I’d love to hear what you think about this story:
NY POST – An off-duty Los Angeles cop pulled out his gun and fired a shot during an altercation with several teens this week — and some of the fight was captured in a cell phone video posted online Wednesday, authorities said.
The 9-minute video, which was posted on YouTube, shows the officer tugging on a 13-year-old boy as he tries to detain him around 2:40 p.m. on a residential street in Anaheim.
At one point, one of the teens runs into the officer, causing the cop to fall backward over a bush. Another teen steps in and appears to attempt to strike the cop.
The officer is still holding on to the 13-year-old and trying to pull him over the hedge when he takes out his gun. Moments later, a single shot rings out.
No one was injured by the gunfire, but Los Angeles authorities are investigating the incident. Two of the kids were arrested, the 13-year-old for allegedly making criminal threats and battery, and a 15-year-old for assault and battery.
Police told the Los Angeles Times that the 13-year-old allegedly threatened to shoot the off-duty cop.
Here’s the video. It’s important that you watch at least the first 3 minutes, because that’s where most of the action happens:
Clearly the officer was violently attacked as he was trying to take the 13-year-old, who was resisting arrest, into custody. And then the teens started surrounding him.
My guess is that he thought a gunshot was the best way to disperse the crowd and keep anyone, including himself, from getting hurt.
It was hard to tell what direction he fired, but it looked like his arm was extended somewhat. I hope he fired into the ground.
So should he have fired at all? I think maybe it was the only thing he could do to disperse the crowd and protect everyone. The teens didn’t run when he pulled out his gun, and there’s no way he would have gotten the kid on the ground and been able to handcuff him in a kneeling position with those kids surrounding him.
On this I’d give the cop the benefit of the doubt. But he lives in California so I’m not sure he’s gonna get that luxury.
UPDATE: Here’s a report from Fox News on the altercation, including protests that occurred after this that ended with the officer’s home being vandalized: