Father arrested for erecting a barricade on bridge where his daughter plunged to her death

The UK Daily Mail ^ | April 13, 2015 | Daily Mail Staff Reporter

[Timber Rattler]

A grieving father was arrested as he attempted to build a barricade on the bridge where his teenage daughter died.

White County Sheriff's deputies arrested Shannon Hamilton on Gene Nix Road Sunday.

On March 15, Hamilton's 16-year-old daughter, Cecily Hamilton, and 18-year-old Taylor Swing died when their car went off the road and into the water below. Their car went undiscovered for hours; both teens drowned.

Family members said Shannon Hamilton was trying to build a barricade on the bridge to prevent future tragedies.

"The reason I was out there yesterday is because it's been 30 days and there hasn't been a thing done," Hamilton said on Monday.

[Timber Rattler]

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Video of the Arrest

As one of the commenters noted, he probably got arrested because he preempted some local politician's friend's neighbor's nephew from getting a ridiculous contract to fix it.

[lordpumblechook]

For later

[RightOnTheBorder]

I have to wonder why the arrest. The cop on video was being professional but it seems to me that simply stopping the man and sending him home would have been the right thing to do.

[Timber Rattler]

Yeah, seems to me that the proper response by the county supervisors would be to go out, look at his good work, thank him for it, and then promise to return all of his salvageable materials to him when they finally put up a permanent metal guard rail.

Instead, they sic the cops on him, no ifs, ands, or buts.

[sagar]

“that simply stopping the man and sending him home would have been the right thing to do.”

And getting sued for harassment? If the laws are broken, which appear to be in this case, arrest is the “right thing to do”. The guy will have his day in court... or the charges could get thrown out due to public sympathy.

[BenLurkin]

It’s not the fault of the bridge — that the drive left the travel lane.

[ladyrustic]

People don’t need to be arrested every time they break the law. For example, cops don’t routinely arrest speeders, or jaywalkers. This guy wasn’t hurting anyone or anything. He was helping, actually. Just send him home if his help is unwelcome.

[momtothree]

All I can say is I pity this poor family. I’ve known a few people who tragically lost a child. To say that their grief caused them some strange behavior is sugar coating it. One man I knew had a son who was killed by another teenage driver (who was drunk). For a time, he would seek out teens (at malls, parks, 7-11’s) and beg them not to drink and drive. The man eventually sought out grief counseling at the bequest of his family and friends (who did sort of an intervention with him). His grief, lack of sleep, lack of eating... all caused his behavior change. Hopefully this family will get the help and support they need to go on after this tragedy. And hopefully the court will see this man for what he is... a Father in the midst of a terrible, horrible grief. IMHO.