Posted on 03/30/2005 6:01:21 AM PST by Born Conservative
Dr. Dow Pursley, Ed.D, returned home from teaching an ethics class Monday night at Baptist Bible College and Seminary and told his wife Joanne he was flying to Florida to protest against Terri Schiavo's impending death.
The family counseling professor booked the first flight out of town -- a 4 a.m. red-eye Tuesday -- and the couple of 37 years then spent the balance of the night praying.
Advertisement Click Here! Later Tuesday morning Dr. Pursley, 56, was shocked with a Taser stun gun and arrested by Pinellas Park (Fla.) police on charges of attempted burglary and resisting arrest without violence after he tried to bring two bottles of water to Mrs. Schiavo's hospice room.
Dr. Pursley, of the city's Hill Section, never reached Woodside Hospice's doors, police said.
"He said he needed to be there, and I said 'I understand,' " Mrs. Pursley said of the couple's conversation late Monday night.
They never talked of any specific actions, and she figured he was going to protest with prayer, she said.
"It was very late," she said. "We just prayed."
She did not know of her husband's arrest until a Times-Tribune reporter called her Tuesday afternoon seeking comment.
Still, she said the arrest hardly surprised her. She described her husband as a "passionate" man of "conviction" and "action" and said he was "overwhelmed" Monday night about Mrs. Schiavo's impending death.
"He is driven by his conviction about the sanctity of life," she said.
Of his decision to bring Mrs. Schiavo water, she added, "He was compelled to do what he did. That was between him and God."
Dr. Pursley is the 47th protester to be arrested, and the first to be shocked with a Taser stun gun since Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube was removed 13 days ago. Efforts to reach Pinellas Park Police spokesman Sanfield Forseth about the use of force were unsuccessful.
Mrs. Pursley said she spoke with her husband Monday afternoon from Pinellas County Jail, where he was remanded in lieu of $20,500 bail. Police said a hearing on his case is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today.
A supporter in Florida has since posted Dr. Pursley's bond, and he will be released later today, Mrs. Pursley said.
The father of three and grandfather of six has received full support from his family, Mrs. Pursley said, as well as numerous calls and prayers from faculty and staff at the Clarks Summit college where he has been a full-time professor in its graduate school of Counseling Ministries for the past five years.
Mark Robbins, spokesman for the college, said Dr. Pursley's actions did not reflect the college's position on the Terri Schiavo case.
"He was not representing the school at all," Mr. Robbins said. "He was acting on his own behalf."
Mr. Robbins said Baptist Bible College and Seminary has no official position on the right-to-die case.
"It's a complicated issue," he said. "We certainly pray for and have sympathy for the Schindler and Schiavo families."
Asked if Dr. Pursley could be reprimanded for his arrest, Mr. Robbins said it was too soon to tell.
"It's hard to speak to what may be discussed a week or a month from now," he said. "We encourage our faculty to be involved in the community. Obviously each person takes that to a matter of degree. Dr. Pursley is a man of action and conviction."
Mr. Robbins added the college's administration has yet to contact Dr. Pursley.
Dr. Pursley is the clinical director of counseling programs at Baptist Bible College and Seminary. He received his master's degree in psychology from the University of Central Arkansas and his doctorate in education from the University of Arkansas.
The results and accomplishments of cowards, are few!
The intentions of the indignant are always clear...
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
All these Jesus people are impeding the coming of the new world order!
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Those police probably felt their lives were in danger...After all he was armed with two bottles of water!
Hopefully far less will. Floridians who aren't in the tourist butt kissing businesses would rather they go elseware.
Just another publicity stunt. These protestors are a real pain to people who live in the area or who have loved ones in the hospice. In their efforts to save Terri, they are making everyone around them miserable. That may be unpopular to many people here, but it is the plain truth.
He didn't need to do this to bring attention to the case. Attention is on the case. And everyone is aware that many people oppose what is going on, and oppose it strenuously.
The best spin I can put on it is that it was an act of frustration that wasn't very well thought through.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
"When water is outlawed, only the outlaws will have water."
Worth repeating.
Lucky for the cops he wasn't a young minority disguised as an old white man.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
'Burglary' may be defined under Florida law as simply "deliberately entering a building in violation of law".
"Or the police themselves will be arrested when the Gadsden Militia finally shows up."
Oh, that's not going to happen. Sheesh!
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
"...These protestors are a real pain to people who live in the area..."
Oh gee, that's too bad. I guess it is rough living next door to Auschwitz. Of course this is a matter of life and death.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
What is interesting is that as of Fri when I was there, the charge was trespassing, with a fine of $350. -- I'm not sure when the bar was raised.
To those who disparage, ... nothing can be said. I just wonder, why are we here on FR if not to seek the truth, which is an ongoing effort to winnow fact from fiction, and -- where we see the need -- to act on it?
Prayers continue for all involved.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
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