Is Scottsdale Police Lying About Killing Jason Prostrollo? The Death of a Young Marine
Scottsdale Police killed a former Recon Marine armed only with a pool stick ("Man killed by Scottsdale police was former Marine" by Ofelia Madrid of the Arizona Republic):
Prostrollo worked in reconnaissance as a sergeant in the Marines and was discharged two years ago, said Prostrollo's father, Warren Prostrollo of Paradise Valley...
When officers arrived, the residents came out of the house unharmed and Prostrollo came out moments later with a pool cue in each hand, police said. Prostrollo was holding the cues in a threatening manner and ignored commands to drop the cues and stop walking, police said. A K-9 officer released his dog, Raider, which bit Prostrollo but didn't stop him from continuing to advance toward officers.
Scottsdale police Lt. Ron Bayne shot Prostrollo and killed him.
According to Scottsdale Police spokesman Mark Clark "A Taser or pepper spray was not used because of the windy conditions that morning" and, Lt. Bayne, the officer who killed Jason Prostrollo was a "19 year veteran".
I find the Scottsdale Police Department's version of events very difficult to believe. First, according to weather reports, at 4 am wind in Scottsdale was approximately between 8 and 6 mph. That is hardly windy and is average for Scottsdale; Scottsdale is the city with the 21st lowest wind speed in the United States (average yearly wind in Scottsdale is 6 mph). If you look at a google maps of 12074 N. 135th Place, you will also notice that the houses would have shielded the wind.
Also, while I couldn't find any reference material online regarding wind speeds a Taser will work, according to Taser's own promotional material, a Taser is more effective than pepper spray, even with a cross-wind:
Pepper spray can only help you if you let the person come closer. But what if there is a cross-wind? What if the person closes their eyes when you are about to spray them? A TASER C2 ECD gives you 30 seconds of incapacitation power (read: knock them down for 30 thirty seconds) from a distance of up to 15 feet. This means you can protect yourself from a distance AND have time to get away.
(Pepper Spray vs. TASER ECDs Possible Inadvertent Exposure or Incapacitation from a Distance)
While that does not necessarily mean a Taser would have worked to subdue Jason Prostrollo, it does mean Scottsdale Police equating the effectiveness of Taser and pepper spray in windy conditions is nonsense. In fact, Scottsdale PD's own press release did not mention windy conditions ("Officer Involved Shooting").
I also find the fact Scottsdale Police stating Lt. Bayne is a 19 year veteran very troubling. It almost sounds as if Scottsdale PD wants the public to give Lt. Bayne the benefit of the doubt just because he has been on the job so long.
But shouldn't more be expected of a veteran officer, not less? If wind was an issue, why wasn't that mentioned in the Scottsdale Police press release? A man only armed with a stick is dead, killed by hands of the Scottsdale Police Department. Scottsdale PD now seems to be claiming the very experienced officer had no choice but to shoot and kill because of the wind. But what wind?
P.S. I saw on twitter that the Scottsdale Police Department is making a big fuss of the fact one of its police dogs was injured in the incident and is now recovering:
I can only hope Scottsdale Police gives at least the same amount of attention to the circumstances of Sgt. Prostrollo's death as they do to the well-being of a dog. I also spoke to a former Phoenix officer who told me Scottsdale Police has a reputation of overreacting with difficult suspects because they are not as experienced with these situations.
UPDATE:
In a sadly tepid commentary by the putatively progressive columnist E. J. Montini, he noted that the wife of Sen. John McCain, Cindy McCain, tweeted that Sgt. Prostrollo was a "veteran and patriot". Unfortunately, Mrs. McCain's gracious tweet was immediately criticized by:
Jim Nolan, president of the Scottsdale Fraternal Order of Police, sent a letter to Cindy McCain by way of her husband's office that reads in part, "In spite of the terror experienced by the three victims and the danger that Mr. Prostrollo placed upon our civil servants, for some reason you, Mrs. McCain, chose to take to a social media outlet and express your concern for the suspect. You did not express any sadness for the kidnapping victim, for the residents who were terrified in their own home or for the brave officers who ran towards danger while a city slept."
In response, Mrs. McCain sadly deleted her tweet. Please join me by asking Mrs. McCain to resend that simple, wonderful tweet. Her avatar on twitter is @CindyhM1 , also please ask Sen. John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) to issue a statement calling for an "honest and full investigation" into the death of Sgt. Prostrollo. Finally, please ask the Scottsdale Fraternal Order of Police (@scottsdalefop35) to call Sgt. Protrollo what he was: a veteran and a patriot. If this is all too complicated, you can simply retweet my tweets at https://twitter.com/#!/vlga
Or you can call Sen. McCain's office at (202) 224-2235. Simply ask why should the death of taliban and terrorists get more attention than the death of a US Marine?
The McCain's children are Brophy graduates and a son is a US Marine who served overseas.
P.P.S.
A Memorial Mass will be held in Jason's honor on Friday, February 3rd at 10:00 am at St. Patrick Catholic Community Church, 10815 N. 84th Street. Burial with military honors will follow at Paradise Memorial Gardens.
Not only was Sgt. Prostrollo a Marine, but he was only a Brophy graduate from 2004. I hope as many members of the community will show up as possible, not only to honor the life Sgt. Prostrollo but as a show of force to the Scottsdale city administration: what happened will not be forgotten unless an honest investigation is done.
Comments (30)
Read through and enter the discussion by using the form at the endDB - January 31, 2012 2:40 PM
Of course they're lying. Scottsdale PD are thugs with badges, all they do is harass people. Take a drive down Shea & notice how these animals troll that street just waiting to mess with somebody.
jj - January 31, 2012 7:01 PM
Every one who believes the media has no intelligence and has no mind of there own, and has no right to judge the actions of a police officer who is here to serve and protect our communities.
SM - January 31, 2012 8:16 PM
Really? Did you not read that this guy got piss drunk, put a knife to the throat of an innocent cab driver an went into a house to and did the same to the homeowners? Wind...Really? Is that all you can come up with to justify the fact that this man made his own choices and suffered fatal consequences.
AJ - January 31, 2012 8:56 PM
This is about the law. The same law which officers have sworn to uphold and enforce. Protecting and serving also applies to hardened criminals. They have the right to be protected from themselves in a situation like this.
It is not permitted for law enforcement to shoot somebody without first considering to apprehend them. If a man is not responding to lawful police commands then the officers can deploy the use of force. If the man is threatening to the public, the officers, or even himself the officers have a range of FORCE at their disposal. The last of those chosen should be LETHAL FORCE. These officers do not appear to have considered any other measure of FORCE other than lethal. Their story on how they chose LETHAL FORCE has been blown to bits. In fact they have changed the story.
Drunk or stoned or blind or anything. The officers still must consider if other measures of force can be used. SPD is trying like hell to convince us that shooting the young man was the last resort. I am definitely not convinced.
cp - January 31, 2012 10:18 PM
Really? Cannot use any other use of police resources against a guy with pool cues? What about the couple that asked him back to their house? What did they have in store for him? We hear their story because jason cannot tell us his. Something triggered his anger, even a neighbor said she was not surprised this happened at that particular house. Better investigate them to try and make sense of this unusual behavior.
JD - February 1, 2012 9:40 AM
Jason was a great friend of mine and I was with him on both Iraq deployments. PTSD isn't a reason to just automatically use deadly force. A 150lb guy holding two poolsticks does not warrant being shot to death by a quick triggered police vet. The fact they shot their own dog provides an insight to their so called training. This is completly asinine and when something of this nature happens overseas they want our head for it, but since it's a 19 year police veteran its okay??? I only hope this doesn't overshadow what a great guy Jason was, and he should be remembered for the life he lived and all the smiles he brought to us in the most unlikely of times while deployed.
Jake - February 1, 2012 11:45 AM
Jason was a nice kid. Was he acting stupid that night? Yes. Did he deserve a beating for acting stupid? Yes. Did he deserve to do some time for the crap he pulled? Probably. Did he deserve to be shot by the freakin Keystone Scottsdale cops for brandishing a pool cue at SEVEN cops and one K-9 unit? SEVEN cops couldn't subdue his 160 lbs. Maybe not.
mary - February 1, 2012 5:40 PM
My son was friends with Jason, he was a wonderful young man who served
2 tours of duty in Iraq. I personally, have lived in Scottsdale for 20 years and can attest to the fact that the Scottsdale police leave much to be desired. Jason had his whole life ahead of him, I can't rationalize in my head why this police officer ( with 19 years of
experience) had only one choice, that was to kill this man.
REALLY??????? give us all a break Scottsdale police, at least man up to a very tragic and unnecessary action,
Vladimir Gagic - February 1, 2012 5:56 PM
Thank you for all the comments. I think JD makes a great point, if this had happened in Iraq and Marines were shooting, wouldn't the media have insisted on criminal charges? But when the victim is a young Marine and police are the ones shooting, the media doesn't care? I think its time our police had rules of engagement at least as stringent as our military has to follow.
Trish Anderson - February 1, 2012 10:35 PM
My daughter is the girlfriend of one of Jason's best friends. Together they went through basic training with the Marine Corp and served 2 tours of duty in Iraq. I have been following the coverage of this incident with horror and disbelief. I agree with Mr Gagic 100%. I am a criminal defense attorney as well. If a civilian mistook the facts as the police did in this situation, I would be defending that person on homicide charges. We too checked the National Weather Service. No wind. No weapon on the victim, an attack dog in motion, 7 officers vs. 1 inebriated young man, and the police decide to use deadly force? The fact they shamelessly used the wind as an excuse not to use non-deadly force tells me the situation ONLY CALLED FOR NON-DEADLY FORCE. Hopefully one of the magnificent 7 can crawl out from under the rock and tell the truth.
Robert - February 2, 2012 1:22 AM
All you have to do is follow the history of scottsdale police in Arizona republic articles, or go out in old town on a weekend, and see their common knee jerk overreactive behavior- didnt anyone see the news clip last year of the kid Jakob Rocker that they gave a Rodney King like beating to in front of jackrabbit that couldnt defend himself? Or the SPD cop that fondled that girl in Scottsdale a few years ago and the city had to pay her $350,000 - go google all this stuff - all this is in line with scottsdale's overbearing overreactive behavior - i came out to my truck one night to find 5, yes 5, scottsdale police standing around it - thinking they caught someone breaking in, my heart elevated, only to find out they were writing me a parking ticket for parking within 24 feet of a fire lane across the other side of the driveway on private property- at 2:30am on a weekend they dont have more to do with their time to serve the public than tying up 5 officers to write a parking ticket? I hope the investigation puts some serious egg on their face and somehow vindicates this guy who surely didnt deserve to DIE because he had 2 pool cues in his hand- next thing you know, SPD will say he was a Ninja with training on how to use the cue's as deadly weapon- clearly use of deadly force was not warranted when there are 6-7 police and a dog up against a lone guy with 2 pool cues- complete shame on scottsdale police and the city overall for this unsurprising show of force - anyone who has seen scottsdale police overreact should email the reporter so she can expand the story into scottsdale's overreactive handling of things in general
Sarah B - February 2, 2012 10:43 AM
Jason was one of the most amazing people I have ever met who would have done anything for anyone. I will not let this rest and Scottsdale PD has a lot of explaining to do.
ME - February 2, 2012 11:50 AM
This is truly devistating and SPD should be held responsible in the same way they hold civilians responsible for their actions. I think Scottsdale is a joke and they overreacted to the situation, they got excited and felt like real cops for once and made an exceptionally irrational decision because they are used to not being held accountable for their actions.
John D. - February 2, 2012 12:28 PM
It's rediculous that seven "trained" police officers and a dog can't take down one man, no matter what his size. Sounds like a recurring theme among police departments across the country. They over react to situations. How many times do you see three or four cruisers involved in a routine traffic stop? I understand that they have a job that can become dangerous at any time, however they theoretically received training to deal with these occasions. Our troops receive training in areas of the world where 90% of the people are considered hostile. How would police officers deal with situations like this? Kill everyone that moved when they walked by? Police are nothing more than bullies and kids that were picked on in high school. Now they have a badge and a gun and are willing to use both indescriminately. Hopefully, there will be justice served for the family involved.
Anonymous - February 2, 2012 12:36 PM
Here's my biggest issue with this whole thing: first off, there was no need to use a gun without trying something else first. Since when are the police allowed to go straight to using a gun from "verbal warning?" If you tell the person to stop and they don't, you shoot them?
Second, even if they DID have to result to using a gun, why did they have to shoot to kill? For crying out loud, the man had POOL CUES not a machette. He wasn't about to kill someone so quickly they didn't have time to think about what to do and just had to shoot. Why couldn't they have shot him in the foot, or the knee cap, or around his feet to scare him? They had to go straight to SHOOTING AND KILLING?
And third, I don't feel it is fair that the SPD is throwing things around like "19 year veteran" a "injured K9"... Sounds like the response of a cover up or guilty party, doesn't it? And the news reports I have read have conveniently omitted the fact that the deceased was a veteran...
RS - February 2, 2012 3:29 PM
A lot of questions surrounding this....
a) why did the couple who sent him on his way for being hostile let him BACK into their house at 4am? I would think most people would have refused and called the cops instead.
b) why is there NO mention of recovering the knife that Jason "allegedly" was wielding? Or any other weapon besides 2 pool cues.
c) even if there was a breeze, do you think that ALL 7 officers would miss with their stun guns...against I guy with a K-9 attached to his arm? Suddenly the weather decides whether you LIVE or DIE!
if Jason had overpowered the dog, only he would have been shot. Seems the officer who deployed his weapon fired into the scrum between Jason and the dog, hitting them both once.
This story reeks of cover up. Too easy since we'll never hear Jason's side of it.
L. A. - February 2, 2012 4:22 PM
To those of you that have chosen to criticize and attack Lt Bayne for the tough decision that he was faced with during the early morning of Sunday January 29th, shame on you. How dare you judge him as though he’s the criminal in this whole event. Lt Bayne was responding to a scene where an individual, who was at the very least intoxicated, had brandished a knife while fighting with one man, and had held a knife to the throat of another. Jason Prostrollo, set in motion the series of events that ended his life and he alone is responsible. He continued to advance on the police even after they told him to stop. A K-9 dog bit Prostrollo, and as has been reported, it barely slowed him. Do not blame Lt Bayne for the consequences. All Mr Prostrollo had to do was to simply obey their commands. Had he done so, he’d be alive and well today.
Let me say one more thing. Just because Mr Prostrollo served in the military, it doesn’t mean he gets a free pass to behave like he did. Serving in the military doesn’t make one a model citizen. If that’s the case, then Lt Bayne should be labeled a saint; he also served in the military as well as 19 years on the police force.
To those of you that choose to criticize and attack police officers that are asked to make tough decisions, I say to you, walk a day in their shoes. I guarantee you’ll have a whole new respect for them after you’ve experienced the sh*t they are expected to put up with on a daily basis.
God bless America’s police officers, and God bless Lt Bayne and his family.
Vladimir Gagic - February 2, 2012 4:55 PM
@L.A.
If Scottsdale PD and Lt. Bayne didn't do anything wrong than why are they blatantly lying about what happened? SPD wants the public to believe that a random, one in a million event- sudden violent winds in the middle of a series of completely calm weeks- is the reason Sgt. Prostrollo is dead. It is nothing short of preposterous.
No one is saying, certainly I am not, that Lt. Bayne is a bad person or has an easy job. But he volunteered for this job, trained for this job, and is paid for this job. If he made a mistake, which is a reasonable belief, then he should be accountable, just like the rest of us- civilians, marines, lawyers, etc..- who live in a democracy are accountable. Why should police get special treatment when they make a mistake? Why should they be allowed to cover up their mistakes and lie? Shouldn't they have to follow the same rules as everyone else? If we don't hold them accountable, then the sad death of this young man will not be the last one.
smine - February 2, 2012 5:02 PM
@L.A....u aren't seeing the overall picture!! Police are trained to deflect issues without using deadly force and the overall issue myself and thousands of others are trying to understand is why police aren't practicing those skills rather than killing!?!? This isn't the 1st 2nd nor 3rd case and sadly it wontbe the last until its a politicians relative or someone "more important" effing BS! This county is a ongoing war of its own, the normal fighting against the insane! Screw all law enforcement there are so many effed up ones out there with small man syndrome! Needs a gun to prove he's hard!
Shawn McNulty - February 3, 2012 12:00 AM
Jason's funeral service will be held at 10am tomorrow morning, 2/3. It will be at St. Patrick's on Shea and 84th. A reception to follow at Ernie's on Shea and 72nd. Anyone who Jason knew is welcome.
Mark Brinton - February 3, 2012 1:01 AM
The facts, as far as seem to be known, strongly suggest that the shooter failed to permit the K-9 to fully respond. But even before unleashing the dog, one can't help concluding that the officers failed to consider a multiple of non-fatal options: a) defuse the whole situation by backing up, speaking softly, What's the rush? b) several officers probably had three-foot batons, which can be used effectively against the one-cue per hand condition of Jason, c) logic tells you that several tazers or pepper sprays would have had a great probability of stopping Jason (move around, get up wind if you think wind is a factor). If the tazers/spray fail, then d) unleash the K-9. It is unthinkable that the K-9 would fail to thwart the forward progress of Jason. In short, the officers' account defies logic and common sense.
Justice for Jason Prostrollo - February 3, 2012 9:07 AM
Site for Jason requesting external investigation of Scottsdale Police:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-for-Jason-Prostrollo/358221407524037
Doug Pearson - February 4, 2012 6:57 AM
May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
When I heard that a Marine was killed by police I figured that he was armed and threatening the police... why else would they shoot him? When I heard that he was holding a pool cue and no one tried to taze him... I knew he was murdered.
Dirty coward bastard got scared, pissed his pants and shot a drunk Marine... he will probably get a medal for bravery when he ought to bitch slapped.
Seper Fi.
TJ Smith - February 5, 2012 9:27 AM
The cop overreacted and his buddies are covering for him.
I am a former Marine Corporal. I am 6' and currently weigh 235. At my best, I could never handle seven cops with two pool cues. Sgt. Prostrollo must have been a badass Marine to scare these lunch money victims so badly.
And what did happen in that house? Something creepy, I'm sure. If I was the cop, and if I HAD to shoot this man, I'd be furious at the people in that house for making it happen. I'd sure as hell want to know why they pissed off this good kid to the point he would behave in such an uncharacteristic manner.
Kim - February 7, 2012 1:12 PM
This makes me so mad. Jason was murdered. SPD managed to accomplish what 2 tours of Iraq did not. Also, the 30 yr old girlfriend along with her 50 yr old "boyfriend" need to explain why they brought a 25 yr old man back to their home. We wanna know their ulterior motives. This whole situation makes me so irate. SPD are lawless thugs with badges. God bless Jason and God be with his family.
Vladimir Gagic - February 7, 2012 2:53 PM
Scottsdale PD is refusing to release the Police Reports of Sgt. Prostrollo's shooting. This is despite the fact state law requires the release. You can call Scottsdale's public information officer at 480-312-1910 and ask them why won't release the police reports? What do they have to hide? This is sure starting to sound like a cover-up.
Sergeant Mark Clark
Public Information Supervisor
480-312-1910
Email: pio@scottsdaleaz.gov
Officer Dave Pubins
Public Information Officer
480-312-1911
Email: pio@scottsdaleaz.gov
You can also contact these assistant chiefs and demand answers.
John Cocca, Assistant Chief, Uniformed Services Bureau
Phone: (480) 312-1904
Email: jcocca@scottsdaleaz.gov
Sean Duggan, Assistant Chief, Personnel Development/
Investigative Services Bureau
Phone: (480) 312-1906
Email: sduggan@scottsdaleaz.gov
Kim - February 7, 2012 3:21 PM
If it is ever released... without total redaction... I'd like to know the identity of the creeps who brought him to the home. Why? I thought about driving over there and leaving flowers. I hope those 2 never forget what they helped set in motion for Jason. Something untoward happened in that house... I am just so mad.
CJ - February 14, 2012 5:06 PM
Regardless if it was windy or not, the suspect was approaching officers with a deadly weapon. Therefore, an officer is allowed to use deadly force. I would like whoever wrote this article to be chased by man with two "sticks," as they softly put it, and see how he or she reacts! It's a sad situation, but what do you think the outcome would be if you are threating police officers.. come on now.
RP - February 20, 2012 6:17 PM
Scottsdale Police Department are ruthless, heartless cowards. If I were ever in trouble I would not call them because of fear that they have ruined so many lives with excessive force or un-necessary arrests. They do not protect and serve. They are power hungry corrupt thugs and something needs to be done. So many people know have been wrongfully arrested, their property confiscated and never returned. And these people are not bad people, maybe a few speeding tickets but no DUI's. God forbid they don't find anything on you, because they will find it or make it up. I am just afaid of getting pulled over. I was pulled over last month for going 10mph over the limit on Scottsdale road and five cop cars showed up for a speeding ticket. They searched my car for no reason, only for the hope that they may find something.
Shek - March 7, 2012 11:48 PM
Police murder yet another person. This one I knew.