Guy shot by police for weilding a sword at them in a cemetery

catastrophe · 08-13-2008, 06:52 PM

This happened in my town about a month ago,
I was wondering what Yahookas feelings were on the subject, read and tell me what you think.

HASTINGS, Minn. -- Four law enforcement officers are on administrative leave after a man armed with a sword was shot in a Hastings cemetery.

Police say the 23-year-old Brandon Lee Rodriguez was shot late Thursday night. He was taken to a Hastings hospital. He was later airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he died.

Police say they received a call of a man smashing windows at an Express Lube building and nearby car dealership about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

After officers arrived, they learned Rodriguez had run to the St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Cemetery.

Three Hastings police officers and a Dakota County sheriff's deputy began searching the area when Rodriguez came at them with the sword.

Police say Rodriguez ignored their commands to drop the weapon and Hastings police Sgt. James Galland shot him. The 17-year veteran is one of the officers on leave.

The Ramsey County medical examiner is doing an autopsy.

kare11.com | Twin Cities, MN | Man with sword shot and killed in Hastings identified

Police ID sword-wielding man fatally shot by Hastings cop

Did they have a right to shoot under the circumstances?
Or should they have been trained better to handle such matters without using such lethal force?

Xil · 08-13-2008, 07:02 PM

The way i see it, a cop should be allowed to one up the threat. If they are threatened with fists they can defend with sticks. If they are threatened with a lethal weapon (such as a knife or sword) a gun is definitely within their discretion, as long as its a real and eminent threat. This article makes it seem like it was, but who the fuck raelly knows?

O yeah, and fuck the police!

catastrophe · 08-13-2008, 08:19 PM

Yeah, it was creepy cause we heard someone got shot about two blocks away and we walked by when they were putting him in the body bag into the ambulance.

I understand what you're saying about leveling one up fighting fists with sticks but the cops in our town are really big assholes and have the attitude to fire at their own pleasure, not really only if the situation calls for dramatic measures.
They should have been able to do more than just resort to shoot with intent to kill, or atleast tasered him a few more times

cheetobanditto · 08-13-2008, 11:52 PM

they could have just shot out his legs or his arms,least then he whould be alive to get the mental help he desperatley need but some people just feel the need to shoot what they cant logicaly understand.

Bongy_Digital · 08-13-2008, 11:56 PM

dudes that carry swords around are usually iffy. but im confused they put him in a body bag to take him to the hospital then airlifted him in a bodybag?

Man in Black · 08-14-2008, 02:59 AM

he should have deflected the bullets with his sword

Prophet Saddam · 08-14-2008, 04:05 AM

It's a shame, but seems an obvious case of justifiable homicide. Wouldn't be surprised to find he was under the influence of something...

'Shooting out the legs' as some might suggest is opening the door for liability, and kind of defeats the entire purpose of 'deadly force.'

23 is too young to die so needlessly.

Plissken · 08-14-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Man in Black

he should have deflected the bullets with his sword

Now that'd be cool...but he'd need one of these bad boys:

slapstick · 08-14-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongy_Digital

dudes that carry swords around are usually iffy. but im confused they put him in a body bag to take him to the hospital then airlifted him in a bodybag?

I saw a hot chick with pink hair wielding a real saber in my grocer's parking lot the other day. shes not iffy. shes on my to do list.

Xil · 08-14-2008, 03:54 PM

If someone is coming at you its not always easy to place a good disabling shot. The torso is the easiest and best target.

But i do agree, extreme and deadly force should only be used when ABSOLUTELY necessary.

Rubix · 08-14-2008, 04:10 PM

isn't this where the taser comes into play?

Man in Black · 08-14-2008, 04:12 PM

give the cops swords instead of guns

problem solved

Xil · 08-14-2008, 04:15 PM

Guns have a greater real stopping power than tasers. Tasers are useful but nothing is dependable as a bullet.

clive · 08-14-2008, 04:17 PM

one less nutcase to worry about

Parallax · 08-15-2008, 09:19 PM

if the guy really was coming at them with a sword, then how is it not justified to use lethal force?

wanderlust · 08-16-2008, 03:10 PM

it depends if they guy was charging at them with the sword or posing an immediate threat. if he was standing still at a decent distance away and just wouldn't drop the sword then tasers would've been the way to go, not shooting him to death.

SpankyMcLankey · 08-16-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clive

one less nutcase to worry about

Kishar · 08-16-2008, 08:26 PM

There are not enough details to make an informed decision on this. Was he standing there with the sword and they just shot him or did he charge at them like a samurai? If he charged them then hell yea shoot his ass, two to the chest one in the head. If he was just acting like a crazy SOB waving his sword then break out the water cannons like they did to that one crazy black guy on that one show on that one channel in that one town. Mother Fk'r was NUTS.

SpankyMcLankey · 08-16-2008, 10:41 PM

Now if it were a plastic sword....

GratefulDead · 08-16-2008, 10:50 PM

IMHO they had the right to shoot him, if it happened as they said it did.

He clearly refused to put down the weapon (so say the police officers) and they used deadly force to protect themselves.

Like Kishar said, we don't know all the details...so its is hard to pass judgment on the officers.

08-13-2008, 06:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
catastrophe Babies smell like butter. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minnesotaaa Posts: 1,307 Thanks: 17 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	Guy shot by police for weilding a sword at them in a cemetery This happened in my town about a month ago, I was wondering what Yahookas feelings were on the subject, read and tell me what you think. HASTINGS, Minn. -- Four law enforcement officers are on administrative leave after a man armed with a sword was shot in a Hastings cemetery. Police say the 23-year-old Brandon Lee Rodriguez was shot late Thursday night. He was taken to a Hastings hospital. He was later airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he died. Police say they received a call of a man smashing windows at an Express Lube building and nearby car dealership about 10:30 p.m. Thursday. After officers arrived, they learned Rodriguez had run to the St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Cemetery. Three Hastings police officers and a Dakota County sheriff's deputy began searching the area when Rodriguez came at them with the sword. Police say Rodriguez ignored their commands to drop the weapon and Hastings police Sgt. James Galland shot him. The 17-year veteran is one of the officers on leave. The Ramsey County medical examiner is doing an autopsy. kare11.com \| Twin Cities, MN \| Man with sword shot and killed in Hastings identified Police ID sword-wielding man fatally shot by Hastings cop Did they have a right to shoot under the circumstances? Or should they have been trained better to handle such matters without using such lethal force? __________________ RIP Gov

08-13-2008, 07:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Xil OD'ing on sobriety Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: STL, MO Posts: 1,112 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 46 Thanked 68 Times in 48 Posts	The way i see it, a cop should be allowed to one up the threat. If they are threatened with fists they can defend with sticks. If they are threatened with a lethal weapon (such as a knife or sword) a gun is definitely within their discretion, as long as its a real and eminent threat. This article makes it seem like it was, but who the fuck raelly knows? O yeah, and fuck the police! __________________ ᚘ SMOKE ᚘ ൈ MORE ൈ ం FATTY ం దౡ NUGS ౡ Your wise men don;t know how it feels... The godless shall genuflect as the holy men fall from grace.

08-13-2008, 08:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
catastrophe Babies smell like butter. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minnesotaaa Posts: 1,307 Thanks: 17 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	Yeah, it was creepy cause we heard someone got shot about two blocks away and we walked by when they were putting him in the body bag into the ambulance. I understand what you're saying about leveling one up fighting fists with sticks but the cops in our town are really big assholes and have the attitude to fire at their own pleasure, not really only if the situation calls for dramatic measures. They should have been able to do more than just resort to shoot with intent to kill, or atleast tasered him a few more times __________________ RIP Gov

08-13-2008, 11:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
cheetobanditto YaHookan Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: virginia Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	they could have just shot out his legs or his arms,least then he whould be alive to get the mental help he desperatley need but some people just feel the need to shoot what they cant logicaly understand. __________________

08-13-2008, 11:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bongy_Digital Old School Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Joke Ass Bible Belt Posts: 646 Thanks: 33 Thanked 47 Times in 41 Posts	dudes that carry swords around are usually iffy. but im confused they put him in a body bag to take him to the hospital then airlifted him in a bodybag? __________________ Im just goofin....New Boot Goofin Do What You Feel, Feel What You Do.

08-14-2008, 02:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
Man in Black sic semper tyrannis Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the rust belt Posts: 923 Thanks: 227 Thanked 83 Times in 65 Posts	he should have deflected the bullets with his sword __________________ Which of you, to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell? I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.

08-14-2008, 04:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
Prophet Saddam Crazy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: CA, fuck yeah Posts: 16,288 Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 2,523 Thanked 471 Times in 336 Posts	It's a shame, but seems an obvious case of justifiable homicide. Wouldn't be surprised to find he was under the influence of something... 'Shooting out the legs' as some might suggest is opening the door for liability, and kind of defeats the entire purpose of 'deadly force.' 23 is too young to die so needlessly.

08-14-2008, 03:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Xil OD'ing on sobriety Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: STL, MO Posts: 1,112 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 46 Thanked 68 Times in 48 Posts	If someone is coming at you its not always easy to place a good disabling shot. The torso is the easiest and best target. But i do agree, extreme and deadly force should only be used when ABSOLUTELY necessary. __________________ ᚘ SMOKE ᚘ ൈ MORE ൈ ం FATTY ం దౡ NUGS ౡ Your wise men don;t know how it feels... The godless shall genuflect as the holy men fall from grace.

08-14-2008, 04:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
Rubix Stoner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest Posts: 3,275 Thanks: 84 Thanked 66 Times in 53 Posts	isn't this where the taser comes into play? __________________ would you like a cone with that?

08-14-2008, 04:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
Man in Black sic semper tyrannis Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the rust belt Posts: 923 Thanks: 227 Thanked 83 Times in 65 Posts	give the cops swords instead of guns problem solved __________________ Which of you, to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell? I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.

08-14-2008, 04:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Xil OD'ing on sobriety Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: STL, MO Posts: 1,112 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 46 Thanked 68 Times in 48 Posts	Guns have a greater real stopping power than tasers. Tasers are useful but nothing is dependable as a bullet. __________________ ᚘ SMOKE ᚘ ൈ MORE ൈ ం FATTY ం దౡ NUGS ౡ Your wise men don;t know how it feels... The godless shall genuflect as the holy men fall from grace.

08-15-2008, 09:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
Parallax Admiral Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,748 Thanks: 23 Thanked 104 Times in 41 Posts	if the guy really was coming at them with a sword, then how is it not justified to use lethal force? __________________ FUCK THE ROBOTS!!! NUKE THE WHALES!!!

08-16-2008, 03:10 PM	#16 (permalink)
wanderlust Old School Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: various places in CO Posts: 1,287 Thanks: 43 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	it depends if they guy was charging at them with the sword or posing an immediate threat. if he was standing still at a decent distance away and just wouldn't drop the sword then tasers would've been the way to go, not shooting him to death.

08-16-2008, 08:26 PM	#18 (permalink)
Kishar <><><> Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: USA Posts: 1,550 Thanks: 16 Thanked 30 Times in 24 Posts	There are not enough details to make an informed decision on this. Was he standing there with the sword and they just shot him or did he charge at them like a samurai? If he charged them then hell yea shoot his ass, two to the chest one in the head. If he was just acting like a crazy SOB waving his sword then break out the water cannons like they did to that one crazy black guy on that one show on that one channel in that one town. Mother Fk'r was NUTS. __________________

08-16-2008, 10:41 PM	#19 (permalink)
SpankyMcLankey YaHookan Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075 Thanks: 145 Thanked 95 Times in 86 Posts	Now if it were a plastic sword....

08-16-2008, 10:50 PM	#20 (permalink)
GratefulDead Mota Thief Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 253 Thanks: 29 Thanked 31 Times in 30 Posts	IMHO they had the right to shoot him, if it happened as they said it did. He clearly refused to put down the weapon (so say the police officers) and they used deadly force to protect themselves. Like Kishar said, we don't know all the details...so its is hard to pass judgment on the officers.