Originally Posted by
Mobile 155
Cause and effect. What caused the action? If he would have stopped as directed what might have happened. Why didn't he stop? What caused the first fall, was that his fault? Did he swallow something? Why did people call 911 on him? Too many questions to take sides.
So is a person being deaf or profoundly hard of hearing and not being able to respond grounds escalate to force when they don't respond?
In one of the articles linked to in this thread one of the people commenting on the story basically is blaming the deceased for being deaf saying that he shouldn't have been riding a bike.
His family have stated (and we have no reason to depute them) that he suffered from seizures, so it is reasonable to presume that what he was observed taking from his pocket and putting in his mouth was his medication.
Should people with disabilities have to worry that their disability(s) is going to cost them their life if they do not respond the way that they (the LEO) think that they should respond? I.E. the deaf/profoundly hard of hearing may not hear the siren on a police car, they may not hear the LEO order them to stop over his/her PA system. Someone with certain physical limitations may not be able to get on the ground when ordered to do so, or be able to do so as quickly as the LEO thinks that they the person should.
Again, should a person with a disability(s) whatever it/they may be have to worry that their disability(s) will cost them their life when/if they have an encounter with law enforcement?