Charges dropped against vet
On Thursday, we discussed the case of David Sturdivant, the 64-year-old Marine veteran who took a shot at a man attempting to rob his shop and was arrested by cops who had been near filming a reality TV show. Byron sends us a link which reports that charges have been dropped against him.
Prosecutors dropped the charges to a misdemeanor, but Sturdivant refused to plead guilty. He could have left jail two weeks ago but a guilty plead would have resulted in 12 months probation with credit for the seven months served. The deal would have let Sturdivant keep his guns – four rifles and a pistol — as well as his military disability benefits, according to the prosecutor.
Sturdivant still faces challenges since he lost his business and his home in a fire which the police classify as “suspicious”. I think the prosecutor owes the Marine, who has been in jail since April, more than an apology. In fact, I think Fulton County voters should toss the dick out of office for his behavior in this case. Let the prosecutor lose his job.
Category: Dumbass Bullshit, Veterans Issues
Sturdivant faced odds that would cause most men to fold like a well-used newspaper. But he did not. He stood his ground, knowing his cause to be just, and he prevailed. That is the story here and it is truly an amazing one. Now, at least, his VA benefits are not at risk and perhaps the local VFW or AL will assist him. I am sorry for what he has lost but envy his fortitude and spine. He has his self respect intact, something the OWS mob and the posers of the world know nothing about.
I almost put my fist through the monitor reading that story the other day. I’m glad the DA came around, though it’s more than a few months late. One thing that seems more than a little fishy to me, is that bullets shouldn’t go through the foregrip of an M-14 and hit someone in the gut if the weapon is aimed at you from a balcony. That rifle was at his waist. I wonder if the cameras were rolling? Seems to me the police on scene were a bit out of bounds as well.
Any donation centers set up to help this guy yet?
“Sturdivant called 911, telling the operator the police had shot him and he needed an ambulance.”
I’m thinking those were not his exact words.
Agreed with teddy996. If anyone comes across any organization looking to collect for this man, let us know.
This guy got a raw deal all the way around. I hope that he can rebuild his home and business.
This is truly a travesty! Once again, a veteran is taken to task when all he was trying to do was defend his livelyhood. And what is the deal with ‘trigger happy’ cops vs. vets? We already had to suffer through the tragic death of Marine veteran Jose Guerena being shot to death by Pima County SWAT members. Now its come into question whether or not these police officers who responded to shot fired by Sturdivant, opened fire on him without visually confirming he had a weapon or not. And from the ballistic evidence, the bullet that hit Sturdivant first passed through the strap of his rifle and then a wooden piece on the barrel before going into the left side of his abdomen. His lawyer says the route of the bullet suggests that Sturdivant never even pointed the rifle at the officers! Of course the Atlanta Police Department still has to conduct an ‘internal investigation’ which is still ‘pending’. But we all know how that will turn out, they’ll just ‘whitewash’ it, and claim that it was a justified shooting. Once again it will be the veteran that suffers – both financially, physically, and emotionally. What the hell is wrong with this country? And why aren’t the local Veterans Service Organizations pitching a fit about this case? Where the hell is the support? Come on American Legion, VFW, Marine Corps League…time to step up and take care of one of our own!!!
Here’s an updated link:
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/charges-dropped-against-veteran-1223433.html
One of the ladies Ive been discussing this with spoke about contacting his attorney and possibly sending donations there. As soon as I know more I’ll relay info. The way this man was treated make me wanna puke, I hope to all things good he walks away from this a rich man.
@7. His atty was a public defender so that’s unlikely to pan out. The local VFW or AL sounds like the best bet. I am a member of neither but I am confident that someone here who is will contact them and learn what they can.
This whole case was a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot from the beginning. I really am sick of legitimate use of firearms being punished like murders rapists and thieves. Its not like there aren’t enough of those in the system
Wow, the police in that town are incompetent or corrupt. I say that not because they shot Mr. Sturdivant, nor for any other action they took that day, but because they exposed this man to all the predators of that neighborhood and let them completely destroy him. The fact that the police chose this neighborhood to plant their bait car tells us this probably is a bad neighborhood. The fact that crime has an apparently free hand tells us the police force should be disbanded and probably replaced by the National Guard.
Richard–why does it have to be either/or? Sounds to me like a terminal case of both.
Oh, and if this is to be believed, I’m surprised he didn’t move out a LOOOONNNNGGGGG time ago.
http://www.clrsearch.com/Atlanta_Demographics/GA/30331/Crime-Rate