Looks like the Yale Daily News is less careful than typical crime reporters in the use of specific terms. “Theft”, “burglary”, and “robbery” all mean different things in a legal sense. The article refers to a “robbery” (which is theft from a person), rather than a “burglary” (theft after illegal entry) or “theft” to describe something that the latter terms more accurately describe. Note that “robbery” is the only category that is assumed to be violent, although “burglary” is considered a greater crime than other “theft” due to the possibility of violence if the burglar encounters or traps someone inside the place that he entered.
@ucbalumnus Your explanation is spot on as usual. I think we just have to remember that these school paper articles are being written by kids, some of whom are still teens. They do a good job for their age, but there is still a lot that they don’t know.
A question would be, how did the police dispatcher describe the crime to the officer? I.e. if the dispatcher told the officer to look for a “robbery suspect”, could that result in a different officer action compared to if the dispatcher told the officer to look for a “burglary suspect” or “theft suspect”? Or differences in what would be considered a “reasonable” officer action?
I would be very upset if I found out my daughter had a gun pointed at her. I would be upset about what could have happened. Yet, the problem, that I have is the inference that a Black kid attending Yale, is better than the Black kid attending the local community college.
You should also always answer the police “yes sir/ma’am, no sir/ma’am” or “yes officer, no officer” respectfully and in a calm voice.
No way in hell. Certainly, I would be civil. No more than that."
Seriously? I hate the use of ma’am and sir in personal contexts, I’m a Northerner but that’s absolutely, 100% how I address police officers and how we’ve raised our children to do so. Yes sir, no sir, respectfully, calm voice, no sudden movements, no expressions of anger.
ucbalumnus,
It looks like in CT, felony burglary can also be considered a “violent” crime. See this overview, for example: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0505.htm
I think this is a good, relevant question and most certainly would factor into how an officer would approach a suspect.
From the limited news reports we have seen, it looks like the police were responding to the incident that occurred in the Trumball dorm, where the suspect entered the occupied suite and a bedroom, then fled after being yelled at. Trumball is located next to Sterling Library, so if that is the library Blow was leaving, that puts him squarely in the vicinity of the incident, so unfortunately he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Again, we don’t know what the officer knew about the suspect, but we do know that he had become emboldened enough to enter a dorm suite and proceed to a bedroom, in plain view of its occupants. We also don’t know whether the officer ordered Blow to stop, and Blow might not have heard him the first time, leading the officer to draw his weapon. I believe the first time Blow Jr. looked back and saw the officer there was no mention of a gun being pointed at him.
It is possible that the officer’s actions were out of line, but I don’t see anything in the facts as we know them to indicate his actions were unreasonable. If Blow were the perpetrator, would people still feel the same about the gun being drawn? Because that is how the officer reacts; he reacts as though the suspect is the perpetrator.
“We also don’t know whether the officer ordered Blow to stop, and Blow might not have heard him the first time, leading the officer to draw his weapon.”
But that scenario doesn’t justify pointing the gun, either. Police – any police – are not supposed to use their guns to prevent a suspect from fleeing.
I am not a criminal law expert, but I believe what you are referring to Hanna, is that an officer cannot shoot a fleeing suspect (but I’m not sure that is true in all cases; for example, if the suspect is an immediate threat to others may be an exception). I believe an officer can use his weapon in cases where the suspect is resisting arrest. In any case, this officer didn’t “use” his weapon at all. He readied it, he may have pointed it, but he didn’t shoot anyone. That is a far cry from shooting a fleeing suspect in the back.
I don’t think any of us can say that the officer wasn’t “justified” pointing his gun unless we have more facts. We were not standing in his shoes and do to know what was actually said or done by either the officer or Blow. Further, we would need to know under what circumstances the officer was trained to draw his gun. Kind of wish the university security office would issue a statement relaying their side of the incident. It would go a long way in helping people draw appropriate conclusions.
Again, Yale police officers are sworn law enforcement professionals with the same authority as a New Haven police officer. They make arrests, can use deadly force, etc. They are not glorified security officers. Yale has a separate cadre of security officers that provide lock out services, walk students home from the library at night and patrol the campus making sure doors and gates are secure. Whatever the procedures, the police department will investigate to ensure if their internal procedures were followed. I work in Corrections and have run internal affairs offices. Whenever there is a question of whether a staff person has followed policy, an investigation is launched. That is how it works, if for no other reason than to use it as a learning experience for other officers.
“Well, the cops would tell you aggressive policing is the primary reason why it’s safer…”
I am sure a police state like Saudi Arabia or China or North Korea is very safe. But would one like to live there?
The actual suspect has been caught. How closely did he match the “description”, and to the student? Was he wearing a red and white hat? Similar height/build/appearance? Curious to know some facts.
“this officer didn’t “use” his weapon at all.”
Yes, he did. Pointing a gun at someone with the intent to place them in fear of being shot is assault. If a bank robber points a gun at you and says, “Put the money in the bag,” he’s using the gun, even if it is never discharged. Ditto if someone menaces you with a fist, even if he never takes a swing.
Now, I’m not saying the police officer committed a crime here, because police are permitted to do all kinds of things citizens can’t. I’m just saying, pointing a gun at someone is using the gun.
A cop yelling stop or freeze while pointing a gun at a suspected felon is usually allowed.
During his encounter with Yale PD, Blow was an actual suspect. Now they have a different suspect. The new suspect may or may not be the actual robber.
Hanna,
In felony traffic stops, officers typically have their weapons drawn. (Hasn’t everyone seen one of these?) Drawing weapons is standard procedure when dealing with suspected dangerous felons.
@Bay “Drawing weapons is standard procedure when dealing with suspected dangerous felons.”
If that is what the campus police do regularly in this type of situation, then that would be good in the sense that Mr. Blow was treated the same as everyone else, but then I am wondering how often they are pointing guns at students.
In what way was the person who stole laptops or phones from the dorms “dangerous”?
In the way that burglary is defined as the forceful, unlawful entry into a structure with the intent to commit a felony. The officer got the call from dispatch, heard burglary, and was reasonably on high alert.
No I have never seen one of those, despite time spent living in major cities. I’ve only seen them in entertainment, which is not reality. Sometimes I think a lot of cops have watched far too much tv.
An excellent question. He fled when confronted by residents. Unarmed residents.
Agreed. And then we have the “fleeing dangerous felon” narrative. Not every crime is a violent one.