become very apparent. I know too many that feel they are no longer public servants but the public's masters. The militarization of police has encouraged this attitude and it's only getting worse.
Posted by: Dave at April 4, 2006 10:51 AM