There is a disturbing case out of New Mexico where police fired into a van full of children after the mother tried to drive away from officers. As shown on the video below, an officer stopped Oriana Ferrell on a routine traffic stop only to see her drive away. What followed was a chase, smashing windows of the van, and the shocking decision of an officer to fire into a vehicle with kids in the backseat.
First and foremost, it should be noted that Ferrell had violated a host of laws. She fled the scene, engaged in a high-speed chase, resisted arrest, and police say that they found two marijuana pipes in the car. However, it is the discharge of the weapon that shocked many of us.
Ferrell was originally pulled over for going 71 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone. She argues with the officer who goes back to his car only to see Ferrell drive away. At this point, he is aware that there are five children in the car aged 6 to 18.
He then pulls her over again and yells at her to get out of the van. When she refuses, he tries to force her out. When her teenage son gets out to confront him, the officer pulls his taser and the teen goes back into the car.
He tells her that she will be charged and to get out as she argues with him. She inexplicably insists that she did nothing wrong and “didn’t run away.” She gets out of the car and the officer tells her to face the van to be cuffed. After she locks herself back into the van, the officer takes his baton and starts to break windows even though he knows that children are seated inside. The flying glass constitutes an obvious threat to the children and this is the first serious breach that I can see. I do not understand why they do not immobilize the van or why he decides to break the window next to the children rather than the driver.
As he is smashing the windows, she drives away. That is when another officer fires three shots directly into a van filled with children. It is a shocking use of force with no concern for the children inside the van. At this point, Ferrell is only accused of a minor traffic stop, leaving the scene, and resisting arrest. There has been no weapon or attack on the officer. Yet, this officer put three slugs through the back of a van filled with children.
Ferrell then leads the police on a 10-minute chase before turning herself in. The New Mexico State Police have not removed any of the officers from active duty.
Ferrell was charged with five counts of abuse of a child, aggravated fleeing an officer, resisting an officer, reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia. The abuse of a child is interesting given the fact that it was the officers that fired into a van full of children. Moreover, it is not clear what the basis is for the charge against her teenage son for battery of an officer.
As the video below shows, there was ample reason for an arrest, but the excessive force used by the police is very disturbing and warrants a full investigation. The officer firing the weapon could have killed three children with this unjustified use of force. The police had multiple cars and could easily stop a minivan without resulting to the use of potentially lethal force.
What do you think?
Kudos: Michael Blott
Blouise, I know my 4 year old granddaughter makes me feel my age, goodnight.
G’night, Blouise.
I’m calling it a day too.
Blouise,
That is high praise indeed. I am glad a good time (and meal) was had by one and all.
It’s been grand people but the 5 year old will be here tomorrow and I need to sleep.
Good night and good eats!
Also, you haven’t read my emails (or the other GBs), nick.
If you had, you’d know my fact was simply a fact.
Marzipan is one of my favorite candies, I bet Elaine’s cake has a similar flavor with the almond paste, yum.
Nick,
Consider this warning #58 then.
The warning you got wasn’t about “baggage from other sites”.
It was about your ad hominem behavior and you seeming to have personal information about Annie and using it here in a threatening manner.
You can threaten me all you like. You pose no more danger to me than Earth’s mightiest termite. You, however, are pushing your luck, sport.
Keep it up.
See how that works out for you.
raff,
I’ve lost count of the number of times I have baked that cake so it seems longer than 3 years.
And, your “fact” is horseshit, Barney.
Thank you!
Gene,
Tex and I are friends with a couple who were born and raised in Mexico but live here now. They were our dinner guests last month and since I had done so well with the red in August, I decided to serve it when they came to dinner last month.
They were both full of sincere praise … Tex gave you credit.
Always consider your sources. If you had a career you would know this basic stuff. I have ample evidence of “misbehavior” but as Mr. Turley has ordered I do not reference or allude to it. Your source, and now you, are treading on thin ice. I have complied w/ the order of no baggage from other forums. And, that is the 57th time you’ve warned me. We should have a party or something when you reach 75. You know, I don’t know where you were the last week or so but the record reflects, there was none of this horseshit when you were gone. That’s the fact!
Blouise,
Good catch. That was almost exactly 3 years ago!
Annie, Annie
I had it bookmarked!!
http://jonathanturley.org/2010/12/19/a-turley-tort-er-torte-for-the-holidays/
Blouise,
Glad to hear it. Basic Red is just about one of my favorite things in the whole Tex-Mex tradition. I made a little batch and had Mexican style eggs for breakfast last week. It’s basically a bean tostada topped with eggs baked in red. I used refried black beans, put a little cheese and pico de gallo on top? Epicurus himself would have been pleased.
And thanks Gene H. Your take on the issue was exactly as I presumed it to be.
We want some Elaine darn it! Thanks Blouise.
nick,
I am not buying it, even with your anecdotal experience. The police forces throughout the country have been caught time and again abusing the public trust, so I will wait until I see some hard evidence of who actually edited the video footage.
Gene,
Yes, indeed I did … last August and then again last month … we both loved it and it was relatively easy.
BTW … gbk gave me the address for his supply guy in New Mexico … also really, really good.
Annie,
I will get it out by the end of the week … I used to have it in my saved files as I was emailing it to everyone but I’ve switched computers. I have to make it for Thanksgiving, “Mom, you’ll bring the stuffing and Elaine, right?” so I’ll be getting it out.
I’ll leave a note for Elaine on her State Policy Network—The “PR Firm” thread in case she can get to it before I do. Keep checking. 🙂