SC officer who shot man had prior excessive force complaint

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MITCH WEISS and MICHAEL BIESECKER

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The white South Carolina police officer charged with murder for shooting an unarmed black man in the back was allowed to stay on the force despite a 2013 complaint that he used excessive force against another unarmed black man.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Mario Givens recounted Wednesday how he was awakened before dawn one morning by loud banging on the front door of his family's North Charleston home.

On the porch was Patrolman Michael Thomas Slager, the officer now charged in the shooting death of Walter Lamer Scott, which was captured in dramatic cellphone footage by a bystander.

Givens, who was clad only in a T-shirt and boxer shorts, cracked open his door and asked what the officer wanted.

FULL story at link.



Protestors hold candles in remembrance of Walter Scott during a protest in front of city hall in North Charleston, S.C., Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Scott was killed by a North Charleston police officer after a traffic stop on Saturday. The officer, Michael Thomas Slager, has been charged with murder. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150409/us--police_officer-fatal_shooting-9a73d32ba3.html

[marym625]

1. K&R!

I am thoroughly disgusted at this entire thing. The fact that the PD is doing the right thing after the video came out doesn't exonerate them from everything prior to this.

I am just disgusted.

[madashelltoo]

2. Sounds about right.

There was no investigation. Seldom is. They rubber stamp police aggressive behavior and hope nothing ever comes of it. Then, they stand before the mic and cameras, speechless. Looking dumb. Now, they have to just wait this out and resume their behavior. If anyone thinks body cameras will curb their behavior, I've got a castle in Harlem you might be interested in. It has a moat.

[They_Live]

3. one of many cases,

I have no doubt.

[riverbendviewgal]

4. it is time to police the police

Body Cameras and detailed investigations reported and checked by the Justice Department Should be in ALL police departments across the country.

[woodsprite]

5. Read some crap on line this A.M.

that they were pushing (on ABC news). The title said that both Slager and Scott had a common link in their past. So I clicked on the article. It was nothing other than catapulting non-relevant info. They were both in the Coast Guard. So, did they know each other -- No. Scott was in the late 90s while Slager was in in the 2000s. The info they were using that article to promote was that Slager got an honorable discharge vs Scott being reprimanded for drug use and receiving a normal discharge under honorable conditions.

Anything just to muddy the waters and make the cop look like the victim rather than than the guy he killed.

[valerief]

6. Of course, he was. All these killer cops are monsters. nt

[heaven05]

7. "officer had prior excessive force complaint"

you're kidding!!!!!?????? Thanks Omaha......