Just gotta get something off my chest real quick. Or two things actually. I’ve been deliberately mum on Michael Brown & Darren Wilson, becaaauuuuse (drumroll please) …. (Eh hem, is this thing on? Y’all hearin’ me okay?) …. We … do … not … have … all … the … facts. I think it’s down right dangerous for The Times and now Fox News to leak out all this piecemeal info in dribs and drabs. Even more dangerous for them to keep feeding it all to their bow-tied, bespectacled, honorary-degree-donning, Monday-morning quarterbacks for self-aggrandizing, speculative, primetime pontification. They are stirring up the pot and inciting more unrest for the sake of a few bumps in readership and ratings.
And while I’m breaking my silence on this case, let me put one more little nugget on the noggin. Remember the justification for George Zimmerman killing Trayvon Martin? While anti-GZ folks were outraged that GZ “started the fight” by unnecessarily pursuing TM, the pro-acquittal folks (among whom I begrudgingly count myself) conceded that once TM re-engaged GZ (the infamous “sucker-punch” and “concrete head-bashing”), then the fight began anew — with a new aggressor and a new self-defense analysis.
The same concept applies to Michael Brown and Darren Wilson. If MB accosted DW at the car, that’s one event, which likely warranted deadly force in self-defense. But IF … and again, we don’t know … but IF Mike Brown disengaged, retreated, aborted, ran, whatever — particularly if he did so after being shot once or by some accounts twice — then anything that happened after that is a new fight with a new analysis. I’m just sayin’.
I really wish the media would lay off for a while. This is too important.
anything that happened after that is a new fight with a new analysis
Nope, it’s the same fight, with the same actors taking place ~20 or 30 ft away from the start.
If there is any “new analysis” taking place it is with the cop knowing a LOT more about what the 6′ 4″ 300# suspect is willing to do.
MB’s actions are critical to understanding DW’s actions…and the grand jury leaker hasn’t given that up yet.
So, if my attacker runs off, the fight continues?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m certainly not saying that in the course of attempting an arrest DW should erase from his memory whatever just happened at the car. But the media outlets make it sound like one attack warrants an open-ended, unfettered free pass to use deadly force, regardless of the unfolding circumstances. I don’t think it’s that simple.
If DW were a civilian, I would have advised him, like I do all my students, to let the fleeing attacker go on his way. However, police officers have a further duty to apprehend violent criminals before they perpetrate other violent crimes. If MB committed an aggravated assault on DW in the squad car, I think DW was justified and indeed obligated to continue the encounter. I say this in spite of my disgust at the large number of incidents where police officers are very clearly using unnecessary force against civilians.
I agree 100%. I think DW absolutely should have pursued and attempted to apprehend. Based on what I’ve read so far, I personally have no issue whatsoever with the deadly force incident at the car. No issue with DW pursuing MB after the car incident either. But of course, cause to arrest doesn’t always mean cause to use deadly force, and I think that’s the extent of the inquiry right now. If DW had arrested MB, there would be no protests. Sadly things unfolded differently, and the question is why. Maybe MB charged at DW, and if so, given what had just happened at the car, I’d say DW would have a strong case for deadly force. But if — and this is a big if; we just don’t know yet — but if the only issue was that MB was simply too big or too strong or too high for DW to arrest on his own, that’s a whole different problem than imminent fear of death. And that’s really all I meant by “new analysis.” In other words, if MB abandoned the car fight, you can’t kill him later and justify it with “Oh but he attacked me a few seconds ago.”
So, if my attacker runs off, the fight continues?
Are you a cop?
Did a large man just commit a felony against you?
If you answered yes to both of these questions, then YES! The fight continues.
There isn’t, as far as my state is concerned, a “I’ll just walk away and sin no more” clause if you just committed a felony. (much less if you committed 2)
if the only issue was that MB was simply too big or too strong or too high for DW to arrest on his own, that’s a whole different problem than imminent fear of death
Not if you are DW.
Very interesting….
I think the prosecutor is deliberately leaking hints to the press that the grand jury will not indict Officer Wilson, in an attempt to allow potential protestors to get used to the idea and perhaps mitigate violent protests. This, rather than just dropping a bombshell out of the clear blue and watching Ferguson burn (again).
Yeah, you’re probably right. And I can understand that strategy and the ultimate goal of “softening the blow,” so to speak. But I just worry that by the time the media finishes speculating on every leak, they will have stirred up more upheaval than the slow leaks were meant to avoid in the first place. Thoughts?
For starters, I’m kind of surprised that there wasn’t an announcement at 4:59 PM on Friday. I think some violence is inevitable, and the only hope of at least mitigating it is to try to time the official release in such a way that the media response is tempered. A late Friday afternoon press release is often how that is done.
But I do get your point that by leaving it to simmer for so long, it might stir up more trouble. I’m not sure how much of a difference it will make in the end. I think that there are enough people in Ferguson (not necessarily local residents) who WANT trouble that it is a foregone conclusion. The only question is how severe and long lasting it will be. Managing the message to keep the media from fanning the flames too enthusiastically might help, if it can be done. I have my doubts.
Yep. Based on what I’ve heard from a police friend, most of the real troublemakers aren’t locals. The whole situation is just sad on so many levels.
Aren’t cops expected to pursue lawbreakers, especially those who attack a policeman. I don’t see how Wilson could justify allowing a felon to simply walk away without even attempting to arrest him.
Oh, absolutely! I don’t think there’s any argument as to whether the officer had grounds to arrest. I think the only issue now is the use of deadly force.
Not just grounds but (I think the argument can be made) the duty. Also, if the evidence shows he was coming at Wilson again after being shot, I think he (Wilson) would be in fear for his life and it would be ruled a justified shooting. That said, I think Wilson’s career in St. Louis County and maybe law enforcement entirely may be over. This will follow and haunt him and for years.
Yep, I agree. If MB came at DW, case closed. Almost any other scenario, however, might be more arguable. But as you said, either way, the whole situation sucks. For everybody involved.