No Charges For White Milwaukee Cop Who Shot Black Suspect 14 Times
[su_right_ad]The Milwaukee County District Attorney says the officer won’t be charged in the death of a man he shot who has a history of mental illness.
The April 30 shooting of Dontre Hamilton in a downtown park by Officer Christopher Manney inspired a series of protests in Milwaukee, including one over the weekend that led to dozens of activists being arrested after shutting down I-43.
Manney shot Hamilton 14 times during an incident that occurred after workers at a nearby Starbucks called police to complain about him sleeping in Milwaukee’s Red Arrow Park.
“This was a tragic incident for the Hamilton family and for the community,” District Attorney John Chisholm said in a statement. “But, based on all the evidence and analysis presented in this report, I come to the conclusion that Officer Manney’s use of force in this incident was justified self-defense and that defense cannot be reasonably overcome to establish a basis to charge Officer Manney with a crime.”…
[su_thin_right_skyscraper_ad]At the time of the call, Manney was handling another unrelated incident and two other officers were dispatched to the park, but Manney was unaware of it. The two other officers checked on Hamilton twice and determined he wasn’t doing anything wrong. Hamilton’s family said he had battled schizophrenia and stopped taking his medication shortly before the shooting.
When Manney arrived in the park after the other officers had left, he said, he found Hamilton laying on the ground in the park and asked him to stand up. He said that Hamilton then stood up and turned his back to him. The police officer began patting-down Hamilton.
As Manney was conducting the frisk, he told investigators, Hamilton twisted his body so he was facing Manney.
Manney, who says Hamilton’s right hand was balled in a fist, said he tried to disengage from Hamilton, according to the DA’s report.
Hamilton lunged and then tried to strike Manney with his fist, according to the police officer’s account. Manny blocked the punch and struck Hamilton with an open palm to the chin. Hamilton then grabbed Manney in the shoulder area, pulling the police officer towards him and struck him on the right side of his head, the report said.
At that point, Manney felt he was losing control of the situation and decided to use his wooden baton on Hamilton.
“Manney fired his weapon but it did not seem to have any effect on Hamilton, so he continued to fire while walking backwards from Hamilton,” according to Manney’s account to investigators. “Hamilton fell forward and Manney continued to fire because he perceived Hamilton still to be a threat. He stopped firing when Hamilton was completely on the ground.”
tiredoftea December 22nd, 2014 at 9:03 pm
Another shocking decision by a DA.
tracey marie December 22nd, 2014 at 9:09 pm
This poor ill man was harrassed by two cops who did deem him no threat, then another cop harrasses him and all of a sudden he is violent? I do not buy this story.
whatthe46 December 22nd, 2014 at 9:28 pm
only hamilton can discount this cops story. oh yeah…
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker December 22nd, 2014 at 9:11 pm
I’m starting to see a pattern here….DUH!
Anomaly 100 December 22nd, 2014 at 9:36 pm
Y’TINK SO?
whatthe46 December 22nd, 2014 at 9:14 pm
“…workers at a nearby Starbucks called police to complain about him sleeping in Milwaukee’s Red Arrow Park.” not commiting a crime. minding his own damn business, much like what these fk’n people should have done. i hope that they have many years of sleepless nights. “Manney, who says Hamilton’s right hand was balled in a fist, said he tried to disengage from Hamilton, according to the DA’s report.” like i believe him (NOT). he made certain this young man died 14 shots. he also made sure that the only person that could not refute his lie, accounts would never be known. this is b.s. AGAIN!
neworleans878 December 22nd, 2014 at 9:48 pm
No charges filed?
Surprise, surprise, surprise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TnkJ8_BmSI
William December 22nd, 2014 at 11:50 pm
The article isn’t clear (to me) concerning the use of the baton. Other reports indicate that the deceased had gotten hold of the officers baton, and struck the officer. The officer was fired for violating the departments policy concerning mentally ill subjects. Other articles indicate that the shooting itself was justified because the deceased had a weapon (the baton), but the situation that led up to the shooting was largely caused by the officers actions and failure to follow training and protocols.
http://www.ketv.com/national/no-charges-for-milwaukee-officer-in-fatal-shooting/30360572
mea_mark December 23rd, 2014 at 12:05 pm
They fire the officer but don’t charge him with anything. Sounds like they are trying to protect the department at the cost of justice.
crc3 December 23rd, 2014 at 12:02 am
14 shots??? Does it really take 14 shots to bring down a suspect or take control of a situation?? I’m thinking no just like when Michael Brown was killed. Overkill…yes…
raincheck December 23rd, 2014 at 4:55 am
“Manney shot Hamilton 14 times during an incident that occurred after
workers at a nearby Starbucks called police to complain about him
sleeping in Milwaukee’s Red Arrow Park”
I wonder if the people who called the Cops on the 11 year old “pointing a gun at people” at another park, bothered to let the police know it was a “CHILD” holding/pointing the toy gun when they called..Didn’t they shoot him within a couple of seconds upon arrival?
Or when the people at Wal*Mart called about the man with a rifle (BB gun) in the “Toy section”
All of these “Good Samaritans” just doing their “Civic Duty” reporting “dangerous people” sleeping in parks, buying toys etc… All too often they report things like “odd behavior” “acting strange” “acting like they are on drugs” etc. I can’t help but wonder if sometimes they just don’t want black people in their neighborhood… so they call the Cops to make sure they get harassed… but too often end up dead.. I just don’t know anymore
raincheck December 23rd, 2014 at 5:25 am
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG……
“after workers at a nearby Starbucks called police to complain about him
sleeping in Milwaukee’s Red Arrow Park”