Police Points Gun While Traffic Directing

[meanmiguel]

My question involves police conduct in the State of: North Carolina or any.

I witnessed an event after a rowdy 50k+ music concert. Around midnight the concert ended and traffic became a nightmare as people, many of which were intoxicated, raced to leave. A traffic police stood mid intersection in a classic 4 way stop (all roads were two lane) directing vehicles that were backed up seemingly forever. I finally made it to number 2 in line as an open jeep filled with 5 people sat between me and the officer. While the officer signaled our lane to wait with a "stop" hand motion he allowed all cars turning "right" to go (vehicles had created a right turning lane in the open grass). The jeep in front of me inched forward causing the officer to blow his whistle multiple times to stop the jeep from "creeping" and demanding "stay back". This occurred three to four times as both officer and driver grew impatient. At one point the officer placed his hand on his firearm to instill a recognition of control. Finally while the officer had his back to our lane, the jeep accelerated as quickly as a loaded, big tire wrangler can in effort to drive past the office and straight ahead. Alerted to the scream of the wrangler engine, the officer quickly turned facing the jeep, drew his firearm and aimed it square at the driver, yelling "Get back"! The jeep screeched to a halt and quickly reversed.

Just curious if this could hold up in court as excessive force/abusing authority, or are the officers actions justified? Sources much appreciated.

[Mr. Knowitall]

From what you're saying, nothing short of that was convincing you, er, I mean the driver of that vehicle to stop ignoring the officer and endangering other drivers.

[jk]

Just curious if this could hold up in court as excessive force/abusing authority, or are the officers actions justified? Sources much appreciated.

not a chance and depending on just what direction the jeep was headed, the officer might have had the right to fire. IF the officer feared for his safety (like believed the Jeep was going to hit him) he would have had a right to fire.


think if it this way; there are a bunch of drunk idiots in a Jeep. You have continually told them to stop. They continue to move.

You now have your back to them and you hear their vehicle gunning the accelerator.


No, do you know if they aren't headed for you? They have already shown their contempt by refusing to comply with the officers commands.

the idiot in the Jeep is lucky the officer didn't have time to deal with him in an individual manner. I suggest he would have been given a citation and maybe even arrested.