The eyes of the world have been trained on America’s law enforcement officers, and their wanton use of deadly force against unarmed black men, since the Ferguson shootings of last year. This week saw the South Carolina shooting of Walter Scott (graphic video warning) and it once again brought these tensions to the surface.
Now as the investigation gathers steam authorities have released the dash cam from the patrol car of North Charleston’s Michael Slager. Here’s how CNN describes the footage:
Slager approaches Scott’s vehicle. The two men speak. Scott tells the officer he does not have insurance and is in the process of purchasing the vehicle. Slager then returns to his patrol car.
Scott exits his vehicle, briefly, and Slager tells him to stay in the car. Scott then gets out of the car, again, and runs away, out of the range of the dash cam.
It is believed Scott fled as he feared being arrested due to child support back payments totaling $18,104.43.
The man responsible for filming the video showing the shooting, Feidin Santana, revealed that he had considered deleting the video as he feared his life might be in danger. Considering how little black lives seem to matter to the South Carolina police those fears may not have been unfounded.
[source:cnn]
