Ottawa Hills Shooting

The Village of Ottawa Hills was established in 1915 as the hole in the doughnut, or refuge from the city of Toledo.  The city of Toledo would like to annex the village, but seeing as how village residents are wealthy and affluent beyond anything Toledo will ever have to offer, I don't think that will happen anytime soon.  Here are the boundaries of Ottawa Hills.

If you believe their official website (click here) everyone is welcome to come in and take a look around.  From the Ottawa Hills welcome page:

We invite you to take a look around. Ottawa Hills might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

While you're visiting just be sure you fit in with the rest of the populace.  That is, you have money, prestige and carry the business cards of a whole slew of personal friends and business associates that no smart cop would cross.  Also plan on meeting Officer Friendly of the Ottawa Hills Police Department.  Officer Friendly likes to get to know the residents real well.  Again, from the official Ottawa Hills website:

Ottawa Hills has its own full-time fire and police departments, and it’s not surprising for residents to know the names of police officers and firefighters.  Taking the time to know families and pets is just one example of what makes this village special.

If this is true, then Officer Thomas White knew that Michael McCloskey was not a resident of Ottawa Hills.  Therefore, Officer White was completely justified in pulling McCloskey over and shooting him in the back.  Officer White felt threatened.  Click here for the dash cam video of the shooting, courtesy of ABC, and here for coverage from the Toledo Blade and here for a complete story from the Newsmeister.

The shooting occurred on May 23, 2009 and is Thomas White finally coming to trial to face felonius assault with a firearm specification.  After watching the video, I would think this POS would be facing a more serious charge, but the rules are different for police.  The real miracle here is that White is being charged at all.

I've read arguments that White may have had an accidental discharge, which I doubt are accurate.  White is using a Glock pistol which has a very long trigger pull designed to prevent the pistol from being discharged accidentally.  White was angry with the victim, as evidenced by his actions after the shoot.  White continues to curse and harass McCloskey after shooting him in the back, and will not lift McCloskey's motorcycle off him, which resulted in McCloskey's leg being burned so badly it might have to be amputated.

This entire incident shows the unbelievable arrogance of the Ottawa Hills police.  Obviously the police believe they are allowed to threaten anyone they like by pulling and pointing that pistol they carry.  If they shoot, too bad for the target.  He shouldn't have ventured into Ottawa Hills.

I think it's past time for tolerance of the tyrannical, fascist actions of an ungoverned police department.  Until new governmental officials are elected, carry the telephone numbers of your attorney and a good bail bondsman with you along with a video camera.  If enough incidents like this one are captured on video and released on the Internet, maybe our elected officials will begin to understand we won't take the abuse any longer.