this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2025
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[–] Soup 93 points 5 days ago (4 children)

And remember, kids, even if it was the right guy why the fuck were they ok with killing a guy over a fucking weed-wacker? Also why do they need to raid someone’s home over a not even that expensive bit of gardening equipment? Like yea I’d like my shit back too but if I was in the states I’d call insurance about it and get a new one long before I essentially ask the cops to go kill some dude over it.

[–] [email protected] 52 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

Yeah, something's not right. Usually you can't get cops to even take a report for 'minor' property crimes, and these guys just go busting doors with guns blazing?

[–] ArbiterXero 28 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Right?????

Something doesn’t add up.

[–] theangryseal 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Turns out it belonged to a county official. Go figure.

David Westerfield. The Laurel County Judge Executive.

[–] ArbiterXero 3 points 4 days ago

There it is.

[–] theangryseal 8 points 5 days ago

If I had to guess, either someone on the force didn’t like this guy.

Either that, or someone really cozy with the cops was mad about their weedeater being stolen.

It’s crazy to me that one of my neighbors could be doing something shady and it gets me killed. As often as my packages get delivered at the wrong place, it’s scary to think about.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The weedeater belonged to a local judge. Cops will go above and beyond for their pals who take them at their word on the witness stand.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

I figured it would be something like that.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Not that I disagree with most of your comment, but insurance claim wouldn’t be worth it for a weed whacker as the excess would be prohibitive.

[–] Soup 2 points 5 days ago

True enough, though I’d still rather not send a potential hit-squad over it. The chance of that is low but nowhere near low enough. Just glad to live in an at least passably civilized country where I don’t need to worry about that as bad.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

Yeah, but you're not a "local judge".

[–] MintyFresh 65 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Their incompetence would be hilarious if it weren't so terrifying.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 5 days ago

Ya this headline reads as a Reno 911 episode

[–] workerONE 44 points 5 days ago (1 children)

"Although police have released little details about the shooting, neighbors told local media they were searching for a stolen Weed Eater on Dec. 23 when they banged on Harless’ front door at 11:50 p.m."

Why were they going to someone's door at almost midnight for something like this?

[–] [email protected] 25 points 5 days ago (1 children)

A lot of people are asleep at this time. Great way to catch people groggy and unawares; less likely for them to defend themselves. Also less chance for witnesses.

[–] Passerby6497 17 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

On the other hand, also more likely for someone to assume home invader and defend themselves.

Which might also be part of the reason, now that I think about it. Gives them an excuse to ~~execute someone~~ defend themselves from a crazy criminal.

[–] T00l_shed 52 points 5 days ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 days ago

Fuck the police

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 days ago

ACAM - All cops are murderers, some are just accomplices.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 days ago

And those fuckers will get away with it Scott-free, too. Maybe a slap on the wrist, at most. Legalized murder.

[–] NewWorldOverHere 31 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Even while trying to criticize the cops, the article language still supports them.

“…which is why they had to shoot and kill him just before midnight last week.” (emphasis mine)

No - they didn’t have to shoot him. They CHOSE to shoot him.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 5 days ago

"No word yet on whether the stolen Weed Eater has been recovered or the real culprit arrested."

Yeah, nice way to end the article. Asking the real questions.....

[–] NewWorldOverHere 19 points 5 days ago (1 children)

If the cops weren’t idiots and went to the right address…

Would this have been an example of parallel construction?

Per the article, the owner of the correct house said it had been empty for months.

My head cannon is that the correct house was being used for illegal purposes (drugs?). Then, this “stolen” weed wacker was the justification they were using to go poking around this residence and “stumble” upon the other illegal activity.

Thoughts?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Seems the most likely thing. Cops don't investigate stolen cars. Since when do they do no knock raids for lawn equipment. Paying them all to drive out there is more than the cost of a weed whacker.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Since when do they do no knock raids for lawn equipment. Paying them all to drive out there is more than the cost of a weed whacker.

Although that's true...

But the man who police say admitted to stealing the Weed Eater from a home of a local judge

That's why a weedeater theft got a nighttime raid, IMO. And if I'm right the judge should lose his job because it's his authorization of a riskier than required visit to the home due to his personal interests that resulted in this death. Unless this is how he handles every petty theft it's an abuse of power. (and maybe even then)

[–] Yawweee877h444 14 points 5 days ago

Will there be any accountability for the cops?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Remember folks: Police exist to protect property and wealth, not people.

Kentucky dispatchers repeatedly told police officers the address of a house they were supposed to raid over an alleged stolen Weed Eater, only for the cops to raid the wrong home and kill the man inside.

But the man who police say admitted to stealing the Weed Eater from a home of a local judge had already been in custody prior to the deadly raid that took place minutes before midnight last month, according to WLEX. That man told police he had stored the stolen Weed Eater at a home at 489 Vanzant Road which is a rural area outside of London city limits.

But London police chose to raid a home at 511 Vanzant Road where they shot and killed Douglas Harless, a 63-year-old white man who had nothing to do with the alleged stolen Weed Eater.

Fuck these cops. 2020 memories getting dim already I guess.

 

Over and fucking Over:

Police: Create deadly situation for someone else to react to, because despite being empowered to use deadly force, they don't see the need to worry about any kind of rigor or care in their actions since they work in a system that will back them no matter what.

Someone else: Reacts

Police: Use the situation they created as justification to kill the person.

The system: Shrugs.

Police Union: Giggity.

I want those body cams.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Cios wouldn't do tbis over a weed whacker,, so whats really going on here?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

A weed eater is a guy that drug dealers keep around in case the cops show up. That's why they snuck up on him.