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What 4 candidates for Michigan governor say about deadly police shooting in Grand Rapids

April 14, 2022, 3:28 PM


Patrick Lyoya tries to deflect a Taser before struggling with an officer last week. (Photos: Grand Rapids Police Department video)

Compassion for the immigrant family of 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya is bipartisan as Michigan politicians react to Wednesday's police release of videos showing a Grand Rapids traffic stop that ended with the unarmed driver's death April 4.

Beyond expressions of sympathy, the governor and three Republicans jockeying to run against her voice divergent views. MLive posts a roundup:

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: "Prosecutors must consider all the evidence, follow the law and take appropriate action on charges. ... We must come together and build a future where Black Michiganders are afforded equal rights, dignity and safety." [Full statement]

James Craig: "When an officer is faced with an imminent threat to his life or another person, deadly force may be the only option. ... The Taser was deployed unsuccessfully, and my core concern will always be whether there was an imminent threat to the officer's life after the Taser deployment. ... We should wait for the independent [Michigan State Police] investigation to be completed."

Tudor Dixon: "[We can't] normalize people resisting arrest and physically aggressing police. If you want to commit crimes and jeopardize the lives of our men and women in blue, you can head on down to Chicago or wherever doesn't care if you hurt or kill people.

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A bystander taped the drama. A moment after this is shown below.

"We will not let this officer – or any officer – be sandbagged for reasonably protecting themselves by weak politicians who are afraid to say and do what is right."

Garrett Soldano: "If you do not resist, it is very, very, very rare that you are going to get shot by a police officer, if you do exactly what they tell you to do." -- On Facebook Live
"Governor Whitmer and the radical left continue to push an anti-police narrative. ... This is not the time to fuel a dangerous narrative. ... Democratic leadership in Lansing continues to perpetuate a culture of fear surrounding law enforcement." -- In statement

Related:


Read more:  MLive


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