Cops, Lies, and Videotape

What the cops said:
University of Cincinnati cop Ray Tensing stated that DuBose had begun to drive off and that he was being dragged when his arm became caught in the car, that he was forced to fire his weapon.

What the video showed:
Tensing asks DuBose for his driver’s license and DuBose replies that he has a driver’s license but does not have it with him. Tensing asks, “Are you suspended?” Tensing starts to open the driver’s door and orders DuBose to remove his seat belt. DuBose pulls the door closed, starts the engine, and puts the car in drive. Within the next few seconds, Tensing reaches into the car with his left hand, yells “Stop! Stop!,” draws his pistol with his right hand, and fires once, striking DuBose, killing him instantly. Video clearly shows Tensing was NOT being dragged.

What the cops said:
Michael Slager, a white North Charleston police officer, radioed a dispatcher right after the shooting, stating, “Shots fired and the subject is down. He took my Taser.” In the police report, Slager said he feared for his life because Scott had taken his Taser.

What the video showed:
Slager shoots Walter Scott several times in the back as he is running away. Slager then walks over to Scott on the ground and handcuffs him. He then walks away and goes over to pick something up off the ground; walks back and drops something near the body of Walter Scott.

What the cops said:
Initial account given by Deputy Chief of Field Operations Ed Tomba, before the video emerged said that:
» Tamir was seated at a table with other people; that as the cops pulled up they saw him grab the toy gun and put it in his waistband.
» Police got out of the car and told Rice three times to put his hands up but he refused.
» Rice then reached into his waistband and pulled out the toy gun, and was then shot and killed by Officer Timothy Loehmann.
» Police described the toy gun as looking real and later explained that the neon tip of the toy gun was missing.

What the video showed:
The video shows the cops driving up, jumping out of their car and shooting Tamir within seconds.
» The video does not show the toy gun in Rice’s hands in the moments immediately before the police car approaches.
» The video shows Rice being shot almost immediately after police officer Loehmann exits the vehicle.
» The video shows Tamir did not pull out the toy gun and that he is using both hands to hold his shirt up just before he falls to the ground.
» Police never saw Tamir brandish or point the pistol at them to determine if the orange cap was actually missing or not

What the cops said:
The cops say they “feared for their lives” because Harrison had a screwdriver.

What the video showed:
Video shows cops walking up to the front door. Harrison’s mother steps away from the front door and tells the two officers that her son is “bi-polar and schizo.” Jason Harrison is standing in the doorway just holding a screwdriver in his hands. The cops tell him to drop it and then within two to three seconds, they start firing at him.

What the cops said:
Police say Castaway ran at two officers armed with a knife.

What the video showed:
Video shows that Paul Castaway was holding the knife to his own neck the whole time, until he was shot down and killed by the cops.