More than 2,000 dead in US during arrests in three yrs
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (AFP): More than 2,000 people died in the United States during arrests between 2003 and 2005, according to data published by the Department of Justice for the first time Thursday.
As many as 54 per cent were killed by police, 12 per cent died because of a drug or alcohol overdose, 11 per cent committed suicide, seven per cent succumbed to accidents and five per cent died due to illnesses or natural causes, according to statistics from 47 US states, and the US federal capital city, released in accordance with a 2000 law.
By comparison, over the same period of time, security agencies carried out more than 41 million arrests, a number that does not include detentions as a result of traffic violations.
At the same time, more than 174,000 police officers were assaulted, 380 were killed, 41 per cent of them in the course of a crime, the statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation showed.
Among the 1,095 suspects killed by police and other security forces, 80 per cent were armed, 62 per cent threatened police officers, 36 per cent made an attempt to escape, and 18 per cent were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
About 45 per cent of those killed were white, 30 per cent were black and 20 per cent were Hispanics.
According to the statistics, almost all succumbed to gunfire, while 17 were killed by "Taser" stunguns.
As many as 54 per cent were killed by police, 12 per cent died because of a drug or alcohol overdose, 11 per cent committed suicide, seven per cent succumbed to accidents and five per cent died due to illnesses or natural causes, according to statistics from 47 US states, and the US federal capital city, released in accordance with a 2000 law.
By comparison, over the same period of time, security agencies carried out more than 41 million arrests, a number that does not include detentions as a result of traffic violations.
At the same time, more than 174,000 police officers were assaulted, 380 were killed, 41 per cent of them in the course of a crime, the statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation showed.
Among the 1,095 suspects killed by police and other security forces, 80 per cent were armed, 62 per cent threatened police officers, 36 per cent made an attempt to escape, and 18 per cent were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
About 45 per cent of those killed were white, 30 per cent were black and 20 per cent were Hispanics.
According to the statistics, almost all succumbed to gunfire, while 17 were killed by "Taser" stunguns.