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Georgia Pastor Killed in Botched Drug Bust

| September 3, 2009

Developing story in Georgia, where church pastor Jonathan Ayers was shot and killed by undercover narcotics officers during a botched drug sting on Tuesday afternoon. Ayers was not the target of the investigation.

Police were apparently after a woman Ayers had dropped off just prior to stopping at the convenience store where police confronted him. Surveillance video shows a black SUV pulling up to the store, and plain-clothes officers jumping out with their guns drawn before the vehicle has stopped. Ayers' car then backs into the picture, and the officers fire into his car as he drives off. Ayers was shot in the liver, crashed his car a short distance later, and died at the hospital from the bullet wound.

A police spokesperson says the officers identified themselves as they got out of the truck, though even if they did, it isn't difficult to see how someone in Ayers' position might panic when confronted with armed, plain-clothes men who'd just jumped from a black SUV. He had also just returned from getting money from the store's ATM. There were no drugs in Ayers' car.

Ayers leaves behind a wife who is four months pregnant.

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Kyle Jordan|9.3.09 @ 9:09AM|

Nothing will come of this.

This man was murdered and his killers will not be brought to justice.

Warty|9.3.09 @ 9:11AM|

So when the cops were watching The Wire, they took it as helpful suggestions?

Xeones|9.3.09 @ 9:12AM|

I'm sure the book will be thrown at these murdering scum. They'll have at LEAST a week of paid administrative leave to think about what they did.

Xeones|9.3.09 @ 9:14AM|

At least this is just an isolated incident. Right?

Right?

Right?

Right?

Right?

Right?

Right?

|9.3.09 @ 9:15AM|

Radley, will you be writing about this story anywhere besides Reason? The whole country needs to hear your take. The regular media will call it unfortunate but never mention how this is a consequence of the War on Drugs and related police tactics. And, unfortunately, Reason's preaching-to-the-choir circulation ain't gonna cut it.

hmm|9.3.09 @ 9:16AM|

To clarify. The officers got out of a vehicle with weapons drawn, then identified themselves to a man in another vehicle? How exactly do you positively identify yourself to someone at least 10 feet away in a closed vehicle?


Why didn't they just block him in and walk up to him badges in their hands?

Joe M|9.3.09 @ 9:22AM|

I was going to be snarky but this is just wrong.

It's sickening. Not only were they completely unmarked on both the vehicle and their outfits, but they're shooting guns at a FUCKING GAS STATION. GET A FUCKING CLUE. I almost wish the entire place had blown up. That would've woken people up the fact of the utter irresponsible, unthinking bullshit that is a fact of daily police life.

I hope the community gets REALLY outraged and gets some results, but I won't be holding my breath.

|9.3.09 @ 9:23AM|

So if a bunch of guys wearing civilian clothes and pointing guns at you yell "Police," you're supposed to believe them and do whatever they say? I'll remember that next time I plan a carjacking.

Art-P.O.G.|9.3.09 @ 9:24AM|

Why didn't they just block him in and walk up to him badges in their hands?

Because apparently vice cops have to attempt to apprehend all suspects like the suspects are battle-hardened terrorists.

Ska|9.3.09 @ 9:24AM|

What's the fun in that, hmmmm, when you can go all mad dog, guns drawn, shouting at your vict,er perp, no, um, investigative target(?) to stop the car and keep your hands in plain sight.

|9.3.09 @ 9:25AM|

According to an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the family were first told that he died in an automobile accident. After that, they were told that he had been shot. It was only later on that it was revealed to the family that it was an officer-related (aka 'isolated incident') shooting.

And yes, of course, according to the police spokesman who wasn't on the scene, the officers did try to warn him: "They yelled, 'Police. Stop,'" Shirley said.

Joe M|9.3.09 @ 9:25AM|

The task force agents involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay, Shirley said.

OF COURSE THEY WERE! It's not like they did anything wrong. Jesus Christ, how many more times does this kind of shit have to happen before people wake the fuck up?!

|9.3.09 @ 9:26AM|

From the San Diego Examiner: Ayers was apparently unaware that the officers had no warrant and he could have simply driven slowly away or even walked away without answering questions.

Ya think?

Jozef|9.3.09 @ 9:28AM|

From today's AJC:

Carpenter [the victim's brother-in-law] also told AccessNorthGa.com that the family was first informed Ayers died in a traffic accident, and then that he had been shot. Hours later, they learned he died in an officer-involved shooting.

[. . .]

WNEG-TV has surveillance video showing Ayers casually entering a Shell convenience store in Toccoa around 2:30 p.m.

According to that video, a black SUV carrying undercover officers pulls into the parking lot after Ayers left the store.

The pastor tried to avoid them, Shirley said Wednesday, striking one of the agents after putting his car in reverse.

"They yelled, 'Police. Stop,'" Shirley said.

Witnesses to the incident also said the officers identified themselves, said Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead.

Shirley said Wednesday that Ayers maneuvered his car towards another agent in a "threatening manner." However, that is unclear from the video.

Ska|9.3.09 @ 9:31AM|

Ah, the old "reverend tried to run down a cop" defense. How noble of them.

|9.3.09 @ 9:32AM|

Why shoot at the car? Let's say the cops were right and this guy was a drug kingpin dropping off one of his mules. So, they can't follow him? They can't write down his tag number? You can't use deadly force unless absent self defense. They shot this guy for running away. That is murder. All these guys should be up on murder charges.

|9.3.09 @ 9:34AM|

Wow, its PUNK cops like this I just LOVE to hear about in the news that get clipped in the line of duty. Lowlife scumbags!

RT
www.anonymous-web.be.tc

|9.3.09 @ 9:34AM|

"Witnesses to the incident also said the officers identified themselves, said Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead."

Not good enough. Wear a uniform.

jpocali|9.3.09 @ 9:36AM|

Fuck! How many innocent (including users) people have to die over this!?!? This is fucking unreal. So now a wife lost her husband, an unborn child has no father, all for what? To keep someone else from getting high and kicking some chocolate cakes ass??? Fuck each and everyone of these officers. Fuck them hard and mercilessly.

Kyle Jordan|9.3.09 @ 9:36AM|

Guys with guns pointed towards and screaming at me while I'm driving?

Yeah, you bet I'm running the motherfuckers down!

This is just an awful story. One that happens way too damn often.

|9.3.09 @ 9:40AM|

What the fuck is wrong with Georgia?

John|9.3.09 @ 9:40AM|

Assuming that Ayers could hear the cops, their argument presumes that encountering cops with handguns drawn isn't a great reason to run like hell.

robc|9.3.09 @ 9:43AM|

What the fuck is wrong with Georgia?

Yes, Ive noticed from the series of Radley's articles that all of the isolated incidents have occurred in Georgia.

WTF?

|9.3.09 @ 9:43AM|

Fucking pigs. Tens of thousands killed just because pigs want to make it marginally more difficult to get drugs. Fucking pigs. Nothing will come of these. These fucking pigs will get off. Damn thing is, I bet these pigs don't feel one iota of regret. Did I mention they are fucking pigs?

Art-P.O.G.|9.3.09 @ 9:47AM|

What the fuck is wrong with Georgia?

I think you should say "nationwide". Or Mississippi.

|9.3.09 @ 9:48AM|

From reply to this

wayne|9.3.09 @ 9:48AM|

When I was in Iraq, there was a similar incident. A bunch of armed men in plain clothes jumped out of an SUV and shouted directions at one of the vehicles in a Personal Security Detail that was hauling some guys to a location in Baghdad. The PSD guys ran them down and continued on their way. Nothing more was said of the incident.

|9.3.09 @ 9:53AM|

Try that again
From here

Ayers was apparently unaware that the officers had no warrant and he could have simply driven slowly away or even walked away without answering questions.



That's an odd construction.
Of course he was unaware they had no warrant. How could he have known?
Is there any reason to believe he was trying to avoid answering questions?
So he could have driven slowly, or walked, but because he fled in haste, it's OK to shoot him?

|9.3.09 @ 9:55AM|

Warren broke the internet!

|9.3.09 @ 9:58AM|

To the good officers of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Jack Dunphy salutes you.

Art-P.O.G.|9.3.09 @ 10:02AM|

I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out how the WoD, as executed now, would seem like a good idea to anyone who wasn't either evil or a brain moron.

wayne|9.3.09 @ 10:03AM|

Warren,

How did you do that?

|9.3.09 @ 10:06AM|

|9.3.09 @ 10:06AM|

Oops

Jozef|9.3.09 @ 10:07AM|

What the fuck is wrong with Georgia?

Things weren't the same here since the Russian troops left...

|9.3.09 @ 10:08AM|

"So he could have driven slowly, or walked, but because he fled in haste, it's OK to shoot him?"

Exactly. The cops in this case are acting under the assumption that it is okay to shoot anyone who runs from a drug bust.

Announce Yourself|9.3.09 @ 10:12AM|

*cough* *cough* police *cough* *cough* *ahem* *cough*

|9.3.09 @ 10:14AM|

This is only one example of the Gestapo tactics that this particular man in this DTF uses on a regular basis. Ask anyone in this area. We are all sick and tired of it but nothing will be done unless there is some outside intervention. It is known as a "Hostile" County because everyone involved is afraid of the fallout if anything is done about it. Seriously. Drugs will be planted on YOU if you point the finger. Your family will be targeted, you will be pulled over CONTINUALLY, and threats will be made. SERIOUSLY.

In the part of Toccoa that this happened I would never stop my car for anyone who jumped out at me with guns drawn shouting. Get real.

It was first reported that the Preacher was involved with drugs, then when non drugs was found on, in, or around the preacher OR the other lady involved, it was then reported that he was soliciting her for sex. GET REAL. Then they cover themselves about the shooting by saying he tried to run them over. ASK AROUND - ASK HOW MANY TIMES THIS PARTICULAR DTF MAN HAS SAID THAT SOMEONE TRIED TO RUN HIM OVER JUST TO JUSTIFY SHOOTING. It's so many times that it has become a joke. And I again say SERIOUSLY.

What will happen next is that they will pressure the lady to say certain things and they will offer to get her or someone in her family out of trouble if she collaborates. Watch and see.

Meta4|9.3.09 @ 10:16AM|

Today's Atlanta Journal Constitution headline:

Ton of marijuana seized in Gwinnett
Police, DEA nab Mexican-grown drugs from tractor trailer rig in Doraville.

|9.3.09 @ 10:18AM|

This is really unfortunate, I am sorry for his family.

Meta4|9.3.09 @ 10:19AM|

"What the fuck is wrong with Georgia?"

Where to begin?

Wicks Cherrycoke|9.3.09 @ 10:23AM|

"I'm sure the book will be thrown at these murdering scum. They'll have at LEAST a week of paid administrative leave to think about what they did."

Not in San Francisco apparently. I wonder if this would fall within the scope of the amenesty declared by the Chief for "minor" discipline offenses such as DWI...

|9.3.09 @ 10:23AM|

don't worry, most police are good people. that just happen to murder lots of other people and protect their own murderers.

Russ 2000|9.3.09 @ 10:26AM|

Why didn't they just block him in and walk up to him badges in their hands?

There was an incident in Chicago a few months ago that was nearly identical to that - armed robbery suspect is spotted by the police parking his van in an alley (actually a long driveway behind a gas station as there is only one way in and out). Suspect is seen robbing the gas station so he is essentially caught red-handed. Rather than let the guy walk back to his van and then block him in, they fire at him the instant he leaves the gas station building. They could have even arrested the guy at home, that's how much info they had on the guy prior to the incident, but instead a couple cops go cowboy/apeshit. The media reaction in town was one of "Our Heroes!" rather than "Why the hell are they overdoing it." And the armed robber wasn't even using a gun.

But the news business is the drama business so there's no surprise, really. Can't let logic and reality get in the way of a good story.

Russ 2000|9.3.09 @ 10:32AM|

Witnesses to the incident also said the officers identified themselves, said Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead.

It's as if the media isn't even interested in the truth, they're willing to just take the police's word for it all the time.

Fuck. Read a big-city newspaper from the 70's and see how they seldom printed police statements like this. The reporter either talked to witnesses himself, or didn't bother reprinting the police's version of what others witnessed.

|9.3.09 @ 10:48AM|

"Witnesses to the incident also said the officers identified themselves, said Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead."

Russ you are right. That is some shitty reporting. If anything it should say "GBI spokesman alleges witness to the incident say the officers identifyed themselves." We really do have a state run media.

Alice Bowie|9.3.09 @ 10:50AM|

Nothing will come out of this.

He's just another dead negro pastor...as far as cops and the public is concerned.

Not too long ago, they raided a Major's Home and killed his dog...and the Chief of Police suggested that the officers should get a 'pat on the back'.

It will not be until a white child is killed that maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe, something will be done. Still, I'm sure that the Chief of Police in such an incident will say that a child's DEATH is a small collateral consequence and a price worth to pay to keep a $5.00 bag of weed off the streets.

It's really sad. I feel like these isolated incidents will NEVER EVER STOP...Not even with Black President in office. We truly need a TRUE SOCIAL Liberal and a Fiscal Conservative at the helm. I just don't know who fits the bill.

moosecat|9.3.09 @ 10:53AM|

fuckin pigs

Joe M|9.3.09 @ 11:05AM|

This is really unfortunate, I am sorry for his family.

Even Juanita can't defend this.

|9.3.09 @ 11:12AM|

Even Juanita can't defend this.

Only because there was no evidence found of drugs or drug use by the pastor.

|9.3.09 @ 11:14AM|

Alice - This was a WHITE Pastor and a WHITE girl involved.

|9.3.09 @ 11:21AM|

Actually, Alice, Ayers was not a "negro pastor". Not that that makes any difference. This case will be swept under the same police station carpet as the rest of them.

Don't read any of the comments in the link above unless you have a strong stomach.

Alice Bowie|9.3.09 @ 11:23AM|

Alice - This was a WHITE Pastor and a WHITE girl involved.

My bad. I'm sorry.

Hey, maybe something will come out of this after all.

|9.3.09 @ 11:25AM|

Should have previewed and read previous comment.

I see my correction was redundant.

Hey, maybe something will come out of this after all.



No, Alice, it won't, these cops are progressive and tolerant. They're equal opportunity killers.

EJM|9.3.09 @ 11:29AM|

Just in case, the full Google News story cluster is here.

Joe M|9.3.09 @ 11:33AM|

Check out this nonsense:

[Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John] Bankhead said agents approached Ayers for questioning but the pastor tried to avoid them, putting his car in reverse before he struck one of the agents.

So they "approached" him, eh? Wow.

Michael Ejercito|9.3.09 @ 11:37AM|

So we are supposed to trust the government on health care because...

The Libertarian Guy|9.3.09 @ 11:40AM|

I wonder if drug warrior Charlie Rangel, still feels like he's doing the right thing...

|9.3.09 @ 11:48AM|

So we are supposed to trust the government on health care because...

Now they will shoot you with swine flu vaccine.

JB|9.3.09 @ 11:58AM|

When dealing with the cops, sometimes it is better to shoot first.

|9.3.09 @ 12:07PM|

Heaven help me, my first thought was "good, maybe somebody will start to pay attention when it's getting even the pastors."

Then my heart started weeping for his family and congregation, and all the future victims of the cops who will be assured that they did nothing wrong, and therefore have nothing to learn from, much less anything to pay for, this "unfortunate event."

Of course, one reason that happens is that way too many people think that cops really are our friends, here to "serve and protect," and refuse to believe that the whole institution of law enforcement is running off the rails.

J|9.3.09 @ 12:11PM|

This story has just ruined my entire day. It's just so damned infuriating. One more dead American thanks to a bunch of government thugs who decided to criminalize a fucking PLANT. Ugh. I have an 8-week old son at home right now and I cannot fathom the future he is going to be living in if society continues to collapse into itself. I know it's cliche to say so, but I seriously do fear for his future. This shit is straight up scary.

Aaron|9.3.09 @ 12:20PM|

Not to be too picky, but the link doesn't work and the writing is very amateurish. In a hurry to get the scoop?

|9.3.09 @ 12:43PM|

Alice - This was a WHITE Pastor and a WHITE girl involved.

Really? Then I'll bet at least some of the cops (including those he was none too careful about avoiding as he maneuvered his car in his vain attempt to get the hell out of there) were black. In which case he was guilty of racial profiling for assuming that a black man in civilian clothes meant him harm by running up to his car pointing a gun at him. He was a racist bastard who deserved to die.

Alice Bowie|9.3.09 @ 12:55PM|

Seamus ,

I made a mistake thinking that a PASTOR in GEORGIA being killed by police during a drug raid was BLACK.

I was wrong. I spoke too soon before doing my research. And, I admitted and said i was sorry.

None of the Cops were black. How do I know this, I saw the video.

I don't know if the PERP was black either. She wasn't in the video.

However, after seeing the latest video, it appears that the PASTOR was already reversing when the Narcos got out of the car. By the way, in the video it shows that the NARCOs didn't even bother putting their car into PARK. It was still rolling when they shot the guy.

It's a natural REFLEX reaction to try to escape when people are pointing guns at you when you are a POLITE person...as the PASTOR was. Us Ghetto people know that NARCOs dress in plain close...so that wouldn't happen to me. I wouldn't think that I'm being carjacked in daylight at a busy gas station.

You never know, maybe this PASTOR was, in fact a JOHN, and was getting away. But, u can't make that conclusion from the video.

The earlier video I saw showed the NARCOs already out of the car. The LATEST video shows that the PASTOR was already reversing...as in either putting the car in GAS mode for the appropriate side, or planning to drive off in the other direction...AND THEN the NARCOs got out of the car.

So, I don't think this guy was racially profiling.

|9.3.09 @ 1:04PM|

"""The cops in this case are acting under the assumption that it is okay to shoot anyone who runs from a drug bust."""

I'm sure that assumption will be justified when no charges are filed.

|9.3.09 @ 1:05PM|

"""The cops in this case are acting under the assumption that it is okay to shoot anyone who runs from a drug bust."""

I think they can shoot if they suspect someone has drugs or a weapon on them.

G-man|9.3.09 @ 1:08PM|

And The WAR on DRUGS rolls on! Murderously Victorious - as ever it was.

Jonas|9.3.09 @ 1:09PM|

You know what's saddest about this whole ordeal? People will feel bad for the guy because he's a PASTOR.

Not because he was an innocent human being who was killed because of careless police state tactics that violate our civil rights fighting a War on Drugs that shouldn't be fought in the first place.

You know, because all those non-pastors who've been killed before now probably had it coming in the first place. It's only the fact that this guy was a "nice man" or a "religious man" that it matters that he died.

Not that those aren't good reasons to feel bad for him, but I'd really love to see the day when your average joe on the street says, "You know what? I feel bad for that poor black man with a criminal record who was killed when the cops made a mistake thinking he was selling drugs."

Until people can recognize that this is a problem regardless of whether or not the person who has died was some "moral guardian" of society, then it will always be a problem.

Redbeardrum|9.3.09 @ 1:10PM|

I doesn't look like he hit anyone with his car in the video. Admittedly it is short and only one camera angle is shown, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was just made up to make the 'perp' out to be dangerous.

redbeardrum|9.3.09 @ 1:11PM|

*It doesn't look like he hit anyone with his car in the video. Admittedly it is short and only one camera angle is shown, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was just made up to make the 'perp' out to be dangerous.

fixed

Jonas|9.3.09 @ 1:11PM|

And regarding my earlier post, I'm obviously not including the Reason H&R commenters as people who don't realize the severity of this regardless of his pastor-ness.

Joe M|9.3.09 @ 1:12PM|

I feel bad because his wife was pregnant. Her life must be utterly destroyed by this event. And for what?

I'm more upset because my wife is also four months pregnant, and I can't imagine her having to raise our child alone. It's horrific. No one deserves that.

All in all, a clear case of ends not justifying means, and in fact, the ends can't even justify themselves.

Michael|9.3.09 @ 1:24PM|

Whenever I see the words "joint task force" used in the context of domestic law enforcement I get sick to my stomach. How much more proof is needed to make people understand that war is being waged against them?

۞|9.3.09 @ 1:27PM|

They shot the wrong Ayers if you ask me.

|9.3.09 @ 1:36PM|

from the video, it looks like the pastor's car slightly brushed up against one of the unknown armed persons when the guy ran behind the car

in georgia, that's an immediate death penalty, apparently

Tim|9.3.09 @ 1:38PM|

And regarding my earlier post, I'm obviously not including the Reason H&R commenters as people who don't realize the severity of this regardless of his pastor-ness.

True I and most of us would feel sorry for the aforementioned poor black man, it is getting others to feel that way.

I feel bad because his wife was pregnant. Her life must be utterly destroyed by this event. And for what?

Because of a ban on a fucking plant, a relatively harmless one at that.

|9.3.09 @ 1:39PM|

You know what's saddest about this whole ordeal? People will feel bad for the guy because he's a PASTOR.



Jonas, agreed.

But if you look at some of the local comments in some of the news stories, you'll find a few that state a belief that the guy was cruising for hookers and looking for drugs and hence was not a man of God at all.

Godammit not only have the cops killed an innocent man (he would be innocent even if he had been doing those things) now the pigfellators have to drag his name through the mud.

Alice Bowie|9.3.09 @ 1:48PM|

Let me make my position clear:

I don't believe that a JOHN should be shot by cops either. The PASTOR thing does amplify the situation...Especially a WHITE SOUTHERN BAPTIST PASTOR.


The problem with these raids is the Apprehension processes.


It's way to sloppy. And, the cops are forgiven for being negligent and careless.

Yet, a DRUNK COP only needs to flash his 'get out of DWI free' card (AKA...his badge) to get out of anything. THis is also known as professional courtesy.

Seitz|9.3.09 @ 1:57PM|

Well, the lesson I've learned is this:

1) If two guys with guns drawn come running at me while I'm in my car, I'm going to try to drive away.

2) If two COPS with guns drawn come running at while I'm in my car, AND I'm in Georgia, I'm running the motherfuckers down, because I'm figuring they're going to shoot no matter what. May as well take one with me if I can.

Steve|9.3.09 @ 1:57PM|

I'm from Georgia. I served 5 years in prison, have 6 of my 10 years of parole left and owe a fine of 475,000 dollars.... all because I was there when someone else was arrested by the GBI.
The charge is "conspiracy" to commit whatever crime someone else is arrested for. He got a cheap bond and skipped for agreeing to testify against me. I took it to trial with a public pretender and was convicted strictly on perjury by the GBI. At least I managed to get my parole transferred to Florida thereby cutting the chances my parole will be revoked by about 80%.

steve|9.3.09 @ 2:01PM|

That's just one of the many things wrong with Georgia. You can bet that nothing will happen to the officers except for that paid vacation and "an official reprimand".

Alice Bowie|9.3.09 @ 2:11PM|

Polite people...that is...white people that usually don't have negative encounters with police are just not familiar with the unmarked cars and the goons coming out of them with guns.

I believe that this is a clear case of MALPRACTICE on behalf of the officers.

Polite people that commit the occasional victimless crime almost always come quietly when confronted by police. ONLY thugs try to get away.

T|9.3.09 @ 2:22PM|

A police spokesperson says the officers identified themselves as they got out of the truck

Of course they did. They always do, don't they? Until the video footage comes out where they do no such thing.

|9.3.09 @ 2:24PM|

Radley, will you be writing about this story anywhere besides Reason? The whole country needs to hear your take.

We all visit and comment on other blogs, many of them non-political, right?

We all know how to do HTML links, right?

Post it and apologize for the off topic interruption.

|9.3.09 @ 2:31PM|

C'mon, they killed a 92 year old innocent woman in Georgia and nobody outside libertarian circles gave a shit.

Do you think that America's gonna wake up just because some man of God got whacked?

Art-P.O.G.|9.3.09 @ 2:40PM|

It really is infuriating. How can possibly lethal force be justified in the pursuit of keeping someone from putting banned substances in their body? The War on Drugs doesn't even make sense.

Robert|9.3.09 @ 3:02PM|

The lady was described as being the target of a sting. That meant they would've had to have set her up some way. If this story is not just being made up after the fact, then how and when did the setup supposedly happen, and what then was supposed to happen? Even if they thought she was still in the car, why would they have waited until then to try to arrest her?

Or was she the one who was in fact setting him up by providing this alibi for assassinating him, as had already been planned? That would explain why they waited until she got out of the car.

Or was it just armed robbery, with them waiting for whoever was next to emerge after using the ATM?

|9.3.09 @ 3:07PM|

Alice Bowie:

Chill. You need to get your sarcasm detector checked.

Also, I'm glad you could tell from the video that none of the cops were black. I sure couldn't. (And of course if they really were all white, that sorta makes my joke fall flat.)

|9.3.09 @ 3:12PM|

C'mon, they killed a 92 year old innocent woman in Georgia and nobody outside libertarian circles gave a shit.

Actually, the Kathryn Johnson case is one of the few where the murderous cops were actually prosecuted.

|9.3.09 @ 3:35PM|

His blog: http://jonathanayers.blogspot.com/

Quote:
"Ten Things that I can't Believe

4. I can't believe that I am going to a dad. Holy Crap!!! I want to apologize to the whole world because this kids going to be one messed up, Jesus loving, church going, Georgia fan if there has ever been one. I pray and hope that is at least for the first two things!

6- I can't believe that my wife loves me!"

jpocali|9.3.09 @ 3:51PM|

I love how people tell each other what to do when having a gun pointed at you. Like 90% of the people in here have ever had a loaded weapon pointed at them. You don't know what you will do!

Joe M|9.3.09 @ 4:10PM|

The War on Drugs doesn't even make sense.

HAHAHAHAhahaha... understatement of the century.

Joe M|9.3.09 @ 4:11PM|

Hans, you're gonna make me cry.

|9.3.09 @ 4:22PM|

Unfortunately this was no isolated incident. Stories like this come out all the time, only usually it isn't pastors getting killed. The police are out of control, not just in Georgia but all over the country. They are acting as a law unto themselves.

|9.3.09 @ 4:57PM|

Let's get a grip for half a second.
1. Police don't need to "plant" drugs or any other type of underhanded tactic. It's always the GUILTY people who try to accuse them of that!

2. The latest news report stated that the target of the drug investigation was not Ayers, but was the female in the car with Ayers earlier.

3. Pastors or other married men would be wise not to spend time alone in the company of women who are not related or who they are not married to under any circumstances.

4. Police in an undercover capacity when making an arrest or attempting to pull someone over should have a uniformed officer accompanying them, for the safety of all involved. At the very least, they should wear their raid vests. I believe that this case will lead to new laws in Georgia regarding undercover arrests.

|9.3.09 @ 5:08PM|

"""How can possibly lethal force be justified in the pursuit of keeping someone from putting banned substances in their body? """

It wasn't the drugs that caused the officers to fire, it was non-compliance of orders.

Or as wife beaters say, just wouldn't listen.

Well that and the paranoia that turns every moving car into an assualt.

|9.3.09 @ 5:14PM|

I have a friend that tries to tell me it's isolated if it's not the same department.

He got confused when I asked him if it was still isolated if every department in the US did it once and how many times would one department have to do it before it was no longer isolated.

I confused him further when I claimed drunk driving is an isolated event according to his standard.

|9.3.09 @ 5:17PM|

To Voice of Reason

Point 1.Uh, Kathryn Johnston---you know, the case in Atlanta where cops raided an old lady's house, shot her, left her cuffed and bleeding while they planted drugs to cover for their screw up? The same drugs they had earlier threatened to frame a young guy they shook down in the projects with if he didn't tell them where some drug activity was going down?
Just one case there, but planted evidence and lying are not just accusations by guilty people trying to smear the cops.

point 4. Well said. Undercover, plain clothes, and off duty officers have been shot by other officers in the past, sometimes even when a badge was displayed by the non uniformed officer.
If law officers can mistake each other for criminals, how hard is it to think that a guy seeing some folks jump out of their truck with guns might not think 'cops'
These tactics could easily provoke an innocent person to think their lives were in danger and try to flee.

Joe M|9.3.09 @ 5:19PM|

1. Police don't need to "plant" drugs or any other type of underhanded tactic. It's always the GUILTY people who try to accuse them of that!

Right, because the only people who say that are the ones with drugs on them.

2. The latest news report stated that the target of the drug investigation was not Ayers, but was the female in the car with Ayers earlier.

It's okay to kill people, as long as they're not suspects.

3. Pastors or other married men would be wise not to spend time alone in the company of women who are not related or who they are not married to under any circumstances.

The penalty for spending time with a woman other than your wife is DEATH!

Grandpa Whithers|9.3.09 @ 5:26PM|

"I love how people tell each other what to do when having a gun pointed at you. Like 90% of the people in here have ever had a loaded weapon pointed at them. You don't know what you will do!"

I have. It sucks.

|9.3.09 @ 5:30PM|

It seems this oficer has quite a rep as being abusinve of his power, and it also seems that he has used this particualr excuse, "...he tried to run me down..." as an excuse for shooting people before. Maybe the FBI needs to take a look into this......

However, I live in Blairsville, in Union County Ga. It is the same here with the DTF and the local sheriff. They routinely abuse their authority, they run around dressed in para-military garb like they are hunting Bin Laden, they plant drugs on people routinely, you will be constantly pulled over and harrassed if you protest. It is the same in ALL the upper NE GA counties. The law is out of countrol, but because we are up here isolated in the mountains and the old guard families in control of the local businesses, courts and law enforcement, nothing ever gets done against these people. The FBI would have more to do if they investigated ALL these NeGa county law enforcment to keep them busy for ages, and image all the convictions!!!

Russ 2000|9.3.09 @ 5:37PM|

1. Police don't need to "plant" drugs or any other type of underhanded tactic. It's always the GUILTY people who try to accuse them of that!

2. The latest news report stated that the target of the drug investigation was not Ayers, but was the female in the car with Ayers earlier.

3. Pastors or other married men would be wise not to spend time alone in the company of women who are not related or who they are not married to under any circumstances.

4. Police in an undercover capacity when making an arrest or attempting to pull someone over should have a uniformed officer accompanying them, for the safety of all involved. At the very least, they should wear their raid vests. I believe that this case will lead to new laws in Georgia regarding undercover arrests.

My sarcasm detector's working juuust fine.

|9.3.09 @ 5:43PM|

Pastors or other married men would be wise not to spend time alone in the company of women who are not related or who they are not married to under any circumstances.

Um, how about no.

asdfjkl;|9.3.09 @ 7:12PM|

What person in their right mind would just sit and watch multiple men come running at them with guns? The story has changed so many times. First, the police introduced themselves in the store, and now they were pulling up after he was in the car. looks like some low life officers are trying to cover their butts. And there is no reason that the family be lied to after already going through so much crap.

|9.3.09 @ 9:08PM|

This almost happened to me. I was driving home from work at 3am one night (yeah, I'm a software geek) through a bad part of town. A black guy in all black clothes ran out of the shadows in front of my car waving his hand to stop. I was trying to decide whether to slam on the brakes and try to back away or just stomp on the gas when I finally recognized he was a policeman with no hat on, just a black uniform. They were in the process of setting up a "license check" to catch drunk drivers. I was so shaken up the only complaint I could make was "You guys need more light out here so you don't get run over".

jpocali|9.3.09 @ 9:59PM|

Well said Grandpa.

|9.3.09 @ 10:55PM|

Lets not cherry pick the story to make it seem like it was factually something it very well may not be. 3 seconds of fact checking finds this
"Georgia Pastor Shot, Killed During Drug Sting
Posted: 9:19 pm EDT September 2, 2009
Updated: 9:36 am EDT September 3, 2009

TOCCOA, Ga. -- A northeast Georgia pastor died Wednesday after being shot by agents from a multi-county drug task force, officials said.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said a passenger in Jonathan Paul Ayers' car was under investigation, but the 28-year-old pastor of Shoal Creek Baptist Church in Lavonia was not a target in the probe.

The shooting occurred after Ayers dropped the woman off at a store in downtown Toccoa Wednesday afternoon.

Bankhead said agents approached Ayers for questioning but the pastor tried to avoid them, putting his car in reverse before he struck one of the agents.

"There was two guys that looked like they were trying get him out of the car," said witness Rodney Jones.

"Two agents got out, identified themselves as police with a badge on and asked him to step out of the car. He immediately puts the car in reverse and runs over and strikes one of the agents. He puts it in drive after that happened and drives in a threatening manner to the other agent,"

Source WSBTV WSBTV.COM

|9.3.09 @ 11:34PM|

Who are these chucklehead cops? I want to see their names,pictures, and home addresses plastered all over the web.

Calibos|9.3.09 @ 11:52PM|

Rev. Smith, you should watch the video before you take that story at face value. Unless there were additional officers that are out of frame in the video, it is obvious that Ayers was already in his car and starting to pull out BEFORE any officers approached him. His car is actually in motion long before any officers exit their vehicle. 48 more seconds of fact checking would have shown you that the chronology in your quoted account is a complete fantasy or fabrication on the part of the officers.

redundant link

IPO|9.4.09 @ 3:05AM|

For more depressing news, watch:
The Largest Street Gang in America
http://eclipptv.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=7086

|9.4.09 @ 5:15AM|

I'm amazed. So many posts and none supporting the police yet.. I'm guessing that that's because this incident lets people know that ANYONE can lose his freedom or life for no good reason in a interaction with law enforcement.
Wake up. Cops lie, steal, rape and kill. They protect each other first - you are always #2. The good citizens of Greece New York are learning that lesson now.

alice bowie|9.4.09 @ 7:26AM|

Rev. Stephen Smith,

Those are the stories you read. Statements from a POLICE SPOKESPERSON.

Please, look at the video. He's already IN the car.

One more thing Rev.

Polite, law abiding white people and especially white southern baptist priest generally are not in situations where they recognize the NARCOs dressed like THUGS with badges around their necks.

From time to time, these law abiding polite white people do break some minor law like buying pot or going to a prostitute...I'm not saying that Polite WHITE Southern Baptist Pastors are holier than thou.

However, when they do get in trouble with the LAW...they come quietly. Your typical THUG NIGGA from the block may try to escape if HE THINKS he has a chance. Even the Typical THUG NIGGA from the BLOCK knows that when the Plain Clothes cop show up for a drug buy or a JOHN bust...it's no big deal.

Believe it or not, the THUG NIGGA is aware of these people (NARCOs) because they have many many many experiences and confrontation with them.

I think that this is a CLEAR case of PALPRACTICE on the Police Officers part.

The Pastor has NO criminal record. He's not a down-low THUG...and if he was, he'd know better than to try to escape.

alice bowie|9.4.09 @ 7:33AM|

Putting victimless crimes aside, I say the the major problem with the POLICE today is their apprehension process.

The focus is 100% on 'protecting the officer doing his job'. No safetly concerns are taken for the accused (who is not guilty until plea or conviction), bystanders, or pets for that matter.

The SAME tactics that would be used to take out a kidnapper holding a hostage is used on people buying a $5 bag of weed. And it is getting silly and very very dangerous.

And, I know why the police does this. They are basically making a SPORT out of this. And, they generally focus on NON-VIOLENT crimes...because they tend to yield NON-VIOLENT perps.

And, when a real violent situation breaks out...they are pretty useless. Bystanders do get killed, police officers themselves get killed...and they look SLOPPY

|9.4.09 @ 11:32AM|

I must be getting soft in my old age. When I hear these stories that have become so common I just want to cry. Death squads were something that happened in places like South America when I was growing up. Now they are standard operating procedure here in America. These killers need to be tried for murder or just give up pretending that we are a free country.

|9.4.09 @ 4:23PM|

Who the hell trains these cops to shoot first ask questions later like this???
What the hell could have provoked them to be so trigger-happy? Did they think they were after some criminal mastermind drug-king?
Since when is an average drug bust worth going in guns blazing???

These police officers should be fired, and tried for reckless behavior, and improper use of their guns. This is just absurd!
No one involved in this incident had given the police any reason to act so violently! The only violence here was caused by police.

|9.4.09 @ 4:45PM|

The only way to stop this from being all to often into a police state beyond our control is to Lock and Load and arm your self. Have no fear in shooting back at the police (who are by their very nature an orginized crime syndicate with a monopoly on the market.) it is a business funded by our forced unjust payment of taxes.

Any man who thinks he has the right to hall another man away is asking for his blood to be spilled. the Moto is no longer to protect and serve but to harass and Punish. for every badge holder murdered i salute the gunman! for every crying wife and fatherless child of a police officer i say. he was an evil man wronged in his thought to abuse his false assumed power and unfortunatly these things tend to happen, just think of the justice served in the death of your husband for the grieving innocent citizens may take peace in the knowledge there is one less man in blue out there to ruin lives and destroy families.

No quarter will be spared for men in blue when the revalution comes. Take pride in fighting back, take pride in making them bleed. this has gone on for to long and incidents such as these seem the norm to the general populace. It is now time for different messures, use their tatics against themselves.

fight back against the State funded Gangs that demand protection payment through our taxes so they may better equip themselves to murder our fathers, rape our wives and daughters, and thrust our sons in endless wage-slavery!!!

Listen and Spill their blood only then will justice begin to be served!!!!!

ONLY THEN!

|9.4.09 @ 11:11PM|

AOL has this story on its homepage. Mr. Balkos work has not been in vain. And yes, I DO plan to get Gmail...someday.

|9.6.09 @ 12:25AM|

The cops were just doing their jobs, protecting us from drugs. You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.

It's almost enough to make me hate omelets.

*vomit*

|9.6.09 @ 9:21AM|

How much longer must the Citizens of this country Endure ABUSE at the Hands of the people who are saposedly there to Protect Us????

Personally, I'm of the opinion, that they are no beter then common Drug Using Gun Toating THUGS, and if they try that crap on me, they better kill me, cause if they don't, this snake will bite back.

|9.6.09 @ 12:26PM|

I believe the only way abuses and murders of this kind will ever end is if We, the People, take a page of the Police Playbook - Shoot First, Ask Questions Later (if at all).
Any time you have to deal with a cop, shoot him first. A dead or mortally wounded JBT is no longer a danger to you or any other innocent bystander, and you may then safely deal with him.
I'm sorry to have to put things in this perspective. . . as long as the Gestapo is able to maim and murder with impunity, no-one is safe.

|9.7.09 @ 9:53AM|

WAIT A MINUTE!! MAke NO qualms about it. Im THE last to back "Police State" Cops... III. But after close scrutiny... it "aint" so cut-&-dry. COPS screaming up with LIGHTS FLASHING... Cop flashing badge in 1 hand, gun in the other... this moron tries to backup OVER him? C'MON!! SOMETHING WE 'NOT' BEING TOLD ABOUT THIS "GOOD PASTOR"?!! Else, he really is as Stupid as he looks!

|9.7.09 @ 11:24AM|

Maybe if every time the cops wrongfully injure a citizen -- some of the citizens take out a cop or two within a few days, they'll take notice and begin to conduct themselves like the PUBLIC SERVANTS they are supposed to be.

There's no reason for them to change until there are consequences for their wrongful actions. The courts and LE Agencies have proven they are of no use in these cases. Therefore it is up to "we the people" to enforce our rights and demand proper respect.

Nex ut Tyrannus.

|9.11.09 @ 12:09PM|

This same thing happened to me in New York City 16 yrs back, luckily I survived. I picked a four youth from a church service for a friend, I took a wrong turn in Queens and did a u-turn in a crack house driveway, little did I know. All the sudden three cars blocked me in and about 15 guys came out guns waving, totally freaked me out, I reacted and hit the gas, luckily the youth in my car reached across and hit my break immediately! They pulled me out of the car, threw me on the group and cussed me out and threatened me, they also told me they would have shot if I went another foot. And they never showed me badges even after! I was 21, was not using drugs, and would have been killed for giving some kids who were trying to do good a ride! I could also share many other stories of being threatened by NYC's finest for helping youth, prostitutes, and homeless while working in non-profits, JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED!!!

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