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Charges Dropped Against Philly Cop Who Killed Man Sitting In Car (patch.com)

submitted 1 year ago by MDKAOD@lemmy.ml to c/usa@lemmy.ml

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 42 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Court documents show the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

So... These things are not often as clear as we think, given what the media presents us. What comes out in court often doesn't make it to our eyes and ears. But read on...

Although I can't find the video, after following several links through the website, I'm going to assume it worked out as stated given that the police recanted their original story, i.e., that he was out of the car. If nothing else, changing the story that radically should be a firing offence. This isn't some small detail, forgotten in the heat of the moment.

He was supposedly seen driving erratically and was pulled over. Two cops approached, weapons drawn. Red flag right fucking there. Nothing indicates this was anything more than a routine traffic stop. Another firing offence in my opinion.

"One is heard shouting "show me your hands" and "He's got a fucking knife" in the new video. Also heard on the video were "don't move" and "I'll fucking shoot you" as Dial is seen running up to the driver's side window."

Hold up. First off, guns are not the magic kill machines Hollywood makes them out. Second, a man with a knife can be on you hella fast. (Try it with a friend from 30' away if you don't believe me.) I get this.

Anyone cops want to explain how that's relevant to a man, sitting in his fucking car?

But it was Judge Wendy L. Pew who Tuesday morning dropped all charges.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said it will move to have the charges reinstated.

And now the DA is going heads up against the judge? How often you hear that?! This stinks to high heaven.

[–] thecodemonk@programming.dev 5 points 1 year ago

I read the news articles yesterday about this as it was really my first time hearing about this situation. They way it was explained really made me gravitate towards "he had a knife. The other officer shouted it was a gun, so when it was pointed he just shot before being shot.."

Then I looked up the body cam.. holy shit did my opinion change in a hurry. The officer that said he had a weapon pulled up right next to the car. Like so close he had to squeeze between the vehicles. What cop does that?! The cop that shot him ran right up to the driver's side of the car. Like right up on him. If you have your gun out and you are afraid of the dude, why would you do that?! There were lots of opportunities to take up a defensive position and start talking.. you could see into the car on the cops body cam at shit quality. You're telling me he couldn't tell the difference between a gun and knife?!