Posted on 08/09/2006 5:00:14 PM PDT by JennysCool
ALBUQUERQUE -- Right in the middle of todays deadly carjacker pursuit, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Department arrested two members of Albuquerques famous Unser racing family. Both Al Unser Sr. and Bobby Unser Sr. were booked into the Metro Detention Center this afternoon charged with failure to obey a police officer and resisting arrest.
Both walked out of the jail about 3:30 p.m.
The brothers, who have a combined seven checkered flags at the Indianapolis 500 and are huge names in the racing world, apparently thought their celebrity status meant they were above the law.
The police pursuit of a stolen car, complete with reported shotgun fire aimed at pursuing officers, ended about 11 a.m. when the suspect crashed into another car and then accidentally or deliberately shot himself to death with the sawed-off shotgun. That dramatic conclusion happened at an intersection close to some Unser family property.
While the incident was still unfolding, Bernalillo County sheriff's investigators allege Al Unser started going through a roadblock in an attempt to get to his property. Despite six or seven warnings to leave the area, he still refused to leave, saying it was his property--he owned it.
When the deputy told him he would be arrested, Unser allegedly said, You can't take me to jail, and began cussing at the officer.
Officers report he then jerked away and said, Don't you know who I am? I'm Al Unser.
A short time after he was arrested, Bobby Unser showed up. Deputies said he, too, refused to leave and resisted arrest.
Both were transported to holding cells at the Valley substation before being taken to jail.
They simply told them numerous times to leave the area, and they simply refused to do so, Erin Kinnard of the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Department said. Were not talking about a situation where we're trying to catch a shoplifter.
This was a serious and dangerous situation.
KRQE News 13 was told Al Unser threatened the arresting officer, telling him he would get back at him some day.
People on the scene also said the deputies didnt recognize Al Unser and didnt care who he was, they just wanted the men to leave since shots were being fired in the area.
Contacted later, Al Unser Jr. declined a request for an interview. KRQE News 13 was unable to reach Bobby Unser.
I've FReeped almost every day since '98 but I missed this event completely. I would very much appreciate it if you or another FReeper could direct me to more information about this. Thanks.
LOL! The clowns are well below 1% these days.
I'm working up a screenplay right now. Sort of "Smokey and the Bandit" meets "The Fountainhead". Eventually I'll hire dfu to re-write "Convoy" for the theme music. Oh, it'll be big, let me tell you!
Yes, the classic sign of a jerk.
Why did I post this? Here is the link.
Sounds like a Maurice Clarett adventure.
What does an incident look like when it's all folded up? You know...before it begins to unfold. (Lame "journalist" cliches....)
This wasn't one of them.
To begin with this isn't about his property, he could have chosen a different route to get to his property or he could simply have waited but chose to run a police road block, sorry to have to disagree with you but he has no right to do that.
I've got two sons who are cops. They spend half their time in situations like this trying to keep the "constitutionalists" from walking into the line of fire.
If you interfere with a police situation, you are not a "law abiding citizen." You're interfering with a police situation.
Firemen have this problem too, with well-meaning homeowners wanting to run back inside a fully-involved house. Guess you support them standing aside and allowing dummies to burn themselves alive.
I too have a son who is a cop and a member of this forum. I've pinged him to this post, if he's home maybe he will come by and give us some personal accounts of just what you are talking about. I've heard them from him.
And who protects the citizenry from the cops?
One of the ways they do that is prevent hot-heads from walking into a standoff with a suicidal creep.
Yep, those crazy Unsers sure seemed like "hot-heads." Imagine their untrammeled rage in insisting that they be allowed access to their own property! They must have been raving!
Wouldn't it be easier just to read the Constitution? Oh, sorry. I can see where that method wouldn't work for YOU ... not that there's any shame in illiteracy.
You're a cop-hater, aren't you?
A shoe-sized-IQ'd cop-hater.
Running a police road block is not exactly level headed.
It is when applied to people who interfere with law enforcement or fire personnel.
You just go right ahead and do whatever you want, whenever you want. If butting into police business is part of that, don't be surprised if you hear "Let's see ten fingers on the hood, ma'm. Ten fingers on the hood."
I'm a tyranny-hater. It comes in a lot of forms, including uniformed thugs who invent rights to trample the property rights of others in pursuit of their duties.
A shoe-sized-IQ'd cop-hater.
Wow, you gathered that from my posts? That must be the same clairvoyance you invoked to know the Unsers' motives. You're wasting your talent running the "Guess My Weight" booth at the traveling carnival. I hear David Blaine is looking for an apprentice.
And you just keep on bending over, bowing down and saying "sir,yes sir" to anyone who claims to be in charge of any odd situation you encounter.
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