Posted on 12/04/2006 10:27:33 AM PST by COBOL2Java
OCCOQUAN, Va. -- Authorities said a Woodbridge boy has drowned after escaping from a police cruiser parked on a bridge.
Police said the boy leaped over a concrete barrier and into the Occoquan River early Saturday morning.
Virginia State Police Sergeant Terry Licklider said it's unclear why 16-year-old Rodger Rodriguez jumped off Interstate 95 and into the river about 60 feet below.
He said authorities don't know if Rodriguez was just trying to escape and didn't realize what he was trying to jump over.
The boy's mother, Gloria Elena Rodriguez, told The Washington Post her son was familiar with the area along the highway.
Rodriguez was pulled over about 3:20 a.m. for speeding and was arrested for drunken driving and driving without a license.
At the time he escaped, Rodriguez was sitting in the front passenger seat of the cruiser with his hands handcuffed behind his back
Gloria Rodriguez said her son would never have intentially jumped into the water. She said she doesn't know what she will do now without her only son.
The teenager's mother and stepfather are asking authorities to investigate exactly what happened.
Virginia State Police say they will have a routine internal investigation, but also say it appears the trooper involved followed procedure.
Right near Shooter's Paradise, Five Guys and Marumsco (?sp?) Plaza, IIRC.
I had two family members killed and an 8 year old a cousin maimed and left brain damaged in the same wreck. The drunk illegal alien who hit them head-on doing at least 70 mph on a 2 lane blacktop never was taken to court, was never deported and never saw a day of jail time. He also killed a girl riding in the truck with him. He was injured in the wreck, was paraplegic and not able to walk. He was allowed to stay here and receive the best of treatment at the expense of the taxpayers. Last I heard, he was going to be able to drive again with the help of hand controls, again, paid for by the taxpayers. Wonder how many more people he will take out the next time?
Harsh words, but right on the money.
I was flabbergasted listening to this on the radio this morning, and do believe you are correct that this woman may very well turn out to be such as you describe.
Right.
She's implying the police chucked her son over the barrier.
So close to amnesty too.
If it is, I've never heard of it. I'm not saying it couldn't have happened, but my deceased husband was a city LEO and they were instructed to always put people in the back seat because they have their 12 ga shotguns mounted in the front seat of their cruisers. The other reason is that cruiser back seat doors only open from the outside, making it impossible for anyone to escape. I watch a lot of "Cops" programs on Court TV and they always put people in the back seat. I have never seen one department allow detained or arrested people in the front seat, and Cop stories come from all over the country. I just hope the officer doesn't lose his job. The kid was probably small and the cop was just trying to be nice, not realizing his past. THAT is what concerns me. I don't want him to lose his job.
If it is, I've never heard of it. I'm not saying it couldn't have happened, but my deceased husband was a city LEO and they were instructed to always put people in the back seat because they have their 12 ga shotguns mounted in the front seat of their cruisers. The other reason is that cruiser back seat doors only open from the outside, making it impossible for anyone to escape. I watch a lot of "Cops" programs on Court TV and they always put people in the back seat. I have never seen one department allow detained or arrested people in the front seat, and Cop stories come from all over the country. I just hope the officer doesn't lose his job. The kid was probably small and the cop was just trying to be nice, not realizing his past. THAT is what concerns me. I don't want him to lose his job.
If it is, I've never heard of it. I'm not saying it couldn't have happened, but my deceased husband was a city LEO and they were instructed to always put people in the back seat because they have their 12 ga shotguns mounted in the front seat of their cruisers. The other reason is that cruiser back seat doors only open from the outside, making it impossible for anyone to escape. I watch a lot of "Cops" programs on Court TV and they always put people in the back seat. I have never seen one department allow detained or arrested people in the front seat, and Cop stories come from all over the country. I just hope the officer doesn't lose his job. The kid was probably small and the cop was just trying to be nice, not realizing his past. THAT is what concerns me. I don't want him to lose his job.
Got it.
As soon as I heard she was coming on, I switched the radio off. Can't bear to listen to crap like that.
Prayers for the soul of this confused young man.
It's an upside down world, isn't it? I'm so sorry for your loss, made harder I'm sure by the fact that this guy is still around.
I'm just kinda speechless.
I did not hear her, just the news story and some discussion about the issue. She may have been on when I was letting the kids off at school, or after I was home and out of the car.
Just jumping off of the bridges Americans won't jump off of.
Well, more precisely, we wouldn't hear HER, we'd hear the voice of her Spanish-to-English interpreter...
Great! No sympathy at all then.
He should be nominated for the Darwin Award.
You're right, they did say she was speaking through a translator.
While I agree with the sentiment of a child being a gift from God, from everything I've read and heard this kid was no peach, and obviously learned much of his behavior/attitude from the "grieving" mother....who is accusing the Virginia State Police of murder.All may be true, but a child is still a gift from God. I don't think the "grieving" is being fair to her. I'm sure her grief is real even if she isn't blameless.
bump
Gifts to whom?All of us.
I don't KNOW that this woman is one of those described aboveGive her time to grieve. What would any of us do or say after the loss of an only son. If she files a frivolous lawsuit then you'll know and it'll be the right time to speak up.
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