Posted on 03/30/2005 3:18:05 PM PST by Libloather
Father, son arrested as Cheney motorcade passes
By PATRICK LESTER
Bucks County Courier Times
Plenty of people had choice words for Vice President Dick Cheney as they waited in traffic for his motorcade to make its way through Bucks County Monday.
But a 68-year-old Warwick man and his son, frustrated that closed roads prevented them from getting home, went beyond what police were willing to tolerate, and an officer used a stun gun to subdue the father before arresting them.
Jay Saddington and his son, Randy, 36, both were arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at York and Almshouse in Warwick following a series of incidents at three blocked intersections in the township. Several roads between Horsham and Northampton were closed as Cheney made his way to and from a fund-raising event for Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick in Lower Bucks County.
Jay Saddington said he wanted only to get to his home at Log College Drive and Bristol Road and that he didn't do anything wrong.
Police claim the father and son repeatedly used expletives and refused to cooperate with officers. At one point, police used a stun gun, a weapon that delivers a 50,000-volt shock, to subdue the elder Saddington.
"I'm a fairly respectable citizen, and they treated me like I was a bank robber or killer," Saddington said. "I was really bent out of shape about this whole thing."
Warwick police Chief Joseph Costello said many people who had to wait in traffic during the motorcade were frustrated. "We had more than a few people shouting expletives [about Cheney]. It's something we kind of expected and something you have to take in stride," Costello said.
"But what happened [with the Saddingtons] went beyond yelling. It was refusal to take direction."
According to court papers:
The Saddingtons pulled up to Old York Road and Hallowell Street in a pickup truck at about 3:15 p.m. When told the road was closed, Jay Saddington "was visibly agitated and was actually bouncing up and down in his seat." When Costello told them to calm down, both men continued to yell profanities.
They then sped off before they were stopped at Hallowell and Jamison streets. When told they could not turn onto York Road, the elder Saddington allegedly began yelling at officers.
Police said one officer had to push one of the truck's doors closed to keep Saddington from getting out of the truck.
Police said when the Saddingtons stopped at York and Bristol roads, Jay Saddington told an officer he needed to walk only about 100 yards to his house. The officer said if Saddington left his car parked at the intersection, it would be towed.
"I live a half-block from where we wanted to go and tried a half-dozen ways to get there," Jay Saddington said. He said none of the officers he approached would tell him why roads were closed. "I didn't know if there was a bomb threat. ... I don't know why they couldn't notify the people who live there."
When the Saddingtons drove to York and Almshouse roads, officers there already had a description of the vehicle they were driving, police said.
When an officer motioned to the Saddingtons to pull their truck over, Randy Saddington allegedly changed lanes twice to avoid stopping.
Police said Randy Saddington repeatedly refused to hand over his license and registration. Jay Saddington was "acting aggressively" toward one the officers, who called for backup. A Warwick officer eventually used a stun gun to subdue him.
The arrest happened as several roads were closed between 2:44 p.m. and 3:25 p.m. while Cheney was being driven to Spring Mill Manor in Northampton. Some roads also were closed between 6:22 p.m. and 6:58 p.m. when Cheney was returning to Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, police said.
"I'm a fairly respectable citizen,"
I used to say something similar every time I got arrested for drunk driving. However since Ive quit drinking I realize that I was just a drunken idiot.
Jay Saddington and his son, Randy,should watch the following:
Chris Rock: How Not to Get Your Ass Kicked by the Police
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2458063?htv=12
Friar, please block off the roads so that I shall not be delayed to the banquet, and while your at it kiss my ring. Now make haste man, be gone.
Note he said he is a "FAIRLY" respectable citizen.... I guess that is the kind that does not follow police instructions and drives away to avoid arrest.
cops are idiots, so is this guy...idiots with guns and beatsticks >> idiots trying to get home.
BUMP!
Where is your "at"?
There have been several reasons for this:
1. The Pinellas Park cops have demonstrated gross incompetence at times
2. The incident at the Atlanta courthouse instructed us that any real troublemaker has but to reach out to take an officer's gun and start shooting, and
3. There are other, far less violent ways to handle troublemakers ~ and Pinellas Park police have, in fact, taken to using Tasers.
Here we have another example of the right way to deal with a "situation". The Taser allowed everybody to go home and have dinner.
My recommendations for the Pinellas Park cops was severely criticized by a number of Freepers who prefer their cops to fire first and take prisoners later. I'm going to guess that some of the same guys will be back saying that this approach unnecessarily endangered VP Dick Cheney, and that Tasers aren't all that effective anyway.
I remember one time when by son-in-law was stuck at an airport for over 4 hours in California while Clinton got a special hair cut. Some planes were grounded because of it and hundreds of travelers were inconvenienced.
I remember one time when my son-in-law was stuck at an airport for over 4 hours in California while Clinton got a special hair cut. Some planes were grounded because of it and hundreds of travelers were inconvenienced.
Aw shucks, ern, I guess we better look for new work.
I dont remember the press being this descriptive of the taser the other day that shocked the guy trying to give Terri water.
No you were treated with a necessary amount of force to effect the lawful purpose intended. Get over it, a**hole
If yern idjit, howja lern ta spel?
Kathlic skool I sappoze
Hi Newbie.....They did it for Slick Willie also.
"a weapon that delivers a 50,000-volt shock"
The media panics at this number, when its the amperage that does the damage, not the voltage.
Father and son? What's that saying? "The a$$hole doesn't fall far from the tree"?
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