Via The Batavian's news partner, WBTA:
A Basom man remains in the Genesee County Jail today accused of resisting arrest after fleeing probation officers at gunpoint.
Michael Patnode has been charged with reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration.
Patnode was arrested following a chase that began Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say Patnode reported to the Genesee County Probation Office for a pre-sentence interview.
While there, he learned that he was wanted by police in Monroe County.
Officials said that Patnode, fearing he would be taken into custody, fled the building and ran to the Coffee Culture parking lot on Court Street toward his car.
Two probation officers gave chase, one pulled a service revolver.
Patnode managed to get into his car and race off.
State Police later took Patnode into custody at a relative's home in Basom.
was the probation officer's
was the probation officer's life in danger? I wonder why his weapon was out, was he just gonna wing the fleeing offender? FYI, I don't believe they are carrying revolvers, anymore.
If the suspect reached his
If the suspect reached his car as the officers spotted him, there is justified cause to assume there may be a weapon in the car. Officers know this well as it is part of their training. Add in that the officers have no clue what his actions or intent are. So yeah, fear for their lives and the lives of others would make sense.
However, without the full detailed report on the situation, we won't know exactly. None the less, I trust the officers discretion and ability to make good decisions.
Dennis, what would you have
Dennis, what would you have done differently?
Dennis, and Greg. In reality,
Dennis, and Greg.
In reality, such little information was given (here) on what Mr. Patnode was "wanted" for in Monroe County (or, even what he was at the pre-sentencing interview for), it's hard to determine whether the officer acted correctly in pulling his firearm.
One would hope that the police wouldn 't necessarily shoot someone (even a fleeing suspect) who was just wanted for failure to pay a traffic ticket.
As it would appear that Patnode had already entered the probation office, I'd tend to think that he had already been either searched (patted down), passed thru a metal-detector or some other device to insure a weapon wasn't on him. At least, I'd hope so.
If he was known to be a violent person, or was a 'fleeing felon', that fact alone might raise the appropriateness of the officer's action. And, once he entered his vehicle, it could absolutely be cause for an officer to become concerned for HIS safety, along with the general publics safety, as well.
From what I've been able to find out online, I (personally) couldn't come to a determination, at this point, whether the officer acted appropriately. Guess we'll have to wait until we know more. That's the way I see it, anyways.
I'm not sure off the actual
I'm not sure off the actual situation , but as the story reads, he was running away. You can't be in eminent danger when someone is running away from you. You need to be in eminent danger to be in fear for your life, justifying the use of lethal force....at least for us citizens...
Actually, Dennis, people can
Actually, Dennis, people can be, and have been, shot by fleeing suspects. It really doesn't take much imagination to picture someone running in one direction, while firing a gun at the people chasing him.
Not saying that was the case here. Just that it has definitely happened.
"You can't be in eminent
"You can't be in eminent danger when someone is running away from you. "
Wrong.
The Rochester Police Department lost one of theirs last year to a fleeing suspect who shot the officer who was pursuing him, on foot. The suspect was a recently paroled felon.
Unless you've ever worked as a law enforcement officer and know from first hand knowledge the dangers they face on a daily basis, you're just talking from that hole that's 3 feet below your head on the back side, i.e. your ass!