I thought everyone in the US had the right to the 5th!

So why is it that the jurors (who have all the evidence presented not just what they hear on TFF and Facebook) choose not to convict them? Could it be in more complicated than what it appears at first?

I agree with you , we need to hold everyone to the same standards in all aspects. Also i can understand the high stress situations but our troops are in extremely high stress situations , they are literally at war daily but they still follow rules of engagement and if they don't they go to prison. I do believe that officers are stressed , they have to protect and practically babysit some people , listen to lies all the time etc. I wouldn't be able to be a officer because the avg citizen now a days ticks me off

I'd sure like to see the US Supreme Court ruling on this.

See the Michael Slager mistrial. Shooting a guy in the back and lying about the circumstances, and all on video. Complicated? Note he is still liable, but it's difficult to see why a juror ignored the evidence.

See the failure of a grand jury to indict Daniel Pantaleo, who used a forbidden choke hold and killed a guy. Once again, all on video.

See the killing of James Boyd, literally executed, but a mistrial for the cops involved. All on video.

Yes you do. You don't have the protections of the First Amendment (free speech) while on duty, but you can damned sure plead the 5th in a criminal trial.

Because some people will back the blue regardless of the situation, that's what it boils down to. It doesn't matter what they see on video they will not convict.

Police can stop a threat by whatever means are justified, not everybody that gets shot dies. Hell, some people die after being tasered, it happens.

A murder conviction requires the INTENT to kill somebody. Manslaughter requires NEGLIGENCE. Both of which are very hard to prove when you start talking about an officer doing their job, to protect the public and themselves, while using the minimum force required to stop the threat. When a police officer shoots somebody that is called DEADLY FORCE, meaning the outcome could result in death, and therefore is the highest amount of force available.

Once again, I'm not taking sides on this Balch Springs deal, but you can't condemn police officers as a hole without knowing the facts of the job

It doesn't matter what weapon he used, pistol or rifle, once the need for deadly force has been reached he could use a knife if that what he had to use.

I'm not condemning cops as a whole. My point is that the standards for the use of deadly force can be loose and open to broad interpretation, and the judicial system historically accepts those broad standards or interpretations.

michael slager

It's just a bad deal all the way around.
I haven't really followed up on it since the story originally broke.
From what I read Sunday. It's very plausible that these kids were fleeing from the gunshots that everyone heard. That being said. The cop doesn't know that's the case. All he knows is there were shots fired while on scene. Next thing here comes a car hauling tail in his direction.
I also read Big Pigs comments. What he states about details getting mixed up is also very plausible. It reminds me of an experiment way back in school where everyone had a different perspective of what happened.
One thing I like and respect about BP is he always tries to explain all these situations from a cops perspective. Things us civilians don't normally understand.
It's easy for everyone to armchair quarterback these situations. It's even easier for the screaming libs to point fingers at the cops every time this stuff happens. When in reality. Some of these are caused by over zealous cops. Some are caused by thugs doing thuggish things. This particular one I believe falls on the person who originally fired shots. If those shots were never fired. This young man would probably still be alive. If the shots were never fired, the house party would have been broken up like they have been for years.
I just find it hard to place blame on the cop in this. I also find it hard to place blame on the kids in this. That is solely going off information I have read up to this point. They will probably never find the original shooter. But the kids blood is on their hands. IMO

Take a deep breath, and wait until all the facts are put on the table...


I really wish folks would stop jumping to conclusions.
Often trying to impress others and themselves.

yep. good kid caught in a bad situation. Prayers for all involved.

do what you want but my comments were just as legitimate as anyones and I didnt direct any of my comments at anyone.
The shot came through the front windshield and they were supposed to be behind the car in fear of their life?