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Teen's Death During Chase Drawing Fire
San Antonio Express-News via YellowBrix
January 19, 2010
SAN ANTONIO – Even when off the clock, San Antonio police officers have a responsibility to take action if they witness a crime.
But how much action — and to what degree — was debated after a local teen was killed in a crash involving an off-duty patrolman who chased the teen and his brother, ramming his SUV into their truck.
The officer, a two-year member of the department, said he used deadly force only after the teen in the bed of the truck fired a shotgun at him, according to a police report.
“This defensive action by the officer was in response to the suspect’s threat of deadly force,” said Sgt. Chris Benavides, a spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department.
Benavides said a civilian also would have been justified in defending himself against such a threat.
The officer, Alonzio Hardin, 41, has been placed on administrative duty while the Police Department’s shooting team investigates the incident in which Ethan Owen died. Owen, 18, suffered fatal injuries when he was ejected from the bed of the truck after it crashed. His older brother, Eric, was driving the vehicle, police said. The 23-year-old was charged with aggravated robbery.
Criminologist Brian Withrow from Texas State University said the investigation should focus on whether Hardin’s use of deadly force was appropriate.
“He’s in the legal right to do that, but whether or not he used proper judgment is a different question altogether,” Withrow said.
Geoffrey Alpert, a criminologist at the University of South Carolina, said the issue becomes muddied because the younger sibling fired the shotgun.
“If you were just a good Samaritan following this person, I don’t think you’d be indicted,” he said. “I think the shotgun trumps everything.”
But Norman Owen, a former Bexar County deputy and the father of the teen killed, said the officer overreacted.
“I can’t understand why an off-duty police officer would chase those kids in a private vehicle,” the father said. “You’re trained to use a cell phone and call in, maybe, but not to do something that stupid.”
alexy
over 3 years ago
3970 Comments
Sorry but pulling a purse off a womans shoulder in VA is robbery. Then they knew they were being followed by the off duty officer and in an attempt to make thier getaway from the robbery they think it is OK to shoot at a person? They are violent criminals and the one son killed his own brother int he commission of a robbery he should get the max on everything. Officer did nothing wrong.
rod3245
over 3 years ago
716 Comments
once the shotgun came out, they limited the officers available options. Common sense says if you shoot at a cop you are going to get hurt or worse. PERIOD
jlo2756
over 3 years ago
170 Comments
3 Strikes and your out...Strike one/ stole a purse...Strike two/got in the bed of a pick up...Strike three/fired a weapon at a police officer. Pretty much "reap what you sow" if you ask me.
theshieldman2000
over 3 years ago
578 Comments
BUMP!!! Couldnt have said it better SkoolCop!!
djs2v
over 3 years ago
5630 Comments
Great job by Officer Hardin!
rhood
over 3 years ago
23592 Comments
The actions of the officer were appropiate for the situation. The two fleeing felons actions were the cause of one of their deaths.. I would find no fault on the part of the officer. The father should have taken action during the upbringing of these two POS's instead of trying to make excuses for their actions by blameing everyone else and not taking responsibility for the bad conduct.
uncledennis1
over 3 years ago
22364 Comments
Glad the officer is okay. The boys decided their own fate as someone mentioned.
SkoolCop
over 3 years ago
4122 Comments
I'm sorry.... I am finding it difficult to feel bad for dad. Sounds to me like Norman Owen, a former Bexar County deputy and the father of the teen killed, has been making excuses for his two sons for most of their lives. Nothing has changed too much here except that both of his sons appear in fact to be a POS felons and now Owen is trying to redirect blame once again. Quick to "Monday Morning Quarterback" the actions of the involved off-duty officer instead of admitting he has two sons that qualify as P'sOS and that one payed the consequences of his actions. I'd like to see just how Owens would have handle the very same situation of someone leveling a shotgun at him while he was off-duty but actively serving and not from the comfort of his living-room today. As for his sons, just maybe if Owen had placed a well timed and targeted boot up both oh his sons fleshy hindquarters, this would not even be a discussion...... Just saying......as it were.
dslow
over 3 years ago
704 Comments
Kudos my brother. Don't listen to the wannabe lawyers/experts and others who question your actions. Great job in stopping a felon.
Strobelight140
over 3 years ago
7528 Comments
Great job officer Hardin
Whalewatcher
over 3 years ago
9918 Comments
Choices and consequences by the crooks, and you can see the results didn't favor the bad guys. Glad the officer and the victim weren't hurt.
HEYSARGE
over 3 years ago
16802 Comments
Officers state of mind....Simple!!!!!
jdob02
over 3 years ago
116 Comments
the sheep sometimes fear the sheep dog as he had teeth just like the wolf.......this officer is a sheep dog and gets a pat on the back from me...
jsmith918
over 3 years ago
96 Comments
This is ridiculous. This officer, with only a couple years' experience, would obviously be full of zeal and want to be pro-active. Seeing a felony on progress, I would hope that any cop would have taken interest in the suspect's apprehension, and getting the vehicle's information was a good plan. None of his actions should negate the fact that he was FIRED UPON, and the suspects appeared to have no knowledge that he was an officer. I'm very tired of people second guessing the actions of LE to justify bad behavior by a suspect. Good job, officer, and glad you weren't hurt.
spoc
over 3 years ago
200 Comments
Consequences...and Responsibility....job well done by the officers....