Article pulled from talgov.com http://www.talgov.com/communications/newsdetail.cfm?id=525
"Update on Shooting
July 18 On July 14, 2006, at approximately 10:25pm, the Tallahassee Police Department received a 911 call reference to a traffic crash with injuries in front of 2677 Old Bainbridge Road. Officer Doug Kutchera arrived on scene, and attempted to make contact with Ball, who was involved in the traffic crash. Several witnesses advised Officer Kutchera that Ball was acting irrational and observed him mutilating his genital area with an unknown metal object.
Off-duty Tallahassee police officer, Cleveland Allen, observed Ball’s action and stopped to assist Kutchera and asked him if he had a Taser. Allen then told Kutchera that he was going to get his Taser and started to run to get it. As Allen was running, Ball began chasing him screaming incoherently and waving the metal object above his head in a slashing motion as he chased Officer Allen. Fearing for the safety of Officer Allen, Officer Kutchera then began chasing Ball, telling Ball to stop. Ball turned toward Kutchera and began coming at him still screaming incoherently and waving the metal object above his head. Based on the actions and behavior of Ball, Officer Kutchera believed that Ball created an imminent threat to both Kutchera and Allen. Kutchera fired his weapon multiple times striking Ball. Investigators later identified the metal object in Ball’s hand as a pair of channel lock pliers.
The autopsy was performed on Saturday July 15. The final results of the autopsy, including the toxicology analysis, are pending release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. However, based upon observations on-scene, investigators have reason to believe Ball had been using cocaine and possibly other illegal narcotics prior to the traffic crash.
As with all law enforcement shootings, this event will be reviewed by the Leon County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury is scheduled to meet on August 31, 2006."
July 18 On July 14, 2006, at approximately 10:25pm, the Tallahassee Police Department received a 911 call reference to a traffic crash with injuries in front of 2677 Old Bainbridge Road. Officer Doug Kutchera arrived on scene, and attempted to make contact with Ball, who was involved in the traffic crash. Several witnesses advised Officer Kutchera that Ball was acting irrational and observed him mutilating his genital area with an unknown metal object.
Off-duty Tallahassee police officer, Cleveland Allen, observed Ball’s action and stopped to assist Kutchera and asked him if he had a Taser. Allen then told Kutchera that he was going to get his Taser and started to run to get it. As Allen was running, Ball began chasing him screaming incoherently and waving the metal object above his head in a slashing motion as he chased Officer Allen. Fearing for the safety of Officer Allen, Officer Kutchera then began chasing Ball, telling Ball to stop. Ball turned toward Kutchera and began coming at him still screaming incoherently and waving the metal object above his head. Based on the actions and behavior of Ball, Officer Kutchera believed that Ball created an imminent threat to both Kutchera and Allen. Kutchera fired his weapon multiple times striking Ball. Investigators later identified the metal object in Ball’s hand as a pair of channel lock pliers.
The autopsy was performed on Saturday July 15. The final results of the autopsy, including the toxicology analysis, are pending release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. However, based upon observations on-scene, investigators have reason to believe Ball had been using cocaine and possibly other illegal narcotics prior to the traffic crash.
As with all law enforcement shootings, this event will be reviewed by the Leon County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury is scheduled to meet on August 31, 2006."
The witnesses of this accident were 2 co-workers of mine. This all went down in front of Campus lodge on old bainbridge. The car that was hit spun and smashed into a tree and knocked the tree over pulling up all of its roots. The two witnesses, one was a young, pregnant woman, and the other was young male. The two were driving to the man's house to drop him off, when the car in front of them was struck at incredible speed. The events then escalated from a horrible traffic incident to those described above. The witnesses, my friends and co-workers were present until 2am answering questions for police officers. They were not a couple, the female was just giving our co-worker a ride home, something that I usually do for him. Though that particular night, I wasn't working. The cops repeatedly concerned my two friends, saying that it easily could have been them in the accident. What if it were? What if I had driven him home? Who would have witnessed it then? Many times people are too afraid or unconcerned to stop for traffic accidents. Before the self mutilation, before the police officer was threatened, before the fatal shooting, this was just a traffic accident. My friends put themselves at risk, to do the right thing for the victims. Would you have stopped to help?
-R.Mitrosky
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On a story where you take text from another source like this, you should provide a link to the original source and put copied material in quote marks (or use the blockquote html tag).
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