How fast things can go bad ...

The part of the story missing is why the officer was concerned with some fellow walking along the bridge sidewalk. Was this guy wanted for something?

Nevermind ... I found and read the article.

Things can go bad fast? You're telling me, bucko. One night a few years back, I was working on this political campaign. Anyway, me and a couple of the boys were blowing off some steam with a few of the chickies from the the boiler room. You know how it is. Anyway, I had taken a shine to this little blonde, Mary Jo, I think her name was. She could suck the chrome off a bumper, by the way. So anyway, we had been drinking and partying for a few hours, and I decided to take her out for a spin, if you know what I mean. We got in the car and headed out. It was dark, see, and I'd been drinking and we were messing around in the car, and the next thing you know, POW, I miss a turn and dump the car into the canal or whatever. I got out before the car sunk and barely made it back to the road. I walked back to hook up with my buddies and we called my lawyer and all. Ten, maybe eleven hours later, after I'd sobered up if you know what I mean, my team called the cops about the wreck. Screwed up a perfectly good Lincoln and wiped out my chances for the White House. I sure miss Mary Jo. She was a lot of fun on a boring night in a cheap motel.

Basic "John Wayne" erroneous thinking on the part of the arresting officer.

He stopped this guy on a long bridge, probably over a mile long. Where's the guy going to go if instead of stopping him he just followed him to wait for his cover?

Secondly, he needed to fire that Taser a lot sooner, after his first or second warning, while he had the tactical advantage of some distance. The distance translates to more time to give additional shocks.

Third, you NEVER get into a physical fight without the room to withdraw from the battle if it is not going your way. He allowed himself to get between the car and the guard rail where the suspect could pound him at will and he could not duck.

This situation resulted in the suspect being shot by another officer, and if I was the coroner, I might have at least considered ruling that the deadly force was justified only because of the stupidity of the responding officer.

ok, here's what I learned. Any time a cop raises his voice to you, shoot him in the head. Because if you don't, he will tase you and then his friends will shoot you. they may shoot you anyway, but what the Hell have you got to lose?

Straightarrow ...

WTF?

The site with the video has links to articles (on the left). That said, I'm inclined to agree with straightarrow. Officer Anderson should have placed him under arrest immediately. Mallory had, in fact, been committed unarmed battery 15 minutes earlier, but Anderson didn't make any reference to that.

A cop can't order someone to step over a protective barrier on a bridge into a traffic lane without good justification. Unlawful order, without explanation, followed by violent force. Taser needles are extremely painful. Anderson didn't tell Mallory he was under arrest, or provide any explanation. And he was lucky - if Mallory had just happened to look like the criminal Anderson was looking for, then the death would be more obviously unjustified. Mallory's actions were reasonable and predictable, given the circumstances.

Seems like Mallory committed manslaughter.

The site with the video has links to articles (on the left). That said, I'm inclined to agree with straightarrow. Officer Anderson should have placed him under arrest immediately. Mallory had, in fact, been committed unarmed battery 15 minutes earlier, but Anderson didn't make any reference to that.

A cop can't order someone to step over a protective barrier on a bridge into a traffic lane without good justification. Unlawful order, without explanation, followed by violent force. Taser needles are extremely painful. Anderson didn't tell Mallory he was under arrest, or provide any explanation. And he was lucky - if Mallory had just happened to look like the criminal Anderson was looking for, then the death would be more obviously unjustified. Mallory's actions were reasonable and predictable, given the circumstances.

Seems like Mallory committed manslaughter.

I have arrested quite a few people, most, but not all with outstanding warrants and I have never uttered, "you are under arrest." Nor am I required to do so. The officer had justification for ordering the suspect into the roadway, however he is not required to explain it to the suspect.

Perhaps the officer could have chosen another tactic, as someone has pointed out, the suspect was on a bridge, where was he going to go? The officer could have waited for backup. However, as it played out, his actions were justified IMHO.

I'm as pro-second amendment as they come (as are a lot of LEO's), but the anti-LEO posts here concern me.

If I were confronted by an officer, I would do as requested. Things can be sorted out later. That's why there is a judicial process.