San Antonio Police officers charged with murder

[rtschl]

Trying to understand how this would warrant a murder charge for these officers. Woman thew a glass candlestick and swung a hammer at them.

Police Chief William McManus said Perez appeared to be having “a mental health crisis” and that the officers’ actions “were not consistent with SAPD’s policy and training” and that their use of deadly force "was not reasonable given all circumstances as we now understand them.” https://www.expressnews.com/news/articl ... 169885.php

SAPD Bodycam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGAU-Raq80Q

[03Lightningrocks]

Trying to understand how this would warrant a murder charge for these officers. Woman thew a glass candlestick and swung a hammer at them.

Police Chief William McManus said Perez appeared to be having “a mental health crisis” and that the officers’ actions “were not consistent with SAPD’s policy and training” and that their use of deadly force "was not reasonable given all circumstances as we now understand them.” https://www.expressnews.com/news/articl ... 169885.php

SAPD Bodycam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGAU-Raq80Q

I am certainly not a legal expert on these issues but it does seem like the officers over reacted to the situation. She was stuck in her apartment and was going nowhere. She did not have a firearm, that we could see anyway, so she did not really present a threat to any of the officers out of her reach. I am seriously pro police officers, the ones on the beat anyway and generally side with them when they are forced to defend themselves or citizens against deadly force. On the surface, this one does not look good at all. IMHO...

[philip964]

They were outside the apartment. She was inside. She was not armed. Their lives were not in danger.

Why police carry tasers.

[rtschl]

True, she wasn't armed with a gun or knife, but a glass candle and a hammer can be deadly weapons.

But my understanding is she was fleeing from the officers into the apartment, so wouldn't they would have legitimate reasons to follow her inside since they had detained her?

Police officers arrived and attempted to walk Perez to their patrol car, but she ran to her apartment and locked the door, according to police officials.

My concern is that this sends the message to officers to allow someone to flee who is detained - do not pursue or you as the officer will face charges. Every bad guy is going to fake a medical/mental health issue that allows them to escape custody. Just look at the increased number of people arrested claiming they "can't breath" at the top of their lungs as seen on social media.

I feel for the woman and her family as she very well may have been mentally ill. Something must be allowed or changed that does not endanger officers or the public with the mentally ill and that does not allow them to hurt others or destroy property. Officers should not fear undue prosecution. Police need to be accountable, but they also should not be in fear of their lives or arrest for good faith attempt to keep the peace and uphold the laws.