Cop Shoots and Kills Unarmed Ex-Soldier Near LaGuardia

[daddyo]

A friend who was in the car when Noel Polanco was shot and killed says the police officers who pulled them over did so in an act of road rage...

http://www.nbcnewyor...-172630441.html

Edited October 5, 2012 by DaddyO

[scoutfsu]

Since we're picking and choosing quotes out of articles to highlight.....

Polanco allegedly cut between two unmarked NYPD Emergency Service Unit Apprehension Team vehicles, police said. He then darted into the left lane and tailgated another vehicle, the NYPD said. After that vehicle didn't move, Polanco shifted back between the two police vehicles in the right lane, hitting the brakes and forcing the NYPD vehicles to slow down, sources said

“The car was weaving in and out, going between the vehicles,†Kelly said. “They turned on their lights and tried to pull him over. He didn't pull over.â€

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said the bartender, whose name has not been released was terrified and told Polanco “to slow down.â€

“He was scaring her,†Browne said.

Finally, one of the ESU vehicles pulled in front of Polanco’s car and forced him to a stop, said Kelly.

Hamdy and another uniformed officer climbed out and approached the Honda from either side of the vehicle.

The bartender reports hearing police telling people to keep their hands up,†Browne added.

But Polanco reached under the seat.

That doesn't sound like road rage, that sounds like cops being in the right place at the right time. How many times have you seen people do that and wished they'd have been pulled over?

The slant on these articles is typical.

[monkeylizard]

and there's

Sources said the detective may have thought Polanco was reaching for a gun. But Deferrari, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, said his hands were on the steering wheel "at all times" and that the officers were angry when they pulled him over.

"This was an act of road rage by the police because my friend cut him off, cut off the police," she told reporters Thursday. "The police proceeded to chase us, sticking their middle finger at us and screaming obscenities at the car."

In other words we'll never know the whole story unless a dashcam was installed and working.

Edited October 5, 2012 by monkeylizard

[daddyo]

Since we're picking and choosing quotes out of articles to highlight.....

That doesn't sound like road rage, that sounds like cops being in the right place at the right time. How many times have you seen people do that and wished they'd have been pulled over?

The slant on these articles is typical.

But no slant in the one that you posted.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I guess it has been a while since there has been any bashing. And here I thought we had moved beyond it.

Dolomite

[DaveTN]

Typical news story. Either you believe that they walked up and executed him while his hands were on the steering wheel. Or you believe that they were stopping a reckless vehicle and while at gun point, the driver reached under the seat.

Since there was no gun it’s a bad deal for all (especially the driver). But based on what the people in the car said; he put this in motion. It was stupid and he paid with his life.

[scoutfsu]

No DaddyO, no slant

FWIW, I pulled it from this horrendous article - http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/man-shot-police-laguardia-airport-article-1.1174664?pgno=1

Those ####ty newspapers are so up in arms and pushing typical garbage, the "oh he was such a good kid, such a hard worker, etc etc etc" story line. Factual reporting is dead in this country. It's all about sensationalist headlines to sell papers/advertising.

[strickj]

Facts:

Driver cut-off an unmarked cop.

Unmarked cop turns on lights and the driver takes off... while one passenger tells him to "stop, the police are trying to pull you over".

There was uniformed and marked cars present when the chase ended.

Questionable:

Did the cop flash her badge or flip off the driver?

Did the driver reach for the drill or did the cop shoot him over road rage?

Believable?:

Can we believe the witnesses? One witness has two DUIs, the other is a former cop that was fired(?) for shoplifting. Both had been drinking which is why the driver offered to take them home.

I find it hard to believe that it was over road rage when the passenger herself told the driver to stop for the cop he cut-off.

Sounds like the kid made a huge mistake and paid for it with his life.

Edited October 5, 2012 by strickj

[piercedan]

and there's

In other words we'll never know the whole story unless a dashcam was installed and working.

This is the truth of the matter. All LE vehicles should have good recording equipment for everyone's safety. People lie, cops and civilians alike. It's called CYA for a reason.

[Dennis1209]

Most reporting these days are not the days of old, where who, what, where, when & why were the reporting standards with fair and balanced mixed in.

These days not even reading between the lines in major media will give you the facts, but only opinions, speculation and the now popular liberal spin. Our news media has been taken over by the Vietnam war protesting, draft card burning, draft dodging, old money, pot smoking but doesn't inhale, socialists for a pacifist society.

All major media outlets these days don't differentiate between fact and fiction, just liberal spin to suit their own agendas.

Rant / OFF

[DaveTN]

Did the cop flash her badge or flip off the driver?

That’s what I wondered when I read the story. I doubt the cop would pull up beside him to flip him off, I figured the cop was showing a badge; may have looked like a hand flipping someone off to her. Who knows?

[vontar]

Hard to see the truth, it is. Yes, hmmm.

As it has been said in the past, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. I would like to see a dash-cam or recording as well.

[daddyo]

I thought all cruisers were outfitted with cameras. I wonder why these either weren't or didn't have the camera on.

I'm open to the idea that the guy asked for it, but the OP article was the only one I saw when I started the thread.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I don't don't know, nor do any of us, but this line stuck out to me:

"The off-duty police officer in the car, who was in the backseat, told investigators she was asleep when the shooting happened."

I thought it was kinda convenient if there was an elevation in excitement levels of both parties. I would think the level of activity

would wake someone up. Don't know. He said, she said.

[mikegideon]

I doubt that a dash cam will answer the critical question. Every time the cops have to shoot an unarmed person, somebody in the media picks up a torch. Odds are slim to none that he was executed over road rage. I'm sure the cops were plenty pissed if they had to force him to stop.

[mikegideon]

I don't don't know, nor do any of us, but this line stuck out to me:

"The off-duty police officer in the car, who was in the backseat, told investigators she was asleep when the shooting happened."

I thought it was kinda convenient if there was an elevation in excitement levels of both parties. I would think the level of activity

would wake someone up. Don't know. He said, she said.

The passengers had been drinking. Ever woke up to an ugly woman? I can sleep through a LOT when I'm really hammered

Edited October 6, 2012 by mikegideon

[DaveTN]

Sources said the detective may have thought Polanco was reaching for a gun. But Deferrari, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, said his hands were on the steering wheel "at all times" and that the officers were angry when they pulled him over.

“The bartender reports hearing police telling people to keep their hands up,†Browne said. “The last time she looked at the driver, (Polanco’s) hands were still on the wheel.â€

Those are two very different statements, be curious to know which she said.

[Sam1]

Will wait before commenting on this one, I'm 0 for 3 in analyzing recent news stories

[Major Kong]

I'm sure the Polizei had their reasons to kill zee bad guy. Just trust in their judgement. They're here to protect and serve...

[daddyo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/nyregion/police-stop-and-fatally-shoot-unarmed-driver-on-a-parkway-in-queens.html?_r=4&hp&

[TrickyNicky]

I'm just glad sixteen people weren't hit by ricochets and bullet fragments in the act of shooting one person, this IS the NYPD we're talking about here.

[Guest TNBrat]

Sounds like this guy was an idiot. Pay attention to what the police tell you to do. They say stop, you stop. Put your hands on the wheel, don't reach under your seat. I don't feel that police are looking for confrontations. Looks like this guy forced the officer to react.

Edited October 8, 2012 by TNBrat

[E4 No More]

I reserve judgment until all the facts are presented. If dude reached under the seat then that's that. If he kept his hands on the wheel or in view then it's another story.