Poor braking technique...

[wheatonFJR]

Quote from the newspaper article...

He was riding northbound on First Avenue in Maywood near Madison Street when he saw a girl suddenly dart into the street. To avoid striking the girl, the officer purposely ditched his motorcycle, putting it down on its side on the pavement, according to a statement from Maywood village spokesman Larry Shapiro.

But it skidded and flipped, striking the girl

Link to the article in the sun-times, and the subsequent events... (this sucks)

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

"Purposely ditched his motorcycle".

Yeah, sure. Translation: Lacking in skills, I hammered the rear brake in a panic, and the rear end slid around, trying to lead, and that's when I hit the ground.

Sad story.

 

[Top_Speed1]

Not sure if it was his personal bike or cop bike. I know he was off-duty as it said but either way what a horrific and tragic event. Apparently the father thought the cop was at fault, now the daughter has no father. Sometimes emotions turn for the worst.

Wish the best for both families.

 

[Auburn]

sad story. Who was watching the little girl prior to her running out in the street?

 

[Jim in Phoenix]

No comment about the motorcycle - brand or age - but if an older Harley, the brakes really suck. I have been told that in the past, the officer's actions are in their training. Newer bikes, or different brands and the story changes. Any comments from LEOs out there?

 

[rickysnickers]

It certainly wasn't her dipshit father.

Rick

 

[SkooterG]

Ok, first of all it never said the off-duty officer was a motor cop. He most likely was not. Second, there is too little info going on here. As typical, 99% of the people won't know what really happened. Just what we were told happened after somebody put their spin on it. In this case, it seems to be the spin of the police union representative. NOT the source for fully accurate information imho.

Hell, officer might not have purposefully 'layed it down' and that is just the union rep blathering. Perhaps off-duty cop had been drinking? There are a lot of holes here that could be filled with 'what ifs'.

A tragedy none the less.

The part that really gets me is the deceased father's sister saying:

He was a good person,” she said. “I know for sure he wasn’t out to harm the man. My brother would never harm anybody.

Stupid idiot. I guess beating an injured man doesn't raise up to the level of 'harm' in her world.

 

[Auburn]

Ok, first of all it never said the off-duty officer was a motor cop. He most likely was not. Second, there is too little info going on here. As typical, 99% of the people won't know what really happened. Just what we were told happened after somebody put their spin on it. In this case, it seems to be the spin of the police union representative. NOT the source for fully accurate information imho.

Hell, officer might not have purposefully 'layed it down' and that is just the union rep blathering. Perhaps off-duty cop had been drinking? There are a lot of holes here that could be filled with 'what ifs'.

A tragedy none the less.

The part that really gets me is the deceased father's sister saying:

He was a good person," she said. "I know for sure he wasn't out to harm the man. My brother would never harm anybody.

Stupid idiot. I guess beating an injured man doesn't raise up to the level of 'harm' in her world.

My thoughts exactly.

If you use google maps and insert this address 807 South 1st Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153 - (Proviso East High School is one block from the intersection) you will see in street view lots of sidewalks. Lots of space from the buildings to the sidewalks to the street. Was the MC rider paying attention? Was traffic heavy? Was the kid in a cross walk? This story sounds fishy as to the MC rider's actions. But I wasn't there. It just doesn't pass the sniff test with the information given.

 

[puppychow]

the officer's actions are in their training.

That is assuming that he was an off duty motorcycle cop, unless you were referring to being a good shot at close range.

Anyhow, it is unknown if he was riding negligently (speeding for instance). It is also negligent to leave a little girl unsupervised free to run into the street. I can't imagine what the father was feeling - having no children of my own, but it seems self defense can be argued on behalf of the cop for the shooting.

All said. Very sad indeed!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Yeah, I sincerely doubt this was a moto cop. Just an off duty cop where a little girl ran out in front of him.

It just doesn't make sense that a little girl runs out in front...so your first reaction is to throw the bike down so you have NO control over what that bike does at whatever speed you are travelling at that time.

I agree with Skooter...probably just a union rep yammering.

Bad ending for everybody on that day.

 

[TomInPA]

Here is the bike from this article. Still Fraternal Order of Police acting as spokesman.

Another article suggests that the shooting occurred while the officer was down and being beaten by Middleton. This kind of lethal force would generally be permissible for any citizen, let alone a police officer.

Around 10:30 p.m., as the eight-year veteran officer was riding his motorcycle north on First Avenue, the girl was returning from a jerk chicken shop with her 18-year-old cousin when they were both struck by the officer’s motorcycle.

Police said the officer did all he could to avoid more serious injuries, but Middleton was furious that his daughter had been struck, and attacked the officer.

Middleton’s cousin, Cordell Haggard, said, “While he was on top of the guy, fighting him, the guy somehow managed to reach for his weapon, and he fired it, and shot him right in his groin.”

Middleton’s family insisted he never knew he was attacking an off-duty cop.

“He never let anyone know that he was an officer until after he shot him,” Haggard said.

That’s a point authorities strongly dispute.

Maywood village spokesman Larry Shapiro said the officer announced he was a cop.

“This is what we were told. Our investigators indicated that that was in fact true,” Shapiro said.

Does anyone wonder if maybe a helmet would have helped him resist the original attack?