I think Zimmerman called 911 and I think someone at 911 told him to quit following the kid. I’m just wondering if he was following the kid in his car when that happened. Maybe no one has said yet. I guess it will all come out eventually.
He spoke to a 911 operator who is not a cop and can not issue lawful orders to anybody at any time. Lott addresses this in his article. The suggestion from the operator is not a lawful order and is in fact a canard and irrelevant legally.
He didn’t call 911 he called the police non-emergency number and he was not told not to follow Trayvon. If he had been he still would not be required to obey that order.
You may call this nit picking but he was not told to stop following Trayvon.
The words were, “you don’t need to do that.”
The half-truth has become so prevalent now most people believe it.
The dispatcher (not a police officer) advised Zimmerman, and I quote, “You don’t have to do that.” Falls somewhat short of an order or directive,
I don’t believe he was following the kid in his car....he started returning to his car and Martin jumped him, from what I have read...
Ok. For the millionth time. Zimmerman did NOT call 911. He called the Sanford Police Department dispatch (non-emergency) which is what neighborhood watches do. The dispatcher did NOT say don’t follow. He said “we don’t need you to do that” and Zimmerman said “ok”.
If we keep repeating what others say rather than listening to the actual tape we are contributing to the problem. Please take the time to listen carefully to the actual recordings before repeating inaccuracies.
Zimmerman called the non-emergency police number.
“someone at 911 told him to quit following the kid.”
The operator was a civilian employee, not police, and he simply told Zimmerman he “didn't need to do that.” Also, the Sanford Police Department conducted a Neighborhood Watch training session at Zimmerman's apartment complex. Zimmerman was well informed about legal issues and risk issues BEFORE the shooting.
“was he following the kid in his car when that happened?”
No. He left his truck, in a cold steady rain, and walked/ran to the point where he had lost sight of Trayvon Martin. At that spot, Trayvon Martin was less than 350 feet from his father's townhouse, and Trayvon had a 300 foot lead on Zimmerman. Why Trayvon - who claimed to be afraid, according to his girlfriend - simply didn't jog home has never been explained.
Finally.....
Zimmerman observed Martin for AT LEAST 2 minutes and 14 seconds BEFORE he got out of his truck.
This is verified by the cell phone connect time and the sound of Zimmerman's door alarm on the tape.
What Trayvon Martin was doing for 2:14 BEFORE Zimmerman began to follow him has never been explained.
Post #8 is correct.
Zimmerman spoke to a police dispatcher.
I don’t believe that dispatchers are sent to the local police academy. They are basically civilians!!!