Field News: A Handcuffed Chavis Carter Shoots Himself in the Head?

Do this for me: put your arms behind your back as if handcuffed. Now imagine that you somehow got a concealed gun from its well-hidden into your hands. Lastly, attempt to aim and fire said imaginary gun at your right temple. For those of us who are not double-jointed this proves to be a difficult feat. However, this is what police are saying happened to 21 year-old Chavis Carter.

In Jonesboro, Arkansas, police are investigating the murder of Chavis Carter, who was shot in the head while handcuffed behind his back while in the back of a patrol car last Saturday night. The story, as told by police, goes like this: Carter was arrested on a warrant, had marijuana found on him, searched not once, but twice by police, then placed in the back of the patrol car. Allegedly, while away from the car, police say they heard a thumping noise, turned around to find Carter dead, shot in the right-temple. Sgt. Lyle Waterworth is quoted below:

“As protocol, he was handcuffed behind his back, double-locked and searched…Any given officer has missed something on a search, you know, be it drugs, be it knives, be it razor blades…This instance, it happened to be a gun.”

So we as human beings with logical reasoning are expected to believe some key details:

1) That Carter was criminally inclined enough to conceal a weapon (a gun at that) so well that Academy trained police officers could miss it not once, but twice.
2) That Carter was double-jointed or something and able to remove said gun from its well-concealed position, all while handcuffed behind the back.
3) That Carter was then able to take aim at his head and without once missing, make a clean shot at his right temple.

I’m sorry, but I have to call shenanigans. I know club-bouncers who never miss a weapon, especially not a gun, yet Sgt. Waterworth talks about it as if it is common for trained police officers to miss them here or there. Chavis Carter’s mother, Teresa Carter, maintains from the bottom of her heart that her child was not suicidal, had no reason to be, and had even called his girlfriend to tell her he’d call her shortly from jail. At this point in time, all the details are not public however there are certain things we need to demand. We need to demand ballistics evidence showing the trajectory of the bullet matching the fairy-tale story of the police, we need suicidal motive, the reason the police were not paying attention to their suspect (to the point where he could perform such an intricate magic act), and we need to ask why someone who can’t even find a concealed gun on an every-day perp is “serving and protecting” anyone.

SEE ALSO: Yo Po-Po, Can I Live?

Lastly, I want to ask all of you why the police are investigating their own mishandling. In my opinion, it is the police who should be as much as a suspect as Carter himself. I’m not out-right going to point the conclusive finger, but I can’t help but feel like a primary suspect is investigating the crime. We can’t stand for this my fellow American peeps. Let’s seek justice for this heart-broken mother.

Arresting Officers Keith Baggett and Ron Marsh were both placed on administrative leave… safe and sound…

 

*UPDATES * “Updates in the Curious Case of Chavis Carter” –> http://wp.me/p2vzdP-cj

5 comments to Field News: A Handcuffed Chavis Carter Shoots Himself in the Head?

  1. Chuck says:

    This case is a lot more clear cut than the Trayvon Martin case. I think in situations like these, the FBI should be called in to investigate this case. And please, I hope we keep racism out of this, because killing a man should be wrong regardless of the color of the murderer of the victim.

    • thadocbell says:

      I completely agree. I wanted to intentionally avoid any racially charged language. I think to bring race into this one would dilute the real injustice here. The focus needs to remain on the inadequate police procedure and suspicious report. Thanks for reading!

    • Barbara says:

      They have been called in.

  2. Junior says:

    Your most recent comment reflects what I really appreciate about your coverage of this story. As of now, race should not be the main concern.

  3. Jasmine says:

    This guy was taken straight to the morgue. is this correct police protocol. no hospital? I know because my cousin is his friend.

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