Suspect in car prowl in critical condition (perp beaten with hockey stick)

KING5.com (link requires registration) ^ | May 11, 2005

[Horatio Gates]

Suspect in car prowl in critical condition 10:25 AM PDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2005

From KING Staff and Wire Reports

GRAHAM, Wash. - A suspected car prowler was in critical condition Wednesday after he was caught trying to take a 1967 Camaro.

Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said the owner fought with the suspect and a neighbor saw what was going on and hit him with a hockey stick.

"It was their car, they were protecting their property. We're just happy that the suspect didn't have a gun and nobody else got hurt," said Det. Ed Troyer.

"At this point our suspect is in critical condition. We'll have to find out later what caused that, but also if he does survive this he's going to end up being put into custody for his actions."

Deputies believe there may have been more people involved in the attempted car theft.

[Dan from Michigan]

He shoots he scores!

And a game miscounduct to the perp.

[nothingnew]

Car Prowler?

New PC term of the day.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Puddleglum]

Just so long as they didn't harm the car.

[b-cubed]

Does anybody other than Washington call it a "car prowler"? Sometimes I feel so embarrassed to say I live here.

[lormand]

I remember watching some story on how Brits are "fighting back" crime by "arming themselves" with video cameras to catch the criminals.

It showed one guy video taping a repeat burglar. The thug feigned an attack on the owner when he was being taped, and the owner tucked tail and ran like a little girl.

I laughed my @ss off on that one.

At least in many parts of America, the thug would come to realize a laser centered on his chest, as he slowly lifts his head up to beg for mercy from the aimer.

[Godzilla]

"At this point our suspect is in critical condition. We'll have to find out later what caused that, but also if he does survive this he's going to end up being put into custody for his actions."

Next there will be a 72 hour waiting period before purchasing hockey sticks.

[Horatio Gates]

Does anybody other than Washington call it a "car prowler"? Sometimes I feel so embarrassed to say I live here.

Me thinks "car prowler" is a Washington specific PC term. Pretty lame. Of course thats not even what the charges will be in this case

[HEY4QDEMS]

It looked rather nice except some nitwit (imho)installed a sunroof.

"Nitwit" is way to kind. Please don't tell me if they put 20" spinners on the car, that would make me ill.

[RSmithOpt]

"At least in many parts of America, the thug would come to realize a laser centered on his chest, as he slowly lifts his head up to beg for mercy from the aimer."

The dollar value of a '67 Camaro or other rare, or not, material possession isn't ever comparable to the value of a human life. However, the principle behind protecting one's property from a slithery perp's perception that 'he can' or 'has the right' to help himself to it is of greater value. And, the value of having a laser sight and spending $1.50 to $4.50 for 3 spent rounds to the chest is a sound investment for perpetuating a neighborhood / community deterrent to the thugs.

[Larry Lucido]

Hmm, so what constitutes prowling? Looking admiringly? (I've done that). Tiptoeing up to the car while disguised as a bush? (Haven't done that). Trying the door handle? Sticking a screwdriver in the door lock?

[Horatio Gates]

Looked like regular custom rims w/ no spinners. This is Graham, WA were talking about. Sometimes at night when it's real quiet, the banjo music is right purdy heard in the distance. 8>)

[Charles Martel]

That's what I thought when my '65 Mustang (named Ralphie) was stolen and never recovered a few years ago.

I lost a '65 Mustang to scum-sucking car thieves, too. When time travel becomes a reality, I'm going back to January 13, 1983, (between 8:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.) loaded for bear. In fact, I'll probably go back a day early, to give myself enough time to locate and rent a chipper-shredder...

[556x45]

""It was their car, they were protecting their property. We're just happy that the suspect didn't have a gun and nobody else got hurt," said Det. Ed Troyer."

Hmmmm...according to Ed's logic if the perp was armed the defenders would somehow be 'safer' letting him go w/o resistance. In that case what keeps the perp from shooting the witnesses for fun or profit? He's also free to continue his armed crimes against the community. Why do the police feel compelled to to say things like this? Evidence suggests that police have a somewhat less than stellar record of FA safety. So, why not disarm them using the same logic? The only mistake I see here is that the car's owner wasn't armed when he started checking things out.

[Panzerfaust]

Hmm, the prowler could have avoided serious injury if he had been wearing the correct protective equipment. I wonder if the state will enact a law, like the rules in the NHL, e.g. if you were a car prowler before, say, 1996, you do not have to wear a helmet while car prowling. If you are a post-'96 car prowler, you must wear a helmet. Prowlers under the age of 18 will be required to wear a helmet AND protective facemask.

I can just hear a new Rodney Dangerfield-esque joke now..."I went to a car theft and a hockey game broke out...."

[Waterleak]

They should sink all these cars to the bottom of the ocean and make artificial reefs out of them. Oh wait a minute that was the left side of my brain talking. They should take all the catalytic converters off of them and put racing slicks on all of them - There thats better.

[mountn man]

"It was their car, they were protecting their property. We're just happy that the suspect didn't have a gun and nobody else got hurt," said Det. Ed Troyer.

I suppose if they outlawed guns, they wouldn't have to worry about anyone else getting hurt.

OOOops. Make that guns AND hockey sticks.

[mountn man]

I remember watching some story on how Brits are "fighting back" crime by "arming themselves" with video cameras to catch the criminals.

At least in many parts of America, the thug would come to realize a laser centered on his chest, as he slowly lifts his head up to beg for mercy from the aimer.

I think in Britain the sight of a lazer centered on your chest would not spark much curiosity.
The thug would probably think it was a laser pointer. As they probably don't have any concept of laser sights, what with not having ANY guns there. Don'tcha know.

Heck. Laser pointers are probably outlawed there to.