Fl Deputies... two shootings in two days.

[squire]

Deputy shoots, kills man allegedly armed with table leg
an ABC Action News report 1/09/03 - updated 4:09 p.m.
BARTOW - A Polk County sheriff's deputy allegedly shot and killed a man armed with a table leg Wednesday night.
Investigators believe Wilburn Belcher Jr. came at Deputy Paul Wright Jr. after Wright arrived at Belcher's trailer to question him about his stepson in connection with a neighborhood burglary. The deputy fired two shots at the 41-year-old Belcher, hitting him in the chest and pelvic areas.
A sheriff's office spokeswoman said that a preliminary investigation shows the shooting was justified, but neighbors Action News talked to were not so sure.
"The man weighs 148 pounds," said Teresa Vining, Belcher's ex-girlfriend. "The man was harmless. I can't tell you how harmless he was."
The 24-year-old deputy is on standard paid administrative leave while both the State Attorney's Office and the Polk County Sheriff's Office are investigating.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/2003/01/030109shooting.shtml


Deputy kills man allegedly robbing Spring Hill restaurant
an ABC Action News report 1/10/03 - updated 5:35 p.m.

SPRING HILL - Another Bay area deputy has been put on leave following the second deadly police shooting in as many days. Lieutenant James Blade of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office killed a man allegedly robbing a Steak 'n Shake in Spring Hill Thursday night.
According to investigators, Lt. Blade had been called to the restaurant because of a disturbance in the parking lot. He saw nothing outside when he arrived, but when he went inside, he saw 41-year-old Anthony Jessie, armed with a knife, attempting to rob the restaurant.
When Lt. Blade ordered Jessie to drop the weapon, he grabbed a customer and held his knife to the man's throat. Blade fired once and hit Jessie, who died at the scene.
Hearing about the shooting, Spring Hill residents seemed to support the deputy's actions.
"I think he probably did the right thing. If the police tell you to drop your gun and you've got a weapon, you ought to drop it," Nancy Duncan said.
"I guess he gave him a chance to drop his weapon, so I guess that would justify his action then," Rocky Kenny added.
"When they tell you to stop, you stop," Mark Board insisted.
The sheriff's office agreed, issuing a statement late Friday that a preliminary investigation revealed the shooting was justified. Blade, an 18-year-veteran, was placed on paid administrative leave pending a full investigation by FDLE.
Wednesday night, a Polk County deputy shot a man who allegedly came at him with a table leg.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/2003/01/030110shooting.shtml

 

[HS/LD]

2 badguys down in 2 days.

HS/LD

 

[4v50 Gary]

The robbery incident where the robber took a hostage, well, that's a no brainer and clearly a good shot.

Some may be skeptical about an assailant armed with a table leg. Anyone who thinks they're Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee and is confident enough to take someone similarly armed needn't resort to deadly force. However, unlike some Asian countries that require martial arts training (I think Japan is one), most cops in the U.S. don't receive such training. Secondly, take a watermelon and bash it table leg. Now, take a baseball bat and bash another water melon. Any difference? Not to either a watermelon or a person's skull. Good shooting provided warnings were given (unless the officer was being rushed and didn't have time to give verbal warnings).

 

[PATH]

Both were good shoots IMHO.

 

[sm]

Sounds like good shoots from the above read. Both 41 y/o interesting.

 

[Tamara]

When Lt. Blade ordered Jessie to drop the weapon, he grabbed a customer and held his knife to the man's throat. Blade fired once and hit Jessie, who died at the scene.

Nice shootin', Tex!

 

[islander-11]

I'd rather be reading a post about a deputy shooting a POS who wanted to whack the cop with a table leg than reading about a cop on life support because he was whacked by said table leg...

As for the Steak n' Shake, I agree - very good shooting! Here's guessing that the cop does his range time. Good for the citizens to appreciate what the deputy had to do, too.