Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

IL: Man charged for failing to aid officer
St. Louis Post Dispatch ^ | 8/17/2005 | Leah Thorsen

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 ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; illinois; jackbootedthugs; peterskinner; woodriver
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last
I'm pretty certain there is a Supreme Court ruling to the effect that there's no obligation for a law enforcement officer to come to the aid of a civilian. Seems to me that should be a two-way street. Of course, this did happen in the City-State of Chicago aka Illinois.
1 posted on 08/19/2005 6:06:43 AM PDT by NuclearDruid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

I think you're spot on ND.

-CT


2 posted on 08/19/2005 6:07:56 AM PDT by correctthought (Hippies, want to change the world, but all they ever do is smoke pot and smell bad)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid
If I wanted to help a copy arrest a perp I would have become a cop. This is completely ridiculous.
3 posted on 08/19/2005 6:10:09 AM PDT by T.Smith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

Exactly. I believe in CCW precisely because courts have ruled many times that a cop is not required by law to assist a civilian during a crime in progress. It should go the other way, too.


4 posted on 08/19/2005 6:10:19 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity ("A litany of complaints is not a plan." -- G.W. Bush, regarding Sen. Kerry's lack of vision)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T.Smith

Dang it! Copy=Cop.


5 posted on 08/19/2005 6:10:32 AM PDT by T.Smith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

If he is not paid for the aid, then it's involuntary servitude, aka SLAVERY!.........


6 posted on 08/19/2005 6:15:15 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? GOOOOGLE your own name. Want to have fun? GOOOOGLE your neighbor's......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

Policeman asks for help say ok, take his gun and shoot the thief. :D /obvious sarcasm


7 posted on 08/19/2005 6:17:25 AM PDT by Echo Talon (http://echotalon.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

I suspect that the law will unconstitutional if it is ever placed to the test. You cannot take work from a citizen without just compensation; then there are all of the other issues involving the personal liability of the deputized citizen; and their relative ability and personal risk of injury. This does not seem like a well thought out law.


8 posted on 08/19/2005 6:17:29 AM PDT by ARCADIA (Abuse of power comes as no surprise)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T.Smith
Yes, particularly when you consider the possiblity of litigation. LEOs are imdemified for against these sorts of problems, civilians are not.

More evidence that society is in a state of collective madness.

9 posted on 08/19/2005 6:17:50 AM PDT by CasearianDaoist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Echo Talon
Policeman asks for help say ok, take his gun and shoot the thief. :D /obvious sarcasm

Police would have ALOT more help here in Illinois...if they let us freely exercise our second ammendment rights.

10 posted on 08/19/2005 6:20:51 AM PDT by BureaucratusMaximus (The function of socialism is to raise suffering to a higher level.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

the part about "helping your fellow man" ??? yeah right - who gives a s**t anymore, right?

That is what I hear on this board - The man should NOT have been charged with a crime for not helping the police, but on the same token, he SHOULD have helped to his utmost ability.

This is the least/left coast big city liberal mentality - gimme gimme gimme - but I won't lift a finger to help.

all you, please never move into my neighborhood.


11 posted on 08/19/2005 6:22:02 AM PDT by hombre_sincero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BureaucratusMaximus

agreed.


12 posted on 08/19/2005 6:23:01 AM PDT by Echo Talon (http://echotalon.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ARCADIA

it's probably either a 100 year old law where cops were fewer and actually worth something, and the citizen were more likely to volunteer to posse up, or a law dating back to 30s where officers might require a citizen's help against mobsters.


13 posted on 08/19/2005 6:23:37 AM PDT by absolootezer0 ("My God, why have you forsaken us.. no wait, its the liberals that have forsaken you... my bad")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

Seinfeld finale?


14 posted on 08/19/2005 6:24:32 AM PDT by L98Fiero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

Isn't this why Jerry, George and Elaine went to jail?


15 posted on 08/19/2005 6:26:34 AM PDT by JIM O
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid
What if the perp suffers a real, or imagined, injury during the arrest? Or what if the indidual himself is injured? Is the individual who aided the Cop covered for this libility?

I hate to even ask these questions, but let's face it, the lawyers are in control.

16 posted on 08/19/2005 6:27:34 AM PDT by The Sons of Liberty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JIM O

Don't forget Cosmo!


17 posted on 08/19/2005 6:28:17 AM PDT by The Sons of Liberty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: hombre_sincero

big difference. i'll jump to help a neighbor, but if i see a cop arresting someone, i'm gonna stay back in case the cop turns out to be a jackboot thug and shoots ME thinking i'm attacking him.


18 posted on 08/19/2005 6:28:34 AM PDT by absolootezer0 ("My God, why have you forsaken us.. no wait, its the liberals that have forsaken you... my bad")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid
I would put this in the same category as helping a drowning person. I am not a life guard and I am not a good swimmer. If I see someone who is in danger of drowning I am limited in what I can do to help in view of my lack of aquatic skills. As tempting as it might be, I have to remind myself that it will do no good for me to drown trying to save the other person. Regardless of the merit of my intentions if I act beyond my demonstrated abilities I will end up leaving a widow and three fatherless children behind. My actions would, however, benefit the local funeral home community.

In case of the law enforcement officer needing help I would be limited to using his/her radio or my cell phone to summon backup.
19 posted on 08/19/2005 6:30:07 AM PDT by jwpjr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NuclearDruid

The city state of Chicago is about 300 miles from Wood River.
Wood River is across the Mississippi River from St. Louis


20 posted on 08/19/2005 6:30:11 AM PDT by Tspud1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson