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Letter: Mourning the events that led to man’s death

Mar 23, 2023

With tears I watch the killing of Chase Allan. The place to argue rights is in the court — not on the side of a road.

About 5 Farmington Police contained him. There were some options before busting windows and physically attacking Allan such as calling for a mental health specialist or a negotiator.

When Allan gives identification and switches his phone from his right hand to his left hand an officer yells “Gun!…” The bodycam shows the gun on the floor. Was Allan finally attempting to undo the seatbelt with his right hand? Perhaps.

But the frightened officers “puckered” (police jargon) and fired. Within that brotherhood the saying is “Better to be tried by 12 than carried by six.” The public mourns every day officers killed across the U.S. Like us the officers have rights too wanting to go home to their families. Police have to make split-second decisions and we second guess.

The seatbelt was still around Allan when he was jerked out of the car.

So I cry as I see Allan slammed face down on the asphalt dying or dead. The officers’ priority is to handcuff Allan behind his back. One said there is at least “… one headshot”. Allan is now full of holes, no longer resisting and no longer a threat — first aid at that point should have been the priority.

When I think of how much the family, the community and the State had invested in this young man I am still in shock at how fast it can all come to an end. What is wrong with our U.S. culture? Could it be that our children receive a constant barrage of violence in T.V., movies, news, comic books and video games? Is not our society enamored with our violent gun culture of the old West vigilantism? Or are we in Hell?

Dixie Weeks

Woods Cross

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