Friday, April 3, 2009

There should be a test

If you can’t demonstrate basic common sense, you ought not be able to drive a pickup. I can’t make stuff like this up. Lightly edited for length and to protect the identity of the victim and the person driving his truck (click the report for a larger view):



The vehicle has been recovered, after Officer Jay Denzin spotted it driving on Vine Street early Tuesday morning. After a short pursuit, the driver bailed, but was located later. The rifle, of course, is nowhere to be found, and the defendant is being less than helpful. Understandable—he’s served seven prison terms, most recently released last October.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are people making bad decisions all over the place, all the time Some of them are even highly illegal.

Anonymous said...

"If you can’t demonstrate basic common sense, you ought not be able to drive a pickup"

No kidding! Everyone knows that Dodge makes a terrible Pickup! ;)

Anonymous said...

Reading the detail entry makes it seem as if it could be an actual M-16 (a selective-fire burst/full-auto NFA weapon (requiring an ATF form 4 being approved and federal transfer tax paid), though the summary description contradicts this. If it had been, the total loss would have been about $15,000 higher (and made the rifle worth more than the truck).

Anonymous said...

Prior to the truck being stolen, I felt safer in Lincoln knowing a citizen was driving around with his M16 to protect the public.

Anonymous said...

As my husband always says, "Good thing stupidity isn't a felony."

Anonymous said...

See, I knew someone un-knowledgeable would jump to the wrong conclusion about the rifle - and 08:46 did just that. Next up, the LJS will do a follow-up story on this and make the same mistake, because aside from Joe Duggan, they're pretty much ignorant too.

By the way, 8:46, how did you know he carried it in his truck, even before the theft was reported?

Anonymous said...

Did the actual owner of the pickup have a criminal record also?

Did the owner of the pickup KNOW that the person he was lending it to had a felony record?

A Wyoming vehicle in Nebraska with a felon in possession of a firearm?

I sure do see a lot of potential violations of firearms laws here.

Gun Nut

Anonymous said...

Ooooops. I reread the article. I was mixed up and assumed the person that had borrowed the truck had seven arrests rather than the person spotted driving it when spotted by your officer.

Kudos to the sharp eyed officer.

Gun Nut

Anonymous said...

Off topic, but did you see the video/audio of the 911 dispatcher who helped "rescue" a woman who was locked inside her vehicle in a parking garage? She said the electrical had malfunctioned and her keyless entry lock didn't work, so she was stuck in the car and it was getting hot. The 911 dispatcher talked her through the "lift the lock on the door with your hand" procedure. The person in vehicle was able to free herself. Someone said, "sounds like April Fools." I say, no, sounds like a typical call to a 911 center.

Anonymous said...

Protect the identity of the victim?
Woooo, LPD is so covert. Do you have any idea how much talk happens when the employee gets home? More people know details than you could ever imagine.

Anonymous said...

April 3, 2009 7:24 AM:
The photo link looks like he just got out of Junior High! LOL
Stupid old person.

The cheese stands alone said...

Re: Anon 7:24
I do find that posters on this blog tend to have more positive feelings about police officers than the garbage posted on the LJS blog. While I acknowledge that there are bad apples in every bunch, it is disheartening to see how often we are criticized, instead of recognized for the tough job we do, and the risks we take daily, including the traffic stops our citizens appreciate so much. God bless these officers for the job they did while they graced this earth and keeping people safe.

Anonymous said...

RE: 7:24's link:

"During that Feb. 3 argument, police said, Getejanc pulled out his duty weapon, a .45 caliber handgun, and held it against the victim's head, according to separate arrest report.

He later apologized, she said, and she decided to let him cool off, according to the report. But the Feb. 27 incident convinced her to press charges."

Not blaming the victim here, but she didn't call and report him pointing his gun to her head but waited until he threw her to the ground 24 days later?

Ryan said...

Would you place blame on a rape victim in a similar way? The driver of the pickup isn't real bright... but the thief deserves the blame. Maybe the 8th stay in prison should last a bit longer than the rest apparently have.

Anonymous said...

I think the officer should be wrote up for saying m-16. Not even in the same ballpark.

Anonymous said...

My "BS alarm" is going off. Someone already mentioned that the victim would have needed a Class 3 permit to possess an M-16, so lets assume that he meant an AR-15. Aside from not knowing firearms terminology (and someone laying out the dough for an AR-15 these days would likely know the difference), there's no way they fit 500 rounds of 5.56 in their glove box, even if they actually had that many rounds (which I doubt, given the current ammo shortage in this country). Sounds to me like padding an insurance claim.

Anonymous said...

thats good to know we got normal citizens driving around heavily armed makes lincoln a much safer spot

Steve said...

Sounds to me like three-strikes-your-out failed us this time. I don't know that much about it, but I'm thinking if you commmited crimes serious enough to go to prison, then the rule should apply. Why was this guy even on the streets? Okay, the guy driving the truck didn't make the best choices, and maybe the firearms he left in the truck weren't even legally owned by him. If that's the case, he should also be prosecuted. However, let's be careful about putting the blame on the victim, as so many seem to want to do, just because we don't think he acted wisely. If we could put people in jail for that, there wouldn't be very many of us left to pay for the jails.

Anonymous said...

I am on CNN tonight 7 to 8 PM, but only as a part of the show. I just talked to the producer, so I dont know if it is NY time Or central

Anonymous said...

Apparently nothing Illegal about it so who cares!

Anonymous said...

Well maybe they will run it Monday night.

Jim

Anonymous said...

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-239449#postComment

Tom Casady said...

Gun afficianados (self-included):

The reporting party described the gun to the investigating officer as an M-16, but the actual make is clearly reported in the officer's report. Like it or not, a semi automatic DPMS .223 with a 16 inch barrel looks to the non-gun afficianado just like an M-16. It's sort of like the age old question of when is an AK-47 really an AK-47?

The point of the post is not to put a fine point on weapon identification, rather it is twofold. Firt: it is incredibly careless or woefully naive for anyone to leave the doors unlocked, the keys in the ashtray, and a .223 rifle in the back. Second: it is incredibly frustrating to be a police officer and to constantly deal with repeat felons who've served seven prison terms, and who are back out stealing trucks and guns.

Anonymous said...

New coding for police report - PEBSWAA - problem exists between steering wheel and accelerator.

Anonymous said...

This could segue into a seasonal crime type that revs up like clockwork every year, as warm weather approaches - larceny from auto, especially at recreational trail-heads. You've blogged on this before, but it's one of those refreshers that might be needed again, because so many seem to kick common sense to the curb as they enjoy the outdoors. They get back to their vehicle and see a broken window.

Ride your bikes to the trail from your home. That way, no one can LFA your loot while you're enjoying your trail ride.

Anonymous said...

Good thing he didn't have a knife.

Anonymous said...

To 9:27. A knife can kill just like a gun. Dead is dead. Care to elaborate on your comment!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anon April 3, 2009 3:32PM said: 'I think the officer should be wrote up for saying m-16.'

The officers get written up for enough stupid reasons around here without your help. You'd make a good supervisor, or maybe you already are one.

Anonymous said...

Sure, it's likely if he had a knife he would have been shot dead by LPD. They seem to be terrified of those darn things. So afraid they shoot to kill instead of mame

Anonymous said...

You've posted here before, and you seem to think that every resisted arrest should be a fair fight, like a cage match. I doubt that you've ever seen real combat in your life, not this side of a Playstation controller. A-B-A-A doesn't work in real life, put down the game and grow up.

No, when threatened with a deadly weapon (like a knife - talk to a trauma surgeon if you doubt how deadly a knife can be), the folks with the badges do just what I would do; shoot until the threat ceases to be a threat.

Knives and similar cutting instruments result in about 2,000 homicides annually in the USA, more than rifles and shotguns combined, and that sounds like a deadly weapon to me. That's why people threatening others with a knife get shot, and sometimes killed.

Tasers vs knives? Tasers don't always work, because things like heavy clothing can definitely hamper their effectiveness. You don't counter a deadly weapon with less-than-lethal force when you're a split second from being mortally wounded. Pepper spray? It doesn't always work either, especially if the target stays focused and determined.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 4:42--There's no such thing as shooting to 'mame', since it should be spelled 'maim'. I had an aunt named Mame, once. Also, since a firearm is considered a deadly weapon, and the use of such is considered deadly force, any time you shoot, you shoot with the possibility of death. Knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Anonymous said...

To 4-6-09 4:42PM, law enforcement officers are not trained to shoot to kill or to shoot to "mame." We are trained to shoot to stop the threat. But in your case I am willing to make an exception. If you are ever being attacked by someone with a knife I will shoot to mame your attacker. Then I will testify at their trial for your homicide. Enjoy your right to comment about things you obviously don't understand while I protect that right five nights a week. I don't expect a thanks, but my wife and children could use one now and then.

Anonymous said...

Wow, listen to you guys. Hey Tom I think we need some sensitivity training here. These dudes are vicious with their comebacks. All I did was suggest shooting the guy in the arm, leg, shoulder, hand, any of these places will make him drop a knife.
I've never played a playstation, but sounds like you have, smarty pants!

Anonymous said...

@ April 6, 2009 4:42 PM:

Do you mean MAME or MAMMY?

I know what you really are though.

Anonymous said...

April 7 7:10
Ok I missed spelled a word. I'm sure you never havej, smarty pants.
Tom did you see what this guy called me. I sure hope this hateful fellow isn't a cop. If he is you better get him that sensitivity training I was talking about. At least take away his weapons.

Anonymous said...

"shooting the guy in the arm, leg, shoulder, hand, any of these places will make him drop a knife"

That's based on your own vast combat experience, or on your great knowledge of neurology? Oh, I get it, you watch a lot of TV and Movie action flicks, and actually believe that they are quite realistic.

April 7 7:10 said...

You not only missed spelled mammy, you missed spelled misspelled. UDBID10T