Free Radio Santa Cruz: Police killings (interviews with family members)

So...Here's the problem I see with the Samuel Martinez police call....If the officer waited for backup, then there's a possibility that Mr. Martinez would have broken into the home and possibly hurt/killed/hostage(situation) the girlfriend and kids. If this happened, then the Martinez family would be asking questions to the police dept as to why it took so long for officers to arrive. Domestic Violence calls are the most dangerous calls and the officer responded in a very quick manner to insure the safety of the mother and children inside. The unfortunate part is that Mr. Martinez didn't comply with the officer and it ended tragically. There's alot of what if's, I know. If this judgement call goes down as the officer arrived to soon, then what's going to happen to the next Domestic Violence call and the officers now decide to go together, it takes longer than normal and the woman or child is beaten to death? The abuser got his way. All situations are different. The Martinez family might also be pushing for an open grand jury, but there maybe things in the findings that they are not aware of and maybe after they possibly get their way and find out all details, they might have wished different.
I am truly sorry for your loss.............

I happen to know this family very well and am very familiar with this case and the facts involved. Clearly stated in many of the media reports, Samuel was 'banging on the back door of his x-girlfriends house". "He's trying to break in my house" was NOT THE CALL. Also, FACTUALLY - there was NO EVIDENCE of breaking in after the police tried to find any.. It is also my understanding that if a police officer arrives on the scene of a violent crime (breaking an entry), they have the right to use lethal force, which is what I assume they were trying to create - unsuccessfully. It was a disturbance call, not a frantic, fearful domestic violence call. 911 operator took some details and hung up with the caller...

I don't believe that there is such a thing as 'arrived to soon' in any call, much less a domestic disturbance at 3.00am. I do believe that something is terribly wrong when the cop arrives, alone, allegedly struggles alone, tases 4 times and then shoots, and STILL NO BACKUP has arrived. The officer also stated - (also clearly stated in the media reports) that when he arrived, he saw Samuel getting out of the van - not trying to break in. A few neighbors that overheard the commotion, all say that they HEARD NO COMMANDS from the officer, just a struggle. "Mr.Martinez did not comply", does NOT justify shooting and killing an unarmed person. Some very key questions here should be 1)the failure of the taser (does it really save lives and keep officers from having to use lethal force) - in this case - NO.
2) Why didn't the taser work? incorrect use? malfunction?
3) Why wasn't pepper spray used?

The Martinez family is pushing for an open grand jury because they have the right to see the evidence that police allege justified shooting Sam and taking his life. Any family whose loved one is lost deserves that - regardless of who committed the homicide. Only police officers get grand jurys - yet they testify in court on a daily basis when they are not the accused. They get the protection of the DA's office, A very unfair and undemocratic process that does not serve the people. Martinez is not worried about findings - facts are facts and they cannot be changed regardless of what they are. Key facts here are: 1) Sam was unarmed 2) Police officer was uninjured (by their own reports) after alleging he was 'attacked' - some very critical points considering someone is dead and two young boys are without a father for the rest of their life.