US News Police TASER stepfather to stop him from running into burning home to save three-year-old toddler

[KaerfNomekop]

The family of a three-year-old killed in a house fire in Louisiana, Missouri, has said it is outraged after police used a stun gun on the boy's stepfather as he tried to run back in and save the child.

Riley Miller died in the early hours of October 31. Firefighters discovered his body near the doorway of his bedroom.

A city police officer fired his stun gun at Ryan Miller as he tried to re-enter his burning home, which was destroyed.

Grandmother Lori Miller said she witnessed two officers use the stun gun three times, twice after Ryan Miller had been handcuffed.

Miller suffered chest burns and was taken to the city jail, although he was later released without being charged.
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[Narks]

how morally ambiguous

on one hand, there is the argument that the police officer had no right to make a decision like that

but on the other hand, the police officer probably saved the stepfather's life
deontology vs utilitarianism
i personally find myself leaning towards the latter opinion

 

[Accname]

The question is, would you consider the policeman murderers if they left the man to die in the home because they didnt stop him? From their point of view it might have looked like attempted suicide to run inside. (I dont know how bad the fire was)
But on the other hand, if the man might have made it back out with the child the police now are murderers of the child. Highly questionable either way.

 

[KMilz]

You'd expect that if the police were willing to go to such lengths as to taser the man several times to keep him from going back inside to save a child that the fire would have to be wildly out of control. No one wants to think of a child being burnt to death. Even fewer want to see that father that ran back in to save him being burned up alongside him.

 

[FireCat]

Holy shit, That's terrible all the way around. But I can't say it's 100% police’s fault . Well, they were trying to protect him, but the father should not be arrested/tased for this.

 

[Slapshot136]

WTF is the point of having police at a fire if they aren't even going to help do anything?

 

[KMilz]

Helped keep the stepfather alive, by the sounds of it.

 

[Narks]

WTF is the point of having police at a fire if they aren't even going to help do anything?

that's what i am wondering, how did the police arrive on the scene? and before firefighters too?

maybe they were just passing by? or maybe it's policy to deploy police as well as firefighters?

 

[Varine]

that's what i am wondering, how did the police arrive on the scene? and before firefighters too?

maybe they were just passing by? or maybe it's policy to deploy police as well as firefighters?

Any distress call summons police. In smaller cities, it usually automatically calls a fire engine and an ambulance with it. I think a fire out of control enough to trap people is considered a good distress call.