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Brunswick, GA — Caroline Smith was at a low point in her life. She suffered from PTSD, Dissociative Disorder, and was struggling with drugs and alcohol. These things should have never been a death sentence, but thanks to two Georgia cops, they were.
An eye-opening investigation by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News was published earlier this month that shines a much-needed light on this case. The report illustrates the tragic events leading up to the killing of Caroline Smith and the subsequent special privilege granted to the officers who killed her which would allow them to get off scot-free — and keep their jobs.
On June 18, 2010, Smith was sitting in a mall parking lot in her car when a citizen allegedly saw her “doing drugs,” so they called police. When police showed up, Smith, who was in an obvious diminished mental state, drove off. A police chase ensued. During the chase, which never exceeded 35 mph, Smith’s tires were blown out by spike strips.
She was then pinned by two cruisers and a utility pole and riding only on her rims. Her car was effectively rendered immobilized.
“Let me get out there and get her out,” Malone calls out to the other officers, according to the GBI audio transcripts. “Hold on, hold on,” one unknown officer responds. “If she moves the car, I’m going to shoot her,” Simpson says. Seconds later, Sasser and Simpson unleash a volley of gunfire into the face of Caroline Smith. After the shooting, Sasser and Simpson can be heard discussing their kill. cont...
At this point, Georgia State Patrol Trooper Jonathan Malone is seen running behind Small’s car in an attempt to remove her from the vehicle. But Malone quickly runs away after he notices Glynn County officers Sgt. Robert C. Sasser and Officer Michael T. Simpson with their service weapons pointed direct at him, with Smith’s head being the primary target.
Malone pleaded with the officers to let him get Smith out of the vehicle.
“Let me get out there and get her out,” Malone calls out to the other officers, according to the GBI audio transcripts.
“Hold on, hold on,” one unknown officer responds.
“If she moves the car, I’m going to shoot her,” Simpson says.
Seconds later, Sasser and Simpson unleash a volley of gunfire into the face of Caroline Smith.
After the shooting, Sasser and Simpson can be heard discussing their kill.
“Where did you hit her?” Simpson asks, according to a GBI transcript.
“I hit her right in the face,” Sasser says.
“I watched the bridge of her nose…I pulled the trigger and I watched it hit her at the same time I think I fired,” Simpson says.
• Glynn County police officers interfered with the GBI’s investigation from the start, seeking to protect the officers.
• The department tampered with the crime scene and created misleading evidence that was shown to the grand jury.
• The local district attorney shared the state’s evidence with the officers nearly two months before the grand jury convened and cut an unusual deal with them just before it met.
So was what the two Glynn County officers said afterward. They compared their marksmanship. One told a witness how he saw Small’s head explode.
Their words were as callous as Small’s death unnecessary.
“This is the worst one I’ve ever investigated,” said Mike McDaniel, a retired GBI agent who supervised the 2010 criminal investigation into the officers’ actions. “I don’t think it’s a good shoot. I don’t think it’s justified.”
- Source-investigations.myajc.com
“She wasn’t just a junkie,” Small said. “She was a mom. She was a college student. She loved painting. She loved to read….I do want more people to understand that she wasn’t just some horrible person running away from the police, because that’s not who she was at all.”
originally posted by: Greathouse
Well believe it or not there's good news in this thread . The police were never indicted by the grand jury therefore they were never tried. That means double jeopardy cannot apply, remember there is no statue of limitations on murder. Hopefully if the accounts of this media investigation are true a new district Attorney will prosecute .
I wouldn't care if it was a diehard socialists if they were running on the platform of prosecution for these two officers I would vote for them.
I repeat this often but people please get out and participate in your local elections how your county is run does depend on you .
originally posted by: infolurker
a reply to: dreamingawake
Sounds like the old "I was in fear for my life" defense might not work.
originally posted by: Aliensun
a reply to: dreamingawake
She was using a car as a deadly weapon and under the influences of drugs.
How many breaks does she get?
I don't condone the shooting, but this is another one of those mixed-bag cases where the perp is the primary one at fault.
If you don't step out in front of a speeding car, you are not going to get hit. She lived life on the wild side, and it caught up with her. No different than a extreme sports figure landing with a thud when that was really not quite the intention, but almost.
originally posted by: Aliensun
a reply to: dreamingawake
She was using a car as a deadly weapon and under the influences of drugs.
How many breaks does she get?
I don't condone the shooting, but this is another one of those mixed-bag cases where the perp is the primary one at fault.
If you don't step out in front of a speeding car, you are not going to get hit. She lived life on the wild side, and it caught up with her. No different than a extreme sports figure landing with a thud when that was really not quite the intention, but almost.
originally posted by: MoreBeer
a reply to: dreamingawake
I see absolutely nothing wrong in this video.
She was using her car as a weapon trying to ram and possibly kill policemen.
I imagine she would have rammed and tried to kill civilians if they were in her way.
The police did what was necessary to end this chase.
How many times should the tell her to stop the car before taking other measures?