ID - Ranchers wife: I saw them murder my husband

[ReadySet]

More from that article, from Vaughn Killeen, an experienced, respected LEO; answers some of my questions from earlier today about body cam protocol:

Killeen said that when to record is a decision often left to the deputies themselves.
"Generally speaking, if there is a conflict and you're going into a conflict situation, you'd want the body camera on," said Killeen, "The difficulty about that is that sometimes, in this situation, where they are responding to an accident and then a conflict arises, and the conflict arises suddenly, that's always a difficult issue. Was the camera on?"

"A lot of people will say, well, why wasn't the camera on?" said Killeen, "Well, there's a lot of background reasons why, not because there was some conspiracy to hide what the deputies were going to do."
http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/2015/11/11/body-camera-policies/75608774/

 

[Zuri]

In Idaho, would Mr. Yantis have had to ask permission of the officers present to put the bull down? Since he would have had a firearm present at a scene of the crash?

Also, would the county be liable for Mrs. Yantis' medical bills et al if she had an MI while handcuffed after seeing her husband killed? The article said "sometime later" so I didn't know whether she developed chest pain immediately or hours afterward.

This is just so sad.

 

[Woodland]

In Idaho, would Mr. Yantis have had to ask permission of the officers present to put the bull down? Since he would have had a firearm present at a scene of the crash?

Also, would the county be liable for Mrs. Yantis' medical bills et al if she had an MI while handcuffed after seeing her husband killed? The article said "sometime later" so I didn't know whether she developed chest pain immediately or hours afterward.

This is just so sad.

UBM

One thing we have not heard yet is, what conversation took place, if any, when the Y family and friend first arrived at the scene to assess that the bull was theirs and what to do?

They left to get equipment to put the bull down and cart it away - was this communicated to the deputies? What did the deputies think or know when the Y family walked away after viewing the bull and scene?

Fwiw, that will tell me the mindset or what should have been the mindset of the deputies.

 

[Woodland]

Fwiw, have to think that when the deputies made the decision to fire their weapons - whether at a bull or any other target, if the body cams were off, then they should have had the responsible mindset to turn them on. If they did not, would find that lackadaisical among other unprofessional attitudes.

Jmo.

 

[Zuri]

UBM

One thing we have not heard yet is, what conversation took place, if any, when the Y family and friend first arrived at the scene to assess that the bull was theirs and what to do?

They left to get equipment to put the bull down and cart it away - was this communicated to the deputies? What did the deputies think or know when the Y family walked away after viewing the bull and scene?

Fwiw, that will tell me the mindset or what should have been the mindset of the deputies.

I wondered also what conversation took place. Initially I thought it could have been accidental: either Mr. Yantis' rifle went off accidentally when turned/bumped/grabbed causing the other officer to fire. Or: Mr. Yantis got caught in the gunfire aimed at the bull and wasn't observed by LE?

But I don't understand why there is no mention of any assistance being rendered to Mr. Yantis once he was shot. Only that his relatives were handcuffed when they tried to go to his side.

 

[bwt42]

One thing I didn't understand from the get go was why didn't Y arrive with his rifle if he was informed that one of his bulls was hit? If I am understanding the time line correctly, someone had to go get the rifle for him.

 

[KaaBoom]

One thing I didn't understand from the get go was why didn't Y arrive with his rifle if he was informed that one of his bulls was hit? If I am understanding the time line correctly, someone had to go get the rifle for him.

I guess when he heard about his livestock being injured, that was not his first consideration.

 

[MsFacetious]

Since it was angry and running he rightfully assumed it didn't need to be put down.

 

[LolaMoon08]

I think I read somewhere (maybe, it's local here?)... that anytime an officer activates his "lights" that the dash cams automatically started recording (and the tape is locked in a box in the trunk... so it could not be tampered with... rolls eyes). I would assume that officers have discretion if they want to activate them prior to an "incident" (evidence purposes)... but, if I am paying for officers to having body cameras... they should be activated immediately... unless it is a "incident" where they didn't have time and lives were at stake.

It's not a "pick and choose" ... we're paying for them for a reason!


ETA: I maybe should add that over 400 rape kits have not been tested by LE here... so rapists whose DNA could be in CODIS are not... because our LE didn't think it was important enough. The oldest case goes back to 1984.

 

[Sonya610]

One thing I didn't understand from the get go was why didn't Y arrive with his rifle if he was informed that one of his bulls was hit? If I am understanding the time line correctly, someone had to go get the rifle for him.

We don't know what Yantis was told during the call. If he had been told the bull was hit then he probably hoped the animal could be saved. If he was only told there was an "accident" and his bull was interfering then he may not have realized his bull was hit at all.

In Idaho, would Mr. Yantis have had to ask permission of the officers present to put the bull down? Since he would have had a firearm present at a scene of the crash?

Did they call him to the scene so he could watch them torture his animal with multiple gun shots? No, they called him so HE could take care of the bull.

No one talks about the EMT workers, I wonder if they were still on the scene when Yantis was shot. If the EMT workers had already packed up and left then the officers can't use "safety" as a excuse for shooting the bull. If the EMT workers were still there did the officers tell them not to render aid to Yantis?

I am usually on the side of LE but this story peeves me off so bad. The fact animal cruelty plays a large part in the whole scenario makes me even more angry and I think that is a widespread problem in many departments.

 

[RBQ]

Town Hall meeting addresses shooting death of Council rancher

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/loca...sses-shooting-death-council-rancher/75556400/

What a terrible tragedy for all involved

 

[RBQ]

Law enforcement's body camera policies in question

[url]http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/2015/11/11/body-camera-policies/75608774/
[/URL]
"Each officer was issued a body cam, one of the two vehicles does have a dash cam," said Zollman, "I have no idea whether those were on, whether they were activated."

:facepalm:

 

[Sonya610]

If Idaho State Police investigators have body-camera video from the two Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies who shot and killed rancher Jack Yantis of Council earlier this month, they’re not releasing it.

Yesterday, ISP’s public information officer Teresa Baker told IdahoReporter.com, “I am sure that you and your readers understand that if ISP or the Adams County Sheriff’s Office release evidence, or even the existence of evidence, could compromise the investigation into this incident.”

http://idahoreporter.com/38231/no-t...tis-killing-body-camera-footage-if-it-exists/

Ms. Baker I am sure you understand that the longer you withhold any and all evidence the worse this looks.

There have been numerous police shootings that received nationwide attention and those departments DID release exculpatory evidence to calm down the public. The failure to release evidence makes many think there is NO evidence to back up LEO's side of the story.

 

[Sonya610]

The scene of the crash was soon lit by the lights of ambulances, fire trucks and Adams County law enforcement vehicles. Just as the EMTs had loaded the occupants of the car into ambulances, several gunshot blasts shattered the night air a short distance away. What happened in those few seconds has been the source of disbelief, sadness and anger in the small community ever since.

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/article44342004.html#storylink=cpy

If the driveway was a distance from the crash scene was Kieford truly a risk to "safety" at that point or did the police follow the bull to mess with the animal?

Did Yantis express some harsh words when he saw what they did? Did he want them to walk away from the scene so Keiford could die in peace?

If EMT workers were on the scene why didn't they render aid to Yantis? Did the officers prevent aid on account of "safety concerns"? If there were no witnesses at the scene not rendering aid makes sense (dead men don't testify) but in this the family saw the whole thing and they make credible witnesses. I can't imagine what the officers were thinking.

 

[Sonya610]

If video existed and proved the killing was likely legit I do believe they would have released it asap.

Left and right agree: Investigators should release Yantis killing video

Today, American Civil Liberties Union and the Cato Institute experts told IdahoReporter.com that police have a moral and legal duty to make the videos public if the devices worn by the deputies captured the killing.

Chad Marlow, Advocacy and Policy Council for the ACLU, said if police block the release of any video it undermines the public’s trust in law enforcement.

“We call for public release of video where there has been a critical incident such as a shooting,” Stanley said.

“In some cases there may be sufficient reason to temporarily delay such release, but generally the public’s interest in oversight how police officials utilize deadly force … overcomes the countervailing interests in such cases.”

http://idahoreporter.com/38237/left...tigators-should-release-yantis-killing-video/

 

[Woodland]

ISP spokeswoman Teresa Baker said this week the agency isn’t sure when it might release the videos — if clips exist.

http://idahoreporter.com/38237/left...tigators-should-release-yantis-killing-video/

Not sure whether to laugh or cry at the underlined portion of the statement.

If video exists, many people within the investigation know about it by now. It won't be possible to bury any video if that was ever contemplated. Imo, ISP has taken to long to acknowledge whether the deputies turned their cams on or not - their credibility is shot now.

Looking forward to friend JR's version of events.

 

[ReadySet]

Just a note about the idahoreporter.com
referenced above. I was not familiar with it. I found that it is an arm of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, which is a "think tank" kind of organization. Not saying the article is or isn't valid; just for me, that outlet does not have the same credibility as others. JMO

 

[Portabella]

Has it been said how old were these two Deputies? How long have they been working in LE? Very curious

 

[Woodland]

Just a note about the idahoreporter.com
referenced above. I was not familiar with it. I found that it is an arm of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, which is a "think tank" kind of organization. Not saying the article is or isn't valid; just for me, that outlet does not have the same credibility as others. JMO

A 'think tank' on what subject? Many subjects?

 

[bluesneakers]

A 'think tank' on what subject? Many subjects?

Libertarian issues.

To hold public servants and government programs accountable, expose government waste and cronyism, reduce the state’s dependency on the federal government and inject fairness and predictability into the state’s tax system.

They have a list of victories on their website. Highlights include:

* In collaboration with ACLU Idaho, IFF works for criminal justice reform, which shifts focus from low-risk offenders to high-risk offenders. The legislation passed and was signed into law.

* IFF’s Center for Defense of Liberty reaches agreement with Boise State University to suspend and revise several speech policies on campus.

* IFF works with legislators to stop Obamacare’s implementation in Idaho. Gov. Otter vetoes one proposal, but signs an executive order to stop all but insurance exchange implementation.


http://idahofreedom.org/