Trooper on trial explains remarks
By JIM DAVENPORT
GREENVILLE — A South Carolina state trooper accused of deliberately running down a suspect with his cruiser said Wednesday the crash was "an unavoidable accident" and that he regretted bragging about it afterward.
"It's a collision that I'm sorry took place," Lance Cpl. Steven Garren said on the second day of his federal trial.
Garren is charged with using unreasonable force and depriving suspect Marvin Grant of his civil rights. Garren is white; Grant is black. A conviction could bring Garren up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The trial hinges on a key video of the collision that shows Grant sprinting from the patrol car, then being hit and flipping over the hood. On the recording, Garren says to a deputy: "Yeah, I hit him. I was trying to hit him."
Garren said his statements embarrassed himself, his family and his department.
"The statement itself is not true. But I did say the statement," he said. "It's just a dumb, stupid statement."
But a prosecutor read another statement the trooper gave after the collision: "Hey, I nailed the (expletive) out of him," the prosecutor said, reading from a transcript of the video recording.
"I'm sorry I said that, but it doesn't show my intent," Garren said.
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charlene68 (anonymous) says...
"I'm sorry I said that, but it doesn't show my intent," Garren said.
It does show his intent, why would he even say that if he did not intend to hit him, when it really is a real accident people that are involved are very upset that it happened or I know I would be... be he does not even seem to show true remorse... He is not sorry for what he did and should be made to pay for it . With Cops like that'''' who needs them?
October 2, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Gotta go with Charlene on this one...
October 2, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
If someone is stupid enough to keep running in places that a CAR can follow you, he deserves to get hit.
That being said, I DO NOT agree that the cop was justified in going between the buildings of the apartment complex. What the crap was he thinking?!
...AND, how did this become a "Civil Rights" case? Did the suspect (who was dumb enough to run from cops) think the cop hit him only because he was black?
Give me a break...
October 2, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
...oh, and his comment about "intent"?
His intent was SHOWN on the video...sorry dude, no leg to stand on with that comment...
October 2, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
I predict 2-3 years probation and anger management. He won't see jail. I suggest perps who run from the po po get one of those floating pool rings and put it on before running.
October 2, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
"...get one of those floating pool rings..."
Now that would be some funny video right there!!
Little Mermaid floating ring for the women, Spongebob for the men.
Classic...
October 2, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ms_lady2u (anonymous) says...
Yeah Yeah I bet he's sorry, sorry his racist #ss is exposed. let's say a year in jail, anger management & an apology to all the resident live's he jeopardized!
October 2, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinagal (anonymous) says...
dumb azz deserved to be hit- you dont run from the cops....would this even be a problem if the so called victim was white? Didn't thinks so...because hes black, hes crying- oh he hit me becasue i was black...not he hit me because i was an idiot who tried to run. Shoulda hit him harder.
October 2, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
"The statement itself is not true. But I did say the statement," he said. "It's just a dumb, stupid statement."
Sorry, but that is not going to fly.
I agree that he will just get a few years probation, because crooked cops never get what they deserve.
Give him at least 5 years prison, and let it serve as a lesson to all crooked cops out there who take the law into their own hands that this will not stand.
October 2, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
carolinagal... I do not agree with you ( not that i have to ) regardless if he ran , (the cop)he had no reason to hit him... Im white and i dont agree that the cop should have done this... and to top it all the comments that he made after he hit him , proves that he had intentions to do so, so no he is not sorry. regardless if the guy run or not, that was not the way it should have been handled, be the person black white or purple, it doesnt matter the race,,, especially after the comments that he made.
October 2, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
katrenavantassle (anonymous) says...
I bet the people in SC State Troopers Office are humiliated that one of their own who took the pledge to protect citizens have been in the public view showing "hillbilly" ignorance and such lack of professionalism and disregard for innocent citizens in that apartment complex. He should be reprimanded for his actions and the consequinces should fit the cause. He can keep his job, but shouldn't be able to drive a cruiser around any more. PERIOD. PUT HIM ON FULL-TIME DESK DUTY AT THE OVERCROWDED PRISONS. HE made a terrible mistake in judgement, one that could have taken a person's and/or innocent citizens life...and his racial comments made public would deem he should no longer be allowed to come into contact with the public since he cannot make rational decisions with predjudice. He could not serve jury duty so why should he serve the public?
October 2, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Wow, have y'all seen this..?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/02/t...
October 2, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
Tammie, I had not heard of the suicide. Thanks for finding that...
I guess he couldn't live with the guilt or the fire he was about to endure in the court system...or both.
October 2, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Was the guy that was tasered to death in NY mentally ill or was he just emotionally imbalanced? I never got a clear answer to that.
October 2, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
He was mentally ill and his Mom stated that he was off his meds. He had a history of doing these types of things around the neighborhood but everyone who witnessed this event said that he wouldn't hurt a fly.
Also, he was tazered 2-3 times...he fell directly on his head, which is what killed him...not the tazer.
That was a sad story with an unnecessary end.
October 2, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
That was a sad story DoaMM, and an abuse of power.
October 2, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Creeker01 (anonymous) says...
He was not Tased 2 or 3 times.
Once was enough to seize him up.
It was stupid to do to a person at height, but I am certain the Boss who gave the order didn't expect him to land on his head, either... he'd seen one too many cartoons.
October 2, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
Tammie- the cop commited suicide that did the tasing. It's on CNN
October 2, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigSargeofSC (anonymous) says...
None of this would be happening if the idiot hadn't ran in the first place. Send the Trooper home and let him be.
October 2, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Creeker01 (anonymous) says...
Posted by Girleygirl
"Tammie- the cop commited suicide that did the tasing. It's on CNN"
He didn't do the tazing, he ordered it.
I guess some of ya'll have gotten what you wanted.
Happier, or do more Cops have to do die to satisfy your sense of vengeance against those who try to keep the peace and bring wrongdoers to the Bar of Justice?
October 2, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JF (anonymous) says...
We need professional law enforcement, not reckless cowboys
October 3, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldandintheway (anonymous) says...
everytime I see a crime on television or read about a local one in which the perp "bails out" and runs, his usual response is " I was scared."
well so are we.
scared you're going to harm us or our families.
if you weren't doing anything,
why are you running ?
the new "bail out" infraction should be enacted for shear stupidity.
the charge should be added on to the others.
yes, this trooper went a little too far,
but where do we start and where do we stop ?
October 3, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestonnative1963 (anonymous) says...
Apparently what is needed a more police training. Possibly do psychological profiles to make sure the one we give guns and police cars to have the mental capacity to do the job. Now that the trial is over and the not guilty verdict given-How much longer before he hurts someone again, no matter what color they are or what crimes have been committed, there is a correct way and a wrong way to bring people to Justice. He shouldhave been found guilty
October 4, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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