Cop fires at minivan full of kids after traffic-stop scuffle in New Mexico

[joeybee12]

What began as a routine traffic stop in New Mexico ended with a police officer bashing the window of a family minivan with his baton and a second officer firing shots at the van, which had five children inside.

The chief of the state police is promising a full review of the episode, which was captured on a police dash-cam on Oct. 28 near the city of Taos and aired by Albuquerque station KRQE.

It began when police pulled over Oriana Ferrell, 39, for speeding. An officer approached the car and asked her to wait, but she drove away. When she was pulled over a second time, the drama escalated

“Get out of the vehicle! Get out of the vehicle right now!” an officer shouted at Ferrell. She did — and then her 14-year-old son got out of the van and rushed the officer. After a scuffle, the child ran back into the van.

By this point, backup had arrived. Moments later, an officer used his baton to smash a passenger-side window. And a second officer, appearing to aim low, fired three shots as the van sped away.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/18/21518468-cop-fires-at-minivan-full-of-kids-after-traffic-stop-scuffle-in-new-mexico?lite

[penultimate]

1. Stupid mother, but why the hell did that cop shoot at the van?

Talk unnecessary escalation. He can't even say he worried she was using her van as a weapon, because she was driving away and none of them in harms ways. Why do police forces hire people without functioning brains?

[Blue_Tires]

2. Enough dumbassery on both sides to fill the Grand Canyon...

[Boom Sound 416]

4. Ding!

[Arkansas Granny]

3. It looks to me like a instance where everyone acted badly.

What ever possessed that woman to try to run from the cops in the first place? I can understand, somewhat, fleeing when an officer is breaking out your window, but she should have just dealt with the matter the first time she was stopped.

Having said that, what were the police thinking? They are supposed to be professionals and should be able to handle a situation like this without resorting to firing at a van full of children. At no point were their lives threatened, unless you want to count the scuffle with the boy.

Press charges against her, by all means, but some of those LEO's need to be disciplined and/or sent for further training.