Police Shoot At Mother And Van Full Of Kids
Posted by Michelle Moquin on November 19th, 2013
Good morning!
From ABC News:
Minivan Stop Turns to Wild Chase for Mom, Kids
Video from a police dashboard camera showed how a routine traffic stop devolved into an intense incident that involved a high speed chase and a police officer appearing to shoot at van full of children.
The incident began when a woman who police have identified as Oriana Ferrell was pulled over by a New Mexico State Police officer for going 71 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone according to station KRQE-TV in Albuquerque, N.M.
The dash cam shows the woman and the officer arguing, and when the officer goes back to his car to check paperwork, the woman drives away and is pulled over again by the same officer.
When the officer goes to the car a second time he opens the door and demands that Ferrell get out of the car, yelling “Get out of the vehicle right now!”
When she refuses, the officer appears to attempt to pull her out of the car as her five children, ages 6 to 18, according to The Taos News, start screaming in the car.
After a few moments, the woman’s 14-year-old son gets out of the car and tries to engage the officer. But the officer pulls his taser and the teenager goes back into the car.
As the officer tries to get the woman to leave the car, he tells her that she is already facing charges for leaving the scene after she was first pulled over.
“Look, I’m going to ask you one more time to get out of the vehicle and then I’m going to pull you out, OK?” the officer said. “You’re already facing evading charges. You ran away from me.”
“Sir, I pulled back over, I didn’t run away,” the woman said. “You see my children. I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m just trying to take them to the Rio Grande.”
Eventually the woman gets out of the car to talk to the officer, but when he tells her to turn and face the vehicle she tries to run back into the driver’s seat of the car. The incident quickly escalates with the woman’s son this time engaging the officer. Only after the officer aims his taser at the boy does he run back into the van.
As back-up arrives, the woman and her family are locked inside. The officer takes his baton and starts to break the windows of the van as he tries to get the family out of the car.
At that point the woman starts to drive away, and another officer who came on the scene later appears to fire three shots at the back of the minivan even though five children were in the back seat.
The woman leads the officers on a 10-minute chase before stopping in front of a hotel and turning herself in. Both the woman and her 14-year-old son were arrested.
The actions of the different officers and the fact that the routine traffic stop ended with an officer shooting at a car and a high speed chase has led to an internal investigation, the New Mexico State Police told ABCNews.com. However, the officers involved have not yet been removed from active duty.
Ferrell was charged with five counts of abuse of a child, aggravated fleeing an officer, resisting an officer, reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to The Taos News. Her teenage son was charged with battery of an officer.
The Taos News reported that New Mexico State Police said they allegedly found two marijuana pipes in the minivan.
Readers: And they say the mother was charged with intentional child abuse. Hello! One officer attacks the car with his baton. And another officer fires shots at the van that had 5 children in it! Was there no other way they could’ve stopped this woman’s van other than shooting at her car? Evidently yes, because after chasing her, she eventually pulled over.
What do you think? Blog me.
peace out.
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November 19th, 2013 at 11:07 am
The mom must in a hurry to buy Skittles and AZ ice tea for her 14 yr old son. What is so difficult obeying the law?
November 19th, 2013 at 11:07 am
It is standard procedure that when someone flees the scene (as this womand did TWICE) to shoot out the tires. It’s clear from the officer’s stance and aim that he is doing this, otherwise, if he was shooting at the van itself he would be upright.
Telling a police officer that they cannot use force when someone is with children means that more children will be used as shields. Shooting out the tires would have ended this confrontation.
It’s ridiculous to fault the police when this womanclearly evaded the police and refused to follow instructions. That kid is lucky that the officer pulled his taser and not his gun. The officers acted appropriately.
November 19th, 2013 at 11:11 am
Lex, You are an idiot. What is so difficult about a cop knowing he is endangering children by shooting at a vehicle that he knows contain children?
If that van contained the any of your funky brats you would be screaming to the heavens against cops shooting at them. But you are obvious a bigot and it’s okay because the children are OTWs.
November 19th, 2013 at 11:20 am
I’m with you, Kim.
End of story.
You get pulled over you stay pulled over or you pull away twice and endanger your own kids.
White or OTW, what part about any of that is unclear?
-ZL
November 19th, 2013 at 11:28 am
Kim you are one of those people who come on blogs acting like you know so much about stuff you know nothing about. It is NOT standard procedure that when someone flees the scene to shoot out the tires. That is unless you are talking about a movie or TV program.
Neither is it clear from the officer’s stance or aim(how do you even know what he is aiming at?) that he is doing anything of the kind. You are a wannabe bullshit artist. If you knew anything about profiles used when firing a pistol you would not be saying such ignorant things.
Telling a police officer that they cannot use indiscriminate force when someone is with children is what you tell someone who is confronting someone with children idiot. Otherwise you risk the lives of innocents. That’s why they have different rules of engagement when the perp has a hostage.
What you know about police procedure you got from too much TV. Shooting out the tires would have exacerbated the danger to those children. If the van had turner over of forced the driver to crash into something, the children could have been hurt.
Shooting out tires is a TV act, you can’t cite one instance in which police have shot out tires. They use implements placed on the road to do that. You are just to stupid to be making any kind of comment but a straight racist one.
What is ridiculous is for you to be on this blog defending the police. Racists will say and do anything to support police brutality towards OTWs. You are a typical example.
November 19th, 2013 at 11:44 am
Zen Lill, did you bother to watch the video. The officers knew their were kids in the car. Didn’t your daddy cop tell you that there is a different procedure that operates when the perp has a hostage? In all my years as a police officer, I have never seen a more egregious act of police misconduct.
Cops are taught to access the level of danger to the public allowing a subject to flee would be opposed to taking all measures to stop him. In this case the only danger the woman posed was to herself or her children. By the way the fact that they were her children does not take away their status as hostages for police purposes or instructions.
The should have never fired their guns. In fact it was against most state and federal procedures for that police officer to be attempting to knock out her windows with his baton because it could have injured those children.
The correct procedure would have been to prevent the movement of her vehicle by using theirs to block her exit. If that failed, they would radio in to have here followed until she ran out of gas or pulled over. There was no safe way to stop that car without the possibility of injuring those children.
I am surprised that as a mother you would side with police shooting at a vehicle that they knew had children. If your daughter was a passenger in that vehicle would you have been as certain that the cop was in the right to shoot at the fleeing vehicle.
What does it matter that the woman should have known better? It does not excuse the cop from knowing that he is endangering the hostages in that vehicle by firing on it. If your daughter was injured by the officer’s gunfire, you would have been angry with the woman for running, but you would have been livid with the cop for firing on the vehicle.
But your knee-jerk support of the police suspended your common sense in this case. Although their police captain will not publicly chastise them for their actions because it would contribute to any a civil suit which will undoubtedly come, you can bet they are getting chewed out for firing on a vehicle that contained hostages who were there do to no fault of their own.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Kim, you are a moron. A cop does not attempt to shoot out tires from the back of a vehicle unless he is an actor portraying a cop. If we shoot at tires at all, it is from the side as it gives us a better chance of success. Road impediments to tire operation are the means employed by police attempting to disable a vehicle’s tires.
The lady had hostages. Police do not pursue vehicles with hostages firing their weapons even if the vehicle is firing theirs. In this instance the lady had not and was not attempting to endanger a police officer’s life. There was no legal reason for the officer to fire a weapon.
As for the kid, the situation was decidedly different, it would be left up to the officer to use his discretion on how he attempted to defuse that situation. I would hope he would defer to a Taser over the use of his weapon. Your response indicating you would have been okay with either is either racially insensitive or you’re just an idiot.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:02 pm
So in New Mexico the police think its proper policy to break windows next to children and shoot at families (especially stupid families) when they are unarmed and don’t obey their commands. Maybe the police should just turn the dogs on the kids the next time that will teach people to listen to them.
In my opinion that lady clearly put her kids in danger if she was driving while under the influence of a mind altering substance and she should be prosecuted for her actions.
I also believe that the police officer who shot at the vehicle was not in danger; he could have killed one of those kids and should also be prosecuted for his actions.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Cops are not heroes when they shoot first and ask questions later. The third cop shoots when none of the other cops shoots and the first cop isn’t even drawing his gun? Sounds like the cops are circling wagons to come up with a lie.
It’s funny how they want their authority respected all of the time, but abuse it and shun the opportunities to seize the responsibility associated with the authority; such as prosecuting or dismissing those that are clearly not qualified to be police officers.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
In this day and time, I would not stop my car with my children in it, unless I was around a number of witnesses. Women and children need to consider safety first at all times, especially if you are a minority.
If a police officer is acting like a maniac, I am not going to stop for him until I can feel safe. Women these days have to be careful, and it does not matter if the person was a police officer.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Zen Lill, we are white, we get a respect that OTWs will never get from white police officers. My father used to tell horrible stories that I hid under the kitchen table to hear when I was nine about 60 years ago.
The things they bragged about doing were so horrible, I grew up being afraid of cops. When I was behind the wheel I was a saint because I didn’t want a cop to force me to do what I heard my father and other cops enjoying telling each other they made those OTW women do.
As a mother I am horrified that you would condone anyone shooting at a vehicle full of children. I hope your child is never placed in a situation where the discretion of a rogue cop determines whether he fires upon a vehicle she is in.
I usually agree with what you write. But this time I am compelled to disagree.
June
November 19th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
What I don’t understand is… if she’s already driven off once… when the back up arrived, why didn’t they park their vehicle right in front of her car so she couldn’t drive off? That’s a much more rational method of preventing her from driving off again than trying to shoot at her. This is life, not a video game.
None of the situation makes sense. Her arguing about the ticket doesn’t make sense. You take the ticket and argue in court, not with the cop. Driving off doesn’t make sense (what did she think was going to happen? It’s not like the cop is going to say ‘oh well, she drove off, I guess I’ll give up.’)
From then on the entire sequence of events was governed by fear and rage. Her fear and the fear of her family compelled them to take actions to resist the officer(s) – and with all the brutality stories out there, who can blame them? – and the officers responded with frustration, rage and violence which provoked more fear and resistance, etc…
Cops have a hard job and should receive adequate training and support to face the stress and challenges presented to them. Their errors of judgement were just as bad as the family’s only they had guns and a position of authority.
(Public) Servants should not have the luxury of taking their job personally. It has never been a trait of good servants whether mundane or highest spiritual servant.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Zen Lill the part that is unclear is who would expect a police officer to shoot at you with a gun because you decided to run? Add to that you know they know that your van is full of kids, and no way would you think you will be shot at.
I am surprised that as a mother it is CLEAR to you that the police will, or are authorized to shoot a vehicles with children in them.
November 19th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
Helping a Cancer Patient
4 Things You Should Do and 3 You Shouldn’t
Until recently, cancer patients got most of their care from professionals, often in the hospital. But improvements in cancer treatments, along with tighter health-care dollars, mean that patients now get much of their care at home.
What caregivers should do more often—and what to avoid…
DON’Ts
Don’t serve raw vegetables without taking precautions.
You would think that fresh, uncooked vegetables would be the perfect food for someone with cancer. But if your loved one is having chemotherapy, raw produce can be dangerous.
Alert: 15 Discounts For Seniors
Celery, cucumbers and other raw vegetables (and fruits) may harbor harmful bacteria. People who are healthy are unlikely to be affected—or will recover quickly if they happen to get sick. In people undergoing chemotherapy, the immune system may be too weak to fend off an infection. A food-borne illness can be dangerous or even fatal.
Fruits and vegetables need to be very carefully washed—caregivers might use soaps made for fruits and vegetables. Or serve lightly cooked vegetables. Fruits you can peel, such as apples, oranges and bananas, are safer than other fruits.
Don’t push too much activity.
Cancer treatments can cause precipitous physical and emotional swings. Someone might feel really strong and energetic for a few days, then feel terrible for a while. Caregivers need to be sensitive to the cycles and be ready to back off when their loved one hits a wall.
Example:
Regular exercise is critical for patients who are undergoing cancer treatment. You should encourage your loved one to stay active even if all he/she can manage is a walk to the mailbox once a day. But you don’t want to push the issue if he isn’t up for it. During the “down” times, rest might be more important than exercise.
Exception:
Pay attention if you notice a distinct change in your loved one’s activity levels. Someone who loses all interest in the things that he used to enjoy could be suffering from depression. Encourage him to talk to the treating oncologist.
Don’t ignore diarrhea.
It’s a common side effect of chemotherapy—and depending on the severity of the diarrhea and the type of cancer being treated, it can lead to severe illness and even death. Some patients even have to stop chemotherapy because of uncontrolled diarrhea.
For mild loose stools, encourage your loved one to take in more fluids. Sports drinks such as Gatorade are helpful because they replace electrolytes as well as fluids.
Special:
Why NSAIDs Are Making Your Arthritis Worse
Also helpful: Live-culture yogurt. Its beneficial bacteria—known as probiotics—can help prevent diarrhea, bloating and other digestive problems.
Important:
Call your doctor or nurse right away if the patient has six or more loose bowel movements a day. A doctor or nurse might recommend a diarrhea-stopping medication such as loperamide (Imodium) and dietary changes or other treatments. Always check with a health-care professional before giving the patient any medicine or supplements—even if these are over the counter.
DOs
Do wash your hands a lot.
You already know that frequent hand-washing can help prevent colds, the flu and the like. If you’re caring for someone with cancer, it’s among the most important medical interventions you can do at home.
Chemotherapy reduces white blood cells and causes a major decline in the body’s ability to resist infections. The risk for infection is highest one to two weeks after a treatment. Some types of radiation therapy also reduce immunity, though not as much as chemotherapy.
Caregivers should wash their hands at least six times a day—and always before preparing foods or giving hands-on care (such as applying moisturizer or buttoning clothes).
Do watch for skin problems.
Dry skin is a common side effect of cancer treatments. Dryness might just cause itching, but it also can lead to inflammation and infection.
If you see dry areas, treat them with a moisturizing cream or ointment. (They’re better than lotions because they have a thicker consistency.) For prevention, encourage your loved one to apply a moisturizer to the skin within 15 minutes after bathing or showering… reapply the moisturizer before bedtime…and moisturize hands after washing.
Important:
Some cancer drugs can make the skin very sensitive to sunburn. If your loved one is spending time outdoors, remind him to apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. A sunscreen is particularly important to protect the patient’s scalp when treatments have caused hair loss.
Do offer spicy foods.
The drugs that control the crippling nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy are much better than they used to be, but a majority of patients still are at risk for nausea. People assume that the best way to prevent nausea is to serve bland foods, such as plain rice or a clear soup.
Not true. Research has shown that cancer patients prefer spicy or full- flavored foods. When preparing meals, try introducing small amounts of strong spices—pepper, chile, salt, cilantro. Chemotherapy changes the taste buds. Foods often taste metallic or have no taste at all. Highly seasoned foods can disguise the “off” taste. But go slowly to see how well the patient tolerates them.
Alert:
How to Make the Easiest Apple Pie
You also might want to use plastic instead of metal utensils. It will make foods taste less metallic.
Do encourage water consumption.
Chemotherapy often causes a dry mouth and/or mouth sores. Encourage your loved one to drink as much water as possible—at least eight to 10 full glasses daily. Make sure that a glass of water (or a glass of ice chips, if he has trouble drinking) always is close by. The moisture will lubricate mucous membranes in the mouth and help prevent sores as well as dryness.
Also helpful:
Magic mouthwash. It’s the term for medical solutions that are used to treat mouth sores. Some of the solutions are premixed (such as First-BXN Mouthwash)…others are made to order (compounded) by a pharmacist. The solutions contain a combination of ingredients, which may include anti biotics, antifungal agents and/or steroid medications. Your loved one’s doctor should decide which ingredients the solution should contain—ask about it.
Source: Teri Hoenemeyer, director of education and supportive services at University of Alabama Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, where she specializes in the physical and emotional health of cancer patients and caregivers.
November 19th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Sure the mother was crazy to run. But if you saw the same video I did, she had reason to fear those guys. I white and I would have run.
November 19th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
I didn’t advocate shooting her or her kids I should make it clear that I was supporting the stay the fuck pulled over part, that’s it.
I’m not espousing shooting vans, tires or kids, apologies, i should’ve made that part clear.
Knowing cops ARE sometimes crazy why would you risk your children’s lives is my question.
The video wouldn’t load all the way I will watch in full, again apologies for not watching all the way through…
-ZL
November 19th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
I’ve sailed a thousand skies,
I’ve walked on a thousand planets
I’ve never searched for a mate
because my heart is made of granite
I’ve traveled many times gone
Past and times yet to be
My dreams are memories of our future
That I know most assuredly
I’ve explored the distant galaxies,
The four corners of inner space;
There is no one better to be found
You cause the smile upon my face
Thusly, I terminate my voyage I
Seek no more…my radiance Devine
for as long as you are with me
I shall always have peace of mind.
November 19th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Ok, watched it in full now, yes, crazy reaction…very much is excessive force…you name it….she must’ve been repeatedly running bc she had ‘drug paraphenalia’ in the car?
It seems foolish to me, as a mother, to do anything that she did, drugs or no drugs, sorry to all of you who believe that as a mother I should want to be on her side when she didn’t seem all that protective of her kids.
When you run, twice, and then engage jacked up cops on a chase they often do really STUPID shit. Why would you be willing to risk that??
I am certainly not on cops side simply bc my father was one, I have often cited his acts as a cop (and other cops) as inappropriate also.
- ZL
November 19th, 2013 at 11:17 pm
Zen Lill no one is arguing that she was not foolish to be speeding. But if the cops were going off as they were in that video, I would have gotten back into my car and ran too and I’m white.
So you imply that she should have taken into account that cops do stupid shit. Well maybe that’s why she ran. As for your implication that we as citizen should take into account that jacked up cops could do stupid shit, I say fucked that. They are the ones who are supposed to be trained to handle themselves in a crisis situation.
If you are suggesting a person should be on their best behavior around cops because they could go off, then you are certainly taking the cops side. My brother is a cop and I know he can be an asshole.
She should suit the shit out of them.
November 19th, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Zen Lill, if you think that the police didn’t plant that drug stuff on her think again. My Uncle often tells us that he carries all sorts of drugs to plant on suspects and a throwaway gun in case he needs it to frame a person he shoots.
I hate the shit my uncle does. He is always bragging that being a cop is a license to steal. He is a chauvinistic pig.
November 19th, 2013 at 11:23 pm
Those cops were dogs. They were harassing that woman because she was black. I hope they get theirs.
November 20th, 2013 at 7:59 am
ZL Is standing corrected and standing down thank you.
November 20th, 2013 at 10:02 am
Howie, where are you. We need to hear from the man on all things alien.