MN - Philando Castile, 32, fatally shot by police officer, 6 July 2016 #2

[human]

Choi could have come down, taken the petitions and stated why he could not talk with them. Quick and easy

 

[K_Z]

Choi could have come down, taken the petitions and stated why he could not talk with them. Quick and easy

He's a very busy professional on a Monday morning. He's not exactly sitting around waiting for activists to arrive in his office to speak with them. They could have been polite and professional, and made an appointment to make sure he was available. Quick and easy.

This case may be high profile, but it's not the only case or the only responsibility he has as prosecutor for Ramsey County.

The activists were very rude and disruptive, IMO, and were definitely wanting to make a "scene". Polite goes a long way. They could try "polite".

 

[jkly]

I stand by my previous comment that the GF, Diamond Reynolds, was arguing with the officer and delayed getting out of the car.


She was MUCH more interested in taking and uploading her video, than for PC's condition or need for care, IMO. At no point does she call for help, plead with the officer to help PC, or give any indication that she wants to cooperate to get him medical care, while a gun is pointed at her.

She showed exactly ZERO respect to the officer, which is clear on her video. She is very lucky she was not hurt, IMO. She escalated and prolonged that situation with her attitude and her behavior, IMO.

Absolutely, she delayed cooperating with the officer's commands (they are not suggestions when he has a gun pointed at you!), and thus delayed medical aid from being started, and put her own daughter at further risk. They still have to remove her and her daughter from the car (and get the child away from the scene ASAP), and clear both her and PC of weapons, before CPR/ first aid can begin.

Where did she delay cooperating with the officer's commands?

Here:?

Officer: Ma’am keep your hand on the wheel.

Reynolds: I will sir. No worries. I will.

Here?

Officer: Keep your hands where they are please.
Reynolds: Yes, I will sir. I’ll keep my hands where they are. Please don’t tell me this lord. Please Jesus don’t tell me that he’s gone. Please don’t tell me that he’s gone. Please officer, don’t tell me that you just did this to him. You shot four bullets into him sir. He was just getting his license and registration sir.

She obeys when the officer tells her to get out of her car and on her knees. Unless asking about her four year old is being uncooperative? She does continue to narrate, but the police never ordered her to stop talking and I don't think they have the right to.

I have to wonder how she behaved when the car was pulled over and the 2 policemen approached, given her behavior on the video after the shooting. I think it's highly likely that her behavior with the officers put PC at much higher risk during that stop. That's my opinion.

Is there any evidence of this or is that just your gut feeling?

Quite frankly, I think Diamond Reynolds was a huge impediment to what could have been a very orderly police stop.

What part of "orderly" could have been salvaged after her boyfriend lay there bleeding out in the seat beside her? IMO, the officer was a huge impediment to what could have been an orderly police stop.

But perhaps some of us have differing definitions of "arguing". So, I will offer my additional opinion that she was also very "mouthy", very disrespectful (her use of "sir" was clearly a "f-u"), and preoccupied with "telling off" the officer, while she was acting for the camera, and narcissistically focused/ obsessed with uploading live to facebook.

I disagree that her use of the word "sir" is any sort of proof that she is really saying "f-u" or that she was acting for the camera. She would have to be a complete sociopath to be "acting for the camera" within minutes of seeing her boyfriend get shot.

All I heard was a woman in shock at what had just happened, not someone with any sort of agenda.


I'm kind of baffled by what some of you are saying. He "moved after the officer told him not to move" so he deserved to get shot? He should have had his license and registration ready immediately and that's why he died? We're supposed to be doing everything in our power to be putting the police at ease or they can shoot us over some imagined threat?

This isn't a game of red-light green-light. A man lost his life over what amounts to a misunderstanding. If the officer was that skittish and unstable that he would unload four bullets into someone who has no visible weapon on them, he shouldn't have been patrolling the streets, period.


Either way, how was she supposed to act when her boyfriend had just been shot in front of her four year old? She isn't allowed to freak out but the police officer, who should have received training on how to handle situations like this, is?

 

[human]

He's a very busy professional on a Monday morning. He's not exactly sitting around waiting for activists to arrive in his office to speak with them. They could have been polite and professional, and made an appointment to make sure he was available. Quick and easy.

This case may be high profile, but it's not the only case or the only responsibility he has as prosecutor for Ramsey County.

The activists were very rude and disruptive, IMO, and were definitely wanting to make a "scene". Polite goes a long way. They could try "polite".

This is a tense situation. There is no reason he could not have come down for five minutes. Diffusing anger is a smart idea.

 

[K_Z]

TWO representatives of Ramsey County Attorney John Choi's office DID go down to speak with the protesters on Monday, and accept their petition. One of them is the Assistant County Attorney, for pete's sake! None of these people had an appointment with anyone. They just barged in, created a big disruption, and started making demands. Good grief-- incredibly rude and disrespectful.

Protesters are staging a "sit in" outside the county attorney's office all this week, and are encouraging and recruiting participants on social media.

But after about 45 minutes during which his spokesman, Dennis Gerhardstein, failed to placate the group, Choi was a no-show. He eventually sent Assistant County Attorney Rick Dusterhoft, the head of the criminal division, in his place.

Dusterhoft told the approximately two dozen demonstrators that Choi was busy. "He sent me down to receive this from you, and I will make sure he sees it," Dusterhoft said.

Gerhardstein said in a written statement that Choi didn't meet with the protesters because "meeting with any public group that is ultimately demanding a prosecution or no prosecution at all when the investigation is not complete would not serve the investigative process well."

http://www.startribune.com/demonstr...astile-case-for-independent-review/388863131/

BBM.

IMO, the protesters don't want "justice". They want mob rule.

 

[K_Z]

Castile family told investigation could last another month

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi has told Castile's family Tuesday that the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension could wrap up the investigation in about a month, according to Castile's uncle, Clarence.

Castile said he was told that state investigators are sifting through police squad-car video, which includes audio, from the night his nephew was fatally shot by a St. Anthony police officer.

A spokesman for Choi's office clarified that the BCA has not provided a specific timeline as to when the agency will complete its investigation.

Choi, however, "offered his best guess to the Castile family as to when the BCA may finish its work," said spokesman Dennis Gerhardstein in an email to MPR News. "We would not dispute Mr. Castile's general characterization of the County Attorney's answer to this question, but simply add that everyone in the room strongly agreed being thorough was the most important consideration."

On Tuesday, Castile joined Philando's mother, Valerie, and family attorney Glenda Hatchett as they visited Choi and Don Lewis, an outside lawyer who is helping the county review the case. The talked for about two hours about the judicial process, Castile said.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/03/philando-castile-investigation-could-last-another-month

BBM. Note that DA Choi and Special Assistant Lewis DID make time to visit with family on Tuesday, just not "protesters". Which is entirely appropriate, IMO.

Glad there is some video and audio from the police vehicle. I'll be interested to hear what it reveals. They have kept a very tight lid on it thus far, with no leaks.

Something I've noticed in recent articles about PC's family, is that it appears that girlfriend Diamond "Lavish" Reynolds (who video recorded on her phone and uploaded to facebook during the police stop) is not often mentioned by name, or included in interviews. Maybe this is at her request, but I doubt it, based on the way she began seeking donations, interviews, and publicity immediately in the case. JMO.

I know she is not next-of-kin (nor is she a victim), but if the relationship was close (at one point she described herself as his fiancee), it seems to me she would be included more by the family. The prosecutors are not mentioning her in conversations with family, either-- but she's not NOK, so that's appropriate.

A fundraising site was started specifically for her (not for PC or his family, or their expenses) July 7th, and she did local and national interviews, but has been largely out of the picture since then. (Was she paid for the national interviews? The View?)

Why did she need a fundraiser, I wonder? She was not charged or arrested, so no bail or legal fees, and in fact, a police officer gave her $40 out of his own wallet for groceries. She is not responsible for burial expenses, as she is not NOK. The fundraiser lists nearly $60,000 in donations. Where has the money gone? Seems everybody is eager to jump on the crowd sourced "cyber begging" bandwagon these days.

 

[Woodland]

Somewhat enjoying the sanctimonious play by play on this shooting - how people that were present should think, behave etc, what the family should do or not do, what the family is doing and not so subtle opinions about that etc - by those that were not present and have not been privy to any developments since.

Where would people be without that?

 

[K_Z]

Police Union Head Calls Some Philando Castile Protesters' Conduct 'Vile'

St. Paul Police Federation President Dave Titus said Thursday that most of those protesters were peaceful. But he accused some of trying to bait officers into violence by using inappropriate language, spitting and even slapping officers.

Titus says the conduct of some agitators was "disgusting."

http://kstp.com/news/police-union-head-philando-castile-protesters-summit-avenue-st-paul/4222679/

The untold story at protests on St. Paul’s Summit Avenue was the abuse that officers took from some agitators, the president of the St. Paul police union said Thursday.

“A number of agitators continuously attempted to bait officers into physical confrontations while using vile rhetoric that does not have a place in our public discourse,” said Dave Titus. “Agitators have struck, slapped, spit on and challenged to fight our cops. One agitator antagonized multiple officers while holding a razor blade in his mouth while only a few feet away.”

Titus also said African-American officers were repeatedly called “Uncle Tom” and were sworn at, and female officers were “ridiculed, claiming they were just sex objects for male cops.”

“This is not peaceful,” Titus said. “This is absolutely disgusting. It’s an attempt to ignite a physical confrontation, yet our officers remained calm and peaceful and respectful.”

The St. Paul Police Department documented at least six instances of officers reporting they were assaulted in some form on Summit Avenue, including being shoved or spit on, said Steve Linders, a department spokesman.

Overall, Titus said the “vast majority of protesters were not an issue.” But he said the media had characterized the protests as peaceful without reporting on agitators “that put our officers in very unsafe, difficult situations.”

But Schumann, speaking at the police union news conference Thursday, said Summit Avenue residents who live on the block of the Governor’s Residence “had their lives turned upside down” and he questioned why the city hadn’t stepped in earlier.

“What’s frustrating for us is that if the political leadership in St. Paul had basically, from Day One, made the decision to … require the protesters to operate within the confines of the law and to keep the street and the sidewalks open … we could have avoided two or three weeks of just turmoil,” Schumann said. “And we could have saved the city a million and a half dollars on policing costs that are desperately needed funds if we’re going to address some of these issues and try to solve this,” referring to concerns about officer-involved shootings.

http://www.twincities.com/2016/08/0...otesters-summit-avenue-police-union-shooting/

BBM.

 

[K_Z]

St. Anthony defends police training after Castile shooting

The city released a statement saying it's now sharing information about police training. It noted that St. Anthony's 23 officers average nearly 80 hours of training each year. That's more than what the state requires.

http://www.kare11.com/news/st-anthony-defends-police-training-after-castile-shooting/288423052

Here's the Village Statement (not subject to copyright restrictions):

Statement from Saint Anthony Village

A commitment to serve St. Anthony, Falcon Heights and Lauderdale with skilled and dedicated law enforcement professionals who are well trained and connected to our communities.

August 1, 2016

In light of the recent events that have occurred in our community, questions have been raised about the type and level of training provided for St. Anthony Police Department as well as how prepared our officers are to deal with challenging situations. We wanted to share this information to help address these concerns and highlight our department’s strong commitment to having well-trained officers.

The St. Anthony Police Department is unique in who it serves and how it is able to respond to and support a changing community. We serve three special and close-knit communities which are also located in a major metropolitan area. This requires a department to have skilled officers who are prepared for complex issues and situations often seen in large population centers while also being able to respond to the unique needs of each of the three small cities it serves. We must also do all of this in a way that makes the most of taxpayer resources.

What has happened here hurts us all, yet we also realize that it has created both the need and the opportunity for a broader conversation about law enforcement. We need to talk about who serves our community and how we can all make sure they are as prepared as possible to react and respond in the right way at the right time. St. Anthony has a very strong history of bringing together dedicated officers with the broad training that continues to make our cities safe.

Our officers go far beyond what Minnesota requires in terms of training and professional development to continually seek out ways to not only be better prepared to react to situations, but to have the experience to be able to proactively connect with the communities. It is part of the cultural foundation of our department but is something we know needs to be continually shared with the community at this important time.

Minnesota training requirement for officers

Average per year: 10-year minimum average per officer:

16 hours 160 hours (48 hours every 3 years)

St. Anthony Police Department training provided for its officers (23 officers in the department)

Yearly average per officer: 10-year average per officer:

79.5 hours 795 hours

St. Anthony’s continued commitment to officer development
Training hours for the past 10 years

2006 - 2036 hours

2007 - 2028 hours

2008 - 1739 hours

2009 - 1745 hours

2010 - 1639 hours

2011 - 1792 hours

2012 - 1754 hours

2013 - 1735 hours

2014 - 1908 hours

2015 - 1901 hours

18,277 hours of training since 2006 for St. Anthony Police Department officers

There is data that we collect that tracks the hours spent by our officers in the broad mix of programs that include everything from managing active shoot situations to how to be respectful in talking with people from diverse communities. While we realize there are questions about how prepared our officers are for these situations, we are extremely proud of how dedicated our officers are to further developing these skills. It is our ongoing challenge to be engaged in this conversation to not only share what we are already doing, but to also find ways to do even more.

The issues of implicit bias, de-escalation, and diversity are complex but have been an ongoing focus for our officers and our leadership. Our officers are constantly asking us for the chance to take more classes and train for new situations because they are always looking for ways to be better prepared. The time and resources we invest in our officers for this important training creates both immediate and long-term benefits to our communities because of our unique ability to train and retain skilled staff at an amazing rate. Our officers develop unique skills and expertise above their traditional law enforcement training to give our department depth that is unique for our size.

We have officers who have spent many hours of time to become experts in de-escalating contentious situations and working with people who are facing mental health and other challenges. They now not only train our officers, but work with other departments as well. Our officers have gone through training to be better able to work with new immigrant communities and look at other ways to better communicate and be even more effective at using a conversation to resolve a situation.

In addition to making sure our officers are as prepared as possible for the broad range of situations they could face, we are also fully committed to reviewing and understanding the results and impact from every interaction with the community. This shapes future training by learning from what we have done in the past and making sure our officers are doing better every day.

We also know the face of law enforcement needs to change as the community changes. This is why half of the officers we have hired since 2011 are from diverse backgrounds. In addition, we are extremely active in using mentoring and our community service officer programs to connect with people new to our community and our country. Many departments across Minnesota are working hard to meet the same challenges, yet St. Anthony has made important progress considering the size and budget for our force.

We believe our department, its officers, and the collective understanding of our role and responsibility to serve our communities is incredibly important. Our work is not limited to only keeping people safe, but being an engaged, responsible and respected part of your city government. We share the sadness, grief and shock over what has happened. We also share the commitment to be part of the conversation that needs to happen to better understand what happened, what we can learn from this, and how we all move forward.

http://www.ci.saint-anthony.mn.us/

Protesters gather again outside Choi's office to speak out about Castile death

Protesters again gathered outside Ramsey County Attorney John Choi's office in downtown St. Paul around noon Friday, calling for justice in the officer-involved shooting of Philando Castile.

Choi has said he won't relinquish the case. He hired a private attorney onto his team of prosecutors who will review the evidence, and hasn't decided whether he'll forward the case to a grand jury for review of possible criminal charges against Yanez, or, whether he'll make the call himself.

The BCA has not laid out a timeline for the completion of its investigation.

The Justice 4 Jamar Facebook page said it's protests in the Clark incident impacted Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman's decision to forgo a grand jury in that case. Freeman made the decision himself, and ultimately found that the officers should not be criminally charged, upsetting activists.

http://www.startribune.com/protesto...fice-speak-out-about-castile-death/389307951/

 

[K_Z]

Choi and Lewis can be counted on in the Castile case
An independent prosecutor would be less accountable.

The push for such a person, who would operate outside of the Ramsey County attorney’s office, is understandable, but in this case unjustified. Independent prosecutors can and should be an option when there is reason to believe an elected county attorney’s impartiality is compromised in some way, making a fair outcome unlikely. There is no such indication here.

The decision to indict a St. Anthony police officer for shooting Castile during a Falcon Heights traffic stop rests with the Ramsey County attorney, who is no son of white privilege. John Choi came here as a child immigrant from South Korea, lived in low-income housing, and rose to become a national leader on sex trafficking and domestic violence.

Neither does Choi have the kind of extensive relationships with the St. Anthony Police Department that might affect his judgment. The department is part of Hennepin County, but provides contract services for Falcon Heights, mostly involving low-level traffic tickets. Choi went the extra measure, however, reaching outside of his staff to a formidable and well-respected figure in the legal community: attorney Don Lewis.

The Castile family’s own lawyer, Glenda Hatchett, said in a letter to Choi that “Attorney Lewis has years of legal experience in public service, as well as private practice, and we welcome his involvement in this investigation. This appointment is a step in the right direction and we trust that justice will be served.”

Choi deserves praise for seeking out such a qualified person, just as Lewis should be commended for taking on such a thankless but necessary job. It would be far easier to hand it off to a third party, who would not be accountable to the public.

http://www.startribune.com/choi-and-lewis-can-be-counted-on-in-the-castile-case/389347281/

 

[galiuro]

http://kstp.com/news/police-union-head-philando-castile-protesters-summit-avenue-st-paul/4222679/



http://www.twincities.com/2016/08/0...otesters-summit-avenue-police-union-shooting/

BBM.

The media is complicit in this 'peaceful protest' stuff...throwing things is NOT peaceful. Such a nice bunch, not.

 

[bluesneakers]

Somewhat enjoying the sanctimonious play by play on this shooting - how people that were present should think, behave etc, what the family should do or not do, what the family is doing and not so subtle opinions about that etc - by those that were not present and have not been privy to any developments since.

Where would people be without that?

Forced to face this could happen to them. A very uncomfortable fact no one wants to examine.

eta: Yes, it's more likely to happen to some people but the scary truth is it can happen to anyone.

 

[al66pine]

Have I missed it? TiA.

"The mother of a St. Paul man, who was shot and killed by police, and her lawyer say they plan to sue.... Without providing details, Hatchett said the family will sue..." http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/07/12/castile-family-vows-lawsuit-after-shooting July 12

"Hatchett would not say anything about the potential lawsuit.“We will aggressively pursue justice on his behalf,” said Hatchett, a former chief juvenile court judge in Fulton County, Georgia, and star of the TV show “Judge Hatchett.” I will not rest until justice is done.” http://kstp.com/news/glenda-hatchett-lawyer-philando-castile/4196653/ July 12

 

[K_Z]

Have I missed it? TiA.

"The mother of a St. Paul man, who was shot and killed by police, and her lawyer say they plan to sue.... Without providing details, Hatchett said the family will sue..." http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/07/12/castile-family-vows-lawsuit-after-shooting July 12

"Hatchett would not say anything about the potential lawsuit.“We will aggressively pursue justice on his behalf,” said Hatchett, a former chief juvenile court judge in Fulton County, Georgia, and star of the TV show “Judge Hatchett.” I will not rest until justice is done.” http://kstp.com/news/glenda-hatchett-lawyer-philando-castile/4196653/ July 12

I seriously doubt that family or the high profile attorney (Hatchett) would file a lawsuit BEFORE the decision is made by the prosecutor as to what happened, and if the officer faces charges.

There is *no way*, IMO, that Falcon Heights is going to give a massive payout to the next of kin before charges (or a trial, if there are charges). No way their city insurance would authorize that. This isn't Baltimore. Mayor Peter Lindstrom is definitely not Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and John Choi is definitely not Marilyn Mosby. Until recently, the person helping the Falcon Heights city council with PR was pro-bono.

The roadside vigil/ memorial is on the opposite side of the street, in a grassy area by the sidewalk, within a few thousand feet of the Falcon Heights City building on Larpenteur Ave. The vigil area, unlike the Summit Ave Governor's Mansion protests, has remained a peaceful site. They have a few chairs, a shade canopy, and a few signs, flowers, etc. I have seen as many as 4-5 people there at a time, often just 1 or 2, and it does not appear anyone is sleeping there. I'm sure they don't have permits to be there (and hence are technically tresspassing), but since it's a relatively empty area adjacent to an apartment building, and they have been quiet, well-behaved, and respectful, and don't harass cars or passers-by, they have been left alone. That's how a peaceful protest should work, IMO. Funny that none of the media want to cover THAT part of the story-- the peaceful, well-behaved protesters at the vigil/ memorial site. There's not even a regular police presence there. It hasn't been necessary. Imagine that! Well behaved people respectfully protesting, and not harassing others, not committing vandalism, not promoting violence, or blocking streets or sidewalks is not a story!

The Falcon Heights City Council voted Friday voted to hire a public relations firm to represent the city in the aftermath of the shooting. Blois Olson, the principal of small agency Fluence Media, is currently helping the city pro-bono with its communications needs, he said, in an interview Monday. Any contract still has to go through the city’s procurement process, Olson said.

Olson, who has known the Falcon Heights Mayor Peter Lindstrom for several decades, said he is working to manage media inquiries and prepare the city for what is should expect. As of right now, the city does not have a strong presence on social media, which he said could possibly change as they “look at all the tools in the toolbox.”

Olson is familiar with crisis. He helped represent Minnesota Orchestra musicians during a 15-month lockout and is working with the Minnesota Nurses Association as they try to reach a labor agreement with Allina.

http://www.startribune.com/falcon-h...wake-of-philandro-castile-shooting/386355171/

 

[K_Z]

Six people were arrested Friday night at Carty Park in St. Paul’s Summit-University neighborhood on what was intended to be the first night of a 14-day protest encampment.

Awareness and Resistance 14, a social justice organization started last week to continue protests over the police killing of Philando Castile, held a rally and march Friday evening that culminated at the city park.

Organizers released a schedule outlining activities for the next two weeks at the park, where demonstrators intended to sleep overnight in tents.

Officers arrived at 11 p.m. Friday, the park’s closing time, and issued dispersal orders to 30 to 40 young people, said St. Paul Police spokesman Steve Linders. Police found supplies that “indicated they planned to take part in an encampment,” which is against city regulations, he said.

The majority of the group left peacefully. Six people were arrested and cited for violating city ordinances, two of whom were booked into Ramsey County Correctional Facility for having outstanding warrants or because they’d previously been involved in illegal protest activities, Linders said.

Linders said that “anything of value,” including tents and personal belongings, are available for pickup at the St. Paul impound lot.

BBM.

http://www.startribune.com/6-protesters-arrested-at-carty-park-encampment-in-st-paul/389384761/

 

[K_Z]

Officers who pulled over Philando Castile not zealous traffic enforcers
The traffic ticket data are incomplete but don't signal extreme racial profiling.

Newly released data show the two St. Anthony police officers who pulled Castile over last month are not the department’s top traffic enforcers.

The data also don’t suggest that officers Jeronimo Yanez and Joseph Kauser are giving tickets and warnings to black drivers at extremely disproportionate rates, although the lack of race data on a significant proportion of tickets makes it impossible to draw firm conclusions.

The “ticket” data the city of St. Anthony recently released includes 7,385 citations and warnings, some only verbal, that its police officers recorded from the start of 2014 through late July 2016 in the three small suburbs they patrol: St. Anthony, Lauderdale and Falcon Heights.

Yanez issued 437 tickets, ranking fifth in the department. Kauser ranked seventh with 355 tickets. The department’s No. 1 enforcer, officer Jeremy Sroga, doled out the 1,188 tickets in the 2 1/2 year span.

http://www.startribune.com/officers...tile-not-zealous-traffic-enforcers/389741801/

KZ note-- if you do the math on that, if Yanez worked on the streets 50 weeks a year, he averages 8 tickets a week. Or maybe 1-2 tickets per shift as an average. There is simply no way any reasonable person could view that level of ticketing, in that heavy traffic area, as "excessive," no matter what the gender, age, or race of the ticket and warning recipients is.

The other thing the article doesn't explain is that not all of the 23 officers are assigned the same amount of "street duty" at the same time of day, so simply saying Yanez is "5th" in his department is not accurate. Sloppy (very superficial) statistics. (Although the article concedes that the officer with the "most" tickets is often assigned specifically on day shift to speed enforcement.)

As for Sroga’s load of tickets, Mangseth said the officer spends extra time on traffic enforcement to slow traffic in the community and reduce crashes. He primarily works days, when traffic is heaviest.

The race of a driver is only required on misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony citations, Mangseth said, and not on petty misdemeanor citations or warnings.

Officers are instructed not to ask drivers for their race. Since driver’s licenses don’t note race, officers are expected to use their best judgment to determine it.

Verbal warnings don’t require documentation, although officers are encouraged to document them.

Chief denies profiling

In an e-mail response to questions, St. Anthony Police Chief Jon Mangseth denied that his officers engage in racial profiling.

The lack of (KZ insertion: racial) data of who’s on the roads “is extremely important, considering there are a significant number of people who move through these communities on a daily basis who are not residents of St. Anthony, Falcon Heights or Lauderdale,” Mangseth said. “Without this data, it is extremely difficult to reach any data-supported conclusions related to arrests and citations.”

And in other news, the family of Castile continue to claim racism.

http://kstp.com/news/family-philando-castile-federal-probe/4230726/

The family of a black man shot by a Minnesota police officer during a traffic stop is seeking a federal investigation into his death.

In a letter dated earlier this month, an attorney for the family of Philando Castile asks the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate, saying Castile was a victim of racial bias.

BBM.

 

[al66pine]

Somewhat enjoying the sanctimonious play by play on this shooting - how people that were present should think, behave etc, what the family should do or not do, what the family is doing and not so subtle opinions about that etc - by those that were not present and have not been privy to any developments since.Where would people be without that?

^bbm Yes, agreeing: "some sanctimonious play by play on this shooting." Woodland, Not directing this at you, just jumping off post.

Some make sanctimonious comments - how LEO-people who were present should think & behave. Some posters ack. what the law is, how it does or does not apply to certain set of events under discussion; others instead just decide on an outcome they would like to see. For ex, saying LEOs should be fired, in jail for life, not referring to any possible, alleged violation of law or PD policy by LEO involved. Ignoring LE training protocol which might (or sometimes might not) support LEO's actions.

In this & many other threads, puzzle pieces are missing and/or bits of info are subject to diff interpretations. And those missing pieces & varying interp's make for lively discussion. Virtually every time I'm on W/S I learn something and sometimes change mind on some issues. JM2cts.

Steering back onto course to thread topic.

 

[K_Z]

Why the federal investigation of Philando Castile’s death will fail. Is it time to change the federal standard?

As we saw in the Jamar Clark case, federal civil rights prosecutions require a threshold of evidence that is nearly impossible to meet. Prosecutors must prove that officers acted “willfully” to deprive a citizen of their civil rights. Officers can only be held accountable for conscious, intentional bias; implicit bias — though proven to influence behavior and decision-making, especially in police encounters with black men — has no place.Is it time to change the federal standard?

https://www.minnpost.com/community-...estigation-philando-castile-s-death-will-fail

BBM. Comment section of this article has brutal (but entirely justified, IMO) criticism of the author, who is not an attorney. She is an English teacher and activist.

No, K.C. Harris. It is definitely not time to change the federal standard for *demonstrated* evidence-based bias, to "implicit bias". Basically, your ideas are, "you're biased because I say you are." Or more accurately, "my opinion is now truth." Or, "thought crime"-- "I think you thought something biased against me". In K.C. Harris' utopia, truth and evidence are irrelevant! Yikes! You want a different outcome, so you change the criteria from evidence to an opinion?? Unbelievable. And this woman is a teacher at a university??

A good example of dangerous pseudo-intellectual liberalism, ensconced in the ivory towers of academia. In a whole different area of study, no less! Rich!

 

[Tillicum]

"He has a real sound ability when it comes to communicating and relating to people," Mangseth said. "He showed me that he could shine in that public eye."

In Castile's girlfriend's archived video of the aftermath of the shooting, Yanez is shown occasionally yelling expletives and pointing his gun at Castile as he lies bleeding in the driver's seat of the car.

"I told him not to reach for it! I told him to get his hand off it!" he screams. The chief called Yanez's reaction common in a high-stress situation.

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-chief-defends-officer-in-july-shooting-of-castile/390465381/

 

[katydid23]

http://kstp.com/news/family-philando...probe/4230726/

"The family of a black man shot by a Minnesota police officer during a traffic stop is seeking a federal investigation into his death.

In a letter dated earlier this month, an attorney for the family of Philando Castile asks the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate, saying Castile was a victim of racial bias."



How is it 'racist' to stop someone who looks like an armed robber caught on video?