Sheriff Oddie Shoupe Is A Psychopath
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 9 months ago
A Tennessee sheriff ordered his deputies to shoot an unarmed man during a slow-speed car chase so they wouldn’t damage their patrol cars by ramming him off the road, according to a lawsuit.
Sheriff Oddie Shoupe of White County is being sued for excessive force in the death of Michael Dial, who was fatally shot by police while driving with a suspended license on State Highway 70.
After Dial was killed, Shoupe arrived at the scene, where he was captured on a deputy’s body camera saying, “I love this s–t…I thrive on it,” according to the lawsuit filed by Dial’s widow Robyn Spainhoward.
Technically, I think you’d call this a violation of the Supreme Court decision in Tennessee versus Garner. And technically, I think you’d call Sheriff Shoupe a psychopath.
But only if you’re technical about it. Otherwise he’s just another community hero.
On February 7, 2018 at 11:57 pm, Ned said:
Where’s the LEO that’s not an asshole? Clearly every one in that department who didn’t object and immediately go public with Oddie’s command are assholes.
Is there one good apple in that department?
On February 8, 2018 at 9:12 am, Fred said:
In TN, it’s illegal to shoot a person in defense of mere property. If you shoot somebody to avoid damage to your vehicle you go to big boy jail. But hey, the po-po are special and the state’s ‘property’ is more valuable after all.
(You must fear for your life or some such, but in TN, at least we have a ‘fear for the life of another’ right of defense. Which brings us back to this Peter Strzok guy who is for killing babies.)
On February 8, 2018 at 10:48 am, Gryphon said:
Thugs gonna Thug.
Locate those in Your AO.
On February 8, 2018 at 10:54 am, Herschel Smith said:
@Fred,
yea, in Texas too. You can discharge a weapon to save property in Texas. I believe there is some limited right to do that in Missouri as well. I would be loath to actually do that fearing what a prosecutor and jury might find.
On February 8, 2018 at 11:08 am, Fred said:
Just to be clear, in TN you may NOT shoot in defense property.
On February 8, 2018 at 11:16 am, Herschel Smith said:
@Fred,
Ah. Okay, I misread the comment. My fault. I wouldn’t try it anyway, and I’ve recommended to my son (who lives in Austin) NEVER to shoot to defend property, regardless of what Texas law says. That might have been important in colonial times on the Western frontier where lack of plow mules or horses would have meant the inability to grow crops and stay alive. For us, not so much.
On February 8, 2018 at 12:17 pm, Fred said:
That’s an interesting point and one I’ve discussed with my nephew. Much of our vehicle theft laws and pride in personal transportation stem from the days of the west where if you lost your horse you very likely could die. Sadly, this next generation is going to let GM/Google drive them around in robots while Uber owns the vehicle so that they can continue to drool into their phone screens 24/7 and be advertised at…for the glory of the republic…I guess.
On February 8, 2018 at 2:48 pm, ExpatNJ said:
If I am defending my PROPERTY, what determines physical force “extent reasonably believes necessary to terminate the commission …”? Note: this is NOT part of either Castle Doctrine or SYG laws:
2006 Alabama Code – Section 13A-3-26
Use of force in defense of property other than premises.
A person is justified in using physical force, other than deadly physical force, upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it to be necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission by the other person of theft or criminal mischief with respect to property other than premises as defined in section 13A-3-20.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §625)
Some others have recommended: “Shoot, shovel, and shut-up”. Hmm.
On February 8, 2018 at 4:53 pm, Jack Crabb said:
cue NWA.
And bring on the rusty chainsaws…
On February 8, 2018 at 10:57 pm, George said:
The district attorney for that county ruled that Shoupe’s action was justified. That was before he was made aware of Shoupe’s uncensored comments. But I for one would be surprised if knowing about those comments changes his ruling on the matter. Cops are special, donchaknow? But, in spite of being protected by “immunity” law, Shoupe still has a civil lawsuit to contend with now. Let’s see if he enjoys sweating that out as much as he enjoys giving others the order to kill an unarmed man.
On February 13, 2018 at 5:50 pm, Phil said:
Is there no law in this country that can cause him to be removed from office? This murder is not the only illegal procedures of this Sheriff’s office.
His logs and ledgers need to be examined thoroughly since he came in to that office.
He has tarnished the badge of all law enforcement men and women in the whole country.
On February 13, 2018 at 6:00 pm, Phil said:
I forgot to say, I agree that he is mentally unfit for that office. His language shows him as very low DNA. The states attorney whos said it was justified, should be disbarred for those remarks.
On August 21, 2019 at 5:45 am, Jan Lee said:
This sheriff ordered the killing of an unarmed man who was driving with a suspended license. How can any reasonable human being think this is justified??. Shoupe belongs in jail. He’s a sociopath in a position of power. We have a lot of that. He’s a festering wound on human decency that needs debrided.