Great editorial in (of all places!) the Toronto Sun.
In 2006 in Polk County, Florida, a man wanted for skipping bail was pulled over for speeding. He shot both officers, killing one, then fled into a wooded area. Police surrounded the area and when the man pointed a gun at them, the police opened fire.
In 2006 in Polk County, Florida, a man wanted for skipping bail was pulled over for speeding. He shot both officers, killing one, then fled into a wooded area. Police surrounded the area and when the man pointed a gun at them, the police opened fire.
Later, the Florida Civil Rights Association complained police had shown disregard for human life and had used excessive force.Here is a contemporaneous news story of the incident. The quote from the Sheriff seems accurate, if not verbatim, but I can't find a source for the marvelous quote from the Coroner. It may be apocryphal, but irresistible! The medical examiner at the time was a woman, Vera Volnikh, and the quote refers to a "he".
"Why did you shoot this poor, undocumented immigrant 68 times?” Sheriff Grady Judd was asked.
“Because that was all the ammunition we had,” he replied.
Sheriff Judd was subsequently re-elected with 99% of the vote.
When the coroner reported the guy had died of natural causes, he was asked how this could be, with 68 bullet wounds? He replied: “When you’re shot 68 times, you’re naturally gonna die.”
They don’t fool around in Florida!
2 comments:
Yeah. That story is great, but no coroner would say that. It's a great story though.
One can only wish... :-) I do remember seeing a bit on the news or web about that. Point of fact, it was death by cop.
Post a Comment