Reader: Preacher's Affair Put Him in the Wrong Place During Police Shooting

• Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that Pastor Ayers was getting hummers from a known prostitute (although there is no proof of that beyond the word of a crack whore). The last time I looked, prostitution was not a capital offense. But we do have one cop (Oxner) who has a history of jumping in the path of moving cars. We have another (Harrison) who was not even certified and lacked arrest powers when he murdered Pastor Ayers. And don't forget the history of robbery and drug use that plagued the cops on the NCIS force! The history of some of the cops is no better than many of the perps they are supposedly investigating. The entire incident was an example of poor training and terrible police work. Whether Pastor Ayers was a whoremonger or dedicated minister doesn't really matter - there was no reason for him to be shot dead. The police don't have the powers of judge, jury and executioner (even though far too many think they do!). Do you really think that the grand jury heard the full story? Do you think that Rickman will have the integrity to reopen this case in light of the fact that Harrison lacked police powers (and therefore lacked the immunity cited in the Grand Jury's decision)? Did anyone really think that there would be an unbiased investigation without a civil suit? Does anyone think that Shirley will step up and validate that his officers are certified and fully trained? Didn't think so. Doesn't Georgia deserve better policing than this? And to Axeman - Do you really think that a loving, forgiving God will condem Pastor Ayers to hell for breaking one of the commandments (assuming that he even did)? I bet that you've broken a few of them in your life (ever argued with your parents, took the name of the Lord in vain, stole things or lied?). Jesus never said that any of the commandments (except loving the Lord and your neighbors) was any more important than any of the others. Does that mean that you are on the highway to hell, too?

• So ... were the cops just supposed to let him run them down? He wasn't shot because he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time" he was shot because her nearly ran the cops over when they tried to apprehend him. It's not like he was sitting in the car and they rolled in and double-tapped him. They identified themselves as police officers - he reverses away fast ... apparently striking one of the police .. then throws it in gear and heads towards another who puts two bullets into the car. I am obviously Robinson Crusoe on this one ... I reckon he bought it on himself from start to finish. My thoughts are with the poor officer who has to live with the fact that he took a life.

• I completely agree with you Jaden. I thought from the beginning too that he was either with her for sex or drugs, and it came out that infact he was. We cant get the preachers opinion or account of what happened, but since everyone is speculating that the police are in the wrong, Im going to speculate too. How do we know that the preacher wasnt trying to get away from the police, knowing they were police officers? Obviously, he had a lot to lose if it came out that he was either on drugs or sleeping with a hooker. And if he were arrested for it, lets face it the whole town would have known. So maybe he thought he had a chance at a swift get-a-way, and failed.

• Jennie I agree 100 %. a man is dead . cops are at fault. What the cops claim here dont justify shooting .

• Jadensmokes, If it was the same situation, yes. I don't care if you are white, black, pink w/purple polka dots what the police did was WRONG period.

• jennie, i brought up a black drug dealer because my question is, especially to you, would you as a juror grant the black man's wife money as you are willing to do with the preacher's wife? the circumstances wouldn't be that different.

• Jadensmokes, I do not know why you have to bring up a "Black" drug dealer. Who really cares who it was/may have been. The police were wrong to shoot in the first place. Even if this man was dealing drugs, or screwing a male prostitute. They should never shoot first, then possibly ask questions later. Preacher or not, no one will ever know the complete truth, as he is now dead. I feel for his wife and unborn child. She should be compensated by the police department for their terrible mishandling of the case which lead to his death.

• Personally, I believe the police officers involved in this case didn't act appropiately. But I also think that a likely reason as to why Jonathan Ayers (the preacher) reacted the way he did when confronted by the officers might not have been due to him misidentifying the officers for robbers. But rather him "fully" identifying who the officers were and panicking because he realized what would happen if he were to get arrested or at least was known to have been involved in a drug bust. Seriously think about it for a minute. He's a preacher of a church. He's supposedly a well liked, stand up guy. He's married with a child on the way. His entire assumed life would come crashing down around him if it were found out that he had been having an affair with a known drug user/dealer. His career and home life would be over. I think he was entirely aware of that fact and that is why he fled from the officers such as he did.

• Everyone knows there is a commandment that says Thou shalt NOT commit adultery. He was tempted by Satan and now he is in Hell, that's what happens when you don't resist temptation! The devil gets your soul. As for his family if they are good, God fearing people then I'm sure God will take care of them. But chances are the devil is after them now and will test them so I hope they stay true to the Lord.

• Well, I agree that he most likely was in the wrong. Whether it was him being involved in drugs, or him cheating on his pregnant wife. I just think that the cops were wrong in the fact that they acted so quickly without finding out details.

• These days it seems like there is a huge chance he could've been a pedophile priest or something. Everything is falling apart. Preacher does not equal saintly to me.

• ahhh, i did say, known to deal drugs, but my thought pattern was not that he was known to cops to deal drugs. my point was they weren't sure who/what he was, they had assumed. my second line of thought was, would society (jury) grant a black drug dealer's wife money, because the same outcome happened...a man is dead that shouldn't be. both in the wrong place at the wrong time doing something they shouldnt have been (drugs or pussy-4-sale, both illegal but not in the sense that someone should die for it). i guess what i'm getting at is that there seems to be an awful lot of compassion simply because this man was a preacher (regardless that he was obviously doing something he sholdnt' have been).

• I get what you are saying. My point was just that I don't think it really is the same unless they find out if he was a dealer. Suspicion is a very tricky thing. If he was a known drug dealer, that's one thing, which seems to be your point. (Correct me if I'm wrong, though) I feel like, since they weren't sure, they pulled an "act first and ask questions later" scenario, and I don't think that was right at all. I think that if he didn't have anything to do w drugs (besides possible being sexually involved with someone that uses) then his wife should get some sort of compensation.

• jadensmokes, my point was to bash and critique your opinion, like you said. no more than that.

• my thought was that the cops didn't know who he was... drug dealer or preacher man. i'm putting it out there that if it were a black drug dealer in the same scenario we witnessed on film if people would see things differently. would there be any concern about the pregnant wife and whether or not she received money for an unjust death of her husband. i am curious about the comparison because if they give money to the preacher's wife, then why shouldn't they give money to the black man's wife (hypothetically)? see, i don't think we all look at this in the same way, and perhaps it's our own predjudices that create that atmosphere. you are right, he was not implicated in any drug use or sales whatsoever. but, apparently the cops thought he was involved with them.

• @ jadensmokes, I'm a little confused at the last sentence. Are you asking if a black man drug dealer was in the preacher's position, would we still feel for his wife? Because as far as I've read so far, we don't know for sure that the preacher had anything to do w the drugs. Therefore, that is really a whole different scenario, and I'm not sure it can be used in comparison here.

• Y, i wasn't trying to pat myself on the back. i called this on the first story ever posted about the preacher boy. that he was doing one of three things, drugs, preaching, or pussy. and i didn't post first (nor did I claim to), i was the second poster. i am not that shallow to think being a first poster is important. i was only stating that before the entire truth came out, i called it. it's not something for me to be proud of to predict that this man was something he did not appear to be. as far as my redundant and impertinent post, your's held no more fodder for thought other than to bash me. i expected more from you... i am torn on whether or not this woman should get money. i have admitted that the cops didn't act appropriately, but at the same time preacher boy wasn't either. i'm sorry his wife married a pos, but am not sure if society owes her on behalf of the police department's actions. there are always tough breaks in life up to and including death. i'm not a huge proponent of law suits that only net money, not closure, not revenge, not anything other than money. if this were a black man, known to deal drugs, and the cops behaved the same way, would you be so easy to side with the wife on a monetary settlement?

• Somewhat agree with Jadensmokes - you lead a risque' lifestyle, something bad is bound to happen. Granted, the cops should not have been so quick to shoot, but why the hell didn't he just stop???

• I'm a young preacher, and let me tell you, the Lord takes teachers of His Word very seriously. If you want to be a leader of Christians, brother, you need to keep yourself clean. God sometimes takes His children home early, as was the case here...James 5:20.

• Thank you! Jeez. 'bout time.

• Oh, I'm sorry. Apparently "Y" shares in your stupidity. So he/she IS impressed.

• Speak for yourself mcr. We are all entitled to our own opinions. Speak you mind, GHETTOMAN. Goes the same for jadensmokes.

• I disagree. I think the cops are totally at fault here and the "wrong place wrong time" defense shouldn't be valid when it comes to the police using lethal force. They fucked up bad, and the preacher's transgressions don't warrant the police shooting him to death for simply suspecting that he might have information about the alleged coke-dealer. And GhettoMan...you really are living up to that name. Maybe go talk to some people who think it's cool to sound like an uneducated moron. No one here is impressed.

• But I want to pat my back too-- I still like my point the BESTest, "when somebody dies- money never helps them grieve" they need closure and they're not going to get that fightin' for pecuniary compensation

• touche

• Bheobe, his name is GHETTOMAN. You didn't expect a low class comment?

• What a shameful pat on your own back: i was the first one to comment on this. That should've been deleted. Irrelevant and pointless. Yeah way to go; you commented first. I have trouble with your conclusion: let the jury decide. That was going to happen anyway. So your op-ed here is redundant and pointless.

• My o'MY such hostility so early in these posts. I think jadensmokes' point it totally valid and I agree. There's not need to insult Reader for opinion. GHETTOMAN you can disagree and you can argue. But I think your language is totally rude and uncalled for. Why the degrading remarks? That is super-LOW CLASS

• thanks...i'll have to work on the retard idiot thing! have a nice day :)

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