Cleveland police officers do good things and Cleveland police officers do bad things. The juxtaposition is heightened immeasurably in the wake of Tamir Rice’s death. And while news outlets around town can’t report on every situation officers find themselves in, the sense of contrast is worthwhile and meaningful — always, and particularly right now.
This morning, Second District Officers Vic Nan and Marty Lentz gave pursuit after noticing three juveniles out after curfew near the West Side Market. As they began their chase, the 17-year-old kids fled. The whole story is available at the Second District Community Relations Committee’s Facebook page, but here’s where the police work hits a towering climax (emphasis ours):
As the chase unfolded, C-Platoon Officer Scott Sistek #1395 and his partner, who were also patrolling the area, observed the pursuit and joined in, following the suspect in their marked zone car before also joining in the foot pursuit. As the pursuit continued, the 17-year old suspect from Cleveland’s far east side pulled a semi-automatic, .380 caliber handgun from his waistband as Officer Sistek closed in on him. Still running, the juvenile fumbled with and dropped the handgun as he approached W.25 St. Fearing for his safety, Officer Sistek then “Tasered” the felon, causing him to crumble to the ground thereby ending the pursuit and the threat posed by the once armed delinquent.
The bit about Sistek “fearing for his safety” is an interesting callback to Officers Timothy Loehmann and Darren Wilson, of Cleveland and Ferguson, Mo., respectively, who similarly said they feared for their safety and then shot and killed unarmed “suspects.” Sistek, meanwhile, is here dealing with a known felon who’s pulling a semi-automatic. And he busts out the Taser.
All three juveniles are now locked up in the County Detention Center.
The officers’ efforts are currently being lauded by the Second District community.
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2014.
Even in a situation like this, there are people out there who are furious and think that these juveniles have been wronged by police and the police are in the wrong. Yes, it’s ridiculous, but this is the battle everyone has to fight. These perceptions are out there for a reason, and they have to be fought so minds can be changed.
What part of, ‘he dropped the handgun as he approached W. 25th’ does this person writing this article not understand? And then you compare this to the other case? You’re an idiot!
I agree that this is an example of a good cop, and it stands in contrast to the nutcase cop who killed Tamir and never gave Tamir a chance.
However, this officer saw the suspect DROP HIS GUN before he used his Taser. Big difference.
Isn’t Officer Lentz one of those who were involved with beating a guy on the shoreway after a chase a year ago or so?