Even during sentencing, this guy is an a*hole

"Skywise" wrote

Actually, I think what it is, is that 99% of people would just shrug
their shoulders at such stuff and never think another thought about
it. I just happen to give a $&!^ about what goes on in my world
more than most (or so it seems at times). Perhaps I have an overly
developed sense of right & wrong & justice?

It sounds all normal {I think g} to me. I would likely react the same
way...

A few years ago, I had a strange encounter, that had me playing the citizen
cop.

I was on a 140 mile bike cross-country, on a 4 lane highway with cross
roads. I came upon a terrible head-on, with a lady laying out on the
ground, and a passer-by trying to help her. I stopped and asked if help was
on the way, and they said, "yes, but did I see a smashed up car going past
me, the other way?"

I said, "yes, there was a car laying out a big smoke-steam cloud," and
described the car. They said "yes, that was the one." I pulled a quick
U-turn, and went after the car. It had maybe a 2 mile head start, but I
could still smell the lingering smoke in the air.

I went weaving in and out of the traffic, at a very high rate of speed. The
smell was getting stronger, but suddenly, at a crossroads, I lost the smell.
I guessed right turn, but could not pick up the scent. I doubled back, and
turned the other way, but no luck.

There happened to be a state highway patrol station between the place of
losing the smell and the scene of the accident. I pulled in there and
reported what I had done, and where I lost the smell. I went on my way,
having done all that I could do.

At the end of the weekend, I stopped by the same station, and asked how it
had all turned out. They said, "Oh, you are the guy that tracked him down.
Yes, we found his car in the parking lot on that corner where you lost the
smell. We waited about an hour, and he came out of the store, and we
arrested him for drunk driving and hit-and-run. Thanks for your help. The
lady that got hit is doing fine, also."

It felt good, helping to fix a wrong. It was also fun, doing a high speed
pursuit, perhaps a bad idea, but I felt justified.

If I "HAD" gotten caught, would I have been arrested, and the book thrown at
me? I always have wondered. g
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote in
:


"Skywise" wrote

Actually, I think what it is, is that 99% of people would just shrug
their shoulders at such stuff and never think another thought about
it. I just happen to give a $&!^ about what goes on in my world
more than most (or so it seems at times). Perhaps I have an overly
developed sense of right & wrong & justice?

It sounds all normal {I think g} to me. I would likely react the same
way...

A few years ago, I had a strange encounter, that had me playing the
citizen cop.

Snipola of great story

That reminds me of something I totally forgot about.

A place I lived once, I was only 3 houses down from the corner.
The main drag was very heavy, and the neighborhood had a frontage
road. Anyway, there was an accident right there and several of us
went out to investigate. Some girl in a car had hit the corner
curb. We thought she just lost control. Nope. Some guy hit her
and ran. Turns out he went into the neighborhood where there were
only two ways out - back to the accident scene, or another road.
So with the description in hand, I ran home and jumped in my car
thinking I could cut him off at the pass, at least maybe get a
license plate or the house he went to. Long story short, I never
did find the car. I suspect it went into a garage and hid. But
when I came back the accident scene, the cop there began to chew
me out, saying I was endangering lives running around the
neighborhood at 65 MPH like that and this-that-and-the-other and
that they didn't need to be hunting down two cars, etc...

Well, first of all, I was doing maybe 40 tops. The streets just
weren't long enough to get that fast and brake in time. Besides,
how could I look for the car at such high speed? And second, he
was the only responding officer. No other cops around looking for
the guy. I do not know what happened to the case, but it left me
with a very sour taste in my mouth. I felt that I was just trying
to do the right thing. I saw an opportunity and took it. Time was
of the essence and I had the advantage of knowing the neighborhood
and the suspects only way out. I knew that by the time the cops
arrived, he could be miles away. And what did I get for my
troubles? A lecture from a cop that didn't even know what the hell
was going on. I knew more of what was going on than he did.

A badge does not automatically garner respect in my book. They
are human beings, and they ARE NOT above the law, no matter what
anybody tells you. They are citizens, not gods. They have to earn
my respect just like everybody else does. A few have, but most I
find have attitudes and power tripping ego's.

Which reminds me of another story. I and fellow employees observed
a shoplifter adn when the cops arrived, they gave US the third
degree and attitude of wht WE did wrong. I was so mad I walked
away. They tried to get more from me and I refused. Later, an
investigator called the store and wanted my statement. I again
refused, relayed the story of the attitude of the cop, and that
for that reason alone I'd hope the perp got away. The other
employee, who was talked to the officer seperate from me, and I
did not witness it, later said she had a problem with that cop
too.

Geez...this is sad...I just remembered another incident.

There was an accident across the street from where I live. I
went out with my big mag light (it was night). Everyone was OK
and the police were called. Since the cars were in the street, I
used my flashlight to get cars attention and direct them around
the accident. Well, this one car was coming, and fast, and right
towards the accident. I pointed my mag right at the driver and
flashed it. They kept coming. So I get out of the way thinking
there's gonna be a big bang. It was a cop slamming on his brakes
at the last minute!!! I laid into him for that one. I told him he
should have flipped his lights on so I knew it was him. I later
called the watch commander to complain. He actually hung up on me!
Then I did something very rash, I called them back and told the
answering officer what his watch commander could go do with himself.

Yeah...maybe I am hexed...I have seen, at a guess, a bad cop to
good cop ratio of maybe 6:1. Yes, I have encountered very nice and
courteous officers, and I let them know it too. But they have been
few and far between.

Lately, when I've seen something suspicious, I really have to
force myself to call it in. I actually start wondering how they're
going to turn it all around on me. Seems the criminal has more
rights than the good citizen trying to do the right thing.

Ah geez....another one...drunk driver...tapped into me at red light.
Short story...cops MUST witness it. If they went to the guys house
and he denies it, even if he's falling down drunk...end of story.
If I pressed charges (or citizen arrested), I was told flat out I'd
be opening myself up to a "violation of civil rights" law suit. This
was an instance where the cops were VERY VERY nice. I learned a lot
about the law that night.

Ughhh...now I'm depressed...this planet sucks...

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

Ughhh...now I'm depressed...this planet sucks...

Apparently only the part of it you occupy, Brian. ;-)

In 47 years on this planet, in two states, a dozen cities, three businesses,
and a couple of dozen jobs, I've never seen a single, solitary occurrence of
police behavior like you describe.

Of course, people tend to be nicer, and bit more "real", in the Midwest. At
least outside the big cities.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in
news:JCLQf.20514$oL.9462@attbi_s71:

Ughhh...now I'm depressed...this planet sucks...

Apparently only the part of it you occupy, Brian. ;-)

In 47 years on this planet, in two states, a dozen cities, three
businesses, and a couple of dozen jobs, I've never seen a single,
solitary occurrence of police behavior like you describe.

Of course, people tend to be nicer, and bit more "real", in the Midwest.
At least outside the big cities.

You may have a point...all of these incidents have occured in
north Orange County, CA...Buena Park mostly. Actually, I have
since heard from several sources that BP police have a "reputation"
even amongst other police forces as being...errr..."bad".

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:JCLQf.20514$oL.9462@attbi_s71...
Ughhh...now I'm depressed...this planet sucks...

Apparently only the part of it you occupy, Brian. ;-)

In 47 years on this planet, in two states, a dozen cities, three
businesses, and a couple of dozen jobs, I've never seen a single, solitary
occurrence of police behavior like you describe.

Of course, people tend to be nicer, and bit more "real", in the Midwest.
At least outside the big cities.

Or, "I didn't see it so it must not exist".

On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 14:27:09 -0700, "Matt Barrow"
wrote:


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:JCLQf.20514$oL.9462@attbi_s71...
Ughhh...now I'm depressed...this planet sucks...

Apparently only the part of it you occupy, Brian. ;-)

In 47 years on this planet, in two states, a dozen cities, three
businesses, and a couple of dozen jobs, I've never seen a single, solitary
occurrence of police behavior like you describe.

Of course, people tend to be nicer, and bit more "real", in the Midwest.
At least outside the big cities.

Or, "I didn't see it so it must not exist".

More likely that the whole state of Iowa and Orange County, CA have
the same population (ca 3M in 2004). Buena Park, in 2000, had about
80K people to Iowa City's 50K.

Cops are just thicker on the ground where Brian rides.

Don