Dying man's last words - 'All I wanted was a Snickers bar'

[Liberal_in_LA]

Dying man's last words - 'All I wanted was a Snickers bar'

A former Spokane Police Officer, accused of beating a mentally challenged man to death more than 6 years ago, has been sentenced to four years in prison.

On March 18, 2006 at approximately 8:25 PM, Otto Zehm, a 36-year-old mentally challenged janitor, walked into a Spokane, Washington gas station to buy a candy bar. Around the same time, police received a 911 call from two women. The women told police a white male with long blond hair, wearing a black jacket, jeans and boots, approached their car while they were at a drive-up ATM machine. The women believed the man was trying to get into their car, became frightened, and drove away. As they were leaving, they saw the man walk over to the ATM. As he walked away from the ATM, they report seeing a "receipt" in his hand and a "large wad" of what they believed to be money from the woman's bank account.

Officers were sent to the scene and spotted a man matching the description the women had given. According to the police radio recording, the suspect began fighting with Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr., the first officer to arrive on the scene. A video of the incident shows a different story however.

The store's surveillance video shows Zehm walking into the store, with Officer Thompson following moments later. Thompson approaches Zehm with his police baton in hand. Zehm turns and attempts to flee down a store aisle. Thompson strikes Zehm with the baton and Zehm falls to the ground. Thompson can be seen standing over Zehm, striking him multiple times.

Approximately 16 minutes after the confrontation began, Zehm stopped breathing. Paramedics arrived, administered CPR and rushed Zehm to the hospital. Zehm remained in a coma for two days before being pronounced dead.

It was later learned that Zehm had committed no crime.

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Assistant U.S. attorney Tim Durkin told the court:

"There were seven baton strikes in less than eight seconds. There is compelling medical evidence in this case that Mr. Zehm sustained serious bodily injury. When officers abuse their power and lie to cover it up, it fundamentally undermines their position of trust in the community."

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/337157#ixzz2D244lgGG

[Iggo]

1. Yay, Cops!

They're the best!

[blkmusclmachine]

2. .

.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

3. It's a good thing I'm not a judge...

My sentence to all cops in these situations would be to stand at the Mexican border a DEA jacket on.

[Dawson Leery]

23. +1000

[dorksied]

4. So the value of a life is 4 years? Hmm, good to know. :/

[demwing]

14. For a cop, 4 years will seem like 20

I don't imagine it's easy time being an officer in a prison cell

[Twinguard]

15. He (Thompson) was never convicted of murder.

He was convicted of using excessive force and lying to investigators.

[Chemisse]

5. Four years. If I did that I would get 20.

I am truly sick of police getting away with murder.

[kooljerk666]

6. Unless he stays in his cell 24 hours a day.............

he is gonna have problems, like chronic TBI & smashed bones.

People in jail do not like live cops.

[Chemisse]

7. Well I don't wish him that.

Perhaps we should build a special prison just for convicted cops - to keep them safe.

And then maybe we should feel compelled to fill that prison.

[kooljerk666]

8. It does not matter what we wish.........

people in jail do not like cops.

He is not gonna have many friends.

[Chemisse]

9. There is nothing wrong with wishing for the best.

[kooljerk666]

10. If a murderer can get out of jail in 4 years...

then their are a lot of outcomes that may look "evil" that really are for the best.

Who wants to live next to a murderer?

This guy is a killer & a liar, having him loose in society is not "the best".

I would cry a LOT more if I saw any animal hurt than if I saw this guy dead.

I have been framed by cops, watched them commit perjury & then spent 6 months in one of the worst jails in PA.

One good thing I got real real good at is waiting.......................and waiting....................and waiting...........

[Katashi_itto]

19. Yep..hopwfully he'll wind up somebodies punk.

[gstxdem4445ex]

16. +100

The whole justice system is rigged against us. So unfair

[The Doctor.]

11. Many Cowards become Cops

Because they think it will remove their insecurity.

They are always wrong.

[MjolnirTime]

12. Just give him the same seven baton strikes and see how he fairs.

[Katashi_itto]

20. I agree make the person delivering the strikes a Kendo master. At the min he'll never walk again.

[craigmatic]

13. If the victim had been a minority nothing would have happened to the cop.

[aletier_v]

17. but no discussion of the female hysteria that kicked it all off?

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. not sure. Event happened 6 years ago. I assume that was heavily in the

news back then - that the public required answers on the allegations of the paranoid women

[woo me with science]

18. Had enough yet, America? nt

[Iggy]

22. I Was Fed Up Some Time Ago...

the cop gets FOUR years??

why bother giving him any prison time at all?

Life (some) is cheap in America.