The link to video in post #1 still plays for anyone wanting to view it.
It is a shame this happened - finding it hard to really fault the reserve deputy, however it does appear to me he had no reason to fire a taser or a gun at that moment - the incident had come to an end a few seconds before he fired. He would not have known that imo, so he should have kept the taser handy, but not fired it.
The person that was shot was already on the ground, one order to roll on his stomach had been given and was complied with (this can be heard but mostly not seen as the camera is askew. No further commands or shouts are heard - no reaching for his waistband, no suspicion of something in his hand(s). The reserve deputy runs up and fires.
The article deals with what the other deputies did after the shot. It was cowardly imo. No policing is evident. The shot man starts moving, and yelling out he's been shot. This is what could be expected imo. The deputies don't seem to get that - only then do they become enraged that he is moving again - after a few seconds of calm and no orders to lie still. One deputy puts his knee on the mans head and presses down - nasty and unnecessary - he's writhing in pain, not trying to get away - the camera becomes somewhat better aimed at this point. The man yells he can't breathe - a deputy yells back 'f*ck your breath'. F*ck your breath? What is that? Then the same or different deputy starts screaming at the guy that has been shot - you ran, swearing, etc. Non heroic bullying imo.
I don't doubt this is why charges have been laid. Charges have been laid against the wrong person, or not enough people imo. More cowardice imo. When the going got tough, they turned on a 73 year-old one of their own. But I guess as long as something is seen to be done, it will go away eventually. However, are people to think the same deputies won't over-react in the future?
