Handcuffed Man Fatally Shot By Georgia Police Officer
An officer involved shooting early Thursday afternoon which killed a Savannah, Georgia man is being investigated by the GBI .
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, officers arrested 29-year-old Charles Smith on outstanding warrants. Smith was placed under arrest, handcuffed behind his back then placed in a patrol car.
[su_center_ad]While in the patrol car, Smith was able to move his hands to the front of his body and kicked out the window of the police car, authorities say.
According to WTOC, police officers said Smith attempted to exit the patrol car and they saw he had a firearm. Smith was then shot and killed at the scene. During the crime scene investigation, a firearm discovered under Smith’s body.
Officer David Jannot, a 10-year veteran of the department, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
WSAVÂ quickly reported Smith’s criminal history, which shouldn’t really be relevant at this point.
As a crowd gathered, Mayor Edna Jackson and Police Chief Julie Tolbert said they are doing everything to make sure the truth comes out and asked the crowd to give them time to get all the information possible.
“The terrible thing about it was…the man…he was cool people. He was willing to help out. If he got it and you needed help. He was willing. That’s all I can say. He was a personal friend,” Joe Strobert said.
“This will be cleared up, this will be cleared up,” Jackson said. “As I said, I did talk to the mother. We don’t need anything to happen and we are going to keep the family and the community informed about everything that is going on.”
Don’t the police search people before putting them in their patrol cars? Is that no longer a thing?
Watch:
WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather
H/T: The incomparable @CarlaAkins with thanks.[su_csky_ad]
Image: WTOC
tiredoftea September 19th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
A gun conveniently located under his dead body.
mea_mark September 19th, 2014 at 12:18 pm
If the officer failed to check for a gun he should be dismissed. The officers actions led to the death of this man. We don’t need incompetent officers out there just collecting checks and not doing there job.
Teddy Simon September 19th, 2014 at 12:37 pm
The man having a gun lead to his death
Anomaly 100 September 19th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Why didn’t they follow protocol and search him first? I find this story hard to swallow.
uzza September 19th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
You should never swallow when a cop shoots.
Carla Akins September 19th, 2014 at 1:53 pm
Nicely done. 🙂
Anomaly 100 September 19th, 2014 at 1:54 pm
I knew I shouldn’t have worded it that way. D’oh!
edmeyer_able September 19th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Not the 1st to be shot while in cuffs, they have claimed suicide in 3 or 4 other cases.
whatthe46 September 19th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
first you have to believe that he’s a contortionist and you have to believe they never searched him. so, after busting the window out, (which we’re suppose to believe) was he trying to get out through the window, handcuffed, with a gun in hand. that’s a lot going on there. LIES is what’s going on.
juicyfruityyy September 19th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
Have anyone of you ever had handcuffs placed on you, behind your body? Even fake ones just for fun? Your hands are not going to move to the front of your body. You are not going to kick (Kungfu) out a window. You are not going to be able to grab your gun. Stop believing that crap you watch on TV!!
LAguy323 September 19th, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Was this guy Harry Houdini? How does a man handcuffed behind his back get his hands in front of his body?
whatthe46 September 19th, 2014 at 6:17 pm
BULLSHIT!!!!