As I returned home from the Hun Farm on New Year's Eve, I saw all the commotion near my house, in Arlington, Texas.  A man supposedly jumped to his death.

I did not witness the man jump, however I did see the local authorities amassed on the SH 360 / I-20 overpass and merge ramps.

It was reported that the man sat on the edge of the 100 foot overpass for 2+ hours prior to finally commiting suicide.  During which time, it was reported that authorities tried to talk him down / out of killing himself.

RE: News report  [url]http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/states/texas/arlington/4853548.htm[/url]

And my original post in the Texas Hometown Forum: [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=8&f=8&t=450[/url]

Well, apparently the Arlington Police Department failed to leave out of the (publically available) report that an officer used a stun gun seconds before the man "lept" to his death.  WTF?  If I was teetering on the edge of an overpass and someone shot me with a stun gun, I'd probably fall too!

A firefighter dropping off a patient at the ER (where I work) last night stated that he witnessed the man reaching for the edge of overpass as he was falling.......true?  God, I hope not.  But I can't figure out why he would just make that up.

Anyhow, the newly released information surfaced when a news photographer made aware to the public that he had captured an officer using a stun gun on the supposed suicide victim.

Updated News Release:  

[url]http://www.wbap.com/shownews.asp?ID=55499[/url]

That's BS - he was sitting on the edge.  Not on the other side of the "waist high" retaining wall.  If I was the chief, I'd do some quick tap dancing too (making sh*t up to the press, AS THEY ALREADY HAVE) - knowing that vital information such as USING A STUN GUN was left out of the official report!!!!!

I don't know what they'll class this as.  This is outrageous!  The Arlington Police Department is an OUTSTANDING organization - to hear this coming from among their ranks is simply doumbfounding.

I don't know what to think.

I don't care about the fellow.  People intent on doing that either will or won't - doesn't matter to me.

The Arlington Police Department is a very commendable and professional organization.

Omitting vital information from the publically available report is something to wonder about though.

Why would they do that?  THAT'S what's gotten me angry.  Something's not up to the department's par for honesty.

By all means, take your time to read the entire story and think for yourself.

The press released what was given to them from the police talking heads and the official report.

THEN - a news reporter says that the PD is full of crap by showing proof that there was more to the story than they claimed.

So now this gives them what the police report states and what the pictures show (which, by the way, in case you weren't paying attention, are different).

Roger that.  Press consultants or talking heads (for the department) shouldn't be given a big say so.

Is this a fairly new integration?

Good point.  Maybe it would've lasted longer - or he could've been talked out of it had they not shot him.

Like the adage says, "Its not how you do it - its how you look doing it."

Quite sad.

You're trolling.  Just as you did in the (now) tacked AW Ban thread - go away.

Wow.  That's crazy!  Please let us know if you hear about it being used!

Yep I was also disppointed my hometown PD would 'forget' an important detail like this. I'm, not sure about our chief though... APD has gotten pretty big and I'm not sure the mgt. is up to the task sometimes. Its not the cops fault he wanted to jump, but if you're going to get in the middle of a situation at least be honest about what you did. What other 'details' will they forget in other cases?

If they were intent on trying something to help the situation, why not lasso him instead? Even a 3rd rate roper could have snagged him from a few feet away.