We’re not sure if this qualifies for the “dumb criminals” category but, if not, it comes close. Police in South Los Angeles arrived at an “assault with a deadly weapon” call on the 4th of July. In the end, the suspect was “shot” with less-than-lethal rounds after he feigned a weapon with something far less lethal. It all started as he threatened to burn his family in an RV.
Threatened to burn family in RV
At a little after 1:00 in the afternoon on the holiday, dispatchers got a call from a terrified woman. She said her estranged husband was threatening to burn down the RV she and her children were living in—with them inside. She told authorities the man was harassing her, despite a court-issued restraining order.
Shot after refusing to show his hand
Responding officers found Carlos Rangel, 34, hanging around the rear-end of the RV. When they approached him, Rangel stepped back and reached for his waistband. He refused orders to get his hand away from his waistband, so police shot him with “less-than-lethal” rounds.
Non-lethal rounds are firearm rounds designed to incapacitate, but not kill. They work by transferring kinetic energy and blunt force trauma to a being to incapacitate. Non-lethal rounds come in any number of forms. Rubber bullets, rubber buckshot, soft polymer rounds, wax bullets, plastic bullets, and beanbag rounds. These are just some less-than-lethal projectiles used by law enforcement.
While police didn’t disclose just what kind of non-lethal round was used, apparently it (or they) worked. Rangel was quickly subdued. Instead of finding a Glock, a knife, or other conventional lethal weapon, cops found Rangel had tucked a cordless drill in his waistband.
Was the drill “loaded”? That too, remains a mystery. Rangel was nevertheless arrested and charged with attempted murder. Arson investigators are following up. At last note, he was being held pending $3,175,000 bail at the Los Angeles County Jail.
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Cops can’t wait to see if it’s a drill or a firearm. If they did, they would be dead. Follow their commands. They did the right thing.
👍🙂
Complying to LEW’s commands would save a lot of unnecessary deaths by cop. I just don’t understand why people do not do so in these situations.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Hmm, … a cordless drill, huh? By “loaded” I suppose that you mean having an attached battery pack. Or perhaps, “loaded” means an attached and charged battery pack? Either way, the estranged hubby was credibly threatening his family, particularly his wife. Thankfully his threats were empty and he was removed. I wonder how much jail time he will get? Thanks again, have a great afternoon, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
If the bail listed is actually correct, I’m glad to see a judge take this man’s behavior and violation of a restraining order seriously. His estranged wife will be living in terror every moment he’s not incarcerated. His threat to burn his family alive may not have been empty. In the future he may very well carry out his threats.
I wonder what constitutes using non-lethal rounds as opposed to lethal rounds? I hope it’s not skin color or primary language…
That is the worst policing I’ve ever seen. It is so bad it makes me want to vomit.