VIDEO RELEASED: SC trooper charged with felony in shooting at traffic stop over seat belt violation

[kpete]

VIDEO RELEASED: SC trooper charged with felony in shooting at traffic stop over seat belt violation
BY JOHN MONK

Sept. 4, 2014 traffic stop by Trooper Sean Groubert of a motorist for a seat belt violation. The motorist was shot during the traffic stop. THE STATE NEWSPAPER Lance Cpl. Sean Groubert Sean Groubert

COLUMBIA, SC — An S.C. trooper who stopped a man for a seat belt violation outside Columbia and then shot him – apparently without provocation – was arrested Wednesday and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

Sean Groubert, 31, a lance corporal who was fired from the Highway Patrol after the shooting incident, now faces 20 years in prison if convicted of wrongfully shooting the driver, Levar Jones.

Groubert was booked Wednesday evening at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. He was fired from the patrol last Friday.

Wednesday night, in a hearing at the jail, Magistrate Ethel Brewer set Groubert’s bond at $75,000.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2014/09/24/3702695_sc-trooper-charged-with-felony.html?sp=/99/132/&rh=1#storylink=cpy

[CanonRay]

1. Well credit to the South Carolina State Patrol

for at least taking responsible action when one of their people does a terrible thing.

[Savannahmann]

2. Tells the guy to move, and then shoots him for moving.

I'm assuming he was in the running for officer of the year before he was charged with a crime he will certainly be found not guilty of.

[cigsandcoffee]

3. The trooper was probably fired and charged for shooting that many times without killing him. n/t

[lunasun]

4. +1. I am going to show this to my kids if stopped remain in a catatonic state and announce any

Movement you are about to take and why you want to move although that could be seen as mouthing off and resisting arrest too I suppose no win

[TorchTheWitch]

10. I always say what I'm doing anyway

I think it's a good rule of thumb to not unnecessarily panic a police officer. If I was the guy who was shot I just would have said I had to get XYZ from my purse/glove box/whatever. I also never reach for the glove box until the officer comes to the window and asks for the paperwork so they don't have to wonder if my reaching in there is for a weapon. I thought this kind of stuff was just standard to know. Keeping your hands in view preferably on the steering wheel and all that until the officer gets to your window and all that.

[TorchTheWitch]

7. "assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature"

Felony - up to 20 years in jail.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

5. Thank God that former cop was a shitty shot. Glad the gentleman survived. I hope

he bankrupts that state police organization.

[TorchTheWitch]

6. Holy shit! Thank God the guy is going to be ok

I don't know what the hell that officer was thinking. Panic? I don't know what's so dangerous about the guy ducking casually into his car for his paperwork. Everybody knows you need to show more than just your driver's license in a traffic stop and that stuff is in the glove box.

WTF?

[kelliekat44]

8. I thought I heard the victim say that he had just released his seat belt to pump gas. nt

[Cali_Democrat]

9. He should be charged with attempted murder. nt

[Bonx]

11. That's the stupidest thing I've seen recently

Congratulations Mr. policeman on being completely incompetent and virulently dangerous.

[Spirochete]

12. "Sir, you're not wearing your seat belt -

that's not safe." BLAM! BLAM!

[ohnoyoudidnt]

13. The officer's probably really confused

and wondering why he is being charged with shooting an unarmed black man. After seeing the video, I think the cop is just a fucking idiot and didn't want an excuse to kill him or do it out of rage. I don't think attempted murder will fly, but he should definitely lose his job and serve some time.