Last Saturday, Roy Middleton went out to get a cigarette out of his mother’s car. A short time later, he would end up shot and bleeding on his driveway. Not the victim of a drive by or mugging mind you. The unarmed man was shot by police responding to a call of a man reaching into a car.
Middleton, 60, went out to the car at 2:42 am. I can understand why at that time a neighbor was concerned since car thefts tend to occur very late at night or in the early hours. He was bent over when the police arrived. and ordered him to “Get your hands where I can see them.” He says that he raised his hands and turned toward the deputies but that they opened fire. He was hit in the leg.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the incident Saturday.
Since he appears unarmed, the officers would have to argue that there was an object in his hand or some other reason that they thought he had a weapon. Given the relatively minor crime under investigation and his alleged compliance with the officers’ orders, this makes for a particularly bad case for the city to defend. It will be interesting therefore to see any response from the city, which should offer some initial explanation to the citizens when their own police gun down an unarmed man in his family’s driveway.
Source: PNJ
Guilty of Living While Black?
In trying to research this story to determine if any more facts have been reported I keep coming across articles about Pensacola and the KKK.
You know what … I don’t think we’re going to find any follow-ups and this guy should thank his lucky stars he’s still alive … and move.
“you are implying that his mother is only 10-11 years older than he is.”
ZOMG! I was so upset by your misunderstanding that I had to go lie down and sniff some smelling salts!
– at least I thing it was smelling salts…. I didn’t have time to check because a blue rabbit walked along the ceiling…
Anyway, I DID suggest a maybe 71 and 3 months, which is older than simply “11 years”. This is a legal blog, such details are important.
I think was can agree that she was older, and could well have been 40 years older or even more.
So SlingTrebuchet, you are implying that his mother is only 10-11 years older than he is. No details that have emerged yet justify your negative implications of his mother potentially being a pre-teenager when having him.
Timeline possibilities ………..
Police happened to be close by when the call came in?
“His mother’s car”? Does this mean that his mother indicated cigarettes in the car? That he went out but could not find any? That he went in and asked where exactly? That he then went back out and searched some more with directions from his mother?
He’s 60. So she’s got to be at least ……… 70? 71? 71 and 3 months?
My mother could be quite vague at times. I am NOT insinuating that all people over 69 are necessarily vague. K?
A search for details on the story gets much the same story everywhere.
Some have a photo. He’s black.
Gives new meaning to being “Zimmermaned.”
“This timeline of events makes zero sense?” (Karl Friedrich)
Excellent point
“This is what you can expect when laws make it more likely that citizens will be armed: …” (RTC @ 7:25am))
Now that’s something to think about.
Something doesn’t add up in this story? How does an act that takes about 30 seconds tops (reaching in a car to get a cigarette) get reported to 911 in the middle of the night and the police respond in time to find the guy still in the act? This timeline of events makes zero sense?
Mespo,
You licensed in Florida….. Just tell em to get the check book out…
QUOTE “Every individual the police deal with can be considered as legitimate threats to their lives.”
So they became cops, and thought it was a safe job!? It’s like a mail man complaining about having to walk a lot!
I worked at a steel mill, and I was nearly killed a few times, but I knew it was part of the job.
It was also a hot job in the summer, but they always had a piece of advice for me….if you don’t like it…QUIT!!! 😉
Middleton is 60 and he’s getting cigarettes from his mother’s car? The police are so fast they arrive and shoot a man before he can pull a smoke from a car? There is a lot more to this story.
Police have gotten so out of control or so afraid that people will stop calling them for fear they will become victims of the police. As a result all of the money, hardware and power they have been gifted with has made us less safe.
The new rule of law is shoot first and ask questions later. Thank you. Your Friendly Police State.
“He looks like he’s up to no good.” “He’s got something in his hand.”
The only way to avoid repeats of this incident is to put something in the cops’ coffee so that they completely forget that they are carring a gun.
I thought only the good guys were the ones carrying guns legally. Why would cops fear them? Shouldn’t they just assume all those gun carrying citizens are just George Zimmerman wannabes? They are on the cops’ side.
This is what you can expect when laws make it more likely that citizens will be armed: an increase shootings by police. When every traffic stop means dealing with an armed motorist, the cops are going to be more on edge and jumpier. Every individual the police deal with can be considered as legitimate threats to their lives.
Look for states and municipalities to begin proposing laws shielding police from liability and prosecution for “accidental” shootings, or at least start making it harder to pursue the issue in court
Yet another danger from cigartettes. The label should read “WARNING: Police will shoot you if you reach for a pack.”
The cops had to stand their ground.