I've got much to speak of, and this originally started as a grab bag post, a smattering of everything. But I realized that this particular topic was taking up the overwhelming majority of my original "grab bag" post. So, I've decided to make this it's own creature, a Frankenstein's monster if you will, and post my original grab bag with this omitted later.
In Louisville, this past Saturday, Deng Manyoun was a potential suspect in an assault that occurred a short time earlier, and Officer Nathan Blanford found him on the corner of 4th and Oak Streets. During their encounter, Mr. Manyoun, who was believed to be intoxicated, became agitated. He walked away from Officer Blanford, grabbed a "open" flag on a metal flagpole from in front of a nearby business, and charged Officer Blanford, who drew his service weapon and retreated to the point where he was backed up against his cruiser. Mr. Manyoun swung the flagpole at Officer Blanford, at which point the officer fired two rounds from his service weapon. The flagpole did not strike Officer Blanford, but both rounds struck Mr. Manyoun, who collapsed, stood back up, then collapsed again. Louisville Metro EMS rendered treatment at the scene and transported Mr. Manyoun to University of Louisville Hospital, where he died a short time later.
This is the Joe Friday "Just the facts, ma'am" narrative of what happened, written by me based upon viewing 27+ minutes of surveillance camera footage released by Louisville Metro Police. To a white guy from southern Indiana, who knows neither man but will admit to having connections in law enforcement, that is what happened. Man charges cop with metal pole, swings said pole at cop, cop is backed up against cruiser and fires two rounds off. By all appearances, Officer Blanford acted in self-defense, and even waited until he was backed up against his car, and had had the pole swung at him, before firing two shots. Not everything in his magazine. Two shots.
I ought to note, for the record, that I have yet to mention the race of the officer or the man he shot. But it's coming.
Many in Louisville do not see it the way I do. To them, Officer Blanford is a murderer, a white cop who gunned down a black man for no good reason. Why not use a Taser, they ask, or OC spray? Why not try to talk to him, instead of going straight for some form of weaponry? Why is Louisville Metro Police training their officers to display acts of malice or even savagery towards blacks? Why aren't the leaders of both LMPD and the city being held accountable for every black person shot, beaten, or otherwise mistreated by police?
In Louisville, this past Saturday, Deng Manyoun was a potential suspect in an assault that occurred a short time earlier, and Officer Nathan Blanford found him on the corner of 4th and Oak Streets. During their encounter, Mr. Manyoun, who was believed to be intoxicated, became agitated. He walked away from Officer Blanford, grabbed a "open" flag on a metal flagpole from in front of a nearby business, and charged Officer Blanford, who drew his service weapon and retreated to the point where he was backed up against his cruiser. Mr. Manyoun swung the flagpole at Officer Blanford, at which point the officer fired two rounds from his service weapon. The flagpole did not strike Officer Blanford, but both rounds struck Mr. Manyoun, who collapsed, stood back up, then collapsed again. Louisville Metro EMS rendered treatment at the scene and transported Mr. Manyoun to University of Louisville Hospital, where he died a short time later.
This is the Joe Friday "Just the facts, ma'am" narrative of what happened, written by me based upon viewing 27+ minutes of surveillance camera footage released by Louisville Metro Police. To a white guy from southern Indiana, who knows neither man but will admit to having connections in law enforcement, that is what happened. Man charges cop with metal pole, swings said pole at cop, cop is backed up against cruiser and fires two rounds off. By all appearances, Officer Blanford acted in self-defense, and even waited until he was backed up against his car, and had had the pole swung at him, before firing two shots. Not everything in his magazine. Two shots.
I ought to note, for the record, that I have yet to mention the race of the officer or the man he shot. But it's coming.
Many in Louisville do not see it the way I do. To them, Officer Blanford is a murderer, a white cop who gunned down a black man for no good reason. Why not use a Taser, they ask, or OC spray? Why not try to talk to him, instead of going straight for some form of weaponry? Why is Louisville Metro Police training their officers to display acts of malice or even savagery towards blacks? Why aren't the leaders of both LMPD and the city being held accountable for every black person shot, beaten, or otherwise mistreated by police?