Outrage After Police Use Bystanders As "Human Shields" In Florida UPS Truck Shootout

[Swordsmyth]

Miami police and other officers appear to have used surrounding bystanders as "human shields" when they responded to the the hijacked UPS truck following an armed heist of a jewelry store Thursday. After suspects led police on a two-county rush-hour chase through Miami which ended in a hail of gunfire in the middle of crowded traffic on Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road, hundreds of police bullets from 19 officers firing on the truck brought it to an end.
As we reported earlier, four people have been confirmed dead, including the robbers and the UPS driver, since identified as 27-year-old Frank Ordonez, who unluckily had been taken hostage on a day he was reportedly filling in for another driver. Some of his own family members are blaming the "trigger happy" Florida police for killing him in their overeagerness to stop the criminals.
An investigation is underway which will also focus on the other innocent bystander that died — an unidentified person shot while trapped at the intersection in one of the many surrounding vehicles.

Cops just unloaded on an innocent UPS driver that was hostage in an armed robbery. You can watch the video for yourself pretty graphic.

This happened in Miami. pic.twitter.com/OB3W35D3Dz
— Kluebtorious (@rklueber28) December 5, 2019

"In addition to the UPS driver - who was on his knees - the innocent bystander was shot while sitting in a car waiting at the stop light in the intersection," CBS4 News in Miami reporter Jim DeFede has confirmed.
"The number of shots fired by the officers is not currently known but my source said it could exceed 200 rounds," he reported. The deceased bystander had been "inside an idle car at the scene."

7:30 p.m. update: Reports say four people were killed — the two robbers, the abducted UPS driver and a bystander who was inside an idle car at the scene. https://t.co/lHdXO2wknb
— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) December 6, 2019

DeFede concluded that though police were facing a "chaotic situation" it remains that "innocent people are dead" and "questions need to be asked".
A number of online commentators noted the dramatic scene of police immediately rushing into stalled traffic on foot and emptying their weapons in return fire appeared something more from a Hollywood action movie.

3. I count at least five instances of cops firing on the vehicle *with the hostage* while using occupied civilian vehicles as *human shields.* This is shocking and deplorable police work. Everyone should have their badges and guns taken away. pic.twitter.com/frU5tUSVvM
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) December 6, 2019

Viral video shows the UPS truck stopped amid heavy traffic with bystanders in their vehicles on either side. But the police response is now under criticism given that instead of hanging back and waiting for fewer civilians to be in the line of fire, or even establishing contact through a police negotiator, officers rushed the UPS truck in a blaze of bullets.
Police had the other option of backing off the easily identifiable and trackable large brown UPS truck in order to engage with it in a more open area.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/...truck-shootout

[Zippyjuan]

Started with a jewelry store robbery where shots were fired. The gunmen in the van started shooting first. Van was stopped in the middle of a highway- officers did use some cars on the road to duck behind. Video shows they trying to get some people out of the way. Is that using "bystanders as human shields"? (Zerohedge does like to over-sensationalize things) Dead was the robbers, the UPS driver who was hijacked, and one bystander. Jewelry store owner was injured.

[bv3]

Started with a jewelry store robbery where shots were fired. The gunmen in the van started shooting first. Van was stopped in the middle of a highway- officers did use some cars on the road to duck behind. Video shows they trying to get some people out of the way. Is that using "bystanders as human shields"? (Zerohedge does like to over-sensationalize things) Dead was the robbers, the UPS driver who was hijacked, and one bystander. Jewelry store owner was injured.

Your right. They just used the surrounding people, other cops included, and the neighborhood as a backstop for their circular enfilade.

[Anti Globalist]

Being human shields is the price we pay for living in a civilized society.

[angelatc]

@TheTexan

[angelatc]

Started with a jewelry store robbery where shots were fired. The gunmen in the van started shooting first. Van was stopped in the middle of a highway- officers did use some cars on the road to duck behind. Video shows they trying to get some people out of the way. Is that using "bystanders as human shields"? (Zerohedge does like to over-sensationalize things) Dead was the robbers, the UPS driver who was hijacked, and one bystander. Jewelry store owner was injured.

Yes, they were using cars, and the people in them, as cover. Their defense is that the robbers opened fire first, but perhaps rushing them in a heavily populated area was not a good idea.

[CCTelander]

Protected and served by our Heroes in blue.

[TheTexan]

DeFede concluded that though police were facing a "chaotic situation" it remains that "innocent people are dead" and "questions need to be asked".

But the Officers are OK right?

[TheTexan]

Yes, they were using cars, and the people in them, as cover. Their defense is that the robbers opened fire first, but perhaps rushing them in a heavily populated area was not a good idea.

Exactly, they didn't have much option. What were the Officers expected to do, not shoot the UPS truck and everyone in/near it?

[CCTelander]

Exactly, they didn't have much option. What were the Officers expected to do, not shoot the UPS truck and everyone in/near it?

Officers should always shoot first, ask questions later. After all, it IS rhe safest policy, for the officers, of course.

[TheTexan]

Officers should always shoot first, ask questions later. After all, it IS rhe safest policy, for the officers, of course.

Exactly. If this person had hijacked a school bus full of children, it still wouldn't change the fact that Officer safety was at risk and decisive action needed to be taken.

[Origanalist]

Exactly. If this person had hijacked a school bus full of children, it still wouldn't change the fact that Officer safety was at risk and decisive action needed to be taken.

Exactly right. And the commies would all be complaining about a few dead school children, what's this country coming to?

[phill4paul]

All I now is that if a cop starts shooting at me I start shooting back. I don't give a rat's ass his reasoning.

[Schifference]

Doesn't every person that thinks they are in supervisory capacity hide behind those they feel are inferior to them?

[donnay]

This was a disgrace and the police should be investigated and sued for their recklessness. Human life is worth far more than jewelry.

[Schifference]

but perhaps rushing them in a heavily populated area was not a good idea.

Cops are always on their radio in contact with dispatch. Higher ups need to accept responsibility for these terrible decisions. When I was young I remember working at convenience store and told if robber comes in, give them what they want. What would be the expected outcome of surrounding a couple of armed robbers with police cars and cops with nowhere to escape or go? Doing it in a populated area is the worst idea ever. With todays technology, several drones could have easily tracked the suspects after they let the driver go. This is not about the UPS robbery or cops this is about gun legislation.

[Anti Federalist]

Officers should always shoot first, ask questions later. After all, it IS rhe safest policy, for the officers, of course.

This is not a "bug", it's a "feature".

I've talked until I was blue in the face about this: but this is fact, it is in the training to do exactly this.

In any armed cop confrontation of any sort, you are NOT a citizen to be protected and served, you are, at best, a neutral NPC.

At worst you are a "hostile" to be "taken out".

[Anti Federalist]

[CCTelander]

This is not a "bug", it's a "feature".

I've talked until I was blue in the face about this: but this is fact, it is in the training to do exactly this.

In any armed cop confrontation of any sort, you are NOT a citizen to be protected and served, you are, at best, a neutral NPC.

At worst you are a "hostile" to be "taken out".

You're preaching to the choir on this one, brother. It is, as you correctly note a feature, a feature of government at all levels, in fact. Expecting government, at any level, to protect you is hopelessly, childishly naive. It is not intended to do so, nor was it ever. And yet, many people, even around here do expect just that.