NM Police open fire on a minivan full of kids

[GWN7]

New Mexico police shoot at van w/ kids during traffic stop | abc7.com


TAOS, N.M. (KABC) -- A police officer's dashboard camera captured a dangerous traffic stop on Oct. 28 in New Mexico.


The incident turned into a wild scene when the driver took off as she was being ticketed for driving 71 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone. Officers then opened fire on her minivan with her five kids inside.

In the video, Oriana Ferrell and a state police officer are seen arguing over a ticket just south of Taos. As the cop walks off, Ferrell drives away and is pulled over again by the same officer.

The officer isn't too happy, yelling "Get out of the vehicle right now!"

The dash cam shows the officer trying to pull Ferrell out while the five kids inside scream.

Her 14-year-old son gets out, but thinks again when the officer pulls his Taser. The struggle continues.

"Look, I'm going to ask you one more time to get out of the vehicle and then I'm going to pull you out, OK?" the officer said. "You're already facing evading charges. You ran away from me."

"Sir, I pulled back over, I didn't run away," the woman said. "You see my children. I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm just trying to take them to the Rio Grande."

Finally, Ferrell agrees to get out and talk, but the conversation doesn't last long. Ferrell and the cop struggle as she tries to get back into the van.

While that happens, the 14-year-old gets out again, and this time, he rushes the officer, trying to defend his mom.

After a short tussle, the boy runs back into the minivan. The officer tries to get him out while backup arrives.

Ferrell starts to drive off while another officer fires at the minivan full of kids as young as six.

She then takes them on a four-minute high speed chase into Taos, cutting into wrong way traffic before eventually pulling over and giving up in front of a hotel.

Ferrell was charged with five counts of abuse of a child, aggravated fleeing an officer, resisting an officer, reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her 14-year-old son was charged with battery of an officer.

The family is reportedly from Tennessee, but was taking a road trip through New Mexico.

[M.D. Holloway]

sad on many fronts, and I thought putting up with my Dad's singing during trips suck'd...

[saxen]

the mom was in the wrong the whole time. I have no sympathy for them.

[livi]

No matter what, shooting at a vehicle full of kids is completely awful. What the heck was that idiot thinking.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Another macho-man cop. Yes this woman was in the wrong but wtf? When are the citizens of this country going to stand up and start demanding accountability from government and its domestic military force in particular?

I say any cop who gets involved in an incident like this is permanently blacklisted from ever holding any position of public authority again - elected or appointed. They should also be subject to assault/battery/manslaughter/whatever charges like anyone else. They're not above the law and I'm sick and tired of them acting like it and getting away with it.

Additionally, any cop involved in an incident like this one should automatically forfeit any pension - I don't care how many years they've got in. The funds should go to an organization to help victims of police brutality. Automatic.

[VaSteve]

Did anyone see the video? I saw the video before reading this highly biased article.

The kid jumped out and attacked the officer. He's lucky he didn't get shot then and there.

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Did anyone see the video? I saw the video before reading this highly biased article.

The kid jumped out and attacked the officer. He's lucky he didn't get shot then and there.

You mean the unarmed 14 year old that looked like he is 100lbs soaking wet?

[dad911]

Saw the video. They sped off, high speed, and crossed into traffic. She and son deserve to be in jail, she could have killed an innocent bystander, or her kids.

I was raised not to attack police officers.

If someone chooses to train their offspring to attack the law, they deserve jail time.

[widgeon13]

Cops were wrong to shoot but why didn't she get out as the cop requested. They should be arrested.

[T77911S]

what was he shootiin at? her? tires?

it may have been a bit much. should he shoot if they are unarmed and not a real threat to him or someone else, other than causing a wreck.

there were crack/pot pipes found in her car also.

woman- 100% wrong
office- ??%wrong

[VaSteve]

Quote de VaSteve

Did anyone see the video? I saw the video before reading this highly biased article.



The kid jumped out and attacked the officer. He's lucky he didn't get shot then and there.

You mean the unarmed 14 year old that looked like he is 100lbs soaking wet?

Cool. We can start having the Trayvon Martin discussion again. 100# or not, he came out, twice, looking for action.

[widgeon13]

He was as big as the cop and was looking to have a go at it. Similar to TM situation but this time it's on video. So who says it's race related? Come on, the mother and the kid acted like idiots. Eventually the cop did as well.

[Chocaholic]

Yes, view the video before you comment. The "mom" was completely uncooperative. If she'd have simply been respectful, provided her license and registration, answered the questions all would be fine. Instead she makes a run for it? With a car full of kids? And had drug peraphernalia in the car with those kids?

Looked to me like the cop was trying to shoot out the rear tire. Not smart, but "mom" belongs in the slammer.

[Christien]

I watched the video. The mom and son should end up in jail, and both cops should lose their jobs, pension, and right to ever own a firearm again. Really, in the end it's a traffic stop. They've got the make/model/colour of car and the plate, maybe get a helicopter to track them, but smashing the window with the baton and shooting at a car with innocent children inside is completely unnecessary. Isn't shooting at kids what we're trying to prevent in Afghanistan? It's completely indefensible.

Just because the mom was a psycho b!tch and the 100-lb kid was aggressive doesn't mean they or the other kids should have their lives jeopardized. Punished, yes. Murdered, no.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Christien

I watched the video. The mom and son should end up in jail, and both cops should lose their jobs, pension, and right to ever own a firearm again. Really, in the end it's a traffic stop. They've got the make/model/colour of car and the plate, maybe get a helicopter to track them, but smashing the window with the baton and shooting at a car with innocent children inside is completely unnecessary. Isn't shooting at kids what we're trying to prevent in Afghanistan? It's completely indefensible.

Just because the mom was a psycho b!tch and the 100-lb kid was aggressive doesn't mean they or the other kids should have their lives jeopardized. Punished, yes. Murdered, no.

100% spot on....

[Rot 911]

Yeah, yeah, they didn't follow orders. Cops should have shot every kid in the mini van. That will teach people to respect the police.

[VaSteve]

This was 3 weeks ago. The cop doing the shooting (back up) I'm not sure is aware that the car is full of kids. Can you say the original officer knows what else is going on in that van while mom and son are being a problem? We know NOW what the situation is.
Certainly this situation spiraled way out of control. NM cops have been in the news recently...I'm betting that's why this video popped up.
I'm glad I'm not a cop.

[Gogar]

The mom was wrong,

The kid was wrong,

And I was totally rooting for them, which makes me feel pretty weird and guilty.

[sammyg2]

Was the woman wearing a hoodie?

Evidently that makes a difference

[widgeon13]

No but she did look a lot like Michelle.