5 points.
COLUMBIA --- A federal investigation was launched into the South Carolina Highway Patrol after dashboard camera videos showed a trooper using a racial slur and two others ramming their cruisers into fleeing suspects, a prosecutor said Thursday.
"I've reviewed some of the videos, and based on that review, felt that it was appropriate to have our office involved," said Kevin McDonald, acting U.S. attorney for South Carolina.
Mr. McDonald wouldn't say whether indictments could come from the investigation.
Highway Patrol Col. Russell Roark and his boss, Public Safety Director James Schweitzer, resigned last month after a tape surfaced showing a trooper using a racial slur in 2004.
This week, the Highway Patrol released two more videos, both from 2007, showing troopers using their cars to ram suspects.
In one of those tapes, Lance Cpl. Steven C. Garren drives after a black man on foot, striking him when he crosses in front of the cruiser.
"Yeah, I hit him. I was trying to hit him," Lance Cpl. Garren, who is white, can be heard telling another trooper. He received a three-day suspension, which he has appealed.
The third video shows Lance Cpl. Alexander Richardson chasing a man at an apartment complex. The suspect appeared to be hit at a slower speed and kept on running.
Comments
5 points.
What do they think this is? A Video game??
If they wouldn’t run then they would not have been struck by the patrol car. Now for all y'all bleeding heart liberals out there just think if they did not get these punks off the street then maybe one of them would be the one who comes knocking at your door...But now since they are locked up thanks to these troopers you don't have to worry about these punks...
What would be said if the tables were turned like they are frequently and the criminal turns, shoots and kills the officer? More officers are gunned down each day, called disgusting names all of which is endured because they have a job to do and try to do it to the best of their ability.
"I can't catch you cause you run too fast, and I can't shoot you cause your back is to me, so I guess I will just run you over with my car." umm I hadn't thought about that. It just might work. This is Bull Crap! no one is justified for running another person over, we put people like that in jail.
1,000 points for ever no good no life scum bag I want in on that game. When you reach the mile stone of 100,000 points you win a million dollars.
This is just one of many cases of how South Carolina and other southern cities mistreat and abuse there authority especially when it comes down to race. Its almost if they can break these same laws that they are paid and took oath to uphold. Its leaves you with the question does an African American truly have a chance with our legal system, time and time again it shows that justice isn't blind, maybe to some but not for all. FED UP!!!!
if they weren't commiting crimes and running from the police, they wouldnt be put in the situations. criminals should have no rights. if the cops would have just ran them over completely, we wouldnt have to waste money on a trial and prison. this crap is getting old!
Ya'll are forgetting a couple things here (a) one trooper was white, one was Black ( I can't hear you justus). (b) the troopers are aged 35 to 40 the suspects are in their 20's. How many of you can run down someone 10 to 20 years your junior when you are carrying about 20 pounds of equipment on you? Foot chases can get you into some very dangerous situations very quickly, depending on the circumstances I would probably have done things the same way. The article does not state whether either of them were armed and gives no details other than to INDICT the troopers. Can you say sensational journalism and incomplete reporting?
Dont run and then you wont be the one being hit. If this guy had just killed your loved one then you would say hit him, bunch of cry babies, you want protection but wont help the ones protecting you.These police have a job to do and you wont do it. I say do what ever is needed to stop the FLEEING SUSPECT.
justus wouldnt even be saying anything if the criminals where white. i think he lives for this crap.
Everyone has rights in this country, that's what america is about. I don't think you can justify ANY officer who is supposed to protect and serve all in the community using a racial slur. That's outrageous, and to hit someone with a car to stop them is even more outrageous. If they are not in good enough shape to chase suspects get off the street.
Try to remember folks. It is how we treat people (innocent or not) which separates us from the Russias and the Darfurs and the Chinas of the world. We can act like them (criminals have no rights) and stop pretending that we are somehow blessed by God and the Constitution or we can live like we are the people we claim we are. By the way, what is the opposite of a "bleeding heart"?
wha, wha, wha. thats all i just heard. must be democrats. this country is going down the drain and its people like you that are the cause. maybe you woill have a run in with some of the fine outstanding citizens and then you will be dialing 911 just as quick as you can demanding justice.
by the way "naugliberal", i am blessed by god. EVERYDAY!!!!
You have to put this in context. Look at the background of the officer and what they have to face every day. He probably had had enough, was tired, angry and acted out inappropriately. (I learned that is okay from listening to a speech read by O.B.):)
Too bad both runners were just "bumped"!
well stated dani...:-)
naugliberal, you have said a mouthful now sit down & hush. "It is better to remain silent & be thought a fool than to speak-up & remove all doubt." A. Lincoln. Oh yeah gapeach08, "Their & there" have two different meanings. RE: Grammar patrol.
Dani, then the officer need to find another job. It has nothing to do with race but it does has to do with civil rights.
POFWE, why don't you take your own much needed advice.
Then there's the one about the car chase, where the camera just so happens to be broken. Oh yeah, the assailant was a young white man, but the victim was a black mother . No outrage for the assailant, maybe he shouldn't have run, and there would not have been a need for a car chase. Typical Augusta.
Panther, Criminals committing a crime have no rihgt to run from the cops. Trying to elude police is a crime in itself. Had they not been doing something criminal and running from these guys, they wouldn't have been run down. Strange how quiet injustus4 got when it was revealed one of the troopers was black.
Hypo, like I said, there is no civil right to run from the cops when committing a crime. I understand the perps were tried and convicted, so their civil rights were upheld.
The criminals are always the victims. I am still a firm believer in, if you didn't do anything wrong don't run.....
Mow em down
Hey Panther are you in as good or better shape now than when you took your job? If not then you need to quit!
Some of you are just plain biggots! Where in the article did it say that the suspects even committed a crime to be so deserving of being run down with by a cop with his CAR?! Most of you certainly provide further proof of the myth that Blacks are most often found guilty until proven innocent. This city sux!
"Mow em down"...?! Figures. You guys & gals really are starting to show your true colors. I am a Black man w/ a graduate degree, and once cornered and question by officers in a patrol car, for a crime I did not commit. They threw me on the ground on my stomach, put a knee in my back, searched me, and took my shoes after they found nothing. If I had run, I's sure it would have been much worse had they caught me, maybe even ran me over with their patrol car...? Now do you see whay they run?!
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