A three-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department (and volunteer fireman) was shot Sunday night in West Baltimore during a traffic stop. To all who believe that police should use Tasers instead of guns, they did; unfortunately, 19-year-old suspect Donte Jones didn’t hesitate to use his gun against Officer Andrew Groman.
Dep. Commissioner Rodriguez & Homicide Commander announce arrest of man in shooting, attempted murder of BPD officer. pic.twitter.com/onEy9v6qhO
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) December 15, 2014
Baltimore Sun crime reporter Justin George has the details of the incident.
Baltimore police ID the officer shot last night as Andrew Groman, 27, 3-year veteran who took a bullet to the abdomen. He's in stable cond.
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
Baltimore police say they've charged 1 person in the officer shooting. 3 others brought in for questioning released.
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
Donte Jones, 19, is suspect police say who shot Baltimore police officer.
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
Suspect was on probation & parole
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
Police described Jones as a violent offender with 3 gun arrests. Asked to show hands in back seat, he did not.
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
He was Tased by police officer while Jones fired off 3 shots, hitting Offc. Gorman under his vest with one shot.
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
Entire incident happened after an officer on foot smelled pot from a car at gas station. He called for a traffic stop. Marked unit made stop
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
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Officers got driver out & then were asking passengers to get out when confrontation occurred
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
Commissioner Batts did not attend press conference. Could not address his protest quote from last night.
— Justin George (@justingeorge) December 15, 2014
What “protest quote” was that? Seeing as Officer Groman’s shooting came at the end of two days of protests and marches in the city against police brutality, Baltimore police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts reportedly took the liberty of saying at a press conference Sunday night: “We’ve had marches nationwide over the fact that we have lost lives in police custody. I wonder if we’ll have those same marches as officers are shot, too.”
Controversial? The Baltimore Sun reports that the group Baltimore Bloc called on Batts to apologize in a lengthy Facebook post.
Read our response to PC Batts's statement: https://t.co/Hr73qrUCP4
— Baltimore BLOC (@BmoreBloc) December 15, 2014
Baltimore Bloc condemns the insensitive and deliberately provocative comments made by Anthony Batts last night. Batts asked whether protestors would march for the officer who was non-fatally shot in West Baltimore. Though we are well aware that Batts’s question was rhetorical and disingenuous, we will address it in case the community is genuinely curious about why we protest for BPD’s victims and not officers…
…
Batts’s horrible “question” disrespects the work of this movement by erasing its motivation with false equivalency. More important, it once again dishonors and dismisses the lives his department has brutally stolen. Baltimore Bloc demands an immediate apology from Batts and the Department, and we demand that the Mayor and City Council join us in condemning his statement.
Commissioner Batts received praise from the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police.
We thank Comm. Batts for comments relative to protests & injured/killed police thanks for your support of our men & women and the job we do
— Baltimore City FOP (@FOP3) December 15, 2014
Related:
Pro-cop, anti-cop Tweeters battle over #ThankYouNYPD and #BlueLivesMatter hashtags [photos]
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