Citizen's arrest attempt of Schiavo, judge (Green Beret Bo Gritz intervenes for Terri)

2005 WorldNetDaily.com ^ | March 17, 2005 | 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

[ViLaLuz]

Former Green Beret Commander Bo Gritz is trying to conduct a citizen's arrest of the Terri Schindler Schiavo's husband and the judge presiding in the case before the handicapped Florida woman is scheduled to have her feeding tube removed so she can be legally starved to death.

The 66-year-old retired Army Lt. Colonel with his wife, Judy, arrived in Florida from their home in Nevada yesterday with the intent of arresting anyone involved in removing the woman's feeding tube that keeps her alive.

He came bearing a notarized "citizen's arrest warrant" addressed to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush Attorney General Charlie Crist. He said his intent is to "papering" state and federal law enforcement offices with his warrant today – a day before Circuit Court Judge George Greer has ordered the denial of food and water to Terri Schiavo.

Gritz says the "arrest" is designed to allow officials additional options as the Florida governor and legislature maneuver to save the woman from starvation.

Gritz says he successfully used the arrest-tool against federal law enforcement in August 1992 when he intervened in the siege at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and brought what was left of Randy Weaver's family down the hill without further bloodshed. Sammy, the 14-year-old Weaver boy, was killed along with his mother, Vicki, and U.S. Marshal William Degan. Randy Weaver and another man, Kevin Harris, were wounded by police gunfire.

Gritz secured the services of renowned defense lawyer Gerry Spence, and the U.S. Department of Justice paid the Weavers $3.2 million in an out-of-court settlement. Harris was awarded more than $300,000.

Citing his officer's oath of allegiance to "defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic," Gritz says while he doesn't know Terri Schiavo personally, she nevertheless represents an American in danger of citizen-rights abuse, and he feels an obligation to act while she remains alive.

Besides a "Terri-Bill" under consideration in the U.S. Congress, the Florida Legislature votes tomorrow on a modified measure to keep Terri's life-support in place. A previous Florida bill was ruled unconstitutional barring further intervention by Gov. Bush.

While threatened with arrest at Ruby Ridge, the decorated war hero instead walked away with FBI letters of appreciation.

[Long Cut]

"... but I hate the anti-Jew stuff and will not go near it..."

The involvement of white supremacist/neo-Nazis in ANY cause tends to taint it. Rest assured that the media will zero in on this.

The residents of Piniellas County who have to deal with it will NOT view it favorably, nor will the state legislature or the governor, particularly if crimes are committed.

[Drammach]

. Let's take a deep breath sit back and hope Bo's action brings a little sanity to the life of Michael the attempted legal murderer.

On this one point I will agree with you, at least in part..
Michael is acting in his own self interest, not Terri's..
I would even agree that he has acted in a manner that is definitely not in Terri's best interest..
He has been an actual obstruction to Terri's rehabilitation, and his actions are objectionable, if not illegal..
He has also been very selfish, refusing to simply "let go" of responsibility for Terri's care, and let her family assume that task..

I believe a "conflict of interest" exists, and that Terri should be taken out of Michael's care, and either turned over to her family's custody, or made a ward of the state...

All of which has nothing to do with Bo Gritz..
He needs to go home and keep his nose out of it, or shut the hell up about making threats of "citizen's arrest" and such..
He is not helping to resolve anything, he is inflaming what is already a highly flammable issue..

[Doctor Stochastic]

... negotiated an end to Ruby Ridge standoff; was unsuccessful in similar attempts involving the Montana Freeman ...

Ruby Ridge involved some deaths; the Montana Freeman case didn't. Which one was more successful?

[wita]

Can't argue with your point, but there are those, myself included, who take issue with the sources of information, and regardless of who makes up their mind one way or the other, Bo is on a mission and there isn't much any of us can do about it. I happen to believe Bo is just a little bit less of a whack job than some believe.

[amom]

Desperate measures for desperate times. I hope Bo Gritz's efforts work successfully.

Exactly! No holds barred at this time in this battle.

[Long Cut]

"Bo will do more damage to Terri's cause than Michael, Felos, Greer, and the FL District Court of Appeal combined."

Yep. Strange how many people refuse to believe this.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Well if you were as logical as you like to believe you are you would go back and read the posts and see where the question is.

Really now that is posting 101.

BTW- here is a clue for you- if I had wanted to make a statement about how I feel about Bo- I would have done that in my first post on the topic.

I was commenting upon the source of the data in the post,the ADL. So that is why I made the comment I did.

Had I wanted to comment upon anything else I would have done so.

And that is very logical-however confusing it is to you personally.

[Lazamataz]

Bo scares me.

[malakhi]

but there are those, myself included, who take issue with the sources of information

I'd invite any person who "take[s] issue with the sources of information" to state, specifically, which point of information they believe to be false.

[antisocial]

I think if you will check out the anti-defimation league you will find that they are an extreme leftist group. To them, almost any christian is a "white separarist paramilitary terrorist group". Sure they list some groups that have bad inclinations, but they also list a lot of groups that are not hate groups.

[jmc813]

Are you symathetic to the Schindlers' cause?

[Long Cut]

"Which one was more successful?"

From BO's point of view, they both were. He got on TV in both.

[Manic_Episode]

This could prove amusing.

[Modernman]

On what grounds. Any citizen can perform a "citizen's arrest". You would have to establish that he was acting in bad faith and voilated any actual law.

Nope. Works the other way around. When you make a citizen's arrest, the burden is on you to make sure a crime is occurring or has occurred. If you screw it up, you will find yourself facing criminal charges and a civil lawsuit. Furthermore, the person you arrest might very well have the right to use force to prevent you from making the arrest.

[jmc813]

What would matsuidon do?

I'm supposing you don't consider the Terri situation to be a case of state-sanctioned murder, as you would not be comparing it to a senseless act of violence if you did.

[Long Cut]

Nominally, yes. However, I have serious questions about the tactics used by they and their supporters, especially here on FR.

Interrogation over.

[Cultural Jihad]

If he handcuffs Mr. Schiavo by force and takes him somewhere I'd start the charges at assault and kidnapping.

If Mr. Gritz is somehow charged he probably wouldn't think twice about offering up his wrists to your shackles.

Henry David Thoreau once refused an unjust law and was thrown into jail for his refusal to abide by it. A friend came to visit with him and asked him, "What are you doing in jail?" to which the author replied, "What are you doing out of jail?"

[Modernman]

This is silly. All Jeb bush has to do is declare the Judge's ruling invalid, and order police to intervene

I'm not familiar with the Florida constitution. Does the Governor have the power to overturn court decisions? If that is the case, why even have a judiciary in Florida? The Governor could decide all cases.

[jmc813]

Just because it is from the ADL, does not mean it isn't true.

It sure as hell raisses some red flags. The ADL is one of the most whiny liberal organizations out there.

[Long Cut]

"Bo scares me."

You have a brain.