A man was shot and killed earlier this month by Colorado law enforcement after reportedly being pulled over by police. The man was allegedly stopped because of a traffic violation, but police say he ran. While the officers chased the man, they said that they believed he had a gun, so he was shot.
It isn’t clear whether the man actually had a gun, nor did reports indicate how many officers shot at the man. This situation is unfortunate, but demonstrates that sometimes people are arrested with force and under very vague circumstances. When a person is arrested, they have the right to be treated fairly.
Too much force by police officers could be in violation of a person’s rights. In this case the man was killed, but in other cases where a person might later stand trial, they may provide information to police unintentionally because of mistreatment.
Speaking with an experienced criminal defense attorney after an arrest might be a wise decision. They can evaluate how the arrest occurred and make sure that the person’s rights were not violated. If it is found that the person’s rights were violated, an attorney can help take appropriate action. In some cases a person may have charges dismissed.
Each situation is unique, so it is important that people have the opportunity to be treated in a fair manner. An attorney can work to form a rigorous defense and ensure a person’s rights are protected from their arrest through their entire trial. If someone is convicted, they might be able to seek an appeal.
Source: Denver Post, “Fruita police fatally shoot man following traffic stop,” Kirk Mitchell, June 15, 2013