Will indicted Portland cop get off easy?
There was a quick blurb on KGW News last night about the case of the indicted Portland police officer, Dane Reister, who shot a suspect with live ammunition instead of beanbag rounds. He's been facing felony assault charges, and all we caught from the TV story last night was that a new charge has been added in connection with the incident. Perhaps it's the negligent wounding count that the district attorney's office has been so hot to add.
Negligent wounding is a hunting-related offense, which is why the judge overseeing the extraordinary grand jury proceedings in the case didn't allow it to be brought there. The fine upon a conviction would be $500 or less, but there is also up to six months' jail time possible. In contrast, assault in the third degree carries a fine of up to $125,000, and up to five years in the slammer.
No doubt the DA would like to give Reister an easy way out -- plead to the misdemeanor. They're certainly not handling him roughly. So far there has been neither a perp walk nor a mug shot. And he's on paid leave awaiting his court date, which could keep the timetable nice and relaxed.
| Posted at 6:43 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (6)
It's a trial. Mark my words.
Posted by nope | December 2, 2011 7:35 AM
I thought they did have a license to hunt. Shoot to kill.
It's how you define "game."
Posted by dman | December 2, 2011 11:25 AM
Might want to comply with police commands in the future.
Posted by Pistolero | December 2, 2011 2:22 PM
Comply? Sometimes difficult to comply when you suffer from a mental illness.
Posted by Langston | December 2, 2011 3:02 PM
So using Pistolero's impeccable logic, it's open season on the deaf, Ipod listening, mentally ill, hard of hearing, over medicated, otherwise impaired citizenry.
And a simple Badge wins you the Tag. Swell.
Posted by dman | December 2, 2011 3:37 PM
I am not too interested in criminalizing mistakes of loading. Suing the s**t out of people and the city? Yes. Going to prison? This should be reserved for purposeful acts.
Purposeful acts like shooting people in the first place. Or purposefully loading up live rounds.
Posted by Jo | December 3, 2011 2:43 PM