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

[K_Z]

Black Lives Matter St. Paul protesters swarmed the front lawn of Falcon Heights Mayor Peter Lindstrom Thursday night, demanding answers from the mayor regarding the city’s contract with the St. Anthony police department, reports the Pioneer Press. A 30 minute conversation between the protesters and Lindstrom was filmed by Black Lives Matter St. Paul organizer Corydon Nilsson.

The video begins with Rashad Turner, Black Lives Matter organizer and DFL house primary candidate in 65A, saying “It doesn’t feel so good that we’re at your house, does it? No, we’re not going to wait. Everybody needs to see this.”

Lindstrom explained to the protesters that Falcon Heights was in year two of a five year contract with the St. Anthony Police Department, and ending the deal prematurely would mean the city was in breach of contract.

Turner was not pleased with that answer and threatened to come back with more people until Lindstrom gave the crowd “real answers.”

http://alphanewsmn.com/black-lives-matter-ramps-activity-busy-state-fair-season/

 

[K_Z]

Philando Castile vigil planned outside State Fair Monday night

Two groups plan to gather outside the Minnesota State Fair on Monday night to hold a vigil for Philando Castile.

The groups, Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace and St. Paul Eastside Neighbors for Peace, will gather from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Larpenteur Avenue near Snelling Avenue — the site where Castile was fatally shot by a St. Anthony police officer.

Organizers with Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace say they do not plan to block traffic in the area.

http://www.startribune.com/philando...outside-state-fair-on-monday-night/391615861/

Well, I'm glad they are not "planning" to block traffic. These kind of traffic blocking things "just seem to happen", and no one ever really seems to know why. (sarc)

This vigil area is right next to one of the gates to the fairgrounds, and about a thousand feet down and across the street from Falcon Heights city hall. Hopefully all will remain calm and peaceful. We will see. There is also another demonstration/ vigil planned for Labor Day, the last day of the fair. "Supporters" at the vigil site, by the way, have vandalized/ defaced the State Fair sign at the gate there, which is not being reported by MSM. See Facebook for pictures.

The fair has a lot of new security features implemented, including bag searches, and more visible security this year, after the "pigs in a blanket" traffic blocking protests and gate rushing by black lives matter last year. I don't think any "unrest" will be tolerated. I hope not.

Headed to the State Fair? You might run into one of these vigils or rallies

Since a St. Anthony police officer shot and killed Philando Castile on July 6 in Falcon Heights, near the Fairgrounds, demonstrations have been held throughout the Twin Cities. More are planned during the State Fair.

Those announced so far with proximity to the Fairgrounds are scheduled for Monday, the following Saturday, and Labor Day.

The Fair has an emergency management plan that covers protest activity among other things, Hammer said. A Fair spokeswoman said the manual’s details wouldn’t be released because “it’s in the best interest of keeping everybody safe.”

http://www.twincities.com/2016/08/2...about-vigils-and-rallies-planned-in-the-area/

 

[ohreally]

I'm guessing all of these rioters have the same defense organization behind them. I wonder if the thought is if they clog up the courts with these cases the state will drop all of the charges. I sure hope the state goes forward with these cases or there will be a lot more highways blocked in the future.

 

[K_Z]

I think you're exactly correct. They are engaging in more "protest" by "forcing" the courts to prosecute their cases.

One 21 year old woman is scheduled to go to France for a job. She apparently recognized the "wisdom" of taking the plea to lesser charges, and wants to go to France for the job MORE than she wants to continue to "protest" the charges. Having a recent conviction for riot and unlawful assembly might just get in the way of her trip to France, or her job there, and whatever residency status she needs to work there. Too bad she didn't think about that when she was rioting and blockading traffic on a major highway. Some foolish young people have a very hard time realizing that there are *actual real life* consequences to their youthful rioting and "protesting" that might plague them for many years as an adult, IMO.

Picture at link says Sophie Keane is "of" Columbia, MD, so she was "in" MN for school, or to "professionally protest", or to vacation...or something. I wonder if her family is proud of her for getting arrested for rioting and blockading a major freeway during rush hour? Hmmm. Great way to start out your new career as a young adult, eh?! Wonder if her new job in France knows about this?

All but one of the protesters charged with third-degree riot continued their cases and scheduled second hearings for this fall.

Sophie M. Keane, 21, Columbia, MD, in a July 2016 courtesy photo who is charged with third-degree riot in a disturbance that shut down Interstate 94 in St. Paul and injured law enforcement officers on Saturday, July 9, 2016. The protest was in reaction to the shooting death of Philando Castile by a police officer in Falcon Heights on Wednesday. ( Photo courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office).
Sophie M. Keane, of Columbia, MD. ( Photo courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office).

Sophie M. Keane, 22, accepted St. Paul’s plea deal Friday. She is beginning a job in France next month and needed to close the case against her before leaving the country said her attorney, Elyssa Danahy.

Despite Keane’s inability to continue her case, she “stands in solidarity with the rest of the folks in the courtroom,” Danahy said.

http://www.twincities.com/2016/08/2...otesters-reject-plea-deal-over-i-94-shutdown/

Almost a dozen protesters did not make their first court appearances or provide information needed to waive their presence.

Ramsey County District Judge George Stephenson gave the defendants and their attorneys until the end of the business day to contact the court before warrants are issued.

Bold and blue by me.

Hmmm. Why would someone would not appear in court when summoned, after being arrested and bonded out, or provide information needed to waive their presence? (Wait. No answer needed. It's rhetorical. I know why.)

 

[K_Z]

Well, those supporters/ activists said they didn't "plan" to block traffic-- but strangely, it happened anyway! Wow. How does this keep happening I wonder?!

Protesters block State Fair traffic near site of Philando Castile shooting

A peaceful vigil at the site of the fatal police shooting of Philando Castile turned “inconvenient” Monday when protesters marched down Larpenteur Avenue and blocked Snelling Avenue traffic on the fifth evening of the Minnesota State Fair.

For the first hour and a half, the vigil in Falcon Heights sponsored by Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace and St. Paul East Side Neighbors for Peace stuck to the side of the road where Castile was shot by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez. Participants chanted and waved signs at rush hour traffic. Vehicle access to a nearby State Fair entrance was closed, but many fairgoers passed by on foot, on bicycle or in cars and buses on their way to other entrances.

About 6:30 p.m., organizers invited participants to walk with them toward Snelling, adding that they did not want to “take over the road.”But shortly after the 40 or so protesters started walking, younger members spread into the street and forced Larpenteur Avenue traffic to go around them one by one. When they got to Snelling Avenue, they spread across the intersection and blocked Snelling traffic entirely, except for a couple of vehicles that forced their way through with protesters briefly clinging to their hoods.

One group of protesters came back out and pounded on a car whose driver somehow antagonized them. The carload of young women waited nervously at the light before they could escape the angry protesters.

Police, who hadn’t closely monitored the vigil, arrived at the intersection a few minutes after protesters started blocking traffic. A spokesman for St. Paul police, which assisted St. Anthony police at Snelling and Larpenteur, said he was unaware of any arrests or citations at the protest.

http://www.twincities.com/2016/08/2...affic-near-site-of-philando-castile-shooting/

The group of about 25 people lined themselves parallel to Larpenteur Avenue at Snelling Avenue, blocking the intersection as dozens of cars waited at a standstill for nearly 10 minutes.

At the intersection, angry motorists in several vehicles nearly ran down demonstrators as they broke through the human chain.

http://www.startribune.com/philando...outside-state-fair-on-monday-night/391615861/

No arrests, huh? Imagine that. I'd say the St. Anthony Police are acting with a lot of restraint, rather than "over policing." There should have been citations and arrests, IMO. Snelling and Larpenteur is a very busy, major intersection.

Check out this Public Narrative in this snip from one police report filed. Single female in a car, mob trying to open her doors, jumping on the hood of her car, she feared for her life:

https://twitter.com/MaraGottfried/status/770633673053868032/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

 

[ohreally]

I don't blame the lady at all for accelerating once they tried to open the door of her car. I can just imagine what they would of done if they could of opened the door. Sadly I believe that this is not going to stop until a protester is seriously injured by harassing a driver. Then of course the protesters will put all the blame on the driver.

 

[K_Z]

MN ACLU files lawsuit to obtain squad car video of Philando Castile traffic stop. Body of PC being moved to St. Louis for burial.

Lawsuit filed for release of Castile squad car video

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced the filing of a lawsuit Thursday asking for the release of squad car video that documents the fatal shooting of Philando Castile.

The lawsuit names the City of St. Anthony Village, Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety as defendants. The ACLU-MN argues that the public has a right to access this footage and the Defendants’ refusal to release it stands in violation of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

The ACLU emphasizes that Philando Castile’s family is not affiliated with the case.

Meanwhile, in what his mother describes as the final leg of his journey on earth, the body of Philando Castile was transported from a St. Paul funeral home to St. Louis, Missouri.

http://www.kare11.com/news/-lawsuit-filed-for-release-of-castile-squad-car-video-/312541357

ACLU sues for access to squad video in Philando Castile shooting

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/0...s-to-squad-video-in-philando-castile-shooting

 

[al66pine]

"Even if the videos are considered criminal investigative data by the defendants, the ACLU argues that they should be released because the public benefit of disclosure outweighs any potential harm."
^from http://www.kare11.com/news/-lawsuit-filed-for-release-of-castile-squad-car-video-/312541357 (same one in K_Z's post)

Publicly releasing PD vid, whether from badge/body/collar cam or dash cam, gives 'malleable-minded' witnesses the chance to tailor their statements - to LE & MSM - in a light most favorable to another (non-LEO) person in the recording. And to do so without contradicting the recorded events. And repeat same at trial.

Where/what is the harm to the public in LE waiting to release?

JM2cts.

 

[K_Z]

I agree, al66pine. I don't think there is any way that this dash cam video will be released to the public BEFORE the decision is made whether to indict Officer Yanez. And the investigation is nearly 2 months old-- I'm guessing that the decision about indictment, or not, will come down shortly after the Labor Day holiday. The prosecutor said a week or 2 ago that the investigation was nearing the end.

The Jamar Clark investigation and decision took about 4 months, but this situation (IMO) is far less complicated than the Jamar Clark case.

That Officer Yanez was briefly returned to duty says that there is not a very clear violation of law or policy-- otherwise, he wouldn't have been returned to duty at all.

What I think is extremely curious is the "radio silence" of the girlfriend. She had been a very prolific and enthusiastic poster on social media, and did several interviews and talk shows in the early weeks after. She has not turned up at any of the vigils or protests, and is staying very quiet. Something seems very unusual about that, given her previous demeanor in the interviews, IMO. She certainly would be a very key witness in the investigation process.

I've said before that it's my opinion that her actions/ behavior contributed very substantially to whatever possible misunderstanding occurred during the police stop. That's my opinion, based on my interpretation of her behavior and actions once she began taking and uploading video. I realize some others don't agree with my opinion on that, but we will all have to wait to see what the prosecutor's investigation reveals. If I were on a grand jury, I would have to give consideration to her behavior and demeanor in the whole circumstances of what happened. I'm not saying I think she is guilty of any crimes-- but rather, her attitude and demeanor toward the officers *may have* substantially contributed to the misunderstanding about Philando Castile's gun. As I said, JMO-- we will have to wait and see. The dash cam video may help to clarify that.

I agree, no matter what that video contains, it would taint any potential jury pool if it were released before the decision is made whether or not to indict Officer Yanez on any charges. The decision should be made, announced to the public, and then the video should be released to the public, IMO, if there is no indictment. Just as in the Jamar Clark case, when hundreds or thousands of pictures, videos, and evidence was immediately released with the prosecutor's decision. It was posted on the County Court website within minutes of the press conference by the Hennepin County prosecutor. I think we will see a repeat of that evidence posting in this case if the officer is not indicted, but if he is, we will not see the evidence until trial.

 

[K_Z]

More demonstrations/ protests planned for this weekend near the gates of the MN State Fair. I'd like to hope they will be respectful, law abiding, and peaceful, but I sincerely doubt it.

Let's hope the police will monitor these gatherings much more closely than they did last week when protesters got way out of hand, blocked a major intersection, and attacked people in their cars. (After they said multiple times that they didn't "plan" to block traffic, etc.)

#AintFair Gathering for Philando Castile Planned Outside Minn. State Fair

The #AintFair gathering is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Larpenteur Avenue and Fry Street in Falcon Heights. The event is organized by the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, Justice for Marcus Golden, the Black Coalition and AR-14 for Justice.

Organizers say the action will call attention “to the police killings that especially (but not solely) target black people and other people of color.”

It’s planned for the same day that Castile will be laid to rest in St. Louis;

Separately, AR-14 for Justice and the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar are planning another demonstration at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Minnesota State Fair. Organizers say it will be a “peaceful gathering” to grieve the loss of Castile, Michael Brown and others who “lost their lives to unnecessary police brutality.”

http://kstp.com/news/philando-castile-gathering-minnesota-state-fair/4252859/

 

[human]

It is good In America that there is the ACLU which works on issues relating to the Constitution of the USA

 

[K_Z]

Black Lives Matter protest causes Main Gate, and very busy Snelling Ave, to be closed at MN State Fair. (At least this time they weren't jumping on cars and trying to pull motorists out of their cars. And this year they are not chanting to promote killing of police officers, so that's some progress, I guess.)

I can't help but notice how patient, indulgent, and tolerant the police have been with these traffic blocking demonstrations-- so much for claims of police brutality and "over policing", eh?! They could have (and should have, IMO), arrested about 75 protesters. Ah, well-- tomorrow's another day at the fair, and the next 2 days have more protests planned.

Castile Protest Closes Main Gate at Fairgrounds, Blocks Streets

The main gate at the Minnesota State Fair had to be closed and traffic was disrupted in the area Saturday afternoon during a protest of the fatal police shooting of Philando Castile.

http://kstp.com/news/philando-castile-protest-minnesota-state-fair/4253735/

The second Saturday is generally the busiest day of the State Fair.

Protestors first carried the caskets and signs while chanting down to the intersection of Snelling and Larpenteur. There, they lay in the intersection for about a minute to acknowledge the dozens of times Castile had been pulled over by police officers. They also put up their hands to symbolize “don’t shoot.”

The protestors then carried on down Snelling Avenue toward the fairground’s eastern entrance.

At one point, the protest passed about 20 law enforcement officers who stood off to the side. Protestors yelled and waved their signs in the officers’ direction.

After the protest continued down Snelling, some fairgoers behind the officers cheered in support of law enforcement.

Shortly after, the protesters blocked traffic in both directions on Snelling Avenue for about a half hour in front of the fair entrance. Gate 5 was closed for a bit to fairgoers, who had to walk to different entrances. Traffic on Snelling was diverted for a period too.

Protestors argue it may be a slight inconvenience for fairgoers, but not as inconvenient as being killed by police.

St. Paul police officers used microphones to demand the protestors to get out of the intersection. They refused, and continued their chanting. After about a half hour, they turned and went back to where they came from.

http://bringmethenews.com/2016/09/0...ch-briefly-blocks-traffic-gate-at-state-fair/

About 75 protesters gathered late in the morning at Larpenteur Avenue and Fry Street, near where Castile was shot to death July 6 by St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop, an event that sparked protests nationwide.

Carrying fake coffins and signs calling for justice for Castile and other black men killed by police officers, they then marched to the fair’s main gate at Snelling and Midway, where they laid down the coffins. Along the way, they staged a “die-in” at Snelling and Larpenteur. Some protesters declared their intention to shut down the fair.

No one was allowed in or out for about 15 minutes as officers ordered the protesters to disperse, which they eventually did, walking back to the Castile shooting site. They left the fake coffins, which police soon loaded into vans and took away.

From inside the fairgrounds, people watched the brief confrontation, some of them applauding, apparently for the officers. One protester shouted to fairgoers, “I know this is inconvenient for you, but so is murder!”

http://www.startribune.com/protesters-gather-at-site-where-castile-was-shot/392247781/

 

[ohreally]

I will never understand how anyone thinks that inconveniencing people will get those inconvenienced to have sympathy for their cause. IMO it would have just the opposite effect and inspire prejudices from people that have never had them before.
Maybe it is just me, but there is no way that someone that is using me to further their cause is going to get me to even listen to their side. I do believe I can have an open mind and listen trying to understand different sides, but once someone tries to bully me to their side I tune out.

 

[human]

Are they interested in getting anyone's sympathy? These types of things have been used in protests all over the world for decades. Nothing new here. Anger, frustration, expressing itself in an outward way.

No one had taken a gun and strafed people like some angry frustrated people have done .

 

[oceanblueeyes]

"Even if the videos are considered criminal investigative data by the defendants, the ACLU argues that they should be released because the public benefit of disclosure outweighs any potential harm."
^from http://www.kare11.com/news/-lawsuit-filed-for-release-of-castile-squad-car-video-/312541357 (same one in K_Z's post)

Publicly releasing PD vid, whether from badge/body/collar cam or dash cam, gives 'malleable-minded' witnesses the chance to tailor their statements - to LE & MSM - in a light most favorable to another (non-LEO) person in the recording. And to do so without contradicting the recorded events. And repeat same at trial.

Where/what is the harm to the public in LE waiting to release?

JM2cts.

I don't understand what the harm would be to the public if the body camera or the dash cam isn't released now during the ongoing investigation. The BLM protestors haven't waited for the factual evidence to come in before concerning other cases leading them to immediately proceeded with protests with many ending in violent acts. If they had actually waited for the facts to come in concerning several prior cases the cities wouldn't have been burned or looted and police officers abused. So what is the ACLU implying when they say the benefit of disclosure outweighs any potential harm? Potential harm to the officer who has a constitutional right to a fair trial? Personally, I detest the ACLU but that's just me. Some of the cases they bring are beyond ridiculous. IMO.

Are we now trying cases in the court of public opinion rather than in a court of law? Since when is public awareness more important than preserving the integrity of any investigation or is it because this happens to be a police officer who is involved and they feel his constitutional rights don't count as much as any others?

Until the investigation is through I don't see any reason to release the footage just to appease the public.

 

[human]

I don't understand what the harm would be to the public if the body camera or the dash cam isn't released now during the ongoing investigation. The BLM protestors haven't waited for the factual evidence to come in before concerning other cases leading them to immediately proceeded with protests with many ending in violent acts. If they had actually waited for the facts to come in cities wouldn't have been burned or looted and police officers abused. So what is the ACLU implying when they say the benefit of disclosure outweighs any potential harm? Potential harm to the officer who has a constitutional right to a fair trial? Personally, I detest the ACLU but that's just me. Some of the cases they bring are beyond ridiculous. IMO.

Are we now trying cases in the court of public opinion rather than in a court of law? Since when is public awareness more important than preserving the integrity of any investigation or is it because this happens to be a police officer who is involved and they feel his constitutional rights don't count as much as any others?

Until the investigation is through I don't see any reason to release the footage just to appease the public.

Hard to stomach they supported the Neo Nazis. http://www.kctv5.com/story/23921202/concerns-over-security-restrictions-at-neo-nazi-rally

 

[K_Z]

Really excellent post, OBE. Spot on assessment.

I think another important part of this frivolous lawsuit is that in MN, very recently there is a history of complete transparency in another high profile case that was extensively protested. Literally hundreds of documents, video, evidence, and photos in the Jamar Clark case are posted on the website of the county attorney in Minneapolis. So there should be no reasonable belief by anyone that the dashcam video will be "withheld forever" in the Philando Castile case, IMO. It's simply not the right time YET.

Nothing in the law says that this type of information must be released when activists and protesters demand it through riots or demonstrations. Indeed, the civil rights of the officer ARE material and important during the investigation. AND, Philando Castile's posthumous rights ARE being safeguarded as well by this investigational process, IMO.

The dashcam video will be released, I'm confident, just as soon as the decision is made as to whether to charge Officer Yanez. If no charges, I think it will be released immediately, the same day as the decision. If OY is charged, the dashcam video will be released at trial, and to the public after trial.

I think there is zero probability that the video will be released before the charging decision is made-- just as in the Jamar Clark case. The ACLU attorneys definitely know this. It's a publicity stunt.

IMO, this is a nuisance/ frivolous lawsuit, designed specifically to whip up the passions of activists, and feed the media with more "injustice" fuel.

 

[K_Z]

Philando Castile was laid to rest next to his grandmother, in St.Louis, MO, yesterday.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_0a746709-c8f0-5e3e-8aa0-7b1f42fc5f22.html

Castile was originally from St. Louis and moved from the area as a young boy.

He was remembered at a two-hour memorial service Saturday morning at the Ronald L. Jones Funeral Chapel near O’Fallon Park.

Castile’s casket was taken afterward by horse-drawn carriage to Calvary Cemetery for a private burial.

The funeral date was chosen in part because it was his grandmother’s birthday, according to family members.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/services-in-st-louis-saturday-for-philando-castile/313010435

Castile will be buried next to his grandmother at Calvary Cemetery.

 

[jkly]

I agree, al66pine. I don't think there is any way that this dash cam video will be released to the public BEFORE the decision is made whether to indict Officer Yanez. And the investigation is nearly 2 months old-- I'm guessing that the decision about indictment, or not, will come down shortly after the Labor Day holiday. The prosecutor said a week or 2 ago that the investigation was nearing the end.

The Jamar Clark investigation and decision took about 4 months, but this situation (IMO) is far less complicated than the Jamar Clark case.

That Officer Yanez was briefly returned to duty says that there is not a very clear violation of law or policy-- otherwise, he wouldn't have been returned to duty at all.

What I think is extremely curious is the "radio silence" of the girlfriend. She had been a very prolific and enthusiastic poster on social media, and did several interviews and talk shows in the early weeks after. She has not turned up at any of the vigils or protests, and is staying very quiet. Something seems very unusual about that, given her previous demeanor in the interviews, IMO. She certainly would be a very key witness in the investigation process.

I've said before that it's my opinion that her actions/ behavior contributed very substantially to whatever possible misunderstanding occurred during the police stop. That's my opinion, based on my interpretation of her behavior and actions once she began taking and uploading video. I realize some others don't agree with my opinion on that, but we will all have to wait to see what the prosecutor's investigation reveals. If I were on a grand jury, I would have to give consideration to her behavior and demeanor in the whole circumstances of what happened. I'm not saying I think she is guilty of any crimes-- but rather, her attitude and demeanor toward the officers *may have* substantially contributed to the misunderstanding about Philando Castile's gun. As I said, JMO-- we will have to wait and see. The dash cam video may help to clarify that.

I agree, no matter what that video contains, it would taint any potential jury pool if it were released before the decision is made whether or not to indict Officer Yanez on any charges. The decision should be made, announced to the public, and then the video should be released to the public, IMO, if there is no indictment. Just as in the Jamar Clark case, when hundreds or thousands of pictures, videos, and evidence was immediately released with the prosecutor's decision. It was posted on the County Court website within minutes of the press conference by the Hennepin County prosecutor. I think we will see a repeat of that evidence posting in this case if the officer is not indicted, but if he is, we will not see the evidence until trial.

The protesters deserve all the criticism being leveled at them, but I strongly disagree that Diamond somehow "contributed to whatever possible misunderstanding that occurred during the police stop." How could she have contributed? What could she possibly have done to cause him to pull the trigger? Annoyed him by talking too much?

The cop misunderstood before he pulled them over. Over his radio, he said they looked like suspects in an armed robbery and more likely than not, approached them in that biased frame of mind. How was that fair to them?

There's nothing proving that they even had any idea why they had been pulled over, so why would it make sense to believe that Philando Castile intended to pull a gun on a police officer? He wasn't the armed robber, so what would be his motive after countless traffic stops to choose just this specific one (where he's on an outing with his girlfriend and her four year old) to get violent? And for this to happen coincidentally during the same stop that the police officer approaching him was under the impression that he was approaching a possible violent, dangerous, armed suspect?

I don't buy it. Philando was probably just reaching for his license. The cop profiled him ahead of time, failed to follow procedure, approached the car, his imagination ran wild, he got jittery and shot him. Unless Philando openly threatened the police officer or tried to point a gun at him, he did nothing to cause his own death. Not putting his hands up fast enough is no excuse for taking someone's life.

Then there's the fact that he shot FOUR bullets into the car. Officer Yanez should be charged with manslaughter and kicked off the force.

What's more, Philando is not responsible for what a rabid mob does after his death. It says nothing about him as a person and it proves nothing. It doesn't make officer Yanez more right or Philando more wrong.

 

[K_Z]

We will all have to wait to learn more about what happened BEFORE Diamond Reynolds began video recording.

There is plenty of discussion on the web about "where" Philando Castile's gun was, and where it fell when he was pulled from the car for CPR. I happen to think that is absolutely critical to understanding what happened. Philando Castile had been pulled over by police for traffic infractions about 56 or so times in his life. He, of ALL motorists, should have understood how to act at a traffic stop.

Add into that he was a carry permit holder, who has taken the class at least once, and he should have known HOW to communicate that to a police officer during a stop, and how to behave while carrying. (Whether or not the gun was visible out in the open, or concealed.) AND-- PC does not have a history of being confrontational or mouthy, but the girlfriend, IMO, definitely does, IMO.

Minnesota permits open carry, as well as concealed carry, for those with a properly issued permit.

Rule #1 is NEVER to TOUCH or REACH for your gun during an interaction with a police officer. Never. Ever. Ever. Do NOTHING to make the officer suspicious or fearful of your actions. Carry classes emphasize this over and over and over and over and over and over.

Rule #2 is to calmly tell the officer that you have a carry permit, keep your hands off your weapon, and wait for further instructions. If an officer asks you where the gun is, you MUST tell the officer, and answer questions about what kind of gun and ammunition. These are lawful questions that MUST be complied with by all permit holders. If an officer asks you to get out of the car and frisks you, and THEN finds the gun on you or in the car, you WILL be handcuffed whether or not you have a permit card in your wallet.

It's my opinion that the officer actually SAW the unholstered and loaded gun on his lap, or that Philando was already touching or holding it at the point where the officer came to the car window. It is widely rumored that the gun was not holstered, and on his lap. I think the girlfriend was "discussing" (in a mouthy and confrontational manner, IMO) with the officer how Philando was a legal permit holder for the gun that was presumably visible, and perhaps "urging" PC to get out his permit, WHILE the officer was ordering PC NOT TO TOUCH or handle the visible weapon. If the rumors are correct, and the gun was on his lap, that is the *only* scenario that makes sense to me, given the officer's history.

IMO, there is simply no way this officer started shooting simply because PC was reaching for his wallet. I think ultimately this case will be used as an example in carry classes in MN as to what NOT to do at a traffic stop.

The gun was visible and out in the open, and PC was holding it, or touching it, while the officer was telling him not to. It is absolutely the only scenario that makes any sense. Add to that a GF who was being mouthy and confrontational, and a child in the backseat, and an officer who had some valid suspicions that the driver was a suspect in a recent robbery, and it's easy to see how a situation like this could rapidly spiral out of control.

ETA: The loose and visible gun scenario makes even more sense when you recall that Diamond Reynolds was removed from the car and had to be taken to the ground to be handcuffed. And the child removed quickly. There was an unsecured weapon in the car. She had to be removed and secured before the weapon could be removed and secured, and before PC could be removed for CPR. Her video recording the encounter definitely added stress and uncertainty to the situation, and delayed PC being removed for CPR/ care. And yes, given the presence of one gun, PC and DR would have to be checked for additional weapons before CPR or any medical care could be given. The actions of DR, IMO, substantially interfered with handling the situation once the officer fired. She became a suspect to be dealt with before PC could be attended to.