LF: Deputy Shoots New Carlisle News Photographer

New Carlisle News photographer Andy Grimm was shot by a Clark County deputy Monday evening.

Andy had left the office around 10:00 p.m. to take pictures of lightning.

There was a traffic stop on Main Street near Studebaker’s Restaurant involved, but Andy was not the subject of the stop.

He had his camera and tripod in his hands and Deputy Jake Shaw apparently mistook it for a weapon and fired, striking Andy in the side.

He was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital for surgery. He is expected to recover from his wounds.

"I was going out to take pictures and I saw the traffic stop and I thought, 'hey, cool. I'll get some pictures here.'" He said he pulled into Studebaker's parking lot in full view of the deputy, got out of his Jeep in full view of the deputy and started setting up his tripod and camera. "I turned around toward the cars and then 'pop, pop,'"

Andy said the deputy gave him no warning. "I was just doing my job," he said.

"I know Jake. I like Jake. I don't want him to lose his job over this."

andy

The Attorney General’s BCI division is investigating the incident, and we will update this story as soon as they release their findings.

Andy is well known in the area for his love of photography. The outpouring of love and affection for him on Facebook has been overwhelming.

Everyone at the New Carlisle News thanks you for your support.

"I was going out to take pictures and I saw the traffic stop and I thought, 'hey, cool. I'll get some pictures here.'"

Yep. Because nothing spells excitement like a traffic stop in the Studebaker’s Restaurant parking lot ... at night.

And even if that was true, the cop would be even more in the wrong if he is shooting blindly in "pitch black" darkness. So make up your mind. Either it was light enough to take pictures and shoot innocent photogs or it wasn't.

Not that it will matter to you one iota, but here is a photo (actually an embedded StreetView) of the Studebakers' Restaurant with over a half-dozen streetlights clearly visible. This street would be considered brightly lit in any business district in America.

This is a rare instance where the Google Map car entered the parking lot so you can zoom in there and look around. You'll see there is a parking lot light on the building next to the restaurant and another light on the big power pole with the transformer in the middle of the parking lot.

Straw man. The traffic stop took place in the parking lot, not in the street. And I see a dark area of the parking lot even in broad daylight.

"the cop would be even more in the wrong if he is shooting blindly in "pitch black" darkness."

It was dark enough to confuse a folded tripod with a rifle. My point was, it wasn't "evening".

Not only that, according to the story the photog, is well known in the area for his love of photography.

New Carlisle is a small town (Population: 5,649) so it's most likely the cop and the photographer had crossed paths - one would think that the cop would recognize the car if not the person even in low light.

There are two streetlights on the street's sidewalk and two similar lights in the parking lot (one on the building itself and one on the power pole with the big transformer). That is 4 streetlights in an area about 70'x50'. And I am probably erring on the high side of the area I'm estimating (by comparison to the size of the full-size sedans and the pickup in the photo).

And the victim did know the cop, said he didn't want him to lose his job. But he should.

Yeah, well I was referring to while the cop was on the job, the reporter had to be present at at least a few crime scenes, accidents, house fires - wouldn't the cop at least recognize the car?

He said he pulled into Studebaker's parking lot in full view of the deputy, got out of his Jeep in full view of the deputy and started setting up his tripod and camera. "I turned around toward the cars and then 'pop, pop,'"

Seems to me that a guy setting up a tripod has a much different appearance than a man brandishing a rifle.

BTW, the shooting victim is the son of the local newspaper owner, a small town newspaper. So perhaps they don't dare say a word against the local cops for fear that they'll lose all their subscribers.

10:00 at night. Shadows. Distance. Sure, this could look like an assault rifle. Plus, who in the hell is expecting a photographer to be setting up equipment in the Studebaker’s Restaurant parking lot at 10:00 at night?

Next you'll be telling me each one put out 1.21 gigawatts of power -- and they all worked.

This place might even be tolerable now. Btw, reports say the tripod was already set up. Sooo, your picture is spin. But, that's what you do.

Must suck to be so angry and small minded that every time a cop beats up or shoots someone, you get a chub.

A possible match made in heaven. You are obviously a bottom boy,and with his macho posing,he seems to be a top boy.

In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.

Well, I'm just going by the article above which said, "He had his camera and tripod in his hands and Deputy Jake Shaw apparently mistook it for a weapon."

Where,the area over the sidewalk in the front,where the roof covers? Guess what,Bubba? It has lights in it that shine at night.

In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.

The news report has the photographer calling the cop by his first name,saying they are friends,and hoping he doesn't get into any trouble over the shooting.

In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.

More people than would be expecting to see someone set up a target rifle or machine gun with a bipod.

In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.

True. That doesn't end the matter though. The police are referring the matter to the state’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Attorney General Mike DeWine. At least they won't have Sheriff Andy investigating Deputy Fife which is all too typical.

However, there are bigger questions than whether Grimm forgives his friend for this error. Law enforcement personnel have to exercise better judgment when it comes to the use of lethal force in situations such as these. A civilian who used lethal force under these circumstances would face years in prison for shooting an unarmed non-threat, and rightfully so. Police officers are expected to assess threats more professionally and to react to them properly. Firing at someone in the dark without confirming them to be an actual threat first could have had deadly consequences, not just for the suspected threat but also for other uninvolved bystanders. Bullets do not drop magically out of the air the precise moment they pass their intended target, after all.

Looks pretty bright to me. I do notice the parking lot light above the cafe window and slightly to the right is turned off. Perhaps the cafe was already closed.

Even so, that jeep is only parked about 1 car length from the nearest streetlight located on the sidewalk and it was in working order.

It was not dark. Look at how easy it is to read the non-illuminated sign that is no more distant from the light than the jeep is. Look at how well-lit the flag is.

And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head

What if some thug with a gun pointed at them makes them nervous? Can't shoot, huh?

Me too! It was from an unimpeachable source. Maybe all the cops were mistaken and taped off the wrong area.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head