Low quality human beings. That’s what most cops are. They join the force for the purposes of putting themselves in a position where they’ll possibly one day have the opportunity to shoot another living, breathing human being with their service weapon and are always on the prowl looking for any kind of justification to scratch that sadistic itch. This incident was a perfect example of this very disturbing mindset. When you allow a low-IQ power tripping douche bag to carry a gun and a badge, people are going to get hurt, and that’s exactly what happened to this poor kid who was minding his own business sitting in his car eating McDonalds in a parking lot. That shit was CRAZY to watch. You have to wonder what, if anything was going through the head of this fucking simpleton idiot as he unloaded his clip into the side of this kids car as he drove away from him.
I am glad that prosecutors are finally starting to charge these pigs for the egregious crimes that they too often would get away with in the past. No more blue wall for the piggies. Though the SAPD still couldn’t help themselves from lying about the kids condition after the shooting by telling the press that Eric Cantu was in stable condition when in reality he was in critical condition and is still touch and go and might not survive. But we can find some solace in the prospect that this loser is for sure going to serve some serious time. If I were the prosecutor I wouldn’t allow any plea deals in a case like this. Let the jury skewer this piece of shit. The video speaks for itself. Set a precedent and make an example of this guy so that other piglets think twice before they unload a clip into another pesky citizen who dared to defy or disrespect them.
‘This was a failure of one police officer’: Ex-SAPD officer James Brennand arrested in shooting of teen
SAN ANTONIO — The former San Antonio police officer who shot and critically injured a teenager on Oct. 2 has been arrested on felony charges, Chief William McManus announced Tuesday night.
James Brennand, 27, was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault by a peace officer. He turned himself in to police at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. His bail was set at $200,000 and he was released Wednesday morning from the Bexar County Adult Detention Facility after posting a bond.
If convicted, Brennand could face up to 99 years in prison.
“That shooting was unjustified both administratively and criminally, and because there was that criminal component, we are bringing up these charges,” McManus said.
Body camera footage showed Brennand open the door of the red car, revealing a startled Cantu eating a hamburger behind the wheel. A female teenage passenger was also in the car.
Brennand ordered Cantu out of the vehicle while reaching in to grab the 17-year-old, an affidavit supporting Brennand’s arrest said. Cantu began driving in reverse, and the still-open door appeared to hit Brennand, although it did not cause him to fall, according to the affidavit.
As Cantu sped out of the parking lot, Brennand fired at least 10 shots toward the vehicle though he was “clearly not in danger of death or serious bodily injury,” the affidavit said.
Cantu was critically injured and remains hospitalized.
Brennand was fired by the SAPD because his actions violated department tactics, training and procedures, a police spokesperson said.
Hours before McManus’s announcement about the arrest, community activists called for Brennand’s arrest, saying that the former officer’s actions were “disturbing and bothersome.”
“That officer used extreme force and caught those teens completely off guard before he just started firing,” said Alyssa Doublet, an organizer with the activist group Party for Socialism and Liberation. The group, along with Act4SA, held a protest outside San Antonio Public Safety Headquarters Tuesday afternoon to demand justice for Cantu.
“Brennand and SAPD need to be held accountable. We can’t even go and get a hamburger without getting shot by police,” she said.
The protesters stood outside with signs saying “Jail killer cops” and “Justice for Erik Cantu.” Many expressed their anger that Cantu had been arrested hours after the shooting while Brennand was walking free.
Cantu was originally charged with evading arrest and aggravated assault on a peace officer, but Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said Friday that his office had rejected those charges.
He told reporters that his decision was an exercise in compassion. Because the teen was in custody at the hospital, his family was unable to visit him.
“He is still in critical condition, and it is touch and go, so it was my decision to dismiss the charges so his family could be by his side,” Gonzales said. “My concern is the health of this young man and his parents’ ability to see him.”
McManus said the charges against Brennand will be filed with the District Attorney’s Office, which will decide on the next steps in court. He said that they will only file more charges if Cantu does not survive his injuries.
After the shooting, McManus met with the training, tactical and academy leaders to assess whether the shooting stemmed from poor training, and McManus assured that their training is sound.
“This was a failure of one police officer, not a failure on our policies and training,” McManus said. “This incident won’t change our training because our training is sound.”
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