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fried eggs

(910 posts)
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 09:46 AM Jun 2014

No manslaughter charges for well-connected cop who plowed into a car at 81 mph (in a 40mph zone)

Maricopa County DA Bill Montgomery announced that Deputy Sean Pearce Won't be Charged in Speeding-Caused Crash With Motorist.

The deputy's father, Russell, once one of the most powerful politicians in the state, supported Montgomery's successful 2010 bid for office. The county attorney position isn't open to challenge for another two years, anyway, Montgomery reminded reporters.

Whether on his mind or not, Montgomery's political life would probably be affected with a high-profile manslaughter prosecution of a cop who claims to have just been doing his job. Not just any cop, either, but Russell Pearce's son, a 20-year veteran of the MCSO whose street creds include recovering from a gunshot wound he received in 2004 at the hands of a fugitive illegal immigrant. You just knew Pearce would get off, despite the fact that he was driving at 81 mph in a 40 mph zone in his unmarked Chevrolet Tahoe, with no lights blazing or sirens sounding, and not responding to any actual emergency. And you were right.

We asked Montgomery if an ordinary citizen going this fast and killing a motorist wouldn't have, in fact, faced criminal charges. We figured Montgomery would say not necessarily, and cite an example of a driver rushing his pregnant wife to a hospital, and that's exactly what Montgomery did.

Harding's family has filed a $5 million claim against the Sheriff's Office and Pearce in the case, alleging that Pearce had a responsibility to drive with common sense, wasn't responding to an emergency and was not in a vehicle equipped with lights and sirens.

Video: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2014/03/russell_pearces_son_sean_pearc.php

Read more: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2014/06/deputy_sean_pearce_wont_be_charged_in_speeding-caused_crash_with_motorist.php
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No manslaughter charges for well-connected cop who plowed into a car at 81 mph (in a 40mph zone) (Original Post) fried eggs Jun 2014 OP
Reminds me of those lyrics to "When You're a Jet" from West Side Story. KansDem Jun 2014 #1
Why bother having laws in Arizona at all? nt valerief Jun 2014 #2
It's by no means unique to Arizona JayhawkSD Jun 2014 #3
Just like grade school bullies, christx30 Jun 2014 #4
Damn, driver of the cube had no chance at all. AtheistCrusader Jun 2014 #5
Lucky for him he wasn't just an overworked WalMart truck driver. DesertDiamond Jun 2014 #6
This is America. No one is above the law. tclambert Jun 2014 #7
Putting cops on pedestals is a massive mistake. Dawson Leery Jun 2014 #8

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
1. Reminds me of those lyrics to "When You're a Jet" from West Side Story.
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 10:00 AM
Jun 2014

Insert name of selected group:

When you're a ___,
If the spit hits the fan,
You got brothers around,
You're a family man!

You're never alone,
You're never disconnected!
You're home with your own:
When company's expected,
You're well protected!

 

JayhawkSD

(3,163 posts)
3. It's by no means unique to Arizona
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 11:13 AM
Jun 2014

In San Diego, all cops are "well connected." There are standing orders that speeding tickets and DUIs are not issued to other cops, city officials or to members of the San Diego Chargers. (The new Police Chief, formerly Deputy Chief, vigorously denies this.) After a rash of sexual assults on female drivers by SDPD officers the Police Chief resigned and Hizzoner the Mayor, newly elected and not even sworn in yet, cancelled plans for a nation-wide search for a new chief and named the Deputy Chief to replace the outgoing chief. Unsurprisingly, the arrests of bad cops has continued, with two more arrested this week on drug possession and sale charges.

christx30

(6,241 posts)
4. Just like grade school bullies,
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 11:16 AM
Jun 2014

cops do what they want with no consequences. Law abiding citizens get screwed.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
5. Damn, driver of the cube had no chance at all.
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 11:17 AM
Jun 2014

Probably saw it, thought 'I've got lots of time, he's a block away' and then 'holy shit'.

tclambert

(11,080 posts)
7. This is America. No one is above the law.
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 12:19 PM
Jun 2014

Did that make you laugh? And then made you sad? Yeah, me, too.

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