zlacker

A taser is a deadly weapon under Georgia law, so the officer was in fact following his training by responding with lethal force when the taser was pointed at him by Rayshard.

> Earlier this month, Howard charged six Atlanta police officers with using excessive force in pulling two college students out of a car during a protest. In justifying charges of aggravated assault against some of the officers, Howard said a Taser is considered a deadly weapon under Georgia law. [0]

Rayshard was also breaking Georgia DUI law by drinking in his parked car. He also likely drove there drunk, so investigating was ethical. Drunk driving kills over 10,000 people every year.

> Similarly, if the keys are in the ignition but the car is not yet turned on, this could be charged as a parked car DUI. Additionally, if the person is in the car, in the driver's seat, with the keys in their hand, but not in the ignition, this can be charged as a parked car DUI. [1]

[0] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/17/raysha...

[1] https://www.duigeorgia.com/parked-car-dui

>>metrok+(OP)
Anyone like to refute this instead of just downvoting? I don't believe anything in this comment is incorrect, if I am false please correct whichever fact is incorrect.

>>metrok+(OP)
The political hacks have made their way to HN. Downvoting facts they disagree with.

>>metrok+jd
> He also likely drove there drunk, so investigating was ethical.

This can’t be proved. I’ve poured a few shots into a drink and had it with my meal at fast food places plenty of times. He could have been drinking inside Wendy’s, easily. He could have gotten drunk, couldn’t walk to his sister’s place, decided to sleep some of it off in the car.

It’s hard to argue if there is a rejection of the need for nuance and that situations fall on a spectrum.

The law is the law until we see it a little bit. If RB had priors and he was about to get a parked dui, that could be real jail time again, and a drunken person could easily react drunkenly.

Do you as a cop factor in the fragility of the situation or do you exact the law word for word, regardless of how much more dangerous the situation will get.

The RB situation is extremely complicated. I feel bad for the cops and don’t think they deserve felony charges. However, I do think the police department needs more rigorous training on dealing with common scenarios at a higher level.

I also don’t think RB needed to go to be cuffed that night, and needed a place to sleep it off like he suggested.

It’s sad all around.

>>runawa+cN
It's quite clear you're confidently commenting without having watched any of the multiple videos available.

He was passed out in his car in the drive thru lane. Did you even watch any of the videos? He was not cognizant for most of the video.

> I also don’t think RB needed to go to be cuffed that night, and needed a place to sleep it off like he suggested.

Riiiight...