Pantagraph.com | News | Family of Lacon man shot, killed by deputy files suit

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

jimmy b. wrote on Oct 21, 2007 3:13 AM:

" To: "DwightH"...you must be kidding????...higher standards????....maybe you need to read the Pantagraph about how many teachers not only in IL but nationwide have molested and or assaulted children...and let's never forget that while we send police officers home after a shooting, teachers get June, July and August off...along with all the holidays, etc, et,....please think before you comment again. "

To get over it wrote on Oct 19, 2007 5:24 PM:

" Your rude! Please read your comments and put yourself in the families shoes before you post! I'm not saying that you should agree with them, but have some respect! Maybe that's what's really missing here and with our society! "

SORRY wrote on Oct 19, 2007 5:04 PM:

" Sorry for your son's loss sir but please put yourslef in the officer's shoes, someone with a knife moving toward you...what would you do? Yes, they need tazer guns but you only get one shot with that. "

To Knife wrote on Oct 19, 2007 4:11 PM:

" I can't believe you actually think you know what was going on through this guy's mind. First of all, you people are acting as if the word of the officer holds more credence than the word of ALL the rest of the people that were there to witness the shooting. I read somewhere that at one point, he spoke to the police, asking questions to make sure he wouldn't get shot for moving to put down the knife. According to witnesses, it appeared he was attempting to do exactly that when he was shot to death by the VERY officer that was called in by the victim's parents, because they were worried he was going to hurt themselves. They should have been more worried the Police would hurt him if they got involved. Maybe he'd be alive today. "

To: To Typical wrote on Oct 19, 2007 4:03 PM:

" Interesting that you state that the family was there and saw what happened, then you proceeded to tell the exact opposite of what the family - who was there - said they saw. They do have a right to know what kind of monster would shoot a person, in front of his family no less, when he was of no threat to them? He was distraught and wanted to hurt himself, not anyone else. The police were informed of this when the family called them for help, thinking the police would find him and get him home safely. And some police forces actually wonder why the public loses so much faith in them. No doubt the family blames themselves - for it was they they sent the Police to murder their son. "

Knife wrote on Oct 19, 2007 2:49 PM:

" A number of poster say he "only had a knife". If I come at you with a knife, and I do not care what happens to me. How are you going to stop me before I gut you. No deadly force! Shoot to wound me? That will not stop me I am out of my head. Take my knife? Yeah right, you would be dead. I want you to shoot me, the quetion is how many of you do I have to stab before you shoot me? Don't try to second guess the man that is there with his life on the line. "

Hey Dwight wrote on Oct 19, 2007 2:49 PM:

" The first part of sentence number two may be a valid explanation. "

Haha wrote on Oct 19, 2007 2:21 PM:

" If you've had "many" "confrontations" with police, you should be bulliied. You obviously don't learn well. "

DwightH wrote on Oct 19, 2007 2:12 PM:

" Ya know, Police are supposed to be professionals. In many (not all) of the "confrontations" I have had w/police, They have acted more like red-neck bullies with the "I'll show you" attitude that I would expect. Just remember the standards for teachers are higher that the standards for Police. Teachers are required to show professionalism PRIOR to being hired, and they don't carry guns. Police, are not required to demonstrate any Professionalism. Maybe that's why so many police shoot first, then take a paid vacation. Personally, I don't trust any of them, until they show me a reason to trust. "

to interesting wrote on Oct 19, 2007 2:09 PM:

" I don't think he deserved to die. Of course he did not deserve it. My point is only this. His death was a result of " every action has an equal and opposite reaction". Because he was suicidal. people came to help. At the point of feeling threatened by someone with a knife coming for them, the opposite action resulted in his death. Nobody in this situation deserved what they got. The dead man, the family and friends, the person who pulled the trigger and has to live with it. Everyone loses here. Unfortunately it was a series of events that took some wrong turns. I feel that the shooting was justified, not deserved! "

To:Hard Facts wrote on Oct 19, 2007 1:53 PM:

" I would like to see you stop someone with a knife without shooting. Might work in the movies but not in real life. I'll tell you this, if you miss you might end up like this poor kid did. It's an unfortunate situation, but in the use of force continum it is the proper, justified response to a subject with a knife. If someone has a knife and is within a short distance (say 10 feet) it is absolutely the correct tactic to use. It's not as if this kid was standing 30 feet away. "

re:to Hard Facts wrote on Oct 19, 2007 1:06 PM:

" I can tell you that if I call the police to save my son from killing himself with a knife, and they show up and kill him with a gun, it's time to start asking questions. It certainly doesn't make me feel comfortable that they're so reluctant to release facts they are obligated by law to do. "

re:to typical wrote on Oct 19, 2007 1:01 PM:

" You're doing a great job at reinforcing my argument. You say “It's about even asking for it in the first place!” Once again, cops have no business questioning why citizens are exercising their rights. When a citizen tells the police to hand over information as the constitution requires, the police don’t get to say “what do you want it for?” You hand the info over as you’re ordered to or you get sued and forced to obey the law, which is what this article is all about. "

Interesting wrote on Oct 19, 2007 12:49 PM:

" It's interesting how everybody seems to have the opinion that this guy deserves to be dead. If it were a black guy, there would be all this public outrage about this killing. I guess it DOES pay to be black.... "

to Hard Facts wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:55 AM:

" The next time you need help....call a security guard. Oh, and the comment about minimum wage really is a low blow. Believe it or not, they put their lives on line too. Yeah they don't make much, but they are not scum. "

thankful wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:49 AM:

" for "I don't get paid to fight crime.." It make me feel much better knowing that. By the way, It changed from "suicide" to "assault with a deadly weapon" the minute that he moved toward innocent people with the weapon. Do you propose that he should be asked what his intent is before making a decision to shoot? You may be a little late to actually hear the answer. "

Hard Facts wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:36 AM:

" There was no need to shoot to kill a suicidal patient wielding a knife. You people sound like the one's that need the meds. All this slang "game over" sounds like a group of 7th graders waiting for lunch! I don't get paid to fight crime...but i could stop an individual with a knife without shooting. Maybe our police need to take a few self defense classes. If they don't like the job then i am sure a security guard firm is hiring for minimum wage. "

Foolish wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:30 AM:

" The guy had a knife. Come on people...no need to shoot to kill someone with a knife. What ever happen to shoot to wound? I guess you people and the cops have been watching to much TV! "

to typical wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:15 AM:

" Here's the deal: it's not about the cops and hiding info and not getting the The Freedom of Information Act . It's about even asking for it in the first place! And the part about "Six months later, the family has the right to know the facts, not just “get over it.” The family was there. They saw what was going on. WHAT MORE IS THERE? What facts do they need? There was a dangerous threat to innocent life. People responded as trained. That's the whole story here folks. No more, no less. If ya wanna look for hidden information, go find where Osama's hiding. That's time better spent. "

typical wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:51 AM:

" I’ve yet to read a post about police procedures for dealing with a suicidal person, just a bunch of punch lines like “don’t be a menace”, “game over”, “punk got what he deserved.” What’s even more typical is the so called “law enforcement” posters questioning citizens for exercising their rights. The Freedom of Information Act isn’t something cops get to tip toe around whenever they find it convenient. Six months later, the family has the right to know the facts, not just “get over it.” Remember 5-0, you work for us, and we will hold you to a higher standard. Don’t like it? Go guard a shopping mall. "

To: Maybe wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:18 AM:

" You hit the nail on the head buddy!!! "

Get over it already wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:13 AM:

" Enough is enough. It is no wonder people are afraid to get involved in anything these days. Even when the police are doing the jobs "we as taxpayers" have asked them to do, they get bashed. The common citizen doesnt have a chance. What happened is sad. I wish that it never happened. But family, friends...get past it already. Stop playing this game and suck it up and realize that it went down the way it did for a reason. You just happen to be on the losing end. Game over. "

JUSTIFIED! wrote on Oct 19, 2007 9:50 AM:

" Lesson learned, don’t come at the police with a knife. Justified shooting! "

Maybe wrote on Oct 19, 2007 9:32 AM:

" The deputy/county should sue the man's family for not making sure he was taking his prescribed meds, which would have averted this incident. "

re:shoulda, coulda, woulda wrote on Oct 19, 2007 9:25 AM:

" There’s your problem right there. Everyone’s just a ‘punk’ that needs to be taught a lesson. A man called the police because his son was mentally distraught and not thinking rationally. If the police were in the right then give the family the evidence. It’s the right of the American people to know the truth. It doesn’t take six months to figure out why an officer shot a man he was supposed to save. As for the stun gun argument, the only time I’ve ever seen cops use stun guns was on unarmed people… usually right after they ask why they’re being arrested. "

me wrote on Oct 19, 2007 9:01 AM:

" There not suing for monetary, there suing for information. which they have the right to have. "

hmm wrote on Oct 19, 2007 8:52 AM:

" The officer did his job; the citizen should have listened. I realize he may have been having some problems at the time, but people still have to listen to authority. I have sympathy for the family on the loss of a loved one. However, the bottom line is, the police are there to protect and serve, not to get killed. "

tragic, wrote on Oct 19, 2007 8:16 AM:

" I feel for the young man and his family. I wish the situation would have been different, and the man took his medication as he was suppossed to, and not lunge at a police officer with a knife. The officer was doing his job to protect and serve his community, as well as protecting himself. (totally my opinion, and I respect those who respectfully disagree) "

Society wrote on Oct 19, 2007 7:00 AM:

" If the Officer had used a taser, they would file suit for that, too. Here's the bottom line, Officers are trained with response to resistance theory. If there is a person who is holding a knife, of any kind, there is a strong possibility that he/she may cut or stab you. Police do no get paid to become invalid,mutilated or dead. They have parents, wives, children and people who care for them also. We all make our decisions in life. This person decided to die. I'm glad the deputy went home safe. Don't want to get shot by the police, don't be a menace. "

shoulda, coulda, woulda wrote on Oct 19, 2007 6:33 AM:

" Scott shoulda just done what the police told him to do then this would never have happened. Scott coulda just listened, but then that would not be the politcally correct thing to do in todays society, there has to be some kind of riff, right? "If only the police had just used a stun gun." Are you kidding, we have a family that we want to go home to also. If this punk is coming at us with a knife, the use of force on our part has just jumped up. If nobody knows it, whatever you are threataning to do the police, we are at least allowed one level of force higher than what you are doing. So keep that in mind next time. If you ask me this kid brought it on himself. And if the States, counties, and cities would stop paying off these lawsuits and fight them till the end, there wouldn't be anymore. "

huh? wrote on Oct 19, 2007 4:58 AM:

" So now stun guns are ok? Just last week stun guns were the enemy. Should the cops have wrestled with the guy and endangered their own lives, even though cops are not paid as prize fighters? Should they have used their batons to hit the knife from his hands and risk broken bones so they could be sued for excessive force? This is yet another loose-loose situation for the good guys. "

This was a senseless.. wrote on Oct 19, 2007 4:48 AM:

" death in many ways. We allow the government to intercept our communications, but the stupid HIPAA Law prevents police or healthcare professionals from knowing mental or health conditions unless a consent to release information is completed by the patient. I understand that the police feel threatened when someone might have a knife, but if mental and health problems could be relayed to them when they are on a scene such as this, things like this might be prevented. This has happened to 2 people that I have known. Bless this family. "

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