I feel terrible for that child and family of the deceased. I wish things never have to come to this. I would be devastated if anyone tried to take my children away from me. But the man should never have pulled a weapon out. There is other ways to deal with things then violence, and when he pulled a knife on an officer he should have known it wasn't going to end in his favor. I know a lot of people in the Law Enforcement and I thank them for everything they do. They are here to Protect and Serve, and that is what they did. It was a tragic thing that happened. I hope his child is able to be with family. 

Cops get away with lying again. We smelled marijuana and we allege he used in front of his son and yet no evidence to support this assertion ever arises. Murder under color of law is still murder. I do not support the death penalty thus to say this thug Klepaldo and Somero need to be shot on sight is not something I would do... Google Maryanne Godboldo of Detroit if you want to know how to deal with this kind of situation.

GET A LAWYER like we did.

Do NOT bring a knife to gunfight

It makes me sick to see this kind of injustice happening JUST because someone who is in law enforcement thinks their badge has given them the right to play God!! I live in Grayling and am sickened by this event and feel that JUSTICE has NOT been served! NO evidence of pot was found in his system at the time of the autopsy..doesn't this say something for the poor guy?? he was obviously keeping his act together trying to gain custody of his son and what good did it do him? A few years ago my son was stopped for having no lights on his license plate...the cops THOUGHT they smelled pot, so they harassed him and his buddy on the side of Old 27 for over 45 minutes, calling my son a liar, telling him they KNEW he had dope and where was it, blah blah blah, eventually taking him to jail for the night and NOT having any evidence, they didn't find a damn thing in his vehicle, nor on him or his buddy..this is a prime example of COPS thinking they're ABOVE the law they've sworn to defend and serve. I thank God that it didn't turn out like this, as it very well could have. 

Ever see that movie, "Tales from the Hood"....by Spike Lee? It's a little biased towards race, however, this story reminds me of one of those stories about punch drunk officers who set a good man up with drugs and then murder him. I wish real life were like movies sometimes because in the end, those officers get what's coming to them.

They just created another Ron Paul supporter, we should be sick of this BS. Vote Ron Paul 2012 and put a stop to these criminals in power!

 Dear Ignorance, & Irritated about all the bad talk about cops,

People like you are the reason the so called "protectors" Cops get away with blatantly invading and killing a man in his home, with absolutely no evidence of any crime whatsoever, in front of his son. You make me sick. I hope this incident haunts that son of a bitch the rest of his miserable life and he then rots in hell for eternity reliving it every minute! You don't think it will haunt that lil boy? I can imagine how he feels about police now!

Two of the grievances the Founding Fathers cited in the Declaration of Independence were:

"For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States"

When our para-MILITARY drug enforcers kill UNARMED* citizens THEY DON'T EVEN BOTHER WITH MOCK TRIALS.

* A pocketknife compared to handgun? The victim was unarmed.

Now that is quite a pair......DHS and COPS. Oh my good Lord those people are the nastiest people I have ever come across, self righteous punks that enjoy being cruel to people. I won my battle with the morons  but this man surely lost his life for nothing. I hope his parents go after those people and legally nail them to the place they need to sow. The system must change because these people seem to glorify in taking peoples kids away for minor infractions and then watch you gravel to get them back. Karma is a bitch and I sure hope I see their dues when it comes.

My sincere condolences to William Reddies family and friends.

Are you kidding me, you pull a weapon on a cop you get killed its simple as that.  Its a shame that this man let his son and family down.

I am a former correctional officer and juvenile hall counselor. What I remember from my training and experience is that non-lethal force is required for situations such as these. In detention facilities officers do not carry firearms. When attacked by an inmate with a knife there are ways to disarm and restrain him without using a gun. In fact, policy dictated us to use techniques that subdue and disarm rather than kill whenever possible. Even the tower officer is instructed to shoot to disable rather than kill. One individual with a pocket knife lunging at two officers can in no way call for them to reholster non-lethal weapons and then to draw sidearms to shoot to kill the subject. First, the cops put themselves at greater risk by taking the time to reholster tazers and then draw down and shoot. Second, the officers put the people they sought to protect in grave danger. Could they have been certain their shots would not strike others in the room? Two cops should be able to subdue and disarm a knife-wielding subject without resorting to use of firearms. If cops in the UK and correctional officers in penal institutions can do it, we should be confident of the abilities of police officers in Michigan to use safer procedures.No one was really being protected in this case, not even the cops themselves.

And as far as the justice issues being discussed here are concerned, I most certainly come down on the side of fathers being bullied by the likes of CPS and over-eager law enforcement. I think it's time for cops to do the job they swore with an oath to perform: protect and serve; defend the constitution against all enemies. How about it? It's either that or maintain the Blue Wall of Silence.

Welcome to our new improved country where the storm soldiers have every right to come in now to your home and blow you away or take you away without due process.  Like it so far?

yeah - sure he lunged at them w/ a knife - one more cover-up in the police state. The Bolsheviks had nothing on us.

Now this child's father is dead and killed over a plant that can't kill you!!! He will grow up without a father because of enforcement over a plant/herb that cures cancer.   Unbelievable.....

People think drug conspiracy laws are bad, CPS is worse. Very bad outcomes associated with residential and foster care for children removed from their parents. Unless the parent is Caligula, chances are the child is better off with the parent. There is more to this case than marijuana. Sounds like the officer needed an excuse to trigger a CPS investigation and went with marijuana to round things out. The most common excuse for CPS removal is "neglect" which more often than not simply means poverty. If you lose everything -- not hard to imagine in this economy -- and find yourself living in a van down by river -- your kids could be taken away. If you work three jobs and have to leave children unattended -- they could be taken away. I never heard of children being taken away just because of drug use, not counting alcohol-induced squalor. 

One more thought...the dad became agitated... you'd be agitated too if confronted with people who had or will take your children away. It's the child welfare Catch-22. Parents are allegedly unfit because they are angry. What parent would not be angry if their children were taken away from them? 

God gave mercy on this POS cop.

I trust that William Reddie is in the bosom of God.

The fact that this cop lied as proven by the toxicology test should have impugned the entire rest of the story.

All the government employees involved in this case should be disciplined. Anything else is a total travesty of justice. As an inner city teacher in my time I have faced down a 12in switchblade held at my throat, taken another one and a 38special off students, all without resort to force. A pocketknife seen as a threat to someone with a gun and taser? This cop is a disgrace to manhood, and is probably so arrogant that he doesn't realise how he disgraced himself as a man. To kill a man under the cover of authority hiding his inadequacies behind a badge because he is such a wee-wee? And in front of the father's son? What a total disgrace for all government employees involved, inclusing those retroatively trying to justify this criminal nonsense.

Do we even have proof that he had a knife or do we have to take cps and the cops word on it?

dude, if you pull a knife on a cop, they're gonna shoot ya. Maybe they shouldn't or don't have to, but expect it. Someone who acts like that, it makes me question whether weed was the only reason he was involved in a custody battle. I can sympathize with how he feels but you've got to be a bit loopy to expect that stabbing a cop is going to get your kids back. Of course, weed shouldn't even be illegal & all that, but when faced with the injustice of the world it seldom pays to just say "fuck it, I'mma cut some pigs!", that's all I'm sayin'.

the roscommon county prosecutor mark jernigan is a real ASSHOLE. he shouldn't of been able to be involved in this case. the police officer that shot and killed mr. reddie should be charged. he could of used his taser or him and the other officer could of subdued mr. reddie instead of killing him.

This article hit home; it could have been me or any number of fathers who could be killed under the same similar circumstances.

 The only sure way to insure this kind of tragedy will never happen again is to legalize marijuana, and take LEO and CPS out of the equation.

All police should be open to public scrutiny, and then voted in office by the people they will police. As it is now the police protect their own against us, the public. Their brotherhood is elevated among themselves as sacred and good at any cost. It is the "us" against "them" mentality. They are always in their own mind the good guys, and everyone else is a suspect for some kind of crime. That's why, before they become cops, the public should have access to all their information, test scores, psychological evaluations, personality traits, etc. and then vote to approve them or not to police their community.

But for right now, support the legalization of marijuana, and vote for Ron Paul.

CHILD DESTRUCTIVE SERVICES AT WORK !  The States have WAY too much legal power; same for towns!

The simple facts are that cops will lie and do anything that they can to cover for another cop. The family said that this cop had bullied this guy earlier in the day then went as far as to get CPS and a made up warrant. Yes, I said a made up warrant! At the end of the day they found no weed and he tested clean. That is a made up warrant by a cop that very likely is a bully. Anyone that tries to defend this situation is either a cop or some idiot that wishes he was a cop. A lot of people think its just a joke when it is said that most cops are the kids that got bullied in school and now they have a badge and they are now the bullies. 75% of the time that is the truth and the majority of the population agrees with me. There is also a large group of people that are good honest people and when they read this will automatically think that I am a dope smoking law breaker because I am speaking out against these cops that are bullies. I'm here to tell you that is not the case. I'm sick and tired of these cops that think they are untouchable and they can do as they please and there will be no consequences. People we need to stand up and ask questions and hold cops accountable for there actions. How often have you witnessed a cop flying down the road without a siren or overhead lights on. That is illegal! Next time you see that happen, follow them as best you can without breaking any laws and when they stop ask them where there going and why they were speeding, or not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. When I have done this I have been told to mind my business  and have been threatened with tickets. I know my rant is a bit off topic but folks we have got to do something or it will just continue to get worse. In ending this I would like to mention that not all cops are bad. They have a dangerous job and are not paid what they are worth. When you see a cop going above and beyond the call of duty, thank him or her, shake there hand, and write a note or call there superiors to let them know. Also remember that the next time you see that cop harassing someone, or using excessive force, or abusing there authority. They work for you, they are your employee. Don't be afraid to call the police department and file a complaint. And if you feel your complaint is falling on deaf ears, make some more calls, do some research, and make sure your complaint is heard and something is done about it. 

?

Police officers are supposed to be trained on how to handle these types of situations w/o having to use excessive force, i.e. shooting & killing someone, trust me I know... I'm a retired officer over in WI. I grew up in Frederic MI so this story really drew my attention and literally put me in tears. According to the story, they were more easily able to tase him then to shoot him & that's exactly and precisely what should've happened. When they thought he was using marijuana in front of his son that was (according to them) justification for CPS to remove the boy yet a Father being killed in front of his 3 year old baby was somehow justified? BS! This officer needs to be charged with murder and perhaps at the very least, endangerment of a child. On another matter, what is going on with CPS anyways? How are they somehow above the law? How is it that they are able to come into a home & take a child when there is absolutely NO proof of any wrong doing? I've heard of SO many people in northern MI getting their children taken away with no evidence of any wrong doing. Something there smells fishy... I heard of one couple that got their kids taken because of allegations of child abuse. 7 months later they finally went to criminal court and all charges were dropped. CPS had no plans to return the children (whom they placed in foster care vs with a VERY good, loving, well respected family) for another 6 months after all charges had been dropped! They ended up returning them 2 months early only because both their 4yr old son and another foster child claimed the foster dad was sexually abusing them. Anyways, back to the original subject: who's to say these officers weren't attempting to seek revenge or make some type of name for him/themselves & therefore concocted this story? Trust me, there are A LOT of officers out there that are in the field specifically for that purpose and I DESPISE them. There are also many officers out there that are truely in their position to protect and serve. Another question, why is the little guy in foster care now? Why isn't he with family that love & care about him? You'd think after just seeing Daddy murdered ( Yes, murdered, that's obviously what happened here.) the last place he needs to be is with strangers. SCREAM! This tragedy makes me so mad! Reddie family & friends, my thoughts and prayers are with you. May justice be served.

I've been thinking and thinking trying to figure out why in the hell they'd have that poor little boy in foster care vs with family. Also Ive been wondering why they're not allowing visiting rights to the Father's family (The article says; "His father's family is seeking visitation rights" which if they are "seeking" they obviously don't have rights to see him yet.) I think I may have figured it out... they're grooming the boy. As we all know, 3 year olds are extremely impressionable, tell them that the sky is green often enough and they'll begin to believe it.. I'm sure CPS (trying to cover their asses AND whatever their covering up) is attempting to school the little guy on what to say. If he was right there they obviously knew that and will do whatever they need to to get the boy to collaborate their story. If their story is pounded into the son's head enough times by enough people, he'll end up believing it himself and repeating it the way it was told to him. What other reason would they have to keep a traumatized child from the only people in the world that might have a chance at comforting him?

So much better for the kid to have his father murdered in front of him than to have allegedly (and falsely accused as the test prove) smoked cannabis in the kid's presence.

I guess if the father had instead been zoned out on Oxycodone that would have been just fine.

This was a tempest in a teapot that the cops are using to justify their murder of a US citizen.

First off if you are on here posting that pocket knives aren't dangerous you are as far as self defense goes uneducated and you need to go do your homework before you post because you are just making yourself look like an ass! It has been proven that knives even pocket knives are more dangerous than a gun and here's why: 

• Guns: When you are in range with a gun it is still very easy to miss! There is a reason why in self defense courses they tell you to run if someone pulls a gun to get you to go with them...
• If someone pulls a gun there is a 50% chance they will fire that gun... If they fire the gun there is a 50% chance they will hit you (we're at a 25% chance of being shot)... If they hit you there is a 50% chance it will be serious (still not dead yet at 12.5%)... If the wound is serious there is a 50% chance you will die from it... Wow that's a whopping 7.25% chance of being killed by someone who pulls a gun on you! OMG!
• Knives: When you are in range with a knife what you slice/stab at is what you get and it doesn't take much to cut a throat or disembowel someone and that blade was a 4" blade that'll hit a lot of vital organs in a stabbing case...
• World Champions in fighting have trained in self defense againstknives... At best if you are a highly trained, highly skilled martial artist you are picking where you get cut with the knowledge that you will get cut when going up against a knife! You're whole focus is not getting cut in a vital area and getting control of that weapon as quickly as possible. This has been proven and studies have been done repeatedly proving this.
• The cops are not Steven Seagal or Jackie Chan stop watching movies to obtain your facts! If Martial Artists who have been training for most of their lives would get cut what do you think will happen to the cop who went through a six month academy?
• Tasers: Are not meant for deadly force situations because they can and do fail. If both probes dont connect the taser doesn't work, loose clothing, thick clothing and a whole host of other issues can cause this. There is not time to "try" using the taser in a deadly force situation because if that taser fails that police officer is now dead.

As for all you lovely people attacking the cop who did what he had to, to go home that night. I know him. He's not the type of person to go around looking for opportunity's to shoot someone. I trust Deputy Klepadlo with my life. I did before this incident and I do now because I know what kind of character he has. You think that decision was easy for him? I guarantee it wasn't and oh by the way the kid wasn't in the room, he was in the house. How much less traumatic do you honestly think his dad killing a cop and going to prison for it would be for him? That child was going to be traumatized by his father's actions no matter what the outcome ended up being! But it was his father who made the decision to pull that knife and lunge at the cops, not the cops decision! The only decision Klepadlo made was to go home that night and thank God he did unharmed!

You can't believe everything the news tells you. I've had the TV tell me I was out fighting a structure fire that was a complete loss while I was already through the shower sitting in the recliner eating my dinner and only two rooms in the entire two story house had been damaged! And it wasn't the first or last time the facts were incorrect. Reporters aren't perfect and they have to work with limited information that most of the time when they get a fact in the story wrong does not require a retraction.

Very tragic for both the family of the victim and police.. This is not a shock, the lack of knowledge and resources in this small town in Michigan, were Bernie Fife works will prove itself later to come, unfortunately the fictitious case presented to the judge to obtain the warrant will prove the dishonesty nature of the tragic events that followed. My point don't lie to a judge to get a warrant and karma won't nip you.