Video shows guy attacks cop w/ 8ft flag pole; critics blame officer for shooting

[Xavier_Onassis]

I think, like kimba, it is wise to avoid any scene where the police are assembled en masse, stopping cars or closing streets.
Avoiding being close enough for them to handcuff you is a very good idea.
They do not want to get into trouble for falsely handcuffing anyone, so at that point there is always the possibility they could plant something on you to justify their incompetence.

It is one thing when you need them and they appear as defenders. It is another thing altogether when they are in the neighborhood looking for someone to bust.

I do not see where the idea of impaling the cop on the flagpole was his intent, as he was not stabbing with it, but swinging it back and forth.

The cop was not really at risk of being killed, but he will get away with it.
And of course, the drunk was really stupid, unless he was trying to commit suicide.

[sirs]

No one gets hurt. If it gets as far as handcuffs i'm not sure thats as exactly true anymore. When it gets that far isn't the best interest of the officer to make sure they get a arrest when it goes this far.

No its not.  They're not trying to make some arrest quota.  If they arrest the wrong person, it puts the city at risk for a lawsuit.  Especially if you've given them no case to be disrespectful

[Xavier_Onassis]

When a cop arrives at the scene and starts off with "Get your ass outta here",  there is a rather large percentage of people that would call that "being disrespectful".

It is probably a good idea to leave, since it is clear that the monkeys have been sent to reorganize the zoo. One does not expect monkeys with guns to be respectful.

[kimba1]

This is where conservatives start to lose people ,as a minority we're very much aware of false arrest . But the majority has no fear of this and does not think its an issue at all. Im not talking arrest qouta im talking officers arresting somebody whose discription matches me. I observed how very strong the belief consevatives believe wrongful conviction is not posdible Even with DNA evidence been able to release quite alot of people from prison. So ill just say some people Simply do not have protection from the police.

I actually have no problem saying"get your ass outta here" its still a warning to heed

[sirs]

When a cop arrives at the scene and starts off with "Get your ass outta here",  there is a rather large percentage of people that would call that "being disrespectful".

And if they pulled up to a seen where everyone was already loud, obnoxious, and giving them the finger, they might be justified.  No one is saying up and leave.  In fact, if you make it so obvious of how fast you're trying to leave, that may come across as someone trying to get away, if they're actively looking for someone.  Point being, comply, and no one gets hurt

One does not expect monkeys with guns to be respectful.

And you expect a police officer to show you respect with that kind of mindset.  Here's looking forward to when you get thrown down

[Xavier_Onassis]

You seriously don't think you could be impaled by the point of a pole??

You've got issues

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I do not recall ever seeing a flagpole that ends in a point.
Typically, they have a round knob, or an eagle or some other ornament at the end.

If flagpoles were designed like spears or pikes, then your imagined incident would make sense.

It looks like this guy is some sort of street person, perhaps a thief, and the cop stops him to run him in.
He does not want to be run in and grabs the flagpole.

He is obviously stupefied in some way, perhaps drunk or high or both.

I don't think that we can rule out "suicide by cop" as a possibility.

It is one way for a drunk nobody can get his 15 minutes of fame, perhaps the easiest way.

[sirs]

The point of the flagpole is moot....he was using it as a club, and if you don't think someone could kill you, by hitting you over the head a few dozen times.....like I said, you've got issues

[Xavier_Onassis]

It is mot if you want it to be moot. I was responding to the allegation that the cop could have been impaled on a flagpole. This is incorrect, as flagpoles are almost never pointy on the end. If he was using it as a club and it broke, that indicates that it was a pretty flimsy pole to start with and not an effective murder weapon.

It was not actually necessary for the cop to shoot this drunken fool, but he will get away with it, because the drunken fool was far more foolish.

[sirs]

In theory, ANYONE, could be impaled with the tip of a pole.  Not every flag pole has a round end.  Many flagpoles have Eagles on the top, with a pointed head.  And no, if you hit someone HARD enough, you can break even a very sturdy pole, now with 2 sharp ends, and a potentially VERY deadly weapon, if the attacker can get close enough

You weren't there.  This officer was being attacked, and if not for defending himself with his weapon, could have easily been seriously injured, even killed

[Xavier_Onassis]

The cop was in danger of getting bruised.

I suggest you attempt to impale something with a flagpole topped by an eagle. I deem it would take more force than the pole could abide to shoe it through a cop.

This would be a good segment for Mythbusters, those guys who are always blow stuff up. They could make a gelatin cop and dress it in uniform, and attempt to impale it with a flagpole topped by an eagle, a round knob, and the never popular pointy tip.

Or they could fire it from a cannon. They really like busting the myths that make lots of noise and smoke.

[sirs]

The cop was in danger of getting bruised.

Yea right.  Next tme you have the opportunity have someone wail on your head a few dozen times, and tell us if all you got out of it was a bruise..........if you're still alive of course

I suggest you attempt to impale something with a flagpole topped by an eagle. I deem it would take more force than the pole could abide to shoe it through a cop.

Which is completely irrelevent since that's not what happened here.  Impaling wasn't the action, clubbing was. But, heck, if you want to learn more about your hypothesis, after being clubbed until unconsciousness, have someone try to ram an eagle mounted flagpole thru you.  Purely for scientic research of course

[Xavier_Onassis]

Obviously this is a subject for Mythbusters.

[sirs]

I absolutely agree.....your grasp of reality & physics could use some serious testing

[Xavier_Onassis]

Your lack of  knowledge of flagpoles is  appalling. 

Once this particular flagpole was broken, it was far less capable of causing damage, as the leverage is reduced.


What cops normally do in such circumstances is call for backup. If there had been two cops the drunk could have been easily captured.

[sirs]

Once this particular flagpole was broken, it was far less capable of causing damage, as the leverage is reduced.

As a club yes.....as a sharp jagged weapon able to inflict stabbing trauma, the capability of causing that kind of damage was greatly increased.  It's called reality & physics

What cops normally do in such circumstances is call for backup.

THERE WAS NO FRICKEN TIME (not to mention, he probably had already called for back-up.)  Of course, then you'd have been going apesnot of multiple officers jumping on him.  If he had complied, he'd still be alive.  The fact was, he charged an officer, WITH A WEAPON, that could have seriously injured the officer, if not killed him