Posted on 02/02/2007 7:32:41 PM PST by hispanarepublicana
A man who police say used wires, broken bottles and nails to wage an eco-terrorism campaign against Lubbock cyclists could spend time in prison.
David G. Knape, 62, of Lubbock staged at least a year-long campaign against unsuspecting cyclists, according to police reports. He stretched wires between trees at "neck level" and put nails and glass in the pathway of cyclists.
"This could kill someone," said Dewayne Wallace, an avid cyclist whose friend was flung from his bicycle and cut across the neck by one of the wires.
Wallace spent months looking for Knape, who now faces two felony charges of attempted aggravated assault with a weapon.
Each count is a third-degree felony, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Detective Rene Martinez questioned Knape about the traps placed along the mountain biking trails, just east of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and along Canyon Lake No. 6.
The trails are used by families and joggers and are designated for biking. Amateur and experienced riders frequent the paths.
Knape told the detective he was only trying to protect the environment.
"He just loves nature," Martinez said.
Phone calls placed to Knape went unanswered.
Cyclists did not always have a name to connect to the traps found along the trails. But many knew of the hazards and would even warn each other on Internet message boards.
"There were numerous traps along the trails, including wire strung between trees and chest/neck level," according to a March 26, 2006, posting on the Caprock Multi-Sport Club Forum. "Be careful out there."
Lubbock Police Capt. Lance Slack, who also rides a bike, said cyclists need to warn each other, but they also need to notify authorities, particularly when people can be seriously injured
"People have been seriously hurt or killed just because they are cyclists," he said.
Wallace said he tracked Knape for about six months. He photographed the wires and footprints. He then turned it all over to police.
At first, he suspected teenagers, but whoever was setting these traps was "too energetic," he said.
Large rocks had been pushed into the trail and wires that cyclists had taken down would reappear. Whoever was setting the traps was just too persistent.
"I was memorizing his pattern," Wallace said. "We were not out to beat him up or kill him. We just wanted him to stop."
Wallace caught Knape during an afternoon bike ride in November.
Knape was tying a wire to a tree, according to reports.
In statements to police, Knape said he was trying to protect area wildlife.
"He was trying to protect something we care about, too," Wallace said. "I care about nature. That's why I ride a bike."
A Lubbock County grand jury is scheduled to review Knape's case next week.
To comment on this story:
jason.womack@lubbockonline.com 766-8707
This story first appeared on our Web site at 6:16 p.m. Thursday.
LubbockOnline.com
Lubbock Moon-Bat PING
Kind of backwards in his targeting.
This reminds me of the goofy buggar who was burning Juniper bushes around the city.
I like it when EnviroLoonies kill each other. This leaves fewer of them to interfere with actual people.
I instantly pictured Ernest T Bass running up and down 82nd Street for some reason upon reading your post.
Now, that is an image...
What did they ever find out about why that guy was torching junipers? I can't recall.
The cops caught the guy and he told them that he did it because Junipers were "sucking up all the water."
I heard on the news tonight that police might think the fire at Maedgen Theater and at Boston Ave. Theater might be related.....it's that Ernest T Bass again.
Wouldn't you think an eco-bat would welcome cyclists for rejecting those nasty, petrol-burning cars? Or is Size 13 Express the only transportation allowed by the Eco Nazis?
There are some enviro whackos who are so whacko, they hate humans just for EXISTING.
That is a fact. It is a case of projected self-loathing.
Evidentally this guy wasn't all leftist. Here is something he wrote in a guestbook for a soldier killed in Iraq.
December 15, 2006
You don't know me but I wish to express my sorrow to the family on the death of Yari. He must have been a very special person. Thank you and him for his service to his country. What a shame.
david knape (Lubbock, TX )
Indeed!
Maybe we should listen for someone yelling, "Its me its me, Ernest T."
"He just loves nature," Martinez said."
Drop his ass in Antarctica. Let him enjoy that nature.
Yes, the man was setting traps that could well kill people. It was disconcerting that the first sentence said he "may" go to prison, as if that wouldn't be a rational response.
Maybe the paper thinks it's too harsh a punishment for someone who was "just trying to protect the environment" by killing cyclists.
They take great pains to say that the trails were legal bike trails. Would it make a difference if they weren't? Would it be Ok to set traps like this on non-public bike trails to stop bikers?
Surprised that there isn't an 'already posted' yet:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1778074/posts
If those nasty mountainbikers are harming the ecology, then I think we should kick them out.
Then open up the trails to Jeeps and Humvees.
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.