$1 Million Bond for Cincinnati Cop Accused of Murdering Samuel DuBose

[mikesimon]

Judge Sets $1 Million Bond for Cincinnati Cop Accused of Murdering Samuel DuBose
Jul 30, 2015, 10:29 AM ET

Police Officer Ray Tensing, who is accused of murdering Samuel DuBose during a traffic stop in Cincinnati, was arraigned in court today.

Tensing, 25, was indicted Wednesday on one count of murder and one count of voluntary manslaughter for the shooting death of the unarmed DuBose on July 19. He pleaded not guilty. If Tensing is convicted on all charges, he faces life in prison.

The University of Cincinnati police officer appeared in court in prison stripes and handcuffs. During the proceedings that lasted just minutes, Judge Megan Shanahan read the two charges and set bond at $1 million, which drew cheers from members of DuBose's family in court. The outburst prompted a strong rebuke from the judge.

DuBose, 43, was killed during a traffic stop near the University of Cincinnati's campus, authorities said, noting that he was stopped because his car did not have a license plate in the front.

"He’s been crucified since this thing first happened by the whole community without knowing what the evidence is," said Tensing's attorney, Stewart Matthews.

Two videos were released by the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office when the indictment was announced Wednesday. The first shows the shooting from Tensing's body camera. The second video, from the body camera of an arriving officer, shows Tensing lying in the road before he gets up to run toward DuBose's crashed car.

Neither video shows Tensing being dragged as he has told investigators, according to a police report and his radio call. Matthews said he believed a jury would find that Tensing did not overreact during the traffic stop.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-sets-million-bond-cincinnati-cop-accused-murdering/story?id=32779907

[brice1967]

Have you ever watched "Cops"?  The cops will be reading someone their rights and the first thing they say is, "You have the right to remain silent."  How come nobody does that?

[Vance2335]

Example of what to do when pulled over...I was pulled over yesterday and I was not shot nor was a beat or even asked out of the car.

I pulled over, rolled down my window and place both hands outside the window to show the officer I was not going to reach for anything or stash anything. He asked for my lisence and registration I said "Yes sir" and handed them over. He asked if I knew why I was pulled over, I said "I was going too fast". He walked back to his vehicle, I put my hands on the steering wheel and waited. He came back with a ticket, I said "thank you" and he also thanked me and sent me on my way.

Doesn't matter of you are black or white, you act like nice and polite then you most likely will have a fine experience.

I just have to hope that my Trooper friend can talk to the officer and get my ticket reduced.

[brice1967]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/02/us/memphis-officer-killed-traffic-stop/

Here you go OH.  Here's a cop that got killed at a simple traffic stop.  I think he was following your lead and didn't want to shoot too quick.

[brice1967]

As the cop was politely questioning the suspect, the suspect was reaching for the ignition with his right hand while his left hand was trying to keep his car door closed as the cop tried to open the door.  The suspect then can be seen reaching over to the passenger side of the vehicle.  What was he reaching for?

[brice1967]

Oh brother.....

[specialmom]

Watch the video oh.  This man could not have been pulled over by a more patient cop.  

[orphanedhawk]

I'd like to add that I think lack of proper training is at the root of the problem.

[orphanedhawk]

Cops being too quick to shoot is much of the problem we see in general with these senseless killings.

[specialmom]

I agree completely.  

[mikesimon]

I found the video quite difficult to follow. I have watched it at least 8 times and it took me that many views to get a feel for what occurred and even now I'm not certain I know precisely what happened.
Although I think there is room for doubt my take is that the cop was too quick to shoot. We'll see how this plays out but I do think the prosecutor was over-the-top in his statements about the shooting. His language certainly tarnishes the case and likely inflames public opinion. Basically I thought his news conference was recklessly prejudicial.

[specialmom]

And I just wanted to say that I look at these things with a critical eye because I think police officers can get carried away and there seem to be a sector that got into the career to be a bully.  I really did not see that at all when I watched this footage in this case.  

[specialmom]

I have watched that video twice.  In all honesty, I thought the police officer was very polite and was consistently asking for something from the man.  The man would not answer his question regarding having a license (also, there was a bottle of liquor that the police officer spotted and took).  Then, as it was a body cam, a scuffle DID happen.  Perhaps the police officer shot quickly but murder wasn't what I saw.  I think all of the pressure on police officers right now when the incident involves an African American fueled the charge of murder.  They note that he is somewhat inexperienced but what I saw on that tape was a police officer being calm and patient.