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Phoenix Police Say Car Theft Suspect May Face Charges for News Chopper Crash That Killed Four
Fox News ^ | July 28, 2007 | Associated Press

Posted on 07/29/2007 3:43:38 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi

PHOENIX — Federal investigators on Saturday began gathering debris from two news helicopters that collided while covering a police chase on live television and crashed, killing all four people aboard.

The investigators plan to lay out the wreckage elsewhere to try to determine the point where the two aircraft collided Friday, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Howard Plagens said.

"We're just mapping out the locations ... how things are scattered, that's our main focus," he said.

Investigators said they'll need at least another day to finish going through the debris, which was sprayed across the ground and landed atop nearby buildings.

On Saturday, investigators allowed reporters into the crash site.

The helicopters' hulls were flipped over and squashed in two twisted heaps. The explosion blackened grass and trees. Curved metal sheets from the choppers floated upside down in a nearby pond.

Meanwhile, the man suspected of starting the chase was booked into jail on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of theft and one count of resisting arrest.

Christopher Jermaine Jones, 23, also may be held responsible for the helicopter crash, police said.

Formal charges are expected to come later. At an initial court appearance, bail was set at $1 million.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: abuseofpower; charges; christopherjones; donutwatch; helicoptercrash; helicopters; ivorytower; nifongism; phoenix
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To: Erik Latranyi
Christopher Jermaine Jones, 23, also may be held responsible for the helicopter crash, police said.

Regardless of what this suspect did, or that he was leading police on a chase, he is IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE for these ratings hungry reporters crashing their choppers. This is absurd, and it will never hold up (I pray, but in this bizzaro world we live in....)

21 posted on 07/29/2007 5:14:29 AM PDT by southern rock
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To: Erik Latranyi

Yeah. This is ridiculous.


22 posted on 07/29/2007 5:15:49 AM PDT by jammer
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To: Erik Latranyi

In this particular case I think it could be strongly argued that the media actually INTERFERED with the proper administration of the police duties.


23 posted on 07/29/2007 5:17:29 AM PDT by djf (Bush's legacy: Way more worried about Iraqs borders than our own!!! A once great nation... sad...)
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To: Erik Latranyi
The news choppers followed on their own volition - and they crashed through the negligence of one or both of their own pilots. That is NOT the fault of the man being pursued.
24 posted on 07/29/2007 5:21:14 AM PDT by meyer (It's the entitlements, stupid!)
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To: Erik Latranyi

Four counts of murder.

Hang the person in the public square within 30 days. Within one year the carjackings will drop way down.


25 posted on 07/29/2007 5:21:40 AM PDT by 2ndClassCitizen
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To: southern rock

Talk about a slippery slope. The news crews didn’t have to be there. I could see the point if police crashed/died while in pursuit, or innocents were mowed down by this perp. There would even be some relevence if these were police helicopters aiding in the pursuit, but news crews salivating for ratings? Egads.

This was a tragic accident but the fault lies with the terminally negligent pilot(s).


26 posted on 07/29/2007 5:28:40 AM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
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To: Erik Latranyi
This is quite possibly one of the most twisted misapplications of the felony murder rule that I have ever seen. It's a complete stretch, and would not hold up on appeal.

CC

27 posted on 07/29/2007 5:47:27 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative ("Minutum Cantorum, Minutum Baloram, Minutum Carboratum Descendam Pantorum")
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To: Erik Latranyi
Christopher Jermaine Jones, 23, also may be held responsible for the helicopter crash, police said.

Sure, what the hell.

Might as well charge him for the sinking of the Lusitania and Sacking of Rome in 410 AD by Alaric and his Visigoths too.

28 posted on 07/29/2007 5:49:24 AM PDT by Condor51 (Rudy makes John Kerry look like a Right Wing 'Gun Nut' Extremist)
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To: cripplecreek

“I’m sure it’s an awfully nice feather in his cap on the road to becoming a judge or any political future.’
__________________________________________________________

Not to mention the future favorable press coverage he will have “earned.”


29 posted on 07/29/2007 5:52:30 AM PDT by Roccus (Fighting politicians IS the war on terror!)
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To: ExSES

“If cops or someone else on the ground had been killed during the pursuit, that would be warranted. But media hounds killed in competion over coverage DUE TO PILOTS’ ERROR.... ABSURD”

I respectfully disagree. If someone on the ground had been killed - then the TV stations that owned the helicopters and sent them in the air should be sued.


30 posted on 07/29/2007 5:53:06 AM PDT by SAMS ("I may look harmless, but I raised a U.S. MARINE!" Army Wife & Marine Mom)
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To: Erik Latranyi

Ok, now that’s going a bit far. He didn’t ask the news helicopters to rush in for ratings. The pilots were at fault, period.


31 posted on 07/29/2007 5:58:15 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: milford421; FARS; Calpernia

Ping.


32 posted on 07/29/2007 5:58:31 AM PDT by nw_arizona_granny ( Today is a good day for working on some heavy praying. The world needs God to hear them.)
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To: Howie
I can’t undersdtand why they all have to orbit DIRECTLY over the point of interest.

I worked in Brentwood, about 200 yards from the condo where Orenthal butchered Nicole and Goldman. One wall of the office was solid window, so we had a great view of the entire 'hood.

On what turned out to be the morning of the "Bronco Chase", OJ had gone missing and it was speculation for several hours that he had gone to - or was enroute to - the murder scene to off himself.

I can't recall now how many choppers were circling overhead, but I do remember being halfway scared to walk out and look at 'em, because a midair sure appeared imminent.

33 posted on 07/29/2007 5:59:29 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (...forward this to your 10 very best friends....)
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To: Erik Latranyi
Unless the perp shot down one of the helicopters, he shouldn’t be charged for their crash.

It was pilot error or mechanical problems.

34 posted on 07/29/2007 6:08:08 AM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: SAMS
If someone on the ground had been killed - then the TV stations that owned the helicopters and sent them in the air should be sued.

Agreed..., but the POS perp is not responsible for deaths due to media competition...

35 posted on 07/29/2007 6:15:22 AM PDT by ExSES (the "bottom-line")
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To: Erik Latranyi
Curved metal sheets from the choppers floated upside down in a nearby pond.

The first time in history metal has ever floated. Call Rosie...
36 posted on 07/29/2007 6:21:52 AM PDT by AndrewB
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To: Erik Latranyi

The cops have it wrong here. They obviously have no idea of the meaning of CAUSE. The fleeing suspect didn’t cause the helicopter accident. If the cops had crashed into a pole while chasing the creep, they would have a case.


37 posted on 07/29/2007 6:22:33 AM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: Erik Latranyi

Ridiculous!


38 posted on 07/29/2007 6:25:36 AM PDT by Sacajaweau ("The Cracker" will be renamed "The Crapper")
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To: cripplecreek
I’m sure it’s an awfully nice feather in his cap on the road to becoming a judge or any political future

The prosecutor is getting ready for the next election, got to have that TV time !

39 posted on 07/29/2007 6:34:02 AM PDT by TYVets (God so loved the world he didn't send a committee)
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To: ExSES

sorry, read your post wrong...needed more coffee; shouldn’t post before the second cup!


40 posted on 07/29/2007 6:36:39 AM PDT by SAMS ("I may look harmless, but I raised a U.S. MARINE!" Army Wife & Marine Mom)
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