Posted on 04/22/2008 7:01:07 PM PDT by buccaneer81
Fight at scene of crash tragic, Circleville official says Dad charged with misconduct for wrestling with deputy as crews worked to extricate son Tuesday, April 22, 2008 7:52 PM By Randy Ludlow The Columbus Dispatch Adam Carter Adam Carter It unfolded March 25 along London Road in Pickaway County.
Sixteen-year-old Adam Carter was driving to school when his car crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a dump truck.
Paul Carter soon arrived. As he ran toward his son's crushed car, he was intercepted by Sgt. Cory Bachnicki.
Bachnicki said he told the man to stay back, to let the emergency crew go about its job of freeing Adam.
Carter shoved Bachnicki several times, yelling that he would have to be shot to be kept from his son, the sergeant said.
Carter continued trying to push past, Bachnicki said, and they started wrestling on the ground.
Carter, 46, ended up in handcuffs in a cruiser and later was charged with misconduct at an emergency scene, a misdemeanor.
Bachnicki suffered an injury to his left rotator cuff and cuts to a knee and hand. His shirt lapel was ripped and his radio microphone was broken.
Adam, a popular kid whose bright red hair made him stand out at Westfall High School, was flown to a Columbus hospital. He died about five hours later.
After burying his son, Paul Carter pleaded not guilty to the charge in Circleville Municipal Court.
Today, Circleville Law Director Gary Kenworthy talked with Carter's attorney about what is to become of the charge. It carries a sentence of up to six months in jail.
“It's tragic all the way around,” Kenworthy said. “I can understand both sides of the circumstances.
“I'll discuss the case with the officer and see what his thoughts are now on whether the case should go forward.”
Carter's attorney, John Farthing of Circleville, did not return telephone calls yesterday. Carter could not be reached for comment.
Sheriff Dwight Radcliff is not without sympathy for the family. However, he still believes Carter crossed the line.
“It was the last thing in the world we wanted to do, but we had a situation there with someone's life at stake. We feel bad about it, but we have a job to do.”
rludlow@dispatch.org
Absolutely. And my guess is that he wishes he had done just that.
I agree. Unfortunately we live in a police state. The country that we studied as children that was founded by the founding fathers is long gone and dead. This place has become no better than the USSR. At least they (the Soviets) were honest about it, we are living in a masquerade society which makes it worse. People here believe they are free which is more dangerous than knowing you are not. Do you own your home? If your mortgage is paid off you would probably say yes. But, don’t pay your property taxes and see what happens. You are merely renting your home from the government.
This man wanted to go to his dying son, and he was arrested by the government...this country has become a police state that has no comprehension that We the People are supposed to be in charge, not these corrupt politicians.
I am sorry, I did not mean to hijack this post but I have become pissed and disillusioned with this government. I for one will not be celebrating the 4th of July, I will be mourning what it once meant.
I agree.
In fact, if it were me, I’d be in jail for shooting a cop in the head.
NO OFFICIOUS AZZHAT is going to keep me from a dying family member!
As for the criminal charges. This is CYA liability protection mode. If they had restrained the father without the criminal charges, there is no official blame assigned to the father. Next thing you get a big, fat lawsuit. The first thing his attorney will ask, "If he behaved so badly that you had to restrain him, why didn't you file criminal charges?"
Its a bad situation all the way around. But this is how the silly lawsuits make a Police Officer to take care of a volatile scene while making sure he doesn't lose his shirt and his house.
Most importantly, prayers and condolences to the young man's family.
Great post.
If course. What did they think, he was going to start fighting with the paramedics/firefighters that were assisting the kid?
They should have told him it was bad, walked him over to be close, allow him to possibly speak to to the kid. This was handled really bad. Common sense seems to be scarce nowadays.
Were it me, I've done my level best to subdue the authorities preventing me from seeing my son. Guilty as charged.
Sgt. Cory Bachnicki needs an attitude adjustment.
These law officers have a hard job but sometimes they do not use common sense.
Not the cop’s call to make.
My wife and two children were involved in an accident a couple years ago. They were missing down a steep embankment for a short time before they were finally found, while the police were at my home taking a report. The cop at my house was and still is a good friend of my family.
While he was still getting information, I heard the call come over his portable radio that my wife’s vehicle had been found. He tried to get me to stay home while he went to check it out, wishing to spare me the horrible scene (potentially).
I still remember my exact words to him, in a voice as cold a s a tomb: Deputy (even though we were friends and had been on a first-name basis for several years), I am going to my family RIGHT NOW. If you want to stop me, you are going to have to kill me, because if you try to stop me, I’m going to kill you.
I could have been arrested and tried for my (dead serious) threat, but the Deputy decided that it was best NOT to get in between a man and his (possibly) injured family.
BTW, my family was not injured. The vehicle was totaled, and they had a few minor scrapes and bruises.
I was unfortunately in a very similar situation as this Dad on Jan. 26th of this year. Thank God, the end result was a whole lot different for me, as my daughter lived.
I have been critical of the LEO’s in Nashville in past dealings with them (on a professional level, not speeding tickets here..), however, during my whole ordeal, the LEO’s stood down for almost 2 hours before even approaching me. While I did give all EMT’s enough room, I stayed close enough so she could somehow know I was with her. The officer in charge actually hung out for over an hour in the ER before meekly asking me if he could have a few minutes of my time. For that consideration, I shall be ever grateful.
I have since run into that officer, on a professional basis, and had more problems, but I know in this officers heart, he knows what is right and wrong. God Bless him.
You have no idea.
I hope you never go through it. No matter the outcome.
Sgt. Cory Bachnicki
How did this clown become a Sgt?
Hope your daughter is doing well.
After the Highway Patrol showed up, a couple of locals who knew the guy tried to stand up for him and Daddy suddently went after them. The HP caught Daddy but happily he just told him to stand back. He then told the two locals that if they wanted to exchange stories with their buddy, they could go to the Bay County Jail as that is where the drunk was going.
We're talking small-town USA, 25 miles from a freeway.
I’ve dealt with Bay County LEO in the past. They’ve always done right by me. (We spend four weeks a year in PCB.)
It involves far more than physical appearances than you understand. Five months ago, I would have said you have a valid point. Today, I couldn't disagree more.
I wonder if the downed power lines had any bearing on this?
I understand that.
However, it must be said, there have been thousands of occasions where others on the scene, witnesses etc, have saved many lives, in auto collisions, aircraft crashes, ran into structure fires in an effort to rescue etc. Many times these non paid, non-official rescuers have forced doors open, broke windows, picked vehicles up off victims, stopped bleeding, transported victims etc etc.
I have been on scenes where family members have been allowed in past the tape, if you will, and many times the victims were children.
Based on the article, it seems this possibly could have been handled a little better. But then again, the wreckage of both vehicles could have been sitting in a pool of fuel.
Not a good scene regardless. Life can really suck at times.
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