Case Study in How Not to Behave with Police

A Bronx man was shot in the hand after exhibiting what could charitably be described as foolhardy behavior Friday. Perhaps we are too immersed in stories like Amadou Diallou and Sean Bell, but the story of a driver in the Bronx left us shaking our heads. After the man was pulled over once and then peeled out before police could exit their car, he was pulled over again, and then took off again. A short chase ensued and when NYPD officers finally got him to stop, he reportedly made sudden movements inside his car when told to show his hands.

The driver, who is still unidentified, was unarmed, as long as one discounts the number of knifes in the passenger seat of his car. [1010 WINS reports that they were two boxcutters.] It was a female officer who wound up shooting four times and hitting him once in the hand. He was taken to a hospital and is described as being stable with a wound to his finger.

We don't drive frequently, but know that once one is being flagged by the the police it's best to pull over, keep one's hands on the steering wheel in plain view, and remain as still as possible. Don't reach into your glove compartment to be super-prepared with your registration; don't roll down the window to have a conversation or argue with the police. Just keep your hands at 10 and 2 on the wheel and wait for them to tell you what to do. It's just safer that way.

Pulled Over, by Ultraclay! at flickr