[MO] St. Louis man charged with killing cop while in custody

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KaMaKaZe

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St. Louis man charged with killing cop while in custody

By TRACI ANGEL, Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (August 9, 2000 4:06 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - A police officer was shot and killed while arresting a man wanted in another officer's shooting last month.

Eddie Belk, 20, of St. Louis, was charged with first-degree murder.

Police said Belk was in a police car with his hands cuffed behind his back Tuesday when he fired a pistol that St. Louis officer Robert Stanze and his partner apparently missed when they searched him.

Stanze, 29, a seven-year veteran of the department, was the first St. Louis officer killed in the line of duty since 1994. He was the father of a toddler, and his wife is expecting twins.

"It's the nightmare for me," police chief Ron Henderson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's a dangerous job. We ask these guys to put their lives on the line, and that's what they do. These times are very tough."

Belk was being arrested in the shooting of a Berkeley officer who was shot about two weeks ago during a traffic stop. The Berkeley officer was recovering, apparently saved by a bulletproof vest.

Stanze also was wearing a bulletproof vest, but the bullet apparently entered an opening under his armpit and struck his heart.

Stanze's partner returned fire, shooting Belk in the shoulder. The defendant was hospitalized in satisfactory condition.

Witnesses said at least 20 shots were fired. The police vehicle was riddled with bullet holes, and the rear and side windows were shot out.

Besides murder, Belk also faces charges of armed criminal action, assault against a police officer and possession of crack cocaine.
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Missouri don't have the death penality do they? :confused:

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God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!
 
We have the death penality in Missouri. It just hasn't been used since our liberal, low life governor, Mel Carhnahan, has been in office. Hopefully whomever is governor when this....."person" has exhausted all his appeals will elect to fire him....on slow roast!

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Gunslinger
 
20 rounds for one shoulder hit? Time to get some training, I think. While they're at it, teach 'em how to search a suspect properly.
 
Originally posted by David Scott:
"20 rounds for one shoulder hit? Time to get some training, I think. While they're at it, teach 'em how to search a suspect properly."

It is very easy to sit at your computer and Monday morning quarterback itsn't it. This article does not say enough to make comments such as the above unless you were there when your partner gets killed.
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"Police said Belk was in a police car with his hands cuffed behind his back Tuesday when he fired a pistol that St. Louis officer Robert Stanze and his partner apparently missed when they searched him."

I don't think it takes a Mondaty morning quaterback to see that something went wrong here.

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"Get yourself a Lorcin and lose that nickel plated sissy pistol."
 
I fear the interpretation of the "rocket scientest's" on this one. We didn't get all the details in our local paper last night. The bottom line, a good man is dead because of pond scum and I'm afraid it will just be used to further imprison legal gun owner rights. This young man had a wife and small child who will grow up without a dad. All because a murderer was somehow allowed to walk the streets of the sheep and the arresting officers were a little sloppy. My prayers go to his wife and family and to us in the hopes we can make some changes in this country. Thanks for posting this one KaMaKaZe.
 
A similar incident happened in Brooklyn a few years ago. Two officers arrested a man in a shooting and recovered a weapon. The crowd of taxpayers that gathered didn`t want to see their neighbor arrested. The officers removed the handcuffed suspect from the scene before completing their search. The gentleman in question had a 2nd weapon.
 
I wonder if Belk was limber enough to get his arms in front of his body. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine how he could shoot with any accuracy with his hands cuffed behind his back.

???

Also, since the guy was a suspect in the shooting of another cop, it's hard to believe that the arresting officers didn't do a very thorough weapons search before they put him in the car.

BTW, the article doesn't say that it was the police officers who shot 20 times. It could be that Belk shot 18 times and the cops only shot twice.
 
Everything is as yet unclear in this tragedy. The officer's partner has made no public statement and the St. Louis City Police Dept. has not yet given any official explanation. Its not clear even who fired how many shots, much less when and how. Its just clear that something went very wrong in the arrest of this very dangerous criminal.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"A police officer was shot and killed while arresting a man wanted in another officer's shooting last month. [/quote]

This was a terrible, aweful tragedy, but this was UTTERLY avoidable. Mulitple cops onscene. The arrest was not just for a violent felony, but for shooting another cop, previously. I search thoughoughly for taking a guy in for traffic warrants. Why would you not take a fine-toothed-comb to him in this instance, when you have backup? Surely not complacency? Perhaps it was the idea that there was help there, and more cops coming?

We may never know. Tragically. My heart goes out to the officer's family.
 
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