Police say that Robert Bates (73) thought that he had pulled a taser from his belt while conducting an arrest, and accidentally pulled out a pistol, and shot the man in question. The suspect, Eric Harris, died in a local hospital later that night. The incident happened during a drug deal on Thursday. The man ran away and once captured, resisted arrest, trying to detain the man, Bates grabbed what he thought was a taser, and pulled the trigger. Harris told the medics that he "may have been under the influence of Phencyclidine." Robert Bates was assigned to the Violent Crimes task force back in 2008.
With 7 years of experience in this field, I don't think that such a mistake could be made.
1.) Do you think this was an honest mistake? If not, why do you think he would shoot this man?
2.) How should the Officer be punished?
Replies
Good but be sure to provide a link to the story.
I don't think you can mistake the feel of a pistol and a taser.
I don't think that it was a mistake because he shot him 8 times and would notice he is using a gun. He will be punished for murder.
I don't think this was a honest mistake. I don't know how he would mix up his pistol and his taser mixed up especially if he shot the guy 8 times. I think the guy should be kicked out of the police department.
The article said that he was suspended from the service indefinitely. I'm guessing the investigation will take quite a while though.
I don't think this is a honest mistake he has in the field for 7 years. I would think this mistake could be made if it was someone new but then again they should know better. Too many cases have been happening with polices taking advantage of their force and hurting people. I think the police should be taken down his spot and put out of the field or put in a desk.
I think it was an accident because in the heat of the moment you could easily mistake a gun for a taser. The cop should be put on parol and have to wear a camera.
No it was not an honest mistake, there is no way he pulled that out, and thought it was a taser while firing like 8 shots. He should be charged with murder or something, because I saw the video sand it was pretty ridiculous that he shot him.
I think that it was a mistake in the heat of the moment and I'm sure after so many years of service he would not like to be fired. On the other hand, he did kill a man who did not deserve to be shot and should be punished in a way that he won't make a mistake like that again.
personally I think he should, at the very least, be fired. whether the man he shot was a felon or not, he still committed murder.
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