04-26-2006, 09:33 AM
I'm just noticing this assertion that the only other alternative would have been to shoot her.
Not so.
In fact, police could not justify shooting someone confined to a wheelchair, even if they were waving a machete and threatening to kill someone with it. Not unless a potential victim was in reach.
Resisting arrest, even by offering violence, is not cause to get out the sidearm. You need an immediate threat to life for that.
It's difficult to make a case that someone in a wheelchair represents an immediate threat to the lives of police or the public, even if she does have a knife.
Not so.
In fact, police could not justify shooting someone confined to a wheelchair, even if they were waving a machete and threatening to kill someone with it. Not unless a potential victim was in reach.
Resisting arrest, even by offering violence, is not cause to get out the sidearm. You need an immediate threat to life for that.
It's difficult to make a case that someone in a wheelchair represents an immediate threat to the lives of police or the public, even if she does have a knife.