Brunswick, GA — Caroline Smith was at a
low point in her life. She suffered from PTSD, Dissociative Disorder,
and was struggling with drugs and alcohol. These things should have
never been a death sentence, but thanks to two Georgia cops, they were.
An eye-opening investigation by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News was published earlier this month that shines a much-needed light on this case. The report illustrates the tragic events leading up to the killing of Caroline Smith and the subsequent special privilege granted to the officers who killed her which would allow them to get off scot-free — and keep their jobs.
On June 18, 2010, Smith was sitting in a mall parking lot in her car when a citizen allegedly saw her “doing drugs,” so they called police. When police showed up, Smith, who was in an obvious diminished mental state, drove off. A police chase ensued.
During the chase, which never exceeded 35 mph, Smith’s tires were blown out by spike strips. She was then pinned by two cruisers and a utility pole and riding only on her rims. Her car was effectively rendered immobilized.
An eye-opening investigation by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News was published earlier this month that shines a much-needed light on this case. The report illustrates the tragic events leading up to the killing of Caroline Smith and the subsequent special privilege granted to the officers who killed her which would allow them to get off scot-free — and keep their jobs.
On June 18, 2010, Smith was sitting in a mall parking lot in her car when a citizen allegedly saw her “doing drugs,” so they called police. When police showed up, Smith, who was in an obvious diminished mental state, drove off. A police chase ensued.
During the chase, which never exceeded 35 mph, Smith’s tires were blown out by spike strips. She was then pinned by two cruisers and a utility pole and riding only on her rims. Her car was effectively rendered immobilized.
However, Smith, who was in the midst of
a mental crisis, continued pressing the accelerator, even though the
car was not able to move but a few inches.
At this point, Georgia State Patrol Trooper Jonathan Malone is seen running behind Small’s car in an attempt to remove her from the vehicle. But Malone quickly runs away after he notices Glynn County officers Sgt. Robert C. Sasser and Officer Michael T. Simpson with their service weapons pointed direct at him, with Smith’s head being the primary target.
Malone pleaded with the officers to let him get Smith out of the vehicle.
“Let me get out there and get her out,” Malone calls out to the other officers, according to the GBI audio transcripts.
“Hold on, hold on,” one unknown officer responds.
“If she moves the car, I’m going to shoot her,” Simpson says.
Seconds later, Sasser and Simpson unleash a volley of gunfire into the face of Caroline Smith.
After the shooting, Sasser and Simpson can be heard discussing their kill.
“Where did you hit her?” Simpson asks, according to a GBI transcript.
“I hit her right in the face,” Sasser says.
Read more here
At this point, Georgia State Patrol Trooper Jonathan Malone is seen running behind Small’s car in an attempt to remove her from the vehicle. But Malone quickly runs away after he notices Glynn County officers Sgt. Robert C. Sasser and Officer Michael T. Simpson with their service weapons pointed direct at him, with Smith’s head being the primary target.
Malone pleaded with the officers to let him get Smith out of the vehicle.
“Let me get out there and get her out,” Malone calls out to the other officers, according to the GBI audio transcripts.
“Hold on, hold on,” one unknown officer responds.
“If she moves the car, I’m going to shoot her,” Simpson says.
Seconds later, Sasser and Simpson unleash a volley of gunfire into the face of Caroline Smith.
After the shooting, Sasser and Simpson can be heard discussing their kill.
“Where did you hit her?” Simpson asks, according to a GBI transcript.
“I hit her right in the face,” Sasser says.
Read more here
No comments:
Post a Comment