New Mexico Mother with kids in Mini-Van shots fired

[4949shooter]

The woman was calm during the first stop, right up until she pulled away and thus committed the crime of eluding an officer (as well as the crime of obstruction).

I agree the officer didn't quite handle this stop as well as he should have. He looks to me to be a young officer, possibly even a rookie. That having been said, things can go down hill awfully fast on a motor vehicle stop. As Sqlbullet mentioned, he lost some control, which is the very last thing you want to do while on a stop or in any law enforcement situation for that matter. As to the officer who fired on the vehicle, as Reaper mentioned this was not a good idea. We don't know what New Mexico's policy is on firing at fleeing vehicles (or the tires of same), but hopefully we will find out soon.

Grim Reaper is only trying to talk some sense with Steve. The problem is, Steve's sense of law enforcement is severely misguided, as evidenced from his posts.

[Intercooler]

 Uh oh

[greenwrench]

That's about the size of it!!!

[Steve4102]

Grim Reaper is only trying to talk some sense with Steve. The problem is, Steve's sense of law enforcement is severely misguided, as evidenced from his posts. 

Yeah, I'm misguided with my sense of Law Enforcement.

I'm misguided when I think opening fire on an unarmed women and her 5 children is some how wrong.

I'm misguided when I think the beating and tazering of a man to the point where his bones were broken and he shit all over the floor is wrong.

I'm misguided when and entire swat team blocks off several blocks, smashes down the home owners door and drags a 16 year old boy out of the shower at gun point without cause is wrong.

I'm misguided when an LEO violates the Constitution in the name of "I have a tough job" is wrong.

I guess you are totally  correct.  I am misguided, I thought the LEO in this Country swore to uphold the rule of Law and the  Constitution.  Shame on me for being so misguided to think such a foolish thought.

[4949shooter]

I am glad you took my post to heart. 

[Steve4102]

Yeah, funny shit ain't it!

[Intercooler]

Fired!!!

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/12/06/officer-in-new-mexico-minivan-shooting-is-fired/

[soutthpaw]

   The actions of the officer caused her to fear for her safety and the safety of her children.

Sorry. The original "action of the officer" was him writing her a ticket. He wasn't threatening. He wasn't rude. He wasn't wearing a Friday the 13th hockey mask. He walked away to get his ticket book to write a citation for 71 in a 55. He turned his back to walk back to his patrol car and she drove away. Nobody has the right to drive away from a traffic stop by an officer in uniform and a marked police vehicle. She was being detained only long enough to be issued a traffic ticket. She violated the law and got pulled over. Its preposterous to think she can ignore the officer and just drive away.  The original officer did not fire the shots. He used minimal force; first, by using hand to hand, then when he was assaulted he brought out his taser, and after the 14 year old that assaulted locked himself in the vehicle, he used his baton to break the window in attempt to apprehend the criminal. The breaking of the window with the baton and shots fired occurred only AFTER she broke at least three major laws, 1. Evading, 2. Resisting arrest. 3. Assaulting an officer. And the 14 year old assaulted an officer, thereby helping his mother escape. That's 3 felonies and one misdemeanor committed before the officer even took his taser or baton out of their holsters. Let's go through that again: 3 FELONIES AND 1 MISDEMEANOR WERE COMMITTED BEFORE THE OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO USE ANY TYPE OF WEAPON. F-E-L-O-N-Y. Do I need to make it more clear than that? Here, I'll walk you through it in steps:

1. Mini-van speeding (law violation #1- traffic)
2. Officer makes contact, says he will issue citation
3. As officer walks to his patrol car, minivan drives away (Law violation # 2 - New Mexico evading law is a misdemeanor)
4. Pulls over the minivan again, attempts to arrest driver, who resists (Law violation #3 - felony resisting arrest) and assaults officer (law violation #4 - assaulting a police officer, felony)
5. 14 year old assaults the officer (Law violation #5 - assaulting a police officer, felony)
6. Officer draws taser as 14 year old locks himself in the vehicle.
7. Officer uses baton to break vehicle window in attempt to apprehend suspects that have committed felonies.
8. Minivan drives away AGAIN (Law violation # 6&7- evading and resisting arrest)
9. Backup officer arrives and fires shots at vehicles tires. I agree, not a good idea. However, the officer that fired the shots had just arrived on scene. He either didn't know there were children in the minivan, or if he did, how is he to know these children aren't kidnapped? She was doing everything in her power to ESCAPE CAPTURE. He could have been trying to save those kids from a crazy woman.

I agree with this.   The officer shooting a fleeing vehicle seems the only mistake.    As the vehicle and occupants were not an immediate threat to the officers.    But the fact she evaded twice indicates there is something suspicious about the driver /occupants/vehicle.   

[macc283]

I'm with Steve on this one that cops a fool

[4949shooter]

I'm with Steve on this one that cops a fool

Well you can rest easy because he has since been relieved of his duties as a police officer.