• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

Virginia - Alexandria Police Complete Investigation into Fatal Shooting

XD Owner

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2006
Messages
377
Location
Arlington, VA
imported post

See Jan. 2, 2007 City of Alexandria, Virginia Press release here:

http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/cmo/pressrel6.nsf/3cd28784527d97b8852567ae0067ded8/f1c5ee96e5995ffc85257257005cdb0f?OpenDocument

On Feb. 25, 2006, an off-duty police officer,moonlighting as a security guard,attempted to stop non-paying restaurant customers by stepping in front of their fleeing vehicle in the parking lot. When the driver (under the influence of marijuana and alcohol) swerved towards the officer, the officer "in fear that the driver was about to strike him with the vehicle, fired multiple shots at the driver in defense of his own life. One of the shots struck and killed Mr. Brown, who had fled the restaurant with the group and was positioned in the back seat of the Jeep behind the driver.

In June, following a separate criminal investigation, Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney S. Randolph Sengel determined that Officer Stowe had been legally justified in using lethal force. Mr. Sengel found that the elapsed time between the officer’s first shot, which struck the front of the car’s hood, and the third shot that struck Mr. Brown was likely between one-fifth and one-quarter of a second, and that the Jeep vehicle had traveled at least nine feet during that time.


Mr. Sengel also cited that according to accepted scientific analyses, it would have taken the officer at least one-half second to interpret and react to the fact that the vehicle was passing him as he was firing at the driver."

The officer was disciplined for "unreasonably" placing himself in harm's way.

As a dispassionate observer, I find the information about the number of shots fired in less than one second and information about reaction time to be interesting.

As a citizen of Alexandria, I think this is a sad story about the tragic consequences of a youthful "prank" or petty crime gone awry.

Like other commentators, I wonder what would have been the legal outcome if the restaurant manager instead of an off-duty police officer had done the shooting.

I wonder, does this set a precedent in Virginia?
 

DoubleR

Campaign Veteran
Joined
May 8, 2006
Messages
689
Location
Fairfax County, VA, ,
imported post

Hi, XD. Are you "Back in the Sand?" Ice Cream in Del Ray when you get back. I was going to say when it gets warmer - 74 degrees today. Anyway, Yes, if it had been a Law Abiding Citizen, we'd have, probably,been toasted.Yes, unrequited, Ican see the IHOP building from where I live.
 

Tomahawk

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
5,117
Location
4 hours south of HankT, ,
imported post

I don't think this sets a precedent, I think it's a continuation of a precedent that's been around for quite some time. Not so much aprecedent as a way of doing business. Remember the optometrist that got shot in his front yard by a SWAT cop with an itchy trigger finger. FFCo, not Alexandria, but pretty much the same story, IIRC.

Interesing note on the Alexandria PD (and kind of funny): http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/cmo/pressrel6.nsf/3cd28784527d97b8852567ae0067ded8/ef626d611c8e18a28525705f001b348e?OpenDocument

And I don't like to call myself a "Law Abiding Citizen", I prefer the term "Peaceable Citizen". :)
 

swatpro911

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2006
Messages
418
Location
Home of the Heros, Virginia, USA
imported post

as a "mordern day bounty hunter" known as Bail Enforcement agent, i am 23 and know how harsh can criminal can get. And officers in the field of bringing crooks to justice are trained to react to anyting that doesn't look right with different measures. Sometimes they get cocky and overestimates things that I don't like either. Its all about keeping it cool all the time. Some officers feel like they need to show the power and authority and takes their anger out on normal fella who might have dressed differently or acted like criminal on the street. I would say lack of training and too much ego problem that some of the law enforcement agency facing. Those officers shouldn't be hired in the first place. You have to treat citizens as if you wana be treated. Everyone deserves 2nd chance, god gives up countless chance to come clean why cant we give others chance? I just dont know why. You just gota be smart and watch your back and make sure you know the rules and laws, make sure you do your homework right before goin out on the street. :) any questions or advice please shoot me an email or comment.
 
Top