Brutality Or Self-Defense? Off-Duty Police Officer Recorded Confronting Teens In His Backyard

Numerous cases of police brutality have managed to demonstrate that the law enforcement officers are not always right and, at times, are completely unable to handle the matters peacefully, so things are getting ugly. Well, not long ago, the Los Angeles Police Department released the name of the off-duty law enforcement officer, who was actually recorded in Anaheim discharging his weapon during a conformation with a group of teenagers.

An off-duty police officer Kevin Ferguson was videotaped during his confrontation with a 13 year old boy, who is not identified. It took place in the area of Euclid Street and Palais Road on the afternoon of Feb. 21 according to the official police statement. The video actually went viral on the net and therefore the case garnered attention all over the country. Anaheim Police Department Chief Raul Quezada stated that it was an “ongoing dispute” and it involved several minors who were walking across the officer’s lawn. Subsequently, the dispute escalated into what we have the possibility to see on the video. The officer also alleged that the boy threatened to shoot him during the initial confrontation – this is according to Chief Raul Quezada

The teen then tried to walk away, but the officer wanted to attempt and detain him until the police will arrive on the scene. While he was trying to detain him, other minors got into the confrontation, so it all escalated into a physical altercation – again, according to the chief of police. Afterwards, two of the minors allegedly assaulted Ferguson and even knocked him down on the ground. The entire group then circled around the officer, so he took out his weapon and made a single shot in the ground – the chief says.

Two of the teenage boys were arrested and this including the 13 year old, who actually state that it all started when the officer started yelling at a girl. This boy also claims that he was not telling the officer that he will shoot him, but actually that he will “sue him”. And one of the neighbors also says that she heard “sue” and not “shoot”. During the ongoing investigation, Ferguson is placed under an administration leave. Both teens were released from custody. Even though no charges were yet filed in the case, police chief that there is a possibility for everyone involved to be charged.

One way or the other, the case is one that is surely open for several interpretations. Was the officer intentionally and knowingly drawing his weapon on teenagers after a dispute that he himself initially started? This would not come as such a big surprise, seeing how more and more cases like this are taking place all over the nation. However, it would also be unfair to presume that the officer is to blame to begin with. Teenagers can be quite violent and do not know when to stop, so maybe the officer’s actions were entirely justified?

Of course, there is also the matter of a weapon discharged. Even if it was discharged into the ground, was it that necessary to begin with? Now, a lot of people do not believe that cases like this are being investigated properly, since the police usually goes mild on one of their own, especially if no one was hurt in the process.

Hence, it is important to keep an eye on the case in the future so as to make sure that everyone will get what they deserve as well as within the very least amount of time possible. Hopefully, whether it was the officer who is to blame or the teenagers, the police will do their job right and will provide us with more facts and compelling arguments that will allow to make an informed decision in line with all of the gathered info.

The Los Angeles Criminal Defense Specialists