Patrick Feaster, a police officer of five years, was in pursuit of a DUI suspect when the vehicle crashed. As seen in the video above once Feaster stepped out of his car he withdrew his weapon from his holster and shot Andrew Thomas in the neck. According to Action News Now:
The Paradise police officer who investigators say accidentally shot a suspected DUI driver in the neck last month will not face criminal charges, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey announced Thursday.
Ramsey said the evidence in this case shows the shooting to be accidental, and possibly negligent, but not criminally so. “This shooting is not justified, but also not criminal.”
Paradise Police Officer Patrick Feaster, a five year veteran of the department, was parked on the Skyway around midnight Thanksgiving morning, when he saw a Toyota Four-Runner speeding out of the Canteena Bar parking lot without headlights on.
Feaster followed in his patrol car, as the Toyota ran a red light and turned onto Pearson Road where the driver, 26-year-old Andrew Thomas struck the median and flipped, ejecting his 23-year-old wife Darien Ehorn from the vehicle. Ehorn was killed in the crash.
Ramsey said Feaster drew his gun when Thomas “popped” out of the car, believing he would flee. As Officer Feaster moved towards Thomas, the gun discharged and struck Thomas in the neck. The shot hit Thomas in the C7 and T1 vertebrae and could lead to him being paralyzed for life.
When backup arrived on the scene, Feaster did not mention anything about having fired his weapon. According to Ramsey, Feaster notified his commanding officer about the discharge only after Thomas’ gunshot wound was found.
As the commanding officer suggested an investigator return to Canteena and try to find out if Thomas had been shot at the bar, Feaster revealed that he may have shot Thomas.
Ramsey said nearly 11 minutes passed before any other officers, medics or firefighters learned Thomas had been shot.
That’s right, we can’t make this stuff up.
Someone tell me in what other profession can you mess up so badly and not only continue to get paid but NOT face LEGAL RECOURSE for your actions? Feaster shot a man for no reason and he’s not even going to have to face a judge over it. I’ve used children’s chalk on a sidewalk and I have to see a judge? I guess I would have been better off accidentally shooting someone that applying children’s chalk to concrete.
This is just another example of the double standards police have when investigating, charging and arresting their own. It doesn’t matter if the shooting was an accident or not. Feaster should have been immediately removed from his job, he should have been detained for questioning and taken before a judge.
Furthermore, the prosecutor is saying the Feaster was startled when the driver started to climb out of the car. Yet, they much have watched a different video than I did. What I saw was a police officer continue to take steps towards the car, while Andrew climbed out of the top, as he [Feaster] withdrew is weapon, fired one shot and holstered it without missing a step. To say this is an accident is an insult to anyone with eyes.
This is absolutely disgusting and is why people are losing faith in the police.
READ MY PREVIOUS BLOG THIS WEEK ABOUT THE SPECIAL TREATMENT POLICE OFFICERS GET WHEN COMMITTING CRIMES.
Source Article from http://www.copblock.org/149061/dui-shooting/
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