Portland cop acquitted on Idaho road rage rap
Capt. Todd Wyatt had a pretty good story for the jury:
Wyatt's criminal defense attorney Gary Amendola, of Couer d'Alene, said today by phone that Wyatt held up his badge and his gun in its holster to the windshield of his car after the other motorist, who was driving in front of him on I-90, had cut him off several times and slowed down in front of his truck after the two vehicles had a near-accident getting onto the highway."This other motorist just wouldn't go away. Todd was in fear for his life. In a nutshell, his actions were in defense of his family," Amendola said. "He stuck up his badge and his gun in its holster to identify himself.'"
He's been on paid leave since November.
| Posted at 12:46 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (7)
Why is it so many Portland cops are constantly in fear for their lives?
Posted by reader | February 10, 2012 1:28 PM
It seems pretty obvious that the officer should have handled the entire situation with a lot less aggression. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a high standard to meet when a jury is asked to pick one person's version of events over another person's. Perhaps the other guy wasn't such a great person either, and the jury didn't think of him so much as a victim.
Posted by Usual Kevin | February 10, 2012 2:00 PM
What Usual Kevin said.
Everybody's life would be easier if everybody was less reactive and more forgiving.
For a sworn officer to brandish a weapon while off duty in another jurisdiction requires a higher threshold than "he cut me off".
The officer just looks petty and immature, even after his acquittal.
Posted by Mister Tee | February 10, 2012 7:34 PM
Why are police officers allowed to keep their guns and badges on their persons off the clock? If their job is so stressful that they "fear for their lives" off duty, shouldn't they check their guns and budges in with the department at the end of each work day? Has there been a US Supreme Court case that calls for or applauds the actions of police officers using their firearm and badge off the clock?
As a non-police officer, if I get into a road rage incident and brandish my firearm within view of another's rear view mirrors, then how is it not intimidation? Furthermore, being stopped by a fellow police officer, I would have more than enough time to place my gun from my hand to the dashboard in front of my windshield before the stop along with my badge. Hell, it is an easy 1-2-3 to do it.
This case and the acquittal stinks to high heaven. Blue code of silence.
Posted by Killiana1a | February 10, 2012 9:56 PM
I have no problem with this. Next time I get into it with someone on the road I'll just pull out my gun and bar card and resolve the issue.
No problem at all.
Posted by Jo | February 11, 2012 8:09 AM
Sounds like he did the right thing - held up his holstered weapon - that's hardly "brandishing." Then he told the jury the truth - the system works.
Posted by Zelmo | February 11, 2012 11:41 AM
'Why are police officers allowed to keep their guns and badges on their persons off the clock?'
Because sometimes, while off duty, they run into someone they once arrested while attending a children's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese....
(You had to have this explained? Seriously?)
Posted by thaddeus | February 13, 2012 4:18 PM