Arkansas Blog

"It might have been nice if somebody had informed Bryan of the decision before he took a day off from work at Boulevard Bread to appear in court."

Not to mention -- good citizen that Rod is -- he probably pedaled to court.

I apologize -- this has nothing to do with the subject here; but the Falwell thread is gone. Anyway, it appears the Church of the Mean, Crazy, Anti-Gay People in Kansas are actually going to picket Falwell's funeral. On second thought, maybe it does go here -- after all, the title of this thread is "Justice Is Served" and that sort of applies in a sick, twisted, totally ironic way. Wonder what the picket signs are going to say -- "Falwell's going to hell because he didn't hate gays enough"?

Excuse my ignorance of this story, but you really mean that this guy was issued a ticket for simply yelling, "Turn your lights on?"

The cops were speeding by, and they actually stopped their cars, turned around, and ticketed him?

Sounds a little like a police state here to me. (Seriously, someone respond and let me know if I have my facts right about the story here).

I wasn't aware that one could be ticketed for such a bogus thing. If so, then that's pretty damned scary, folks.

And the cops DO need to turn on their lights if they are going to "fly by." It seems, at least from my observations, that cops routinely travel at high rates of speed without their lights on.

I guess some people actually are above the law.

ARK. BLOG: That is exactly what happened. And that's exactly why they were too embarrassed to show up in court to defend the arrest after it had received wide exposure through this blog.

Can we pay Rod to ride up and down Main street at night? That will attract a police presence. Driving too fast, true, but they'd still be around.

The public needs to know the names of these so-called officers of the law (or, more apt, officers of their own law)....

Newspaperboy:

Click on my name for the original blog thread on this issue.

Vegan4Hillary- Arkansas isn't a Police State, its just a Blue Democrat state

and to Crazy Horse, what are your views on privacy? If I am correct in my assumption since this IS the Arkansas Times blog, you are probably for the people's assumed "right" of privacy But wouldn't what you said go against that? Just didn't seem to make much sense to me

my bad meant Newspaperboy

The Chief, please elaborate, because I consider myself a "blue Democrat." Last time I checked, Democrats weren't for unduly doling out tickets for things that are not illegal.

I wholly do not understand what you meant by that statement.

Do you mean Quapaw, who said "The public needs to know the names of these so-called officers of the law (or, more apt, officers of their own law)...."

If so, my $0.02 on the privacy issue is that secret witnesses, i.e. the cops who filed the charges, are clearly unconstitutional and independent of any right to privacy.

It appears The Chief might think that the poster's name or handle appears above the comment, when actually the name appears at the end of the comment.

Bryan should not be riding a bike on a main city street at night...he was a danger to himself and others. Did his bike have one of those little tiny flashing lights?

"Bryan should not be riding a
bike on a main city street at
night...
Posted by: Barrett Jackson"

What's the point of this statement? He wasn't ticketed for riding his bike. He was ticketed for shouting at a police car as it sped by without "one of those little tiny flashing lights".

It would have been the same if he'd been walking on the sidewalk and yelled. The fact that he was on a bike has nothing to do with the injustice that was done to him, injustice the police department has now more or less admitted to.

Police reports are generally public information and accessible to everyone.

Quapaw, feel free to request and post the pertinent info.

ARK. BLOG: That is exactly what happened. And that's exactly why they were too embarrassed to show up in court to defend the arrest after it had received wide exposure through this blog.

Its seems awfully early for this to be his trial date --- more likely plea and arraignment date ( which you can just call in a not guilty plea for and skip the hearing ) Usually witnesses wouldn't be there anyway for a plea hearing. which consists of saying, guilty or not guilty. But I wasn't there -- have no idea what kind of hearing it was

ARK. BLOG: Things run loosely in district court. But when Rod stood up to say he wanted to represent himself and they couldn't find a record of his case, they searched and the judge then told him in court the charge had been nolle prossed.

>>I wasn't aware that one could be ticketed for such a bogus thing. If so, then that's pretty damned scary, folks.<<

Hopefully hoglawyer will jump in on this. One thing I learned long ago, after getting a good thump on the head with a cop's baton, it is unlawful to interfere with a cop in the performance of his duties, especially making an arrest. Even though the cop may be acting illegally if you interfere you could be charged.

I don't approve of it but there are times when no lights or sirens are called for.

Taking issue with Chief, we are on the verge of a police state, not just Ark but entire U.S. No-knock entries, warrantless searches, "reasonable suspicion" without checks and balances all have the makings of any police state. Oh yea, lets add the elimination of habea corpus, a necessary feature of any police state.

In the 60s one judge threw out a highly publicized MJ possession case. Why? The identical evidence had shown up in previous cases.
_

Gee, they don't tell the defendant anything either?
I know from experience around here they sure don't take any pains to tell witnesses if a court date they were subpoenaed for is canceled.
After the first time, I learned to call the prosecuting attorney's office before heading to the courthouse.
And yes, the second and third court dates were canceled too.
And yes, the assistant prosecuting attorney was a rude hateful witch when I suggested after the third sleepless night and nauseated morning that she might make the effort to keep me informed a bit better. Told me she didn't have to talk to me at all. Made me real proud of our legal sytem. Made me think twice about ever becoming involved in anything like that ever again. (See anything? Who me, officer? Noooo.)

"I don't approve of it but there are times when no lights or sirens are called for."

I would think there would be very few times that you need to drive fast with no lights. Although I see it all the time. I also have seen lots of those blue line police stickers on personal vehicles. I guess so they can speed in thier personal vehicle without getting a ticket.

Re: Police reports are generally public information and accessible to everyone. Quapaw, feel free to request and post the pertinent info.

Stump, I appreciate the challenge as well as the FOI lecture, but God on the 6th day made newspapers and reporters for this very reason: so we working stiffs can continue at our jobs and not have to personally seek out every public document or attend every meeting in which we have an interest.

"...he was a danger to himself and others."

Police cars zooming down Main street at 70mph with no lights or sirens are more of a danger to themselves and others than a guy on a bicycle.

Several times over the years, I have treated patients injured in collisions with speeding police cars. Often, the driver and passengers say that no lights and siren were in use. When the report is done, the investigating officer invariably and specifically says that the emergency lights WERE on. The injured person is well and truly screwed by this, as they would have no chance with a jury when two cops are calling them liars. The insurance company for the city is free to deny any liability.