Walnut Creek Police Release Video Of Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting
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109 comments
Not sure why they wait so long to release these videos when it shows the officers did everything right. Get it out immediately so everyone doesn’t fill in the blanks with speculation and nefarious motives.
Really?! You’re” not sure”? With liability and possible legal issues aside( can’t believe I even need to say that) the video needs to be viewed and assessed by various individuals and departments before it can be released to the public. Are you really that stupid?
Not everybody does that and that’s an issue for people filling in the blanks to resolve internal. If behavior was based around the lowest common denominators we would still be living in mud huts.
Good shoot. Sorry someone died, but he was posing a threat not just to the officers, but to the public. He threatened others in the area and his own mother and grandmother did not feel safe in the same house. It is the police’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the public.
Good going to the WC PD that day. Sorry they’re going to have to live with this on their consciences for the rest of their life.
They did exactly what they should have and what I would want them to do if that was happening in my neighborhood.
Much respect to the men and women of the WC PD. Thank you all for your service.
Absolutely no reason to shoot someone, running away with a pole. More bean bag guns or rubber bullets would have done the job if he was hit. We need different training for police in our country, especially when the words mentally ill come into play.
Did you not watch the video? Bean bag guns were used to no effect. How many should you use before you determine they’re not going to work? These officers were not just protecting themselves, but the people of this neighborhood. It’s a true shame that it ended this way. My heart goes out to the Hall family, but my respect goes out to WCPD for the way they handled the situation.
Unfortunately, bean bag rounds and rubber bullets aren’t very effective on someone who is determined to hurt you and is running on pure adrenaline. Go look at videos on YouTube.
Also, a crowbar to the head could have easily taken one of those cops down and gave him a gun. I’m not sure why you are trying to make is sound like he was holding something completely harmless.
Did you not see the same video I did? He was not “running away with a pole”! He was running at the officer’s with that pole. In fact, the body cameras clearly shows that pole flying over the head of one of the officers. Wake up! They did everything they could do. I for one do not expect the people I pay to put on the badge in protection of me, to go out and get themselves killed!
The only thing I ask of WCPD is that they don’t cave to the lawsuit. They are clearly in the right here! When these cities decide that it is cheaper to just pay out and settle than to litigate the case, they are only encouraging slime like Burris to sue every department around.
Actually “sign from above”, miles was running PAST the officers. We watched the same video and it’s clearly shown that miles wasn’t charging the officers but was running right past them. Also it was made clear that he was having a mental breakdown. They did not act in a reasonable manner what so ever and I still do not understand why a taser was not used before they decided to put 5 bullets in him.
@angry
What if he ran past the officers and killed you or a loved one?? Then what would you be saying??? In previous calls he was in neighbors back yards with a knife. His behavior appears to have escalated.
My heartfelt condolences to all involved. WCPD were extremely professional. This case in my opinion could be used as a training video. Why the family files a lawsuit with parasite attorney john burris is beyond comprehension. Great professionalism WCPD!!! You are a credit to law enforcement.
Done right In my opinion. Four officers telling the looney bird to drop the bar, he doesn’t comply even getting bean bagged and tasered. Nothing else to do but drop him
Wow! I’m sure it took a while to put this together, I’ve never seen such a comprehensive picture of a police shooting (I don’t watch cop shows). It’s such a shame it ended this way, but I’m glad to see they tried the bean bags first and then tried to save him after he was shot. Condolences to the family!
Well done WCPD. It’s very important to get this information out to the public to dispel all the inaccurate rumors. The video was very well done and clearly shows the threat. The outcome was unfortunate, but I’m glad all of your officers went home safe that day!
His Mother: “he needs to leave our house, he has to go”
Know she wants millions, for what unfortunately may actually be a relief to their family. Clearly the officers acted appropriately. Sadly this man’s mental health issues were the reason for his death.
Parents should have had him in an institution with all he has done. Then Mom said it was just a “garden tool”. Then John Burris. I am sure they would not be unhappy of cops were hurt/dean as long as their son was ok. Did you hear how he talked to his Grandmother ??
My brother is just like this. The police have been called many times. They take him to a mental hospital, which sometimes release him hours later. We WISH he could be institutionalized. But they won’t. There’s not enough beds apparently. They need to open more mental hospitals. This could be my family someday 😣
That would be the best case scenario. Unfortunately, our mental health system in this state (and country) is broken. There is no place to house the mentally disturbed. They are picked up on “mandatory” 72 holds and many times released before the 72 hour period. I loved Reagan, but closing all of the mental institutions was the worst thing that could have been done
My younger brother also suffered from mental illness. My parents spent thousands of dollars in the 70’s and 80’s on treatment and lawyers. They made several attempts to compel him to take his medication, all without success. Allowing crazy people to decide whether to take their medication or not is…crazy.
I feel sorry for the police officers who are now being second-guessed after the event. They deserve our thanks and support!
I watched it with a critical eye and it looks like a reasonable use of deadly force to me. Too bad the officer firing the bean bags didn’t have a better angle, tough shot to make with the guy running towards the right of a right-handed shooter offering only a side profile. Whoever fired the four pistol rounds shot expertly. Damn shame, under treated mental illness is a public health emergency if you ask me. Tough break for the cops too. Can’t feel good.
Unjustified shooting from what I witnessed. Grand jury inquiry should follow and charges presented for prosecution of the officer’s involved. The gentleman was clearly running away from them and didn’t deserve to die.
TraumaRx …… if that’s what you seriously believe you saw I should advise you that there’s a place called the MLB Replay Operations Center in New York and they are looking for umpires to review game plays. You’d fit right in.
No seatbelts involved here. You need to watch video about 10 more times as he is running at the Police Officer.
TraumaRx is Claycord’s most vocal cop-hating troll.
If he were only wearing a seatbelt…
FYI
It’s the DA who convenes a the Grand Jury and it’s the DA who investigates EVERY officer-involved death in Contra Costa County. If the DA was going to file charges, there is no need for a Grand Jury.
Incidentally, I thought you said police work is more dangerous for women officers than men officers?
@taumarx
What if he got past the officers and killed you or a loved one with that 15lb sharpened metal pole??
Stick to your inappropriate seat-belt posts. I am sure if his mother taught him to wear a seat-belt he would not have ended up in this position. Gah.
I’m entitled to my opinion. Agree to disagree. You guys sound childish.
TraumaRx – unless you were AT the scene DURING the incident, you “witnessed” nothing. You WATCHED the same video that hundreds, if not thousands, of armchair quarterbacks watched, all of whom have zero LE training or experience – especially in use of force incidents.
If you claim to have actually “witnessed” the incident, I’m sure WCPD would love to interview you to obtain the FACTS. Of course, being interviewed in an OIS means you can’t embellish or draw conclusions – as you’re not (as I’m willing to bet) an expert witness when it comes to these types of incidents. You can only tell the facts…. something which you’re apparently not familiar with.
Going forward, you really need to evaluate what you’re posting. It’s one thing to have an opinion – but to pass yourself off as knowledgeable based on the information you have clearly displays your ignorance.
Lastly, claiming that others “sound childish” because they called you out on your conclusion tells me that you’re not interested in the facts – only your opinion. And my experience has been that those who stoop to calling others names means that person doesn’t have the facts.
As others have suggested, you had better stick to what you “might” know….. seat belts. Anything beyond that will be a real stretch of the imagination.
I’m sure we would all LOVE to hear about your background – training, education, academies attended, POST certifications received, in-service instructor training in use of force, etc,… or perhaps documentation (including your CV) of your legal expertise in use of force.
We’re waiting.
I agree that he didn’t deserve to die but I haven’t heard anyone here give a reasonable plan they could have reasonably come up with and executed to de-escalate the situation quickly. Multiple people called the police, the time to save this man’s life would have had to happen earlier by getting him the proper treatment that he needed.
@ Retired LEO
Thank you for the lengthy rant. Like I said I’m entitled to my opinion and I stand by it. If you don’t agree with it by all means feel free to rant on and on about it..
@TraumaRx:
You ARE entitled to your opinion, as is everyone. To hold such an opinion as yours after this information has been made available tells us all we need to know about your intellect.
TraumaRx – very good; I appreciate that you were able to discern that I retired from law enforcement…. so I have a certain amount of knowledge that I’m willing to share…. and that knowledge is based on training and real world situations.
It does no good to post opinions when you have neither the facts nor the training* to support said opinion.
I agree with you. After watching all the different video perspectives provided in the Informational Briefing video above, it is very clear that the suspect is trying to run past the officers standing in the street. This is especially clear in the body cam video from “Officer #3” played from 17:12 of the video forward. The argument being perpetuated by many on this and other forums that the metal pry bar constituted a lethal weapon and that he charged and threatened officers is not supported by any of the video perspectives. What this incident boiled down to was the knee-jerk reaction by police who either were too afraid to go hands-on with this guy or equipped to used non-lethal force like a taser.
If you listen to the sound that the metal bar that hit the ground at 12:20 in the video, you will hear the distinct ring of a solid piece of steel. You can hear it again a few seconds later when it is moved away from the individual.
That is a deadly weapon. Officers did the very best that they could.
You often hear people ask why an officer had to shoot someone with a knife. Look at how fast Mr. Hall closed the distance between the officers and where he started. Not much time to do anything other than to protect yourself and the public after the “less than lethal rounds” have been used.
The only person to blame here is Miles Hall.
WOW I am glad this was released, I feel so bad for the family but the recordings do show the Police tried to subdue him and the Grandmothers conversation shows how deranged he was. God bless all involved
I guess the take away here is obey the police as always…. If you don’t there R consequences which may not turn out well as evidenced. They R doing a job and should not be expected to be put in harms way any more then necessary as their safety is paramount as well… Glad we saw the video…
How much work did John Burris perform to try and get Hall mental help???
Sorry, but based on all of the calls HE WAS A THREAT.
How about if he got away and hit a citizen or one if those officers in the head?!?!?
After watching all the various video perspectives of this incident, it is clear that the suspect, armed with only a metal bar, tried to run past police officers in the street with their guns drawn. The suspect did not directly attack any of the officers and their use of lethal force appears to be completely unnecessary. Unfortunately, today’s police officers are too nervous, poorly trained, or just afraid to engage suspects with non-lethal force. The man with the metal bar did not deserved to die that day.
I disagree. Once confronted he tried to flank them, as far as they know, with bad intent. They cannot allow him into their “rear” area. My advice when trying to flee harm, run in the opposite direction of the threat or some angle there of. like PH Dad said, that was a serious weapon.
@rw:
If that individual is successful in running past the officers, and subsequently kills/injures a bystander, you’d be on here castigating law enforcement for their inept response to a real threat. Blow it out your a**.
@Rolie Tomasi
Whatever to hands-on police work? I spent four years at the WCPD and I can tell you that back in the day the guys I worked with would have taken that suspect down long before they would resort to shooting him. The argument made by you about the suspect getting past officers is purely hypothetical and presents a scenario that may not even happen. I am dealing purely with what is presented in the above video. Other than the anemic four shots from that bean bag gun, none of these officers attempted any other non-lethal force to end this situation. No tasers were employed and it is certain most of the cops were just to afraid to engage the suspect hands-on. Police work is dangerous work, but no one ever said it was going to be a picnic. I would rather that the police use lethal force only as an absolute last resort when other non-lethal methods have been exhausted. That didn’t happen in this case.
@rw:
Sounds like you need to go back and teach those p***ies a thing or two, tough guy.
@ Rolio Tomsai
Maybe so. I am sure when the city’s insurance company pays out a million dollar settlement to the suspect’s family then perhaps they will get the message that their police need to be trained better in the non-lethal methods of dealing with a suspect armed with only a metal pry bar. In watching the videos, it doesn’t appear that the WCPD officers are even equipped with tasers as none were visible on their belts.
I don’t know about Walnut Creek, but many cities have forbidden their police officers from using Tasers.
@Cowellian – At the 3:12 mark the video says that one of the officers had a Taser but did not have an opportunity to use it. They did not explain why one officer, but not the others, had a Taser. I know that to use a Taser the subject needs to be both within range and standing still.
“The argument made by you about the suspect getting past officers is purely hypothetical and presents a scenario that may not even happen.”
Law enforcement is charged with preventing that scenario, which they did. And at the end of shift, they were able to return to homes and families physically intact.
@ Rolio Tomasi
Law enforcement officers are charged with enforcing the laws. It is reasonable to expect that in conducting their duties that LEOs only use the force necessary in completing that task. If LEOs only goal is to return to their homes and families physically intact, those people should find another line of work.
Condolences to the family. Police were in a no win situation here. What happens if they don’t try and diffuse the situation and just let him go? What happens if he decides to turn on innocent people and starts to attack them? What if he hurts or kills someone? Then John Burris would be defending the innocent people that got hurt or killed, saying the police should have done something to prevent this man from attacking. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. The police have to respond and react quickly.
I think we need to have a discussion about giving the police more tools to deal with this type of situation. A 9 mm should be the last resort. There are different types of martial arts weapons that could assist the police in cases like this though brutal the individual wouldn’t end up dead. I didn’t see any Billy clubs and there are a variety of types that would be effective in this situation. I had learned how to use a martial arts staff years ago that keeps the person at a distance and you can disable the person affectively especially if there are more than one person using this staff. Also if you take a person down each officer holding a limb pretty much immobilizes the individual
Like a bow and arrow? After they pause and climb a tree ?
I agree!
I think a 45 is a much better choice.
Then the 9mm should be the last resort.
@ JLG:
WOW….If only YOU were there with your M A staff.
BUT. You weren’t.
@JLG How many time have you used your martial arts weapons on a real world person in attack mode. Training environments in the Dojo are much different than the real world. That dude running at you holding your cute staff would stab that pole through your skull before you knew it was happening.
“I think a 45 is a much better choice.”
Testify brother.
Can someone tell me why they go straight for the kill shot after the bean bags didn’t work? Why not shoot his legs first at least? I mean idk but to just stand in the way of his direction kinda seems irresponsible of the officers. I get why they shot him, it was because they were scared. But when do you just stand in the open waiting for someone to run at you. Even one of the officers said to get cover.
yet another who’s watched too many westerns.
Have you ever shot at a moving target? Did you watch the video and see where he was hit?
Alternativemike – they shoot to kill, not to wound. I’m not a LEO, so my understanding is only on conversations with police officers.
If you have the composure to aim for someone’s legs, your life was never in danger. If that’s the case, there is no reason to shoot. You draw a weapon with the intention of using it, hoping you don’t have to, but you never draw to wound.
Also, someone who has been shot in the legs is still capable of inflicting harm, even death.
A couple of comments…
1. Officers do NOT “shoot to kill.” They shoot (or use other means of force) to stop the threat. Obviously, other (lower) levels of force did not work, so they had to resort to deadly force. It’s not a “kill shot.” Again, it’s to STOP THE THREAT.
2. Officers are trained to stop the threat. Attempting to shoot at (and hit) someone’s legs when they’re moving is only seen in movies and old Westerns. That’s why officers are trained to shoot at center mass; that’s the quickest way to stop the threat.
3. It’s not a matter of “being scared” – it’s a matter of protecting yourself by taking cover (or concealment) while you can safely engage the bad guy.
4. Martial arts have their place; and W PD does have batons. However, there is a time and place to use them – from my training and what I saw, a baton/taser/pepper spray or martial arts were not the appropriate tools to be used in this situation. Remember, you’ve only got seconds to act…. and trying to play around with martial arts staffs will only get others hurt/killed.
5. A 9mm is perfectly fine – many agencies still use them. There’s a lot of discussion about the “one-shot stop” …. but it’s all BS. Shot placement is what counts, and (again) it’s about stopping the threat. Agencies use the 9mm, 10mm, .357, .38 Spl, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, .357 SIG,…….. They all work. There’s nothing magic about the size of the round.
All – I’ve mentioned this before…. take a citizens academy from a local agency… or better yet, put yourself through the academy. See if an agency will allow you to try their use of force simulators.
But above all, educate yourselves.
@ Retired LEO
Ok we got it. Your ex law enforcement.
@tramarx
We get it, your not very bright.
It sure is easy to tell which people posting comments here have spent far too much time watching old westerns on TV.
Retired LEO – I think I understand, but could you clarify the difference between “shoot to kill” and “stopping the threat”?
Obviously, like in this case, once the suspect hits the ground, the officer doesn’t keep shooting. That is kind of how I understand “stopping the threat”. Had the officer kept shooting while the suspect was on the ground, that would be “shoot to kill”.
With that being said, I believe we are saying the same thing when it comes down to it. I acknowledge that “stopping the threat” does not imply killing. Would you acknowledge that drawing a firearm and using it is use of deadly force? That’s how you stop a threat as quick as possible right, with deadly force?
@Kevin, I would think the difference is something like this:
To Kill: Bang Bang Bang… He ain’t dead yet? Bang Bang… Ok now he’s dead.
Stop Threat: Bang Bang Bang… Is he dead yet? No? Ok, but at least he ain’t a danger to me anymore; cuff him up and call an ambulance.
Kinda’ sick, but does it help clarify?
S – yes, that’s kind of what I thought Retired LEO was saying. It still feels like we are all saying the same thing though. Police are trained on how/when to use deadly force. When they use deadly force, should the suspect that gets shot dies, well, they were trying to just stop the threat.
Of course that there was a threat for Miles charged at the officers . But, in my opinion, firing lethal weapon at him is excess use of forces because: 1) the cops know that he was mentally ill and had a pole as a weapon 2) cops do have other non lethal ( baton, taser, mace, etc) options and, importantly, the number on their side.
A good attorney could appeal to sympathy due to his mental state then persuade the jury that: a cop could distract him while the others get him from the back, or they could mace him at distance because most mace has effective range of at most 12 feet, or they could use their batons ( giving them 3 feet advantage) if it came down to close quarter combat.
My bet is that the city will payout and probably goes on a public relation campaign; I just hope they don’t cave to the attorney demand because the cost would just be pass on the residence through taxes. I would pay up to 500K at most.
Mace has not been used by cops in almost 20 years in a case like this with mentally deranged person you would’ve had Absolutely no effect. Also you don’t know if any of the four beanbag rounds hit him and you saw the solid metal pole sharpener at one end he was caring —- it would easily kill an officer-you have no clue what you’re talking about
I worked at the WCPD back in the late 1970s and back in the day the cops were a lot tougher and not afraid to go hands-on with a guy with a metal pole. The use of lethal force would have been last on the list and the suspect would have had to actually attack and hurt several officers before that would have been done. These days, police departments seem to be staffed with people who are afraid to use non-lethal force.
That was no “metal pole”. That was a steel bar that is used to break concrete. They weigh almost 20 lbs. He could have killed one of the officers with a single swing.
City should pay nothing…
Getting hurt on the job is so 1970s, rw
1. Police operate on the level of danger an individual presents to himself/herself and to the public, not on sympathy or lack thereof.
2. Being mentally ill makes an individual MORE dangerous, not less.
3. Police is not an emergency psychiatric care, even if this particular family was using it in this capacity.
4. If a jury can be persuaded about all the BS you’ve listed, such a jury obviously didn’t follow instructions and should be dismissed.
It’s not enough for “a good attorney” to “appeal to sympathy due to his mental state”. In a civil rights case like this the plaintiff has to prove by clear and convincing evidence that a) officers acted in violation of WCPD use-of-force policy or that b) WCPD failed to train its officers on use of force or that c) WCPD policy on use of force is unreasonable.
Coulda-woulda-shoulda doesn’t meet the standard of “clear and convincing evidence” even in California.
John Doe – Just because someone presumably “knows” that an individual is “mentally ill” does in no way diminish the threat to the officers or the public.
All force options have their limitations. Making a judgement call on what is excessive or not when all you have is a couple of videos shows an extreme lack of knowledge about the use of force. Using a 3 ft ASP against a 15 lb pry bar is NOT a good choice.
It’s not a question of “being afraid” to use deadly force. Agencies have come out with more training and policies as more is learned to help with this.
I’ve said this to others – look into trying an agency’s force options simulator.
@ retired LEO
I appreciate your insight. I am interested in the force simulation that you have mentioned. What is the process for a civilian to get behind the simulator? Are the scenarios in simulator updated so that it will match the last revision of the paper protocol? Are protocol uniformed ( like wcpd , concord pd, can apply a protocol in same situation)? Since you are retired, do you keep up with the changes within the law enforcement community? How do you feel about RW’s insight police culture from the 70s?
@Peter G….
I don’t know which agencies in the SF Bay Area currently use/have force options simulators – you would have to call around. Maybe some of the citizen’s academies for specific agencies have it available.
In my experience, the simulators are controlled by an instructor – so they can vary what happens based on your response(s). In other words, using a specific type of force in a situation could result in a couple of different reactions from the suspect – which would require the officer to choose (quickly) the appropriate level of force to address that – which (again) might result in a couple of additional different reactions.
While the basic use of force hasn’t changes over the years, they’ve moved away from the “ladder of force” to a wheel – that way, you’re not having to escalate/de-escalate through multiple “levels” but can go directly to the level of force that’s appropriate.
I keep up (a little) on what’s going on – but obviously, I’m not going through annual training on the perishable skills ….. but I stay current in what’s happening, in general….not for every specific agency, however. The changes that you see don’t happen overnight and (as I’m sure you’re aware) every situation is different. If a trend starts to appear, then the state agencies (POST) will review those trends and make recommendations to departments as to what training should be considered (or mandated). For instance, years ago there was no sexual harassment training…..now there is.
The issues between the 1970’s and now (~40+ years) has significantly affected training – recognizing mental health issues (to a degree), greater firepower, other tools (expandable batons, tasers, pepper spray, improved communications, etc…). Also, faster media coverage, politics, the fact that everyone has a camera, body cameras, etc…. In the 1960’s-1970’s, they weren’t concerned about knocking heads – but then, they weren’t as concerned about getting sued at the drop of a hat.
I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the idea.
@ retired LEO
Thanks! This might change my negative perception for LEOs.
This guy used a 15 lb digging bar to assault the cops. They tried less then lethal force and it didn’t work. The quite properly shot him, and then quickly administered first aid.
There are always a few experts who think of dandy ideas to avoid lethal force, fact is he was about 1 second away from killing a cop.
Looks like suicide by cop to me.
I feel bad for the family of the victim and the officers. Bottom line… If you threaten the police with crazy actions you’re risking you life. If you feel otherwise you’re naive or plain stupid.
Unless he was also very intellectually challenged, that looked like suicide by cop.
Poor Miles. Poor WDPD Officers, good work though. Poor family. Poor neighbors. Niener, niener, niener, John Burris!!
To all the nuts that think this is not a justifiable response to Hall ‘s behavior , he was running AT them . They can’t take the chance and stop then decide hmm maybe he will just run past me. Are you completely out of touch. In this citation safety is first his mental health issues are second.
I have a son who has episodes like this and he is 13 . I do give him medication and I know that as he ages I will be dealing with adult episodes. I know I will likely find myself in a citation like this and for the safety of everyone and the police officers, they did the right thing.
I hope people look at the other side and understand that while police officer’s go through training they are still human and have to live with that while on duty they had to shoot a mentally unstable person.
Mentally unstable people are the most dangerous. Stop crying police brutality when they have to come in at a point when a person is so far gone. FIX THE PROBLEM . The mental health care and red tape to get it in CA is horrible.
Here is some perspective on mental health care in CA. I had to sue my health insurance company to get them to cover is mental health and autism services. I won but it took me 5 years of his life which means his diagnosis was much later tHan it should of been.
John Doe,
Perhaps you should join the police academy & join a police department. No age limit.
Yeah John Doe, Join the academy, it’s easy to graduate from the academy; just watch all the Police Academy lol. Just make sure that you make the min age requirement, which is varies among different city).
I think Jane Doe is trying to says that there is no max age for the academy; she is right because , like any job, they can’t deny your entry into the academy due to age because by doing so it’s an invitation for age discrimination lawsuit.
I don’t know the traits/personality (aka the mold). I guess you have to be physically fit; so it’s time to start working on that Homer’s Simpson donuts workout; or just bring a lot of donuts on the first day. Lol
@Marry W. Cheery,
“like any job, they can’t deny your entry into the academy due to age because by doing so it’s an invitation for age discrimination lawsuit.”
Like any job? There are plenty of jobs that have age restrictions on both coming and going. IRS Special Agents must be 36 years or younger when first applying for a position. In the US, commercial airline pilots are required to retire at 65.
Hall clearly is targeting the officers. He even turns toward them at the last second. I guess if you are Burris that best you can do is claim he wasn’t a threat and hope the cop haters jump on your half-brain bandwagon.
Glad we have Claycord to see the whole video and not just the 20 sec TV version with their spin
It is so sad when police have to proof with showing this video when someone wants to hurt them and it would be so easy if anyone would comply with orders for the safety of everyone involved. My heart goes out to the officers involved and what they have to live with and all they are doing is protect everyone involved. I blame the Mother for not getting her son help and a place to stay the 911 desperately and nice and clear the Mother tells dispatch. He can not stay here 😢 and the pleading of the grandmother for police to help and neighbors.
I’ve looked at the video several times and I do not see any police officers directly in line with his direction of running, but I cannot see where all the police officers were located. If he was just trying to run away, that creep Burris will win. If he is running at any officer, WCPD needs to countersue Burris for his net worth for filing another frivolous lawsuit.
If he’s allowed to “run away” and then changes his mind and lays that pipe upside the head of a bystander, what then?
John Burris, is making Tons of money because he hates the Police.
He is definitely sending the wrong message to Society and is putting Law Enforcements life’s in danger.
If you have mental illness that causes you to harm others, you need to be put down. This dude got what he deserved. Our community is safer without him.
No one deserves the agony of severe mental illness. But the community deserves accessible, affordable mental health care to help prevent these devastating incidents.
I agree. He was not getting any help from his family. Hall was not a productive member of society. His family is attempting to profit with the lawsuit against City of Walnut Creek. If you listen to Hall’s grandmother’s call she was in distress and called police. Now the family misses him and wants compensation. Something is wrong with today’s society.
Why would WCPD release the prepared video while the incident, according to the information officer, is still being reviewed [ i think she says that the district attorney office is also involved) and in addition [ I read it on claycord] to a civil case pending from the incident.
I just don’t get it, why can’t the agency use “we don’t comment ongoing investigation and/or lawsuit” or something to that effect to stay tight lip until the investigation is done? Can somebody offer an explanation. Did i miss something from the video because I do have negative feeling toward LEOs..
Excellent question! Keep in mind, the video is not evidence. It is an entirely self-serving, highly-edited production, produced by the potential defendants in any civil or criminal proceedings down the road. I suspect its intended purpose is to influence potential jurors.
I can’t tell from watching the footage whether the shooting was justified or not. I don’t know what is in the raw footage that was excluded from the video. What were the conversations between the officers before and after the shots were fired? Why is there no sound in one of the officer recordings, and what didn’t we hear? As many of you have pointed out, it’s not easy to hit a moving target. Did some or all of the bean bags actually hit the suspect? And yet so many of you were able to jump to conclusions …
Peter G. A new law in California requires police to release video and audio recordings of shootings or use of force incidents within 45 days.
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Since you admit that you “do have negative feeling toward LEOs..”, it’s unlikely that anything in the video will convince you that the actions of LEOs were appropriate and justified. Right?
As for staying “tight lip” – just like you, I’m all for it.
But shouldn’t it apply not only to WCPD, but also to John Burris and the family? Who are all over the news, trying to adjudicate the lawsuit in the court of public opinion? Likely because they don’t have much of a lawsuit to begin with, and are trying to put pressure on WCPD and the City of Walnut Creek to settle it out of court.
Thanks all for a free lecture in law and legal strategy . I am fascinated with law and clearly I don’t know much. Most of my meager legal knowledge coming reading legal thrillers ( mostly John Grisham). Anyway, thanks mtzman for offering the best explanation.
I have further questions regarding legal maneuvers but I rather go do research at the law library. Unless y’all want to privately tutor in law at no cost lol.
I have a brother David who is exactly like this guy. No matter what the family did to help he only got worse and even more violent. I could sympathize with his mental health but after watching my elderly parents fall apart and our friends and family shun us he wore us down. I can understand how things could be for this guys grandma. Not right being afraid and scared for your safety from your own children. Hopefully he can find peace.
@Retired LEO,
AGREE 💯 with your comments. Sad day for all involved, I feel for the family but the officers were just in their response to the situation.
RW, I’m guessing in the 70s you didn’t wear a bullet proof vest or seatbelt and you wore basically a motorcycle helmet while driving your squad car around. Long gone are the Brannigan days—- it’s 2019!
What this situation calls for is a much more efficient non lethal method of stopping someone. Though I believe as I did when the story first came out that the police saved this family from years of worry and pain.
I appreciated the video and information. Especially the 911 calls from the family and neighbors.
How do people know he was running away from the cops when it looked to me like he was charging in that direction?
I also wonder how the neighbors of the Hall family feel about the lawsuit. Multiple police calls, wielding a knife in a neighbor’s yard and then running through the neighborhood with that steel bar would make me take the side of the cops in a court of law. Neighbors living in fear in their own homes. No peace, no safe place. Do the grandmother and mother still live there? How would they face their neighbors? Must be uncomfortable.
Also just wondering why they took him to John Muir hospital instead of Kaiser which is right there. Better trauma care?
It’s a tragedy. Mental health issues are costing us too much and better treatments are needed.
Re: John Muir Hospital. You are correct. He was taken to John Muir as it is the only hospital in CoCo county accredited as a Trauma Center (Level 2).
WCPD was very professional. Its unfortunate what happened but this was suicide by cop.
To everyone saying he was trying to run past, you should probably get your eyes checked. He was clearly trying to dodge bullets and charge an officer. He was less than a second away from impaling an officer.
Soooo not a fan of cops, not one bit. And as sad & tragic as it is that Miles was killed, they did their job. It pains me greatly to say it but, well done WCPD.
A tragic ending to a terrible situation, but a justified shoot. Thank you WCPD for putting your lives on the line to keep our city safe!
This person was an obvious threat to this grandmother and mother. Listen to their telephone calls to police. The police non-lethal weapons are not effective. Hall was an dangerous to the public and others around him. The police did the right thing. The family should not have initiated a lawsuit against the City of Walnut Creek. Is it for money? Probably so. The opportunity is there for the taking. The family are responsible for this tragedy. They should have spent money on his mental health or even confinement.
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