Shooting of Unarmed Derek Wolfsteller Grabs Officer Gun At Plymouth MN Arby's

Shooting of Unarmed Derek Wolfsteller Grabs Officer Gun At Plymouth MN Arby's ---

similar - Jamar Clark

July 23, 2015 Shooting of Unarmed Derek Wolfsteller Grabs Officer Gun At Plymouth MN Arby's  (Mary Ramirez)  Plymouth, Minnesota Arby’s were getting nervous. Derek Wolfsteller, who had just notified authorities himself that he was going through a “mental crisis,” was clearly becoming a threat in the restaurant—and workers quickly called 911. Police responded. Workers were in the process of trying to subdue Wolfstellar, who had already grown dangerous. The police’s commands fell on deaf ears; the Taser didn’t work—and the man grabbed the officer’s gun. she quickly regained control and was forced to shoot. Wolfstellar took a hit in the head, and died. With few exceptions, there was virtually no outcry. And rightfully so. The man was dangerous, he refused to obey the officer, could not be subdued by any other measure, and tried to grab the officer’s gun. Derek Wolfstellar made a choice, and he paid for it.

*Tags

• Jamar Clark
• mental health crisis
• minnesota
• officer involved shooting 
• seized gun
• taser failure

*Reference

Understanding The Jamar Clark Police Shooting: What You Need To Know
Nov. 25, 2015 12:41pm
 Mary Ramirez
Mary Ramirez might be young, but what she lacks in years she makes up in effort. After beginning her writing career at 16 as a junior columnist for the local paper,

fast food workers at a Plymouth, Minnesota Arby’s were getting nervous.

Derek Wolfsteller, who had just notified authorities himself that he was going through a “mental crisis,” was clearly becoming a threat in the restaurant—and workers quickly called 911.

Police responded. Workers were in the process of trying to subdue Wolfstellar, who had already grown dangerous. The police’s commands fell on deaf ears; the Taser didn’t work—and the man grabbed the officer’s gun.

She quickly regained control and was forced to shoot. Wolfstellar took a hit in the head, and died.

With few exceptions, there was virtually no outcry.

And rightfully so. The man was dangerous, he refused to obey the officer, could not be subdued by any other measure, and tried to grab the officer’s gun.

Derek Wolfstellar made a choice, and he paid for it.

Fast forward a few months, and a few miles to the east in the same metro area—and it’s a totally different story.

Never mind that Jamal Clark had added to an already extensive rap sheet by assaulting his girlfriend. Never mind that Clark returned to the scene after paramedics were called, and harassed and intimidated paramedics to the point where THEY felt compelled to call 911. Never mind that Clark refused to cooperate with police. Never mind that Clark engaged in a physical confrontation with the officers. Never mind that he eventually gained physical control of the handle of one of their guns.

Never mind all that, because we live in one of the most racially polarized periods in recent history.

You see, Derek Wolfstellar was white, and Jamal Clark was black. And somehow when race is made a part of the debate (whether it played a factor or not), personal responsibility suddenly only applies to the officers, and not to the perpetrator.

So how does it all break down? And what, if anything does this have to do with Thanksgiving? Bear with me—I’ll get there.

Let’s take a closer look at the components that don’t always make the news and opinion reels:

Mary Ramirez

Mary Ramirez

Mary Ramirez

Mary Ramirez

In sum? The pasts of the officers, Clark, the girlfriend, and anyone else involved ASIDE—what are the facts? Clark beat someone up. Clark threatened paramedics and made it darn near impossible for them to aid the victim. Clark grabbed for the officer’s gun. THAT’S what matters.

Yup, there’s an alternative narrative. And witnesses to back it up, purportedly. But here’s a nugget for you to chew on: in a world where practically everyone—from toddler to grandma—has a cell phone, no one has even a few seconds of video? It’s just a thought.

And maybe, video will surface. (They’re working on getting footage from a nearby building’s camera.) But until such time, we’re still supposed to look at the whole picture—something we’re not always getting.

I haven’t forgotten—I promised you I’d bring this back to Thanksgiving.

Several men decided to take matters into their own hands as they shot into the crowd of protestors at Minneapolis’s 4th Precinct. They ended up wounding five people with their disgusting act.

Here’s the thing: despite the vitriol, despite the anger, despite the difficulties posed by a community who believes that their work amounts to precious little more than institutionalized racism— police across the community worked to bring those people to justice: “officers and investigators worked nonstop throughout the night to develop suspects and leads,” eventually making arrests.

They worked tirelessly to bring justice for the very people making their lives impossible right now.

So yes, I want you to look at the facts of the Jamal Clark case. And as we look at the video coming out ofChicago, I want us to look at the INDIVIDUAL (both the cop AND the perpetrator) in each case. I alwayswant justice to be served.

*Sources



Father of man killed in Plymouth police shooting - Star Tribune Star Tribune Jul 28, 2015 - Derek Wolfsteller of Plymouth was fatally shot Thursday evening by police; he wasn't armed, but, according to a preliminary investigation, he ...

Man shot by Plymouth police had extensive court history www.twelve.tv  Jul 27, 2015 - The Star Tribune reports Derek Wolfsteller, 31, called police for help about the same time an Arby's employee called about a disturbance at the .

Man killed by police at Arby's in Plymouth was shot in head ... Star Tribune Jul 26, 2015 - The man fatally shot during an altercation with police in a fast-food restaurant in Plymouth was identified Sunday as a 31-year-old who lived a ...

Medical examiner: Man fatally shot by police in Arby's was ... Jul 26, 2015 - The man who was fatally shot by a Plymouth police officer inside an Arby's Thursday night died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Hennepin ...

Derek Wolfsteller « CBS Minnesota WCCO Plymouth Police Shot Man At Arby's In The HeadOfficials have released the name of the man shot and killed by a Plymouth police officer last week at an ...

Obituary for Derek Ray Wolfsteller | Dingmann Funeral Care ... Dingmann Funeral CareJul 29, 2015 - Derek R. Wolfsteller, age 31, of Plymouth passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2015. A Celebration of Life honoring Derek will be held at 7:30 ...Derek R. Wolfsteller, age 31, of Plymouth passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2015.

A Celebration of Life honoring Derek will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Maple Lake with visitation beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, also at the funeral home.

Derek Ray Wolfsteller was born February 1, 1984 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota to Duane Wolfsteller and Amber Torkelson. Derek was currently attending the Minnesota School of Business in Plymouth and had been working as a chef. In his spare time he enjoyed snowmobiling, electronics and playing video games.

Derek is survived by his soulmate, Jessica Bonniwell; father, Duane (Kim) Wolfsteller; step father, John Smithson; grandparents, Roger and Theresa Wolfsteller and Ralph and Marcy Petruzzi; siblings, Trevor Wolfsteller, Kayla Wolfsteller, and Samantha Smithson; uncles, Greg (Dawn) Torkelson and Lee Medina; aunt, Kathy (Jeff) Marciniak; cousins, John Bodman, Chelsea and Kevin Dooley, and other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his mother, Amber Smithson and grandparents, George and Mary Torkelson.

Derek R. Wolfsteller (8211.1) - Fatal Encounters
data.fatalencounters.org/page/Derek-R.-Wolfsteller-8211.1 Wolfsteller was allegedly causing a disturbance inside an Arby's restaurant when police arrived. Authorities said Wolfsteller and an officer scuffled, and that at ...

Derek Wolfsteller | LinkedIn Minneapolis, Minnesota - ‎Chef at Romano's Macaroni Grill - ‎Romano's Macaroni GrillView Derek Wolfsteller's professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like Derek Wolfsteller discover ...