Police chase leads to shots fired in Lewis County

jamey said on July 30, 2010 at 1:26 PM

Wasn't there a trial recently in Everett where a Police Officer was charged with murder? The circumstances are not exactly the same, but both men were unarmed and inside vehicles. I wasn't there but I am wondering if the officer wasn't a little quick with the use of deadly force. Police need to play by the rules of engagement too.

speedkills said on July 30, 2010 at 1:03 PM

Oh, and if you people had any idea how many times a day police officers draw their guns and NO SHOTS ARE FIRED you would be astounded. Police officers, by and large, have an incredible amount of self control and absolutely do NOT want to fire their weapon unless there is no other choice.

speedkills said on July 30, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Would you people please stop and actually think for yourselves for a minute!!! This deputy/officer is not shooting wildly like he's at the O.K. Corral hoping one of his rounds hits the bad guy. Please name for me the last time, or any time, that an officer has shot somebody he wasn't aiming for. Police are trained over and over and over to be sure of your target and what is beyond. They are NOT going to take a shot with a group of children standing behind the suspect where their round might hit one of them. All of you posters ranting about them "blowing through" neighborhoods firing weapons are absolutely ridiculous. Tazers don't work on vehicles. You pretty much have to by psychic to deploy spike strips. Pepper spray...hahahaha, funny. Bean bags, please. Think people. If the bad guy will RAM A POLICE CAR, what else are they willing to do to get away?

yessir said on July 30, 2010 at 11:54 AM

@eviltwin... I indeed have children... 4 to be exact. I recognize that sometimes police have to discharge their weapons both in an attempt to secure the safety of the public and themselves. It's always a judgement call as to whether to do so by the officer... but I'd trust his/her judgement more... being as they were actually there... and you... have no idea what you are talking about.

silverton said on July 30, 2010 at 10:50 AM

I am as critical of the police as anyone when they are involved in fatal shootings involving people who are not armed or when they do not clearly see a weapon, but if you ram a police car, you are using a weapon and are asking to be shot. This shows a direct threat not just to the police, but kids near by etc... The officer did the right thing in trying to stop the threat. P.S. KING 5 will still not report more details about the Kent police shooting a man on July 7th. No updates at all by any of the press. I believe that man did commit suicide by police, but why have the Renton police and the press not reported what was in his pocket

stryker said on July 30, 2010 at 10:39 AM

If the suspect was not shooting, what was the officer going to accomplish by shooting at that time? He couldnt have waited? What about persuit when the situation is dangerous to others? Best bet would have been to keep track of the guy and take him down when others... children... were not present. Freedomfrank has very good points.

freedomfrank said on July 30, 2010 at 10:34 AM

So the new police policy is to shoot first, don't you think in the recent past the police just about all over the country are being just a little too trigger happy? They have tazers, pepper spray, spike strips, bean bag shot guns, you can't tell me they can't control a vehicle with all that expert training without having a gun battle in a residential area? I could go do that without any expert training. Why are we wasting all that money on expert training if they don't use it?

wawolf said on July 30, 2010 at 10:14 AM

The guy was driving like a maniac. I think he was far more of a danger to the kids than a well trained office firing his gun at the suspects vehicle.

freedomfrank said on July 30, 2010 at 10:02 AM

Yessir,,,, the article read "the suspect rammed the officer's car twice. The officer fired at least two shots at the suspect in self-defense." If the guy had a gun and opened fire on the police, by all means, light the dude up. I really think some judgment must have been used by the police on this. Yes, the guy hit the police car with his car, was the cop in danger of being killed? I would say no he wasn't. Lets explore the worst case scenario, the bad guy hits the police car in an attempt to flee, cops shoots at the car but does hit a kid. Is this just another case of our local "heros" doing what they have to do to keep us "safe"? The police CAR was being hit not the POLICEMAN.

eviltwin said on July 30, 2010 at 9:06 AM

yessir, you got kids? lets see what you have to say about it when they blow thru your neighborhood shooting.

taxdollarsponge said on July 30, 2010 at 7:53 AM

When will the cops realize people don't like them?

freedomfrank said on July 30, 2010 at 7:11 AM

Its OK, the police have special bullets that will miss the kids playing in the front yard.

yessir said on July 30, 2010 at 7:09 AM

note... the article did not say... "firing wildly and hitting kids who were playing in the front yards of homes" Please try to use a little common sense while posting. The implication that officers should stand passively by whenever in a residential area is ludicrous.

stryker said on July 30, 2010 at 5:29 AM

"the officer firing shots at the suspect in the middle of a residential neighborhood with kids playing in the front yards of homes"