04-11-2015, 02:08 PM
THE KILLING OF ERNEST SATTERWHITE, SOUTH CAROLINA
![[Image: n-SATTERWHITE-CRAVEN-large570.jpg]](http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2819792/images/n-SATTERWHITE-CRAVEN-large570.jpg)
The same day that South Carolina police officer Slager was arrested for the murder of unarmed Walter Scott, South Carolina police officer Justin Craven (pictured, left) was arrested 150 miles away on a felony weapons charge relating to his fatal shooting of unarmed 68-year-old Ernest Satterwhite (pictured, right) in February 2014.
The cases share several characteristics: They both started as a traffic stop, they were both caught on camera, and both responding officers alleged in followup reports that the victims grabbed for the officer's weapon.
The North Augusta public safety officer is accused of shooting and killing Satterwhite in his driveway during a pursuit and traffic stop. Craven fired repeatedly through the driver-side door of Satterwhite's car after the victim had fully stopped in his driveway.
In Satterwhite's case, Craven said the unarmed victim "grabbed my gun" before he opened fire. A lawsuit filed by Satterwhite's family -- which recently ended in a $1 million settlement -- denied that there was ever a struggle over the gun. Satterwhite had been pulled over multiple times for traffic violations with no record of struggles or violence.
Edgefield County deputies who joined in the chase reported that Craven ran up to Satterwhite's parked car and fired several shots into the driver's side door, telling the other officers that Satterwhite tried to grab his gun. The other officers couldn't get Satterwhite's door open, so they broke the passenger side window, unlocked that door and dragged him out.
Charges were filed after the incident and Craven was initially indicted by a grand jury for a charge of "misconduct in office," a misdemeanor, instead of a manslaughter charge sought by prosecutors.
If convicted on the new felony charge, Craven faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $1,000. His attorney told the press that he plans to plead not guilty.
Ref: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morni...-driveway/
The same day that South Carolina police officer Slager was arrested for the murder of unarmed Walter Scott, South Carolina police officer Justin Craven (pictured, left) was arrested 150 miles away on a felony weapons charge relating to his fatal shooting of unarmed 68-year-old Ernest Satterwhite (pictured, right) in February 2014.
The cases share several characteristics: They both started as a traffic stop, they were both caught on camera, and both responding officers alleged in followup reports that the victims grabbed for the officer's weapon.
The North Augusta public safety officer is accused of shooting and killing Satterwhite in his driveway during a pursuit and traffic stop. Craven fired repeatedly through the driver-side door of Satterwhite's car after the victim had fully stopped in his driveway.
In Satterwhite's case, Craven said the unarmed victim "grabbed my gun" before he opened fire. A lawsuit filed by Satterwhite's family -- which recently ended in a $1 million settlement -- denied that there was ever a struggle over the gun. Satterwhite had been pulled over multiple times for traffic violations with no record of struggles or violence.
Edgefield County deputies who joined in the chase reported that Craven ran up to Satterwhite's parked car and fired several shots into the driver's side door, telling the other officers that Satterwhite tried to grab his gun. The other officers couldn't get Satterwhite's door open, so they broke the passenger side window, unlocked that door and dragged him out.
Charges were filed after the incident and Craven was initially indicted by a grand jury for a charge of "misconduct in office," a misdemeanor, instead of a manslaughter charge sought by prosecutors.
If convicted on the new felony charge, Craven faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $1,000. His attorney told the press that he plans to plead not guilty.
Ref: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morni...-driveway/