Stan Bowker wrote on March 26, 2008 11:23 AM: THE STRESS LAS VEGAS TAXI DRIVERS ARE NOW EXPERIENCING IS CRIMINAL AND REFORM IS THE ONLY SOLUTION. THEY ARE VICTIM TO INNUMERABLE CRUELTIES DAILY. THESE "POLICIES" HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO DEVELOPE OVER MANY YEARS AND ARE INHUMANELY OPPRESSIVE. THEY ARE UNIQUE TO CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA AND THE NEED TO REFORM THE REGULATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THIS INDUSTRY IS OVERDUE. THIS IS A MAN WHO DROVE TAXI HERE FOR THE SAME COMPANY 19 YEARS (I BELIEVE) WITH NO BLACK MARK ON HIS RECORD. HE MERELY SUCCUMED TO TREMENDOUS STRESS APPLIED GRADUALLY AND RELENTLESSLY OVER THESE YEARS, RESULTING IN THIS TRAGEDY. THESE WORK CONDITIONS NEED MEDIA ATTENTION. THEY ARE A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

THANK YOU,

STAN BOWKER, TAXI DRIVER, YELLOW CAB

J. Adkins wrote on March 24, 2008 04:00 PM: I really don't think that the complete truth is being told. Yes we need police officers to help keep some kind of order. I myself have encountered traffice stops when the officer was extremely rude and overusing his power. There are many police officers that misuse their position.If this incident took place as this article reads, the police officer would not have hesitated to pull his weapon and fire. If it was really as violent as Captain Collins states, then Les Pike would be dead. If Mr. Pike did have some type of mental break down, shouldn't the police officers and the lawyers determine why. Is he on some type of medicine that causes him to be easily irritated and will this be something that is brought out in the hearings.
The article leads one to believe that the officers chased Mr. Pike on foot. How could a 60+ man have the energy to run away, and if the officer did not pull his gun when Mr. Pike was driving straight at him, why would the officer not pulled his gun and shot when Mr. Pike was trying to run away. The whole thing seems a little bogus to me.
The media is wonderful at bringing out, what appears to be, the bad in an individual...when will we hear all the good things about this man. There is no way that you can convince me that this man snapped without being treated with some disrespect. Everyone in this situation should be evaluated...including the officer. Unfortunatley, it is impossible to always have a witness around when you need one...and usually if something goes bad, it is the citizen that takes the fall. My prayer is that justice will prevail and the officer is not fabricating the truth.

The Fez wrote on March 22, 2008 04:52 AM: I'm a cabdriver in Las Vegas - permit me to dispel a few misconceptions. First, most of us are NOT felons - we can't get a permit to be a driver if we are within five years of a conviction. Second of all, we're not all a bunch of meth-heads. As it happens, I am a member of the Mensa Society, and have never been arrested for any reason.
I work for the same company as Les, and I say with a high degree of confidence that something inside Les' head snapped - he BEGGED the cops to shoot him! That sounds like a man in total mental despair to me. His performance record up to this point was stellar.
I will agree that he should not be a cab driver anymore - if what the article reported is accurate, he poses a grave danger to himself and others.
I also agree that the Metro and TA officers showed a tremendous amount of restraint in NOT shooting Les, who, based on his behaviour, displayed dangerous mental instability. They are to be commended for making a quick and difficult assessment of the suspect's behaviour.
There are shortcomings in many of my colleagues' driving manners and business practices - I'll be the first to agree on that - but to behave as Les did in this case is indicative of a complete sense of hopelessness and relentless oppression by the various dynamics of this industry that seems to be increasing among the driver force, particularly in the case of the older veteran drivers.
It is my fervent hope that this is an isolated incident. If not, perhaps this is indicative of major issues in the industry that must be addressed ASAP.

Vindictive wrote on March 20, 2008 05:27 PM: The way people drive in Vegas, just the mere fact that you even got pulled over says VOLUMES about your driving! That pretty much says it all.

Joe C wrote on March 20, 2008 04:09 PM: JCH,
I was trying to be funny sarcastically obviously I didn’t succeed. I agree with you but was mimicking what others say.

JCH wrote on March 20, 2008 01:35 PM: Joe - IMO, if Pike had accepted his tickets without becoming agitated and uncooperative, there would not have been a big deal made out of the traffic stop. What made it a big deal is his driving off, then assulting both the Taxi Cab Authority Investigator and the Metro Officer.

The reports, at least the RJ's version state Pike did strike the Cab Authorties vehicle and the Metro motorcycle. I don't see how you can deny it happening.

You make it sound like 22 over is no big deal. One of the reasons there are so many vehicle accidents and deaths resulting from those accidents is because of excessive speed. I for one appreciate them stopping speeders.

I've gone on many ride-alongs with various Metro Officers. I can tell you they have been nothing but professional in their dealings with the public. That being said, they are trained to be in control of the situation, and sometimes they appear to be "short". I have seen the compassion when dealing with mentally unstable and the agression when dealing with uncooperative people, but never have I felt they were out of line.

Joe C wrote on March 20, 2008 12:35 PM: What I can’t believe is how cops made such a big deal out of a cab speeding. The cops gave Pike the ticket; why did they have to go after Pike?
So Pike came close to their toes. If they left Pike alone I’m sure this wouldn’t of happened. I don’t believe the cops they probably exaggerated getting hit by Pike’s cab. Their jobs are not that dangerous they just don’t know how to deal with mentally unstable or upset people.
Ok I’m being sarcastic, but surprised someone didn’t write that calling the officer’s racist or fascist.

TimeRanger wrote on March 20, 2008 12:01 PM: A cab driver speeding......In Vegas? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAahahaha

RJC wrote on March 20, 2008 11:48 AM: Cops are just too danm nice! Back in the day, I would have shot him dead as he u-turned and attempted to run over anyone.

Lucky for the cabbie. The cites may be dropped in lieu of the felony charges. If Rogers was an ass, He'd stick him with them anyway.

JCH wrote on March 20, 2008 11:24 AM: Pike is extremely lucky he is only being charged with the alleged crimes, instead of undergoing an autopsy. When he tried to run over the officer, nont once but twice, the officer had ample justification to use deadly force.

To KK - please do us all a favor and crawl back under your rock. It's clear you don't have a clue!

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