ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) — A prosecutor says the 2011 fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police chief in rural South Carolina was a senseless act of violence.
Solicitor David Pascoe said in opening arguments Wednesday that Bernard Bailey was murdered over a broken taillight by then-Eutawville Police Chief Richard Combs.
But Combs’ lawyer John O’Leary says the chief had a legitimate warrant against Bailey, and the victim turned his pickup truck into a weapon when he tried to back away as Combs tried to arrest him.
Authorities say Combs was trying to arrest Bailey on an obstruction of justice charge a few days after the chief issued a broken taillight ticket to Bailey’s daughter.
The former chief faces from 30 years to life in prison if convicted of murder.
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There aren’t a lot of positive things that you can say about South Carolina, but it’s looking like a model state for prosecuting and disciplining cops for shooting unarmed black men. I hope Strom Thurmond is rolling over in his grave.
For South Carolina I would expect the headlines to be more like:
Allegedly Unarmed Black Man Shot Dead, “Damndest suicide I’ve ever seen” said respected police chief.
Hold your horses, this thug hasn’t been convicted…it’s still South Carolina
Considering that the simple act of indicting a police officer is something that other states can’t manage, I’d say that this is a substantial improvement.
The chief allegedly had a warrant for the arrest of this man after a five minute argument? Was he hastily scribbling the warrant out as the guy was leaving and once finished, the guy then becomes a “fugitive”? The business with the warrant is VERY suspicious to say the least.