Cop Claims He Doesn't Remember Firing 15 Shots Into a Car Leaving Two Dead

[KamaAina]

Not The Onion, unfortunately.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/cop-claims-he-doesnt-remember-firing-15-shots-car-leaving-two-dead

A Cleveland police officer is claiming that he doesn’t remember standing on the hood of a car and firing 15 shots into the vehicle that left its two passengers dead in the aftermath of a 2012 high-speed chase, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Michael Brelo, 31, goes on trial today on two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting deaths of Timothy Russell, 43, and Malissa Williams, 30, back in November 2012. He is the only officer of 13 cops who fired 137 shots in total at the car who is being criminally prosecuted; Brelo fired 49 shots during the ordeal.

At least 100 rounds total struck the Malibu.

The chase began after a failed traffic stop near downtown Cleveland. Russell sped off and, during some point in the chase, the Malibu backfired, investigators concluded. But witnesses and cops claimed to have heard gunshots, which prompted an officer’s radio call about shots being fired. More than 104 cops in 60 police vehicles pursued Russell and Williams’ car at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

Is Reagan now a Cleveland cop?!

[frylock]

1. Brelo fired 49 shots during the ordeal

To reiterate: Brelo fired 49 shots during the ordeal. Fucking psychos.

[onethatcares]

2. just maybe

he was with Brian Williams and had something in his head, like a brain tumor for a minute or so.

Hallelujah it only lasted a moment or three, otherwise there would be hospital bills and stuff.

[sendero]

3. Fortunately...

..... successful conviction for the crime does not require his recollection. I'd make up some shit like that too if I'd lost my temper and killed two people

[JonLP24]

4. DOJ recently investigated the Cleveland Police Department

The U. S. Department of Justice has released its investigation report that concludes, "the Cleveland Division of Police engages in a pattern or practice of the use of excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment."

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/doj_cleveland_police_findings.html

[Cirque du So-What]

5. I'm no expert on proper police procedures

but if you're assuming that the occupants of a vehicle are armed, doesn't jumping atop the hood of the car prior to emptying your weapon seem a trifle foolish? Of course, if you're just an armed jackass wanting to show off for your buddies - and you know the occupants of the car are already dead - it's no big deal, right? Semper fi!

[MurrayDelph]

6. If he "doesn't remember"

doing something that was demonstrably true, he should be banned from all future police work as being too unstable to hold the job.