“Force always attracts men of low morality.” — ALBERT EINSTEIN
By Alex P. Vidal
Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia appeals for impartial inquiry as Fil-Ams raise ‘disproportionate force’ issue against responding Virginia cops who shot dead a 38-year-old Fil-Am from Bulacan. (Source: InterAksyon.com)
We don’t know what rules of engagement (if they are covered by the rules) did the American cops use when they responded to a commotion that resulted in the killing of Filipino-American Costco warehouse worker Mylene De Leon Scott on May 29 in Virginia, USA.
Either the life of the lawman who fired the shot or the lives of others present in crime scene were in danger that the situation warranted the use of excessive force, or the cops were unfit to deal with cases involving people with emotional and mental disability (Mrs. Scott had been suffering from nervous breakdown, according to a Canada-based relative).
Based on initial reports, it appears that the cop who shot and killed Scott may have panicked after efforts to calm her down with a taser failed. She was reportedly armed with a knife and scissor and was acting hysterically.
The question that boggles the minds of many people is this: if the cop failed to neutralize the 38-year-old Scott with a taser, was it necessary to fire a gun five times and fatally hit the woman amok? Rules of Engagement are rules or directives to military forces (including individuals) that define the circumstances, conditions, degree, and manner in which force, or actions which might be construed as provocative, may be applied.
‘PROVOCATIVE’
If Scott’s actions were “provocative” was it necessary to kill her in order to stop her from committing a violent act? Rules of Engagement supposedly do not normally dictate how a result is to be achieved but will indicate what measures may be unacceptable.
It is given that cops in the Unites States, or any other countries for that matter, are trained to overpower hostage takers or individuals who run berserk, with the use of lesser force like taser, bat, or physical contacts proportionate to violent acts. But not the capital punishment of death!
In the case of Scott, extra caution should have been observed since firstly, she was a woman; secondly, she wasn’t carrying a high-powered gun; and thirdly, she was not known to be a hardened-criminal. Responding deputy sheriffs don’t respond to a call for commotion alone. They arrive in crime scene as partners. They have back ups and armed with walkie-talkies, cuffs, bats and service firearms. A knife-wielding woman doesn’t have a chance versus two male cops in any confrontation.
INVESTIGATION
We just hope Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman will leave no stone unturned in the investigation now that the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC has asked US probers to focus on concerns by Fil-Ams that “law enforcement officials may have responded with disproportionate force” when they shot dead Scott.
We just hope Chapman meant well when he said during the press conference that “It’s a very unfortunate situation for everybody. I just want to make sure our deputies are safe and everything gets investigated properly. Ultimately we’ve got to go through and interview all the witnesses … I don’t want to speculate on minuscule details at this time.”
Meanwhile, in a statement posted at the official website of the Embassy, Philippines Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. extended “deepest sympathy to the family of Mylene De Leon Scott . . . who was shot dead by police officers responding to a reported disturbance inside the Costco Wholesale Store in Sterling, Virginia, on Wednesday, 29 May 2013.”
ASSISTANCE
Cuisia added: “The Embassy stands ready to extend its assistance to the family of Ms. Scott. We will continue to coordinate with police authorities in Loudoun County to secure more information on this case.”
The embassy said it shared “the concerns expressed by Ms. Scott’s family in the Philippines and the members of the Filipino-American Community that law enforcement officials may have responded with disproportionate force.”
The statement concluded: “We request authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation of the incident.”
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RELATED STORY:
Woman Handing Out Samples at Va. Costco Shot Dead by Police After Acting Strangely
Police tried to subdue her with stun gun, then shot her
By Mila Mimica
NBC Washington
NBC Washington
The family of a woman fatally shot while handing out samples at Costco is questioning the use of deadly force against their loved one.
The melee began at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, when store employees noticed 38-year-old Mhai Scott acting oddly while handing out pizza samples, said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.
Scott reportedly became upset when she ran out of pizza, reported Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey. Witnesses said she was waving a knife and scissors, threatening employees.
Deputies were called to the store to handle the disturbance. After they arrived, Scott — who worked for a company that handles sampling at Costco stores — approached the officers with the sharp items, authorities said.
One deputy tried to use a stun gun on Scott, but Chapman said the stun gun “did not work,” and another deputy fatally shot her.
A sheriff’s deputy also was wounded in the leg by a ricocheting bullet. The injury was not life-threatening.
Only one deputy fired shots, Chapman said. Both deputies were placed on paid administrative leave.
Relatives of Mhai Scott are gathering in Loudoun County to grieve and make arrangements. Other family members, including her mother and sister, are in mourning in the Philippines, Scott’s homeland. Her ex-husband, who is in the U.S. military, just returned to the Sterling area to join relatives.
Scott’s mother and sister told Philippine television station ABS-CBN News she was the mother of two girls, aged 8 and 12. In the Filipino TV story, Scott’s sister says she had an ongoing dispute with her ex-husband over the custody of their two girls.
Her sister said she had spoken to Scott about an hour prior to the shooting and didn’t think anything was wrong.
The following statement was submitted Thursday by the Philippine Embassy regarding the shooting:
“The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Mylene De Leon Scott, a member of the Filipino-American Community, who was shot dead by police officers responding to a reported disturbance inside the Costco Wholesale Store in Sterling, Virginia, on Wednesday, 29 May 2013.
The Embassy stands ready to extend its assistance to the family of Ms. Scott. We will continue to coordinate with police authorities in Loudoun County to secure more information on this case. We share the concerns expressed by Ms. Scott’s family in the Philippines and the members of the Filipino-American Community that law enforcement officials may have responded with disproportionate force. We request authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation of the incident.”
The Costco Warehouse Store is located at 21398 Price Cascades Plaza in Loudoun County, Va. It reopened at 10 a.m. Thursday. No samples were being handed out.
Nora Lateef said she was at the food court in the store when she saw three deputies rush into the store and head toward the employee lounge, asking, “Where is Linda?”
Soon, Lateef said, she heard five shots and the store was evacuated. They were saying “Everybody out of the store! Out of the store!” Lateef said.
Shopper Elizabeth Avelar told News4 she believes she had contact with Scott prior to the shooting. “The woman was very nice, very polite,” Avelar said.
Avelar was later ushered out of the store following the incident.
“I had no idea whether somebody was being shot, if there was a bomb threat,” Avelar said. “It was very difficult to get out of the parking lot — people were honking their horns. It was frightening.”
Chapman said Scott was an employee of Club Demonstration Services, Inc., a Costco subcontractor.
CDS President Don Dohanyos released a statement Wednesday:
“We are extremely saddened by the situation that occurred at the Costco warehouse in Sterling, Va., earlier today. We are treating this with the utmost sensitivity and are cooperating fully with the authorities as they gather more details on the events leading up to the shooting of our CDS associate. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was affected by this event.”
CDS issued a new statement Thursday, saying Scott worked part-time for them since October 2012.
“She was a valued member of the team” and “a respected associate,” the statement said.
Dohanyos said grief counselors are available to employees.
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