Posted on 08/19/2005 6:06:40 AM PDT by NuclearDruid
"It's not what Peter Skinner did, but rather what he didn't do, that landed him in jail.
Skinner saw, but did not help, a Wood River police officer subdue a teen suspected of stealing a car.
And that is why Skinner, 41, is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 26 to face a misdemeanor charge of refusing to aid an officer. "Why I'm involved as anything but a witness is beyond me," he said Wednesday in an interview in his apartment in Wood River."
"Illinois law states that a person must help an officer who asks for help 'apprehending a person whom the officer is authorized to apprehend.'"
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
In Texas the state has NO liability, also the law that covers the expenses of the police officer does NOT cover any civilian he summons to aid in an arrest.
We don't know this. From the article, we only know that the PO says he asked the guy for help.
Had the officer not requested his assistance, I would agree that he might have been considered a threat by the officer had he just jumped in, and it would be better not to.
Again, don't know the PO requested his assistance. We only know that the PO is saying that he requested his assistance.
I guess there are two types of people in a pinch. Those who run toward trouble to lend a hand, and those who run away and do not even look back.
There's two types of cops in the world; those who've been caught in their lies and those who have yet to be caught lying.
There's no indication from the article that this guy ran away and according to him, the cop never asked for help. According to him, the cop had the situation well in hand.
As for risk, if I waited for everything to be sure and safe, I would never get in my car.
And maybe the cop should've called for back-up and surveil the situation while waiting for help to arrive instead of charging in like John Wayne, eh?
I would agree with you except this happened in Illinois.
Illinois, the state where mere possession of a firearm on your person is classified as "Unlawful Use" and puts you in jail.
Illinois, the state where Police have no mandate to protect you.
Illinois, where the Politicians are more crooked than the Mobsters ever were.
Bottom line: If people do not care enough to take part in keeping crime out of their neighborhood, including helping a cop in a bind, they will have the neighborhood they deserve.
And if I were a cop, why should I get killed in a neighborhood the residents do not care about? For what? A paycheck? It is no good if you don't live to spend it.
If you want to have good police/neighborhood realtions, that is a two way street. There are a few bad cops. But if you want to broad brush all police as liars, we have nothing to discuss.
The guy had one collar for the day, why bust the other guy if he hadn't asked him for help?
OTOH, someone earlier in the thread mentioned the fact that someone rendering aid would not be covered by the sweeping indemnity that the state has granted its agents. He might be shielded by "Good Samaritan" laws, but knowing the state of todays legal system, I wouldn't bet on it.
Even if he is shielded by Good Samaritan laws, he might be able to beat the rap, but noone can beat the system. The government wouldn't foot the bill for his defense, and such things can be extraordinarily costly.
Had it been be, I'd have helped out, but upon reflecting further upon the issue, I'd have to say that it wouldn't be a smart move.
I would help the incompetent cop but not because the law says so.
No way should ANYONE expose themselves to what the LEO/(in)Justice system would do to anyone who tried to "intefere" in "police bsuiness". So now we have an LEO CHARGING a citizen for NOT INTEFERING?!?!
Also, you failed to address the fact that the laws are SO far out of balance, that we ARE serfs!
Try addressing what I wrote...or don't bother replying
lol at that one. Thanks.
No one, anywhere, has a mandate to protect or aid anyone?
So I suppose everyone should stand around in the midst of murder, theft, and mayhem, waiting for someone to pass a legal mandate?
No wonder Illinois is so fouled up I will not even drive through it.
All that is necessary for evil to prevail is that good men do nothing.
I hear Judge Vandalay has been assigned to the case....
First, that "fact" is in dispute. The cop claims he asked the guy for help; the guy claims that the cop didn't. I'm not ready to take either one's statement as a fact until something comes up to confirm or refute their stories.
Do search on "Convict Lake".
A couple of years ago SEVERAL "rescuers" died trying to save a kid who fell through the ice.
At least they died quickly, but they still died foolishly.
Bottom line Joe, the Liberals voted for this crap, so I will not protect them from the fallout. Why should I save their sorry ass so they can vote for more of my rights to go down the dumper?
My stratergery is to stay out of the line of fire, and watch them kill themselves. Then after they are all dead, I can walk in and clean up.
Maybe Skinner didn't hear Jose call for help. That's not too hard to envision, either.
Perhaps the cop did call for help but that Skinner didn't hear the call or didn't understand what the cop was saying.
Is he still guilty of not helping the cop?
We don't know because the cop, himself never bothered to ask Skinner. By his own admission, the cop just cuffed Skinner and threw him into the back of the squad car.
Obviously, Skinner is willing to help people who ask because he had just helping a complete stranger (the perp) change a tire on the stolen car. So, it stands to reason that if the cop had asked for help or had Skinner understood exactly what the cop was asking, he would've lended a hand.
If you want to have good police/neighborhood realtions, that is a two way street. There are a few bad cops. But if you want to broad brush all police as liars, we have nothing to discuss.
That's right. It's a two-way street. Submitted for your approval:
San Marcos resident, Dave Newman, was swimming in the San Marcos river on the July 4th holiday weekend when he noticed that another man who had jumped into the river had failed to surface. Police arrived on the scene as Mr Newman attempted to rescue the man, Abed Duamni, a 35 year old from Houston. The officers instructed Mr Newman to swim to the nearest shore and get out of the water but he instead swam to the far shore with Mr Duamni. Upon his emergence from the river, Texas State University police arrested Mr Newman for interfering with public duties. Now free on $2000 bail Mr. Newman is set to appear in court next month.
On July 16, 2005 the University President Denise Trauth and San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz released the following joint statement:
"Mr. Newman was arrested because of his refusal to comply first with pleas, then requests, and then orders to leave the river after his rescue of Mr. Duamni. However, Mr. Newman did perform a heroic act, and we believe the proper course of action is to drop the charges..."
Newman had already saved the drowning man and was in the process of bringing the man to shore when police and rescue personnel arrived on the scene. They ordered him to leave the drowning man where he was and for Newman to come to shore. Because he didn't comply with their orders to leave the drowning man in the water, he was arrested.
The guy had one collar for the day, why bust the other guy if he hadn't asked him for help?
Why bust him at all instead of asking why he didn't answer the call for help? I notice from the article that there was no discussion, just the arrest.
What if this cop is one of the bad ones?
I known enough cops who were liars. As a result, I never give any of them the benefit of the doubt. I've found it's safer to assume they're all bad and act accordingly rather than to assume they're all good and get caught with my pants down because of blind trust.
Eh it's socialist Illinois. If they won't let me exercise my God-given right to self defense, I'm not gonna lift a finger to help the people that enforce the tyrannical laws.
Research the federal enabling ~Model State Health ... bill (My old computer crashed and was tossed so I cannot provide the exact title). We all need to have this on file.
Each stste passed this unConstitutional police state bill, frequently by voice voice and often late at night so there would never be a record as to who anyone voted.
Governors can declare martial law and under color of law seize people and all assets (stuff, money, real estate) for labor, use, internment, with citizens filed claims compensation determined by some tribunal in the future. Yes, it shall be felonies to refuse any and all vacinations and arguing over our lost civil rights.
Somehow it has become instilled in too many people that the individual owes an inherent debt to the state; do you remember when you arrived at this conclusion?
"First, the police officer asked the guy for help."
No the cop allegedly asked for help. We don't know because we weren't there. Knowing the police penchant for lying, I would hardly believe him, but the courts will of course hang on his every word as gospel.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.