Demand Justice for Man Shot by Florida Police
Roy Middleton was just getting a cigarette out of his mother's car in a quiet Pensacola neighborhood where some residents don't even bother to lock their doors. So why was he suddenly surrounded by police who were shooting at him?
Middleton was shot--in his own front yard--by Florida police deputies who evidently thought the sixty-year old man was breaking into the vehicle. They hit Middleton in the leg and sent a spray of bullets all over the neighborhood, including five into Middleton's mother's car. The two deputies did not even ask Middleton his identity or if he lived at that address before commencing fire. Their penalty? They are on paid leave.
Clearly, these trigger-happy policemen have not gotten the message that shooting first, asking questions later is not acceptable police work. Tell the Florida State Attorney's Office to dismiss them and charge them with reckless endangerement.
We the undersigned believe police should protect and serve, not shoot first ask questions long afterward.
The two Florida deputies who shot Roy MIddleton, a sixty-year-old man, in his own front yard were way out of line. They should not have drawn on an unarmed man, much less one who was not even committing a crime. They should have checked out the car's license plate, then asked Middleton to identify himself. They could quickly have ascertained that he was on his own property, minding his own business.
Please do not sweep this episode of police violence under the rug. Dismiss these deputies and charge them with reckless endangerment.
