Supreme Court ruling could change how police use-of-force cases are prosecuted
On Thursday, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the actions prior to a deadly encounter should also be considered.
It's a precedent that was set over 35 years ago as a result of a case that took place in Charlotte.
And while seconds do count in a deadly force situation, what about the minutes leading up to those encounters?
This ruling helps to answer what happens if an officer's decision-making puts them in a situation where they have no choice but to use deadly force.
ALSO READ: Suspect dead, woman and child shot after officer-involved shootout in Lancaster County
Channel 9's Glenn Counts spoke with Attorney Scott MacLatchie about the deadly force training. Latchie is also a former deputy with Los Angeles County.
'My only concern is that it could lead to hesitancy, which in a moment where there is a true deadly force threat could result in a loss of life,' said MacLatchie.
However, he did agree that this decision would make it easier to sue officers and their departments.
'The only change I see is that it will afford those suing the police the benefit of a potential argument,' MacLatchie elaborated.
Channel 9 also spoke with a group of community activists who fight for social justice, as well as police reform.
Activist Kass Ottley said she has taken to the streets many times in the aftermath of a police shooting. She said she was thrilled at the Supreme Court's decision.
'I think it's giving folks more of a fighting chance when the worst happens,' said Ottley. 'With no question, no thought about it, the officer said they feared for their life, and that's it. I'm happy they are going to look at more of what happened leading into that.'
And while MacLatchie doesn't believe this decision will change anything, Ottley disagrees.
'I'm happy that it's a step in the right direction because I'm tired of seeing Black and Brown people gunned down,' said Ottley.
While the ruling does make it easier for citizens to sue the police department, it does not address questions of liability.
VIDEO: Suspect dead, woman and child shot after officer-involved shootout in Lancaster County
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Texas Rep. Nicole Collier abruptly leaves call with Newsom after being told she's committing a felony
Texas Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier abruptly left a call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic Party members after claiming she was told she was committing a felony by participating in the meeting from a state Capitol bathroom. Advertisement Collier was speaking on a call with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, Newsom, and several others while the Texas House of Representatives was simultaneously debating a redistricting bill backed by President Donald Trump. While speaking on the call, Collier claimed that the Texas redistricting bill violates the Voting Rights Act and 'will prevent Black and Brown individuals from selecting the candidates of their choice because they're cracking and packing these districts.' While Martin was speaking about 30 minutes into the call, Collier suddenly interrupted, saying, 'Sorry, I have to leave. They said it's a felony for me to do this.' 'Apparently I can't be on the floor or in the bathroom,' she continued, before turning to address someone off camera. Advertisement 'You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom,' she told the person off camera before turning back to the call and saying, 'No, hang on. Bye everybody. I've got to go.' Both Newsom and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., immediately expressed outrage over Collier's sudden departure. 4 Texas Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier (above) left a call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic Party members after claiming she was told she was committing a felony. via REUTERS 'That is outrageous,' said Booker. 'Let me tell you something, Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office.' Advertisement 'There you go,' Newsom responded, nodding his head. 'What they're trying to do right there is silence an American leader, silence a Black woman, and that is outrageous,' Booker added. 'What we just witnessed, them trying to shut her down and saying it's illegal for her to be in the bathroom and on this call, this is the lengths that they're going to in Texas.' 4 She claims that they accused her of participating in the meeting from a state Capitol bathroom. AP This comes after dozens of Democratic members of the Texas House fled the state and refused to return to the legislature for two weeks to hold up the redistricting bill by breaking quorum. Advertisement Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other state leaders ordered the rogue Democrats to be arrested and threatened to have them removed from office if they did not return to fulfill their duties. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters After the Democrats' return to the legislature, members faced heightened security measures designed to ensure a quorum was maintained. Democratic lawmakers said Texas Department of Public Safety officers followed them around Monday at the state Capitol and either guarded their offices or stayed in them and tailed them when they left. They said they had to sign 'permission slips' and accept the surveillance to leave the building. 4 Newsom and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., immediately expressed outrage over Collier's sudden departure. Rather than comply with the measures, Collier stayed on the House floor in the Texas Capitol on Monday night and Tuesday. Despite the Democrats' standoff, the Texas House finally approved maps on Wednesday. Newsom announced he would advance a redistricting map in California to counter the Texas redistricting bill. Advertisement 4 Newsom announced he would advance a redistricting map in California to counter the Texas redistricting bill. Getty Images On Friday, California Democrats and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) released a new district map that would likely eliminate five GOP congressional seats, theoretically nullifying the five additional seats Republicans would gain if Texas' redistricting push is successful. Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Booker and Newsom but did not immediately receive a response. Collier's office declined to comment, citing the House still being in session.
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Cincinnati police union rips arrest of White victim in viral street attack as political interference
The Cincinnati police union slammed a criminal case being brought against a victim in last month's viral beatdown over the man's alleged role in the violence. A 45-year-old White man was arrested earlier this week in connection to the assault in the city's downtown area, the Cincinnati Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital. Authorities have not named the suspect, who police said was a victim in the attack and therefore is protected under Marsy's Law, which prevents officials from releasing his identity. The victim's lawyer, Douglas Brannon, revealed his client was allegedly hit in the head 28 times and robbed during the attack, according to FOX 19. The man "is continuing to suffer from his injuries. He was brutally beaten in the attack, like many others were, and he's continuing his medical treatment," Brannon told the outlet. "Still kinda processing on how this victim-blaming has happened." Brannon reportedly pointed to his client acting in self-defense during the attack, while vowing to fight the charges. "It's very clear in all of the videos, except those edited for political purposes, that [he] was, in fact, acting in self-defense of himself and his friends," Brannon said. Brannon did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The fight broke out on the corner of West Fourth and Elm streets in the early morning hours of July 26. Bystander footage of the assault shows a White man hitting a Black man wearing a red shirt in the face, moments before the scene devolved into chaos, ultimately leaving six people injured and quickly going viral online. The man is charged with disorderly conduct and has been ordered to appear in court on Aug. 26. He is the eighth person to be arrested for his alleged involvement in the beatdown. In light of the latest development, community leaders throughout Cincinnati have spoken out about the man's arrest – with some officials previously calling for the individual to be charged, as the first seven suspects are Black. "We have been clear about the fact that anyone involved in perpetrating violence should be held accountable," Mayor Aftab Pureval said in a statement, according to WLWT. "This is another step toward achieving that, and I want to thank CPD and the prosecutors for their hard work as this process continues." However, Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober ripped the arrest after previously accusing the Pureval administration of exerting pressure on law enforcement to find a crime to charge the victims with. "City Solicitor [Emily] Woerner and the Pureval administration's blatant political meddling is the most egregious I've witnessed in my career," Kober said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Overruling law enforcement and prosecutors for cheap political points is a disgraceful stain on our city, and those responsible should be utterly ashamed of themselves." Ohio state Rep. Cecil Thomas sounded off on the severity of the charges, after previously hosting a town hall to discuss the city's handling of the investigation. "The charge of Disorderly Conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, is a slap in the face to the Black Community," Thomas said in a statement to Fox News. "This only inflames the community even more. The proper charges for him should have been assault and aggravated rioting. However, if the city or prosecutor truly wanted to diffuse this situation and bring the temperature down, they should drop all aggravated rioting charges and reduce all felonious assault charges down to misdemeanor assault, except for the individual that struck the lady. Under no circumstance can I condone a man hitting a woman. Charge everyone, black or white accordingly and let the courts decide their fate. End of story." David Whitehead, president of the city's NAACP chapter, also reportedly reacted to the new charges. "The Cincinnati NAACP stands by and advocates for justice under the law," Whitehead said, according to WLWT. "We still question the fairness in charging based on the information we have seen and the conversations we have had. Street altercations typically result in disorderly conduct charges and there are at least five defendants being charged beyond that. We look forward to learning more about the cases and receiving the findings of the final investigation. In the meantime, we encourage everyone who believes in a fair judicial system to register to vote, because that's how jury pools are determined." Pureval and Whitehead did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Patrick Rosemond, 38, Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, DeKyra Vernon, 24, Dominique Kittle, 37, and Aisha Devaughn, 25, are each charged with three counts of alleged felonious assault, three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting, the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital. Last week, authorities also announced the arrest of 32-year-old Gregory Wright. Wright was arraigned on alleged aggravated riot and aggravated robbery charges on Thursday morning, where he appeared virtually in the Hamilton County Jail. According to court documents, Wright, who is a convicted heroin trafficker with a lengthy criminal record, "did by force rip the necklace off the victim while he was being assaulted by four or more co-defendants, attempting to cause serious physical harm." On Thursday, an Ohio judge lowered Wright's bond from $100,000 to $50,000, but he is only required to pay 10% – or $5,000 – to be released. Wright's attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Iran carries out second public execution in one week
The Iranian judiciary has once again publicly executed a man convicted of murder, the second death sentence carried out in public this week. The man was executed on Wednesday morning in the north-eastern province of Golestan "at the scene of the crime and in front of the public," the Misan news agency, which is affiliated with the judiciary, reported on Thursday. According to the judiciary, the convict had killed a married couple and a young woman with a hunting rifle last year. The death sentence was handed down based on an interpretation of Islamic law, according to which the families of the victims are allowed to take revenge. Iran's Supreme Court upheld the judgement in an appeal. While public executions are rare in Iran, another execution was carried out publicly in Fars province on Tuesday. A man was executed who, together with his wife, is said to have killed a woman and her three children during a robbery. The wife was also sentenced to death, but her execution has not yet been carried out. Human rights activists have been criticizing the rigorous application of the death penalty in Iran for many years. They accuse the judiciary of using executions to intimidate critical voices. According to the United Nations, almost 1,000 people were executed in Iran last year.
