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Embalmo wrote:Why didn't he announce that he was law enforcement to the crowd and ask for someone to call 911. This man had zero visible identification indicating that he was a peace officer. If I see a man wrestling with a screaming child who isn't his parent and shows zero indication of being law enforcement, I'm getting the pepper spray out before he manages to get the kid in a van. This little push shove match almost cost lives.

The kid was probably a little punk, but he wasn't a danger to the the surroundings, but the crowd and the situation got rapidly out of control. This was not a felon, so I believe a reasonable person would have just let go.

I wasn't there, & I don't have a dog in this fight. However, the first time I saw the video I had the distinct impression that he had identified himself as an officer prior to the video starting because at least one of the teens stated they didn't believe he was a cop. (My impression could have been biased from the video's title being 'off duty officer', though).

As to why he didn't ask the crowd to call the police; it seemed to me the crowd consisted mainly of teenagers, one who was off camera saying 'someone' should call the police, to which I believe the teenage girl replies 'his wife already did'. Also, the crowd (IE, the kid's audience), at least those in immediate proximity, seemed to be egging things on. The one adult in the crowd (older gentleman with the crutch) seemed to be playing the part of a good witness & staying out of the fray.

From the video I believe my perception (had I been there, which I was not) would have been an adult holding onto a teenage boy to prevent him from leaving the area, surrounded by a bunch of other kids (and not of someone attempting to forcibly remove or assault him).

I don't speak Spanish, but prior to the young lad saying on camera "Why did you try to hit me in the _____ (testicules)?", I did hear someone in the crowd say something in Spanish including the term "huevos" (which in my limited knowledge is not always 'eggs').

As to why the adult didn't just let it go? He says on video that the young lad said "Man, I'll shoot you!". Lad refutes this on video, saying he said "sue you", not "shoot you". What was really said? Ain't got a clue.

5thGenTexan wrote:Watched this a couple of times from this video it is obvious the off duty officer used restraint until he was flanked by the teen in maroon jacket that was making a move with his left hand toward his hip pocket. At that point the officer draws his weapon extends his arm down into the shrubs firing a single shot. (Watch from aound the 3 min mark)

Even after being knocked over the neighbor's hedge; grabbed by one teen; and punched by another. I'm guessing the number of responding officers & the helo circling above were due to his {negligent discharge}{warning shot}{whatever it was}, & not the initial call of kids loitering/urinating/whatever they were doing prior to the scuffle.

Unfortunately, those with an agenda are as adept at creating a false narrative out of criminal activity as they are with Photoshop & social media. There's lots of YouTube videos with misleading headlines (like this one with a reverse-image for the title page with his gun drawn, but in his right hand (and gun made thicker in order to draw the viewer's eye towards it). Top screenshot is of the title page; second screenshot is of the actual video, curiously with the other one's title page/reverse image in the upper right corner).