Man shot by cop in front of judge

This is yet another gross and blatant abuse of power by police. There were seven police officers versus one angry citizen and they needed to shoot him to subdue him??? The cop should be charged with attempted murder. At the least a big damages lawsuit against the city should be forthcoming

AN Arkansas man in court over a speeding fine has been shot in front of the judge. Fire Chief Don Payne was shot in the hip after a scuffle broke out between the fireman and attending policemen in the courthouse of the tiny Arkansas town of Jericho, AP reports. Payne, 39, was taken to hospital for treatment, where he remains in a stable condition.

The courtroom fight broke out during a hearing for Mr Payne who was contesting a speeding fine issued by local police. Mr Payne was issued the fine just hours after failing to have a previous speeding ticket dismissed by the court. Mr Payne returned to the courtroom to vent his anger to the judge Tonya Alexander, his lawyer Randy Fishman said.

The fire chief and local officials have accused Jericho's police force of setting speeding traps and issuing illegitimate $US150 ($178) fines, purely to generate extra revenue for the cash-strapped town. Jericho locals say they are issued speeding fines even when they drive below the town’s speed limits. “You can't even get them to answer a call because normally they're writing tickets,'' said Thomas Martin, chief investigator for the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department. “They're not providing a service to the citizens.”

Despite its small size - 174 residents – and having no retailers, the town employs seven police officers. “You can't even buy a loaf of bread, but we've got seven police officers,'' said former resident Larry Harris, who left town because he said the police harassment became unbearable.

Mr Martin said an argument between Mr Payne and the seven police officers who attended the hearing reportedly escalated to a scuffle, ending when an officer allegedly shot Mr Payne from behind, AP reports.

Mr Fishman said his client was unarmed at the time. "I know that he was unarmed and I know he was shot,'' Mr Fishman said. “None of that sounds too good for the city to me.''

Prosecutor Lindsey Fairley said overnight Mr Payne could face a misdemeanour charge stemming from the scuffle, but that would be up to the town’s judge. He said he didn't remember the name of the officer who fired the shot.

Jericho’s police chief said he had disbanded his force “until things calmed down'', and a judge had voided all outstanding police-issued speeding tickets.

Original report here



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