** (Disclaimer: Video posted strictly for educational and information purposes only) **
A little more than three years to the date, the dashcam video of Airman Michael Edwards being shot by Opelika police officer Phillip Hancock on Interstate 85 has now been released to the public. A call came into the Opelika Police Department on the night of March 6, 2014 about an erratic driver on Interstate 85. Officer Phillip Hancock responded to the call. Davidson got into a minor accident with a tractor trailer where Davidson swiped the back of the tractor trailer. The tractor trailer and Davidson pulled over on the side of the road to exchange information. Officer Hancock arrives on the scene and pulled up behind Davidson’s car and had his headlights and spotlight on the vehicle and exits his vehicle. One of Davidson’s attorney’s, Brian Mosholder said that his client was parked on a downslope, which made it difficult for him to get the door open.
Mosholder said that Davidson’s wallet was in his left hand while pushing against the door to get it open, and then he reached back with his right hand. Soon after, Ofc. Hancock asks Davidson to show him his hands. Davidson brings his right hand through and up to his left hand, turned and got out of the vehicle as quickly as he could and put his hands out in front of him with his wallet in both hands and began to raise his hands. Soon after, the first shot is fired, which hits the ground. Then, Mosholder said Davidson’s hands went up and the second shot was fired, which hit Davidson. “It’s very obvious from that part of the video that Officer Hancock is creating a situation that he wished had happened that would have justified this shooting,†Mosholder said. “When you look at the video, none of that happened. When you look at the video, in less than six seconds, from the time Michael Davidson opens his door, Officer Hancock shoots him, and he shoots him for absolutely no reason.â€
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the judgment of the Southern District Court of Iowa in that the use of force by Ofc. Hancock was reasonable. However, they did call the shooting a disastrous mistake, but that the position of Davidson’s wallet and hands right before the shooting meant that the mistake did not violate Davidson’s constitutional rights. Mosholder said that his client is back home in Texas in the process of completing community college, while working part-time jobs and taking care of his mother. He added that his client wanted folks to see the video. Mosholder said that Davidson feels as if he as been blamed for what happened, and that this video would vindicate Davidson. Mosholder said that they will discuss with Davidson whether or not they will appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
We took the video to our crime expert, Ricky Holder. When he watched the video, he said that it was a difficult situation for everyone involved. “I can see where this individual and his family are very upset about this,†Holder said. “I can understand that. I can also understand where this officer comes from; his training and he’s trying to protect his own life. It’s a tough situation. It’s hard on everyone involved.†We reached out to Opelika Police Chief, John McEachern and Opelika Mayor, Gary Fuller, to discuss the case. They said due to the case still remaining in litigation, they were advised not to discuss it by attorneys.
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** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
Idiot police officer needs to go to prison!
smh nervous Nancy's need to hand in their badges
they think he's a bandit…with pistols, they check the car…jesus…idiots.
why don't those motherfucking cops save him?fucking murderers!
Fucking sickening
Awww man smh…
What a stupid idiot, if he hadnt tried to play tricks with the cop , he wouldn't have gotten shot. Holding his wallet with both hands.
Probably should not anything in your hands while surrendering
A cowardly policeman does more damage than a normal thug, select the police or go back to the far west and win the strongest
did he die?
Why is he treated like an armed suspect? He had a freakin fender bender
Shot in the tailbone Jesus h Christ
notice the blue demons do nothing to render aid to innocent man he just shot
A concatenation of unfortunate situations: 1) dark 2) a trigger-happy cop 3) the car parked that the man could not get out easily 4) he got out the car jerkingly like a lunatic holding a black thing, the wallet with both hands.
You don’t get out of your vehicle holding your wallet in a weaver stance pointing toward an officer Duhhh
I went to school with this guy.
I’m happy to say that he’s okay and also a chef now.
He was on his way to boot camp to be in the Air Force when this took place.
It took them forever to render aid. Dick's.
Very american. The cop is so sad he shot an unarmed person that they can't even render first aid in case the shot victim pulls out his even more dangerous credit card case. Nope, gotta sob a little for the poor cop who shot an unarmed guy who's still lying in the road bleeding into the concrete. Reasonable.
to serve and protect: cops and cops alone.]
i m gonna guess what happened, the innocent man died, and the cop was fined one week pay. or something like that, i m sure.
Bro this cop is more pig than a man…
The cop is a trigger-happy stupid Idiot !
Anyone who carries a weapon in the course of duty, realizing the harm it can cause, should surely be trained to render aid to those whom they have to used it upon. While that portion of this incident is horrific, if I were a juror in the case, I would be objective, reasonable and in good conscience. If a person exiting a vehicle holds and points an object toward an officer, with two hands, in low light, and in the same manner as a handgun, it would be remiss of me to demand that the officer verifies that it is a handgun through it's actions (being fired upon) before taking defensive measures.
This is why this shooting was considered justified, and it was the RIGHT choice.
Dumbass cop should be strung up for all to see. Instead, they destroyed this poor young man’s life. Only in America.
How is this officer still an officer? At no point did it look like he had a gun, not even close.
adam mermiyi yiyince tribe girdi aq
OMG that cop fucking sucks
He was cleared for all wrongdoing
he knows VERY WELL that he just shot a man for no reason at all, but keeps giving him commands to show his hands! Your place is in prison, buddy.
Very unfortunate but the victim did everything in his power to make it look like he was pulling a gun on them and arent you supposed to stay in your vehicle after you got pulled over by police?
ALL LIVE MATTERS
Ima clear it !!why is he acting like a traffic accident is a armed robbery
Alabama cops can take your money for just making any stop is legal over there