patrick.net

lakermania says

But he was "unarmed", so how big of a threat could he have been?

Given that the cop had to have surgery, I'd agree that it is life-threatening. Kicking someone in the head can be fatal and is considered assault with a deadly weapon. I have no problem with the attempted murder charges.

This is a case where the civilian is the bad guy, not the cop. Granted, I doubt if the situation were reversed that the cop would be facing attempted murder charges, but that's another matter. Police and the public should be treated the same under the law, and in this case, the cop was clearly the victim.

I would think the charges would be second degree (attempted) murder like in the Zimmerman case.

What about telling the cops to Fuck Off and not complying? Can you be executed for that?

Call it Crazy says

How about slamming someones head on the concrete?

If a person was trying to kill you and you used violence in self-defense, would it be justified? What if you were wearing a hoodie? Does that change anything?

Dan8267 says

I would think the charges would be second degree (attempted) murder like in the Zimmerman case.

Are we talking about the time Zimmerman assaulted a cop?

Dan8267 says

What if you were wearing a hoodie? Does that change anything?

Only if you were grazing cattle on someone else's land without paying.

RE: hoodie

In many neighborhoods your life can be in danger if you happen to be wearing the wrong colors.

People make snap judgements. There is nothing right or wrong about it. A wise person will work around the shortcomings of humanity.

Call it Crazy says

Dan8267 says

What if you were wearing a hoodie?

Oh right, I forgot he was wearing a hoodie... That makes him as pure as the driven snow!

There is a reason we are not like ISIS. When someone comes into your home-blast away. Although in some jurisdictions, looks like that is not true anymore-they expect you to give tea and cookies to burglars, while waiting for cops. Else charge you with murder.

In the Zimemrman issue, he was not a cop and he followed someone who clearly tried to evade him. If anyone, Martin had the right to blast away.

Cops are supposed to be trained for this and unfortunetly some jurisdictions want them to double as revenue generators and so they start bothering everybody, not just criminals. But if they were relegated to crime fighting-they would have much more support.

When the likes of Zimemrman take matters into their own hands, we have iSIS type situations. They beheaded that journalist, just because-who knows why?? FL laws seem to be in the other extreme and so I guess what he did was legal? But what surprises me is that in MN, a man who had two burglars come to his basement, was convicted for murder. Also in Detroit, a guy who killed a woman banging his doors in the dead of night. Your home should be your castle, not the street and not people who you take an odd fancy to while driving by.