There has been much discussion and outrage over the shooting of Philando Castile by police officer Jeronimo Yanez, particularly since the officer\u2019s acquittal on all charges several days ago.<\/p>\n
We humans are a tribal species.\u00a0 The Black community seems to have closed ranks reflexively in favor of the African-American man who was killed; the blue community largely (but not entirely) has taken the side of the Hispanic officer who fired the fatal shots; and much of the concealed carry tribe seems to have automatically taken the side of the deceased, who had a carry permit.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s set all that aside for a moment and look at the facts.<\/p>\n
First, when you\u2019re pulled over, it\u2019s always possible that it\u2019s happening because you and\/or your vehicle fit the description of someone who has done A Very Bad Thing.\u00a0 In this case, before the pullover Yanez broadcast over the radio that Castile and his car fit the description of a man and a vehicle wanted for armed robbery with a gun. He called for backup, which is why a second officer is present in the dashcam recording of the shooting.<\/p>\n
If the officer has reason to consider you, the driver, impaired, you can expect him or her to be all the more cautious in dealing with you. Toxicology screen after death showed Castile to have THC in his bloodstream, and Yanez reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana when he reached the driver\u2019s door.<\/p>\n
Castile\u2019s girlfriend did not turn on her famous smartphone livestream<\/a> until moments after the shooting, and the patrol car camera could not \u201csee\u201d what Castile was doing. A bodycam might well have shown that and solved the question conclusively, but the officer wasn\u2019t wearing one. This leaves us only the perceptions of those who survived to testify. The girlfriend said Castile wasn\u2019t pulling a gun, and Castile was recorded saying the same with his dying breath, but the officer perceived that Castile was <\/em>drawing a gun, and stated that was why he drew and fired his service pistol.<\/p>\n