Des Moines, IA — In June, the taxpayers of Burlington, Iowa were told that they will be hit with a $2 million bill to pay for a police officer who shot and killed an innocent mother. The tragic scenario was captured on video and the fact that most of that video remained a secret was part of the reason the family received the settlement in the wrongful death suit. However, all that has now changed and the video was released this week.
In May, during a federal court hearing in Davenport, Iowa, officials revealed that the confidential police video—a key piece of evidence in exonerating a cop who killed the innocent mom—did not corroborate the cop’s claims he made before firing the fatal shots that accidentally killed the mother of two.
Now, we have the evidence showing this was true.
As TFTP previously reported, the Burlington police department released a 12-second clip from a Burlington Police officer’s body cam showing him shooting and killing Autumn Steele.
The alleged dog bite was a key component in the case which allowed police officer Jesse Hill to be justified in firing the shots that killed Steele in January of 2015. According to the official story, the German shepherd jumped on Hill’s back and bit his thigh, causing him injuries which required treatment.
The shooting was ruled justified and Hill was not disciplined, according to investigators, because Hill was in fear of his life during the dog attack and therefore did nothing wrong when he fired his weapon multiple times—hitting Steele in her chest, killing her.
There is only one problem though, the video does not show any of this. Burlington Police, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Des Moines County Attorney have all refused to release the entire video, and we now know why. As the Des Moines Register reported in May:
In a separate legal battle, the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Burlington Police Department have been charged with violating the state’s open records law for refusing to release the full video, saying it is part of an investigative record and is confidential.
The video was not played in open court Thursday. But Chief Judge James Gritzner of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa allowed attorneys in the case to describe pieces of the unreleased footage.
Not only does the unreleased video show no bite, but Hill never says that he had been bitten — a direct contrast to what he wrote later in his report, Dave O’Brien, a Cedar Rapids attorney who represents the Steele family, said during the hearing.
The city claims they kept the video secret this entire time because its position is to keep “peace officers’ investigative reports, such as the body camera video in this case,” out of the public eye.
The city’s attorneys have “resisted the public disclosure of this video and the other records to be released” because such videos and records “are legally considered ‘confidential’ under Iowa law,” a statement released this week said.
“We believe these are records the people of Burlington have a right to see,” said Adam Klein, a Georgia lawyer who represents Steele’s family. “When the County Attorney and his (Hill’s) superiors say ‘he didn’t do anything wrong’ the people have the right to know the facts. The facts released before today were far from complete and far from honest.”
The tragic incident unfolded that fateful January day as Gabriel Steele, Autumn’s husband, was loading up their 4-year-old son, when Autumn began yelling at Gabriel and the police were called.
“He’s got my kid!” yells Autumn.
Officer Hill was at the Steele residence acting as an escort in their domestic dispute incident. During this commotion, the couple’s dog came running out of the house.
“Hey, hey, quit fighting, stop it,” says Hill.
In the video, we can hear the dog growl, at which point Hill says, “Get your dog.” Only moments later, Hill fired off two rounds.
One of the shots struck Autumn Steele in the arm and another in the chest. The dog was also hit, but he recovered. In a previous version of this story, the Free Thought Project reported that the dog was not hit. However, new information shows that he was.
Below is the original 12-second video released by police. It does not show the entire story.
Below is the entire video. As claimed by the attorneys for the Steele family in June, the video does not show the bite, nor does it show the officer ever mention the bite. However, it does show the officer concerned that he will might go to jail for what he just did.
“Where are you shot, ma’am? Ma’am, ma’am where are you hit? Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God,” the transcript shows Hill called out.
A few moments later, he tells a fellow officer: “ Oh s**t Tim. I’m f**king going to prison. Oh my God.”
But Hill had completely forgotten at the time that cops rarely go to prison for killing people—even innocent unarmed mothers.
Shortly after the killing, Des Moines County Attorney, Amy Beavers released a seven-page report detailing the reasons why Officer Hill will not face charges for killing Autumn Steele.
In her report, Beaver cited the fact that Hill is a police officer. Beaver says that he was in a difficult situation in which he was trying to stop a domestic dispute as well as protect himself from a dog. Being that he was a police officer, in this situation, he is entitled to special treatment, according to Beaver.
Does Beaver’s logic make any sense at all?
This was a clear-cut case of one person negligently taking the life of another person and now, we are finding out that there is an alleged cover up, and the only people that will be held liable are the taxpayers.
This is the norm today and has been for many years. It’s not difficult to imagine that it’ll get worse. Much worse.
Less old time cops.
More millennial cops.
Let that sink in.
And many of them are “hero’s” trained by the U.S. Military
Police officers are notoriously poor shots, exercise poor impulse control, and can get away with murder due to statutory “protections” that (only) they possess. You see, police officers operate under NO “rules of engagement”, unlike the military and ordinary citizens. A shooting that would get a military person or ordinary citizen charged, tried, found guilty, and incarcerated quite often is treated as “operator error” or use of the famous “I feared for my life” excuse, when committed by a police officer.
After a questionable police officer shoot, the individual officers are not handcuffed and arrested and are given 72 hours in which to “get their story straight”, unlike the treatment that an ordinary citizen receives for an identical shoot.
Police-friendly prosecutors and “rubber-stamp” grand juries routinely “gloss over” and excuse behavior by police officers, that would land an ordinary citizen in serious trouble.
This “double standard” needs to be scrapped. “Equal justice under law” is supposed to apply to everyone–even police officers.
It is a loosely-guarded secret that American “law enforcement” is now receiving training in Israeli military tactics, even getting “all expenses paid” trips to Israel for “first-hand” training.
We are all Palestinians now…
Very well said. WE ARE ALL PALESTINIANS. Consider whom we have in Washington who are dual citizens!
well said.
Unforgivable. And in front of her own son.
never call the cops for a domestic issue,never call the cops period unless it’s very serious–
having said that,i’m not convinced that the cop was at fault here–
the woman was on the verge of being out of control & he had an aggressive dog coming at him–
imo,it was a poor decision to shoot,much better to have used pepper spray but he had no ill intent–
what bothered me most of all was the apparent lack of 1st aid given to her & the way she was dragged around,which if there had been spinal injuries would have caused further injuries–
I am beginning to realize the police are going to be one of the biggest hindering problems this nation is going to face to get out from under Washington DC. They will kill citizens with no problem and probably get away with it. Years ago I didn’t know the extent of cops murdering people. Just like those bikers in Waco Tx who were basically murdered out side that bar. Not one of those cops that did that have been brought to Justice.
bb,
what has happened in the waco case?i was thinking about it a couple of weeks ago,it seems to have just totally faded away,which in my mind means the cops were probably at fault–
Got to agree with not calling the cops for a domestic dispute. Given the number of these the police are sent to every damn day you’d think they would set up a ‘domestic unit’ not patrol officers. Yes, they would be LEOs but not skin head patrol officers used to ordering people around and with zero tolerance for non compliance.
People having an argument are already upset. Better to have someone arrive with a badge ( and gun) but in civilian clothes to try and de-escalate the situation and not automatically take one of the parties to jail. If no one has been seriously hurt leave them be. The prosecutor isn’t going to file charges anyway unless it is an aggravated battery
“i’m not convinced that the cop was at fault here”
Um, why was his gun un-holstered, in his hand, safety off. finger on the trigger? For a non-threatening ‘domestic dispute.’ Wake- Up.
Well thought-out comment, Tampa
He rolled her over looked for the wound, couldnt find it and gave her cpr…her definitely tried to give aid.
Today’s cop is the same kid that got a participation trophy 20 plus years ago. Totally self absorbed, narcissistic and in case you haven’t figured it out already, his life is much more important than yours. Never, ever call the police until whatever is coming down is over.
This guy just shot and killed a woman and his first reaction is about the possibility of him going to jail. That’s sociopathic behavior and tells you everything you need to know. Do Not Make That Call.
That cop would end up executed sooner or later if that was my mom or wife.
It seems that in today’s supercharged climate of “officer safety”, innocent civilian lives are being extinguished, with tragic results.
Part of the “problem” has to do with the elevation of “officer safety”, trumping “citizen safety”. It seems that honest citizens have been relegated to second-class “status”, being expendable whenever a “law enforcement” officer’s “safety” is threatened.
The hypocrisy is so blatant, that even with incontrovertible video and audio evidence, police-friendly prosecutors, along with “rubber stamp” grand juries STILL absolve rogue cops of wrongdoing. The public is not stupid, seeing through the double-standard that presently exists. This, in no certain terms, absolves anyone of responsibility for perpetrating unnecessary violence against “law enforcement”…
The sad part of this whole situation is that when the SHTF, the 99% of good cops will suffer, as those with “axes to grind” will see only the uniform and will be unable (or even unwilling) to differentiate between the “good” and the few “bad”…collateral damage at its worst.
Non-violent changes in the whole system are sorely needed……
The hyper emphasis on officer safety comes from labeling cops “heroes”. We hear this crap about how they risk their lives every day. A few do. Most don’t. And even for those who do work in dangerous environs, why should that make their lives more valuable than the innocent people among whom they work? The glorification of cops, soldiers, “first responders” etc. has gotten way out of hand.
I like calling them welfare recipients or plain old Road pirates, because that’s all they are. Fucking scum of the earth.
These videos are always tough…..remember Daniel Shaver anyone?
In this day and age, unfortunately, it’s probably best to avoid cops if at all possible. It was so much better when they were “Peace Officers” and not “Law Enforcement Agents”.
If anyone here has ever been attacked by a large dog, I would take that into consideration before rendering judgement. Not a pleasant scene.
There is no evidence in that video that the dog was ‘attacking.’ Even if were to go that far, define ‘attack.’ A ‘nip’ defending their master does require a firearm to deal with.
You’re not up on the latest police training. If a dog growls at you, you shoot the owner. Gotta make sure you go home safely.
First we are STOLEN FROM to pay for their salaries, then again for their body cameras that are SUPPOSED to provide objective evidence in case of shootings, etc. Then they murder innocents, hide behind state laws, are protected by other criminal elements in the “justice” system, and then the taxpayers are STOLEN FROM AGAIN to pay out the lawsuits for their murderous and criminal behavior. Seriously, why does ANYONE support ANY GOVERNMENT at all??? No private company would be allowed to get away with this much orchestrated corruption (without the government to protect them that is).
You always cut right to the bone. +100.
Here is a guest article that deserves the light of day:
No One Cares If You Go Home Safe At The End Of Your Shift
Jan 02, 201812:50AM
Category: Politics
Posted by: Michael Z. Williamson
Here at the house, I have a couple of decades plus of military experience. I have tools to dig in or out of natural disasters. I have extinguishers and hoses. I have a field trauma kit and bandages. I have weapons both melee and firearm. I know how to use them. I know how to trench, support and revet. I understand the fire triangle and appropriate approaches. I understand breathing, bleeding and shock. I know how to detain, restrain and control. I have done all of these at least occasionally, professionally. I’ve stood on top of a collapsing levee in a flood. I’ve fought a structure fire from inside so we could get everyone out before the fire department showed up, which only took two minutes, but people can die that fast. I’ve had structures collapse while I was working on them. I’ve been in an aircraft that had a “mechanical” on approach and had to be repaired in-flight before landing. I’ve helped control a brush fire. I’ve hauled disabled vehicles out of ditches in sub-zero weather.
My ex wife has over a decade of service and some of the same training.
We have trained our young adult children.
My wife is a rancher who knows her way around a shotgun, livestock, sutures and tools, hurricanes and floods, and works in investigations professionally.
Our current house guest is another veteran.
This means if anything happens at the house, and last year we had a lightning strike, a tornado and a flood within 10 days’ we’re pretty well prepared.
Now, we’re probably better off than 95% of the households out there. The level of disaster that necessitates backup varies.
If we find it necessary to call 911, it means the party is in progress and it’s bad.
You will probably not be going home safe at the end of your shift.
And you know what? If it gets to that point, I really don’t give a shit. I don’t give a shit if you get smoked. I don’t give a shit if you fall under a tree. I don’t give a shit if you get shot at.
Because at that point, I’ve done everything I can with that same circumstance, and run out of resources.
If my concern was “you going home safe,” then I’d just fucking hunker down and die. Because I wouldn’t want that poor responder to endanger himself.
Except, that’s what I pay taxes for, and that’s what you signed up for. Just like I signed up to walk into a potential nuke war in Germany and hold off the Soviets, and did walk into the Middle East and prepare to take fire while keeping expensive equipment functioning so our shooters could keep shooting.
There’s not a single set of orders I got that said my primary job was to “Come home safe.” They said it was to “support the mission” or “complete the objective.” Coming home safe was the ideal outcome, but entirely secondary to “supporting” or “completing.” Nor, once that started, did I get a choice to quit. Once in, all in.
When that 80 year old lady smells smoke or hears a noise outside her first floor bedroom in the ghetto, she doesn’t care if you go home safe, either. She’s afraid she or the kids next door won’t wake up in the morning.
If I call, I expect your ass to show up, sober, trained, professional. I expect you to wade in with me or in place of me, and drag a child out of a hole, or out from a burning room, or actually stand up and block bullets from hitting said child, because by the time you get there, I’ll have already done all that. And there will be field dressings, chainsawed trees, buckets and empty brass scattered about.
I don’t want to hear some drunk and confused guy squirming on the ground playing “Simon Says” terrified you so much you had to blow him away. I don’t want to hear that some random guy 35 yards away who you had no actual information on , may have reached toward his waist band. Or that “the tree might fall any moment” or that “the smoke makes it hard to see.”
Near as I can tell, I don’t hear the smokejumpers, or the firefighters, or the disaster rescue people say such things.
But it’s all I ever hear from the cops. If you and your five girlfriends in body armor, with rifles, are that terrified of actually risking your life for the theoretically dangerous job you volunteered for and can quit any time, then please do quit.
You can get a job doing pest control and go home safe every night.
Until a bunch of fucking pussies with big tattoos, small dicks, body armor and guns blow you away for minding your own business.
Because what you’re telling me with that statement is, your only concern is cashing a check. That’s fine. But if that’s your concern, don’t pretend you’re serving the public. If you wanted to help people at risk of life, you would be a firefighter, running into buildings, dragging people out, getting scorched regularly.
If you’re cool with writing tickets, then there’s jobs where you can do just that.
If you want to tangle with bad guys and blow them away, fair enough. But understand: That means they get to shoot first to prove their intent, just as happens with the military these days. Our ROE these days are usually “only if fired upon and no civilians are at risk.”
If your plan is “shoot first, shoot later, shoot some more, then if anyone is still alive try to ask questions,” and bleat, “But I was afeard fer mah lahf!” you’re absolutely no better than the thugs you claim to oppose. All you are is another combatant in a turf war I don’t care about.
Since I know your primary concern is “being safe,” then I’ll do you the favor of not calling. Cash your welfare check, and try not to shoot me at a “courtesy” sobriety checkpoint for “twitching my eye “in a way that suggested range estimation.
If you’re one of the vanishingly few cops who isn’t like that, then what the hell are you doing about it? If there’s going to be a lawsuit costing the city millions, isn’t it better that it be a labor suit from the union over the clown you fired, than a wrongful death suit over the poor bastard the clown shot? Both are expensive, but one has a dead victim you enabled. So how much do you actually care about that life?
How is the training so bad that it’s not clear who is the scene commander who gives the orders?
How is it that trigger happy bozos who, out of costume, look no different from the gangbangers you claim to oppose, get sent up front to fulfill their wish of hosing someone down because “I was afraid for my life!”?
Why does the rot exist in your department?
If you can’t do anything about it, why are you still in that department?
At some point, collective guilt is a thing.
You’ve probably not been a good cop for a long time.
And I still don’t care if you go home safe. I care that everyone you purport to “serve and protect” goes home safe.
Lot of shit to happen to one person, sounds like an episode of Murder She Wrote.
So much for professional training permitting police to be armed in public . If any law abiding citizen discharged a weapon in public they are held responsible for everything that round does from the time it left the tube including wether the round should have been fired or not . Obviously we have a serious accountibility and responsibility issue with what we are constantly told are trained professionals .
Second guessing as an arm chair quarterback is easy now the BUT ! It appears there was no threat of a weapon being deployed against the officer but he went for deadly force rather than a taser ?? Or maybe he was not equipped because the police department bought a crisis command center but I bet he had narcam in the car to save a junkey …
If he did have a taser and chose deadly force his judgement appears to be seriously in question ! This is especially true because the video sound seems clear there were people on scene prepared to perform some sort of life saving attempts as the officer kept calling for divine intervention as he told others to stand clear due to his panic state in such a crisis of his making !
UPDATE: Police Internal Investigation Acquits Officers in Mom-Shooting, Claim Woman Irresponsibly Failed to Duck
(image Reuters: Remorseful Officers Leave Courthouse After Acquittal)
“Whew! That was close! What can I say, better her than me, right?”
BREAKING NOW: Mueller Investigates Mom-Shooting, Discovers Putin Colluded with Dog to Frame Innocent Police
(image Reuters: Putin Receives Dog Agent at Kremlin with Honors)
Two words: Anabolic Steroids
I agree seems not much effort in way of first aid,what really boils me is while cop sounds freaked/upset he say”Fuck I ‘m going to prison Tim”That was me wife/friend ect. no problems with prison,you would not survive to the trial.
You fight back choose your field of battle if you can,will cost you monies/freedom/perhaps your life,the first one is expensive,the rest are free.
I feel very sad that the husband and child had to see this whole shit show.
I read something years ago from someone who wanted to join the police force. He claimed they wanted aggressive types. They were not interested in intelligent folks. Any contact with the police will most likely have a bad ending.
Send the DA to prison with the cop…
2015 Iowa shooting … I can’t find a single instance of a police officer being killed by a dog. Cops who shoot dogs are cowards. https://www.thenation.com/article/police-kill-nearly-25-dogs-each-day/