One of the men goes for her phone. The other grabs at her hands. Ozturk screams. Shock and fear ripple through her voice. Two masked women join them, tugging at her backpack, peeling the straps from her shoulders. “I’m going somewhere, I need to call someone,” she pleads. “We’re the police. Relax,” one of the men says in response.
They surround her. Then, one by one, they pull their neck gaiters up to cover their faces. “You don’t look like police,” a voice off screen says. “Why are you hiding your faces?” The questions continue, but the figures don’t respond. Instead, they cuff Ozturk, cross the street, and put her in an unmarked SUV. She is gone.
A legal defense can easily be mounted. If they did not identify themselves as police officers, or had any proof of being police, you are clear to use lethal force. The victim had all right to believe that they are a victim of first degree kidnapping, a crime with a punishment that is 2nd only to 1st degree murder in US law.
Their conduct is not one you would expect of law enforcement. So I will say it. Shoot. Shoot to kill.
Legal defense doesn’t matter for you when you’re shot or choked dead by “police” because you defended yourself against an unknown assailant.
Is that an official legal stance? I love it, but I’ve also seen undercover cops do the same stuff on the internet and with laws like Qualified Immunity I reckon that there are already laws in place to support these “just” actions
They said they are police and took out badges.
I can very easily buy a fake badge, flash it at you, and say I’m police.
This is why uniforms and agency-labeled vehicles (with id numbers!) exist. The fact that we still do not know the names of these officers should be enough evidence to prove that these could’ve not been officers at all.