Dashcam shows officers discussing teens as they drown in stolen car

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/04/21/police-teen-drowning-dashcam/

Florida police department's story about the drowning deaths of three teenage girls is being called into question after new dashcam footage was released Wednesday, showing police discussing the girls as the car sank into a pond. The police however, say they did everything they could to rescue the girls.

Dominique Battle, 16, Ashaunti Butler, 15, and Laniya Miller, 15, died April 1 after a night of joyriding and running from the cops. They stole a 1990 Honda Accord after its owner offered to give the girls a ride to a nearby park. The driver first stopped at Walmart to buy a TV. He left the car running. When he returned the car and girls were gone.

Pinellas County sheriff's deputies caught up with the stolen car and eventually chased the trio into a cemetery. Police knew there was no way out. The girls were driving very fast through dark, twisting roads when they drove off of the pavement and into a pond. The sheriff previously told reporters that officers removed their belts and attempted to wade into the water to save the girls, but became trapped in muck.

The recently released video seems to contradict Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri statements that officers attempted to wade into the pond, but became stuck in the mucky water. Deputies can be heard discussing the girl's screams near one of the cruisers as the girls sink into the pond. Deputies also seem to be standing around the pond, rather than wadding in.

"I hear them yelling, I think," one officer said.
"They're done. They are 6-7, dude" another officer said.
"They were yelling," a deputy responded. "I thought I heard yelling."
As the car continued to sink the deputy replied, "But now, they're done. They're done."

[smilesammich 10,727]

well there's a dash cam video i'm not watching.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

If they didn't want to save them, why lie?

[smilesammich 10,727]

If they didn't want to save them, why lie?

to cover their butts, same as always.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I don't think that it was alright to not attempt to rescue the girls. And even less so to lie about trying. From the limited views of the scene I think it was more than understandable to wait for specialized equipment, so why lie at all? Very strange.

Still it's surreal to hear a parent, understandably upset, say that she thinks that it's wrong for the police to refer to the car thieves as criminals. WTH?

[smilesammich 10,727]

Still it's surreal to hear a parent, understandably upset, say that she thinks that it's wrong for the police to refer to the car thieves as criminals. WTH?

if my kid did something like this, one bad decision that cost him his life, it would make me pretty damn mad to hear a cop label my child a criminal. it's just insensitive. but who the hell expects sensitivity from cops? we have to remember that criminalizing stupid teen behavior is relatively new. there was a time when you wouldn't catch a 'car thief' sort of charge for a situation such as this, your parents would flip - the cops would try and scare you straight - you might be grounded till you graduate or have to work off some restitution to whoever's car you took..but you weren't going to be doing 15 years over a 90 honda accord and joyriding..

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Joy riding is a teen crime. Many people know this. Stupid decision by the teens for sure. Too bad it cost them their lives. The cops drank coffee, ate donuts, watched then lied about attempting to help them. Very sad.

The thing is cops are here to help regardless of if the person they are helping is a criminal or not. If your personal views will obstruct you from carrying out your duty then being a cop is the wrong line of work.

[ExPatty 502]

They stole a 1990 Honda Accord after its owner offered to give the girls a ride to a nearby park. The driver first stopped at Walmart to buy a TV. He left the car running. When he returned the car and girls were gone.

Surely this can't be true.

[smilesammich 10,727]

Surely this can't be true.

weird huh. i've got a bunch of young teen girls in my car but i have to stop off and purchase a tv right quick....

[ready4ONE 5,400]

if my kid did something like this, one bad decision that cost him his life, it would make me pretty damn mad to hear a cop label my child a criminal. it's just insensitive. but who the hell expects sensitivity from cops? we have to remember that criminalizing stupid teen behavior is relatively new. there was a time when you wouldn't catch a 'car thief' sort of charge for a situation such as this, your parents would flip - the cops would try and scare you straight - you might be grounded till you graduate or have to work off some restitution to whoever's car you took..but you weren't going to be doing 15 years over a 90 honda accord and joyriding..

If my child was involved in stealing a car and getting into an accident at the end of a police pursuit I think the least of my concerns would be having the police 'criminalize' his/her behavior.

The story is tragic. Young, acting dumb and payed the ultimate price. Perhaps it was the first time or the girls were doing this for some time and this time ended badly. It's a shame.

The days of cops following drunk drivers home are long gone. Grand Theft Auto is often plea bargained down and first offenders get deferred judgments and/or probation. Had they lived, stopped when the cops flashed their lights we might discuss their over charging or malicious prosecution.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

if my kid did something like this, one bad decision that cost him his life, it would make me pretty damn mad to hear a cop label my child a criminal. it's just insensitive. but who the hell expects sensitivity from cops? we have to remember that criminalizing stupid teen behavior is relatively new. there was a time when you wouldn't catch a 'car thief' sort of charge for a situation such as this, your parents would flip - the cops would try and scare you straight - you might be grounded till you graduate or have to work off some restitution to whoever's car you took..but you weren't going to be doing 15 years over a 90 honda accord and joyriding..

The nerve of those cops calling someone who just committed several felonies and endangered many lives, criminals. How insensitive.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

The nerve of those cops calling someone who just committed several felonies and endangered many lives, criminals. How insensitive.

But nothing is wrong with lying cops?

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Are the cops supposed to jump into the pond in the middle of night to attempt rescue?

This is Florida with alligators!

This burglar got eaten by one.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/578085-suspected-burglar-killed-by-alligator-while-hiding-from-police-in-a-pond/

[Expat1 971]

http://m.nydailynews.com/news/crime/florida-teens-deaths-pond-car-theft-chase-provoke-flak-article-1.2611527

Im wondering we are ever going to see the videos of the half-dressed deputies wading out of the pond.

There's a difference between accurate reporting of the issues and posting anti- police propaganda in misleading threads. Seems lying cops are a much larger issue here than lying (about) cops.

These three already had auto theft records. Not innocent first timers.

This is a case of a pond owner who is rightly entitled to a crimestoppers reward and a neighborhood with not near enough ponds

Edited April 23, 2016 by Expat1

[Janelle2002 3,865]

So cops are able to lie about doing something they didn't do? The kids are dead, I'm addressing the cops lying. If nothing was wrong with them not going in the pond to help, why lie about it?