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What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
Marana police dash cam Published on Apr 14, 2015
Warning: Graphic Content (Video may be disturbing to some viewers.)
On Feb. 19, a Marana police officer used his patrol vehicle to stop an armed man who was allegedly involved in multiple criminal acts across town. The man, later identified by police as Mario Valencia, reportedly stole a rifle from a Marana Walmart store and fired the rifle as he walked away. This video was taken from the front dash of Officer Michael Rapiejko, whose vehicle struck Valencia. It was edited to shorten the length.
More on the story:
More Southern Arizona crime news:
Last edited by Common Sense (4/15/2015 11:01 am)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” former vice president Biden said during a campaign event in Texas on Monday. "All men and women created by — you know, you know, the thing.”
- Goose
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Re: What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
Well, you don't see that every day.
Holy cow.
The officer nicknamed himself "Robocop"!
That may tell us something,,,,,
They better get some more police cars down there in Tucson because that one is gonna need some body work! 
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
- tennyson
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Re: What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
I could not get your links to work other than the video.
According to reports I read, Marana police sergeant Chris Warren said Valencia (the suspect hit by the officers car) robbed a convenience store, broke into a church, invaded a home and stole a car. Valencia drove the stolen car to Marana, just north of Tucson, where he stole a rifle from a Wal-Mart.
Also according to witnesses he at one point held the gun to his head and threatened to kill himself. He obviously was a man with many problems. Perhaps the officers hitting him actually saved his life. His injuries from the hit were not life threatening. I believe he was released from the hospital about two hours after this incident. He will face multiple charges for his actions.
Cops unfortunately face dangers like this every day and have to make snap judgements as to what to do. It is a tough, tough job.
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Re: What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
There may have been another way to handle it, but in light of the info given, I would not have blamed the police officer for what he did. Under the circumstances, I might have reacted similarly, so I'm not going to pass judgement.
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Re: What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
An African-American co-worker showed it to me. He thought it was great how a cop could end a bad situation without the perp being shot.
"He coulda been shot!"
Yes, a moving vehicle is capable of lethal force but clearly it was deployed in a less-than-lethal manner.
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- Common Sense
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Re: What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
“Yes, a moving vehicle is capable of lethal force but clearly it was deployed in a less-than-lethal manner.”
I think running a guy over with a fast moving car would be considered lethal force?
How do you deploy a car running over someone with less lethal force?
I think we will see the name Officer Michael Rapiejko again in the news.
From his calling a citizen a dumb *** to the ramming of a suspect and damaging
private property and public property. I think he showed very poor judgement!
The excuse for this is but X could of happened? He could of done this or that?
We saved his life by running him over?
Last edited by Common Sense (4/16/2015 11:05 am)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” former vice president Biden said during a campaign event in Texas on Monday. "All men and women created by — you know, you know, the thing.”
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Thread Starter- Common Sense
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Re: What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
Officer who rammed Arizona man accused of misconduct
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona police officer who used his cruiser to ram into an armed suspect has a prior use of force record in New York City.Records show that Officer Michael Rapiejko of the Marana Police Department was sued in May 2008 by a man who said the officer pointed a gun at him and choked him.The city settled with the man, Luis Colon, for $20,000.
Police say Rapiejko has no use of force complaints against him in Marana, a suburb of Tucson. They have defended his actions on Feb. 19 when Rapiejko used his police cruiser to ram into 36-year-old Mario Valencia. Police say Valencia was carrying a stolen rifle and had fired a shot into the sky.He did not sustain serious injuries and is in jail.
Last edited by Common Sense (4/16/2015 2:21 pm)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” former vice president Biden said during a campaign event in Texas on Monday. "All men and women created by — you know, you know, the thing.”
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Thread Starter- Goose
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Re: What do you think, excessive force or justified police ramming?
I thought it was a rambo kind of move
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.