re: The 2009 Arrest of Alton Sterling

quote:

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He was well known in that area by cops and citizens alike.

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I have seen that too and have wondered why. He apparently lived up Plank rd. This is a long way for him to travel to sell his CD's.

If he was that well known there, he must have made the long journey often, passing many third world mini marts that would have been more geographically convenient.

If the officer knew Sterling and knew this information, it is totally admissible and pertinent.

Graham v. Connor

The Court then outlined a nonexhaustive list of factors for balancing an individual's rights and an officer's: "the severity of the crime at issue," "whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others," "whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight."

The Graham Court cautioned, "The "reasonableness" of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight." It also reinforced, "As in other Fourth Amendment contexts... the 'reasonableness' inquiry in an excessive force case is an objective one: the question is whether the officers' actions are 'objectively reasonable' in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them, without regard to their underlying intent or motivation."