This is so sad on so many levels, but for me it just got more so.
It looks like this incident was one waiting to happen.
It turns out that three years ago a gun rights advocate was stopped by an officer from the same police force of the officer who killed Philando Castile, the St. Anthony Police.
He knew he blew through a stop sign. He was prepared to receive a ticket and be on his way. He put his hands on his steering wheel turned his head to the left and was prepared to smile. This is what happened next.
Olson said on that day three years ago, he expected the St. Anthony officer to stand just behind the driver’s side door at the traffic stop, which is generally standard practice. Instead, the officer stood about 3 feet behind his SUV and conducted the interview through Olson’s driver’s-side mirror.
“His voice had the tremor of fear,” Olson said. “He couldn’t see my hands. He couldn’t see if anyone was in the car. I thought: This is dangerous for both of us.”
Eventually the officer asked Olson for his license and registration, but he couldn’t see Olson while he was digging in the glove box.
“I realized I could have had a grenade on the seat and he’d have no idea,” Olson said.
“Professor: St. Anthony police chief dismissed plea to improve traffic stop training”
Brandon Stahl, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, July 9, 2016
The picture of the professor is at the top. Please read the full article from the link above.
Now, imagine having this done to you 52 times, as has been reported here and other places. Mr. Castile was trying to comply, but, because he was black, he was NOT given the benefit of the doubt.
Sickening.
Update: When published, I called the professor a “gun control” advocate. It should have been “gun rights” advocate.