News Flash! Talking baby born at Houston Methodist Hospital late last night! According to witnesses in the delivery room, the newborn baby 1st thanked his mommy for taking such good care of herself during the pregnancy. Next the little guy thanked the doctor for taking such care with the delivery, then the nurses for cleaning him up and attending to him.
Finally, the little guy turned to his dad, tapped him on the forehead with a fingertip, and with a frown on his little face said, "Daddy, that HURT!".
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Well... you know why I haven't been around for awhile though. (sigh)
I'm struggling to get moving here again, I've been off my workout regime for some 2 months now and it's damned hard to get motivated and moving again. I'm stiff, in all the wrong places. Eeek! I'll make it somehow though...
(Hugzzzz!)
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Sorry, but I still don't think any differently. I think for myself, it's a bad habit I know.
That TheresMyFriend person should have said in the beginning that he only wanted opinions that matched his own... I would have politely skipped this entire thread then. But who knew?
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
"Suppose the police are banging on your door in the middle of the night because they saw someone trying to climb in a window, or something else of that nature. If you blow a hole through the door, you are going to kill the very person who was trying to help you.
Wouldn't you thing to ask "who is it first" before you get a gun?"
Snuggs, I don't wannt hyjack this thread really I don't... I would however hope that if the police were really trying to get in to save me, that they'd make it clear that is IS the police and that they ARE here to help... if you act like a kick-burgler, you get treated like a kick-burgler. Notta thing I can do about that!
I think I'd get the gun 1st and then decide whether or not to ask "who is it?". Safer, thatta way.
Note: I have made numerous posts regarding President GW Bush... and he was such a good state Govenor actually, who knew? Nough said here.
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!").
Notta clue. I don't know either of them, and I wasn't there... they both claim the other started "it". I have little doubt the homeowner was already having a bad day, having locked himself out of his house and having to break his own door to get back in! I would imagine he was somewhat out of sorts as a result, and probably didn't have the best attitude when the police showed up... ever had 1 of those days when it seems like nothing goes right? LOL!
However, he was in his own home though and apparently he did prove that he was the homeowner to the police... otherwise they'd have arrested him for breaking-and-entering, wouldn't they?
Good people can have bad days, homeowners and police officers both. Officers have a duty to be professional though inspite of a bad day... which I've found they often fail at. Homeowner, not so much of a duty IMO in their own home at least.
Does Henry have a criminal past or record? If he was a bad person surely he would! See the same argument you make regarding the police officer's past behavior and record also applies to the homeowner... and from my perspective at least, the homeowner was in his own home and the police were tresspassing (which they have a right to do if there's a reason to believe a crime was being committed... right?)... but upon realizing that there was no crime being committed there, the police did not leave the premisis. I have no idea if the homeowner asked them to leave at that point (I'd have thanked them, then shown them the door myself), or was simply verbally abusive (which given that's he's a university professor and an older man who should not be prone to violent outbursts... well, IDK why he'd be that way suddenly, do you?).
Probably the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but none of us really knows where that is. I however do not believe the arrest was justified from what I've heard and read, and neither did the city as the charges were promptly dropped against the homeowner... which indicates to me that a crime did take place: false arrest.
I base that on the observation that both sides have very different stories, yet the city did not support the officer's arrest which to me if there's smoke there must be fire. The city is conducting damage control by dropping the charges (very quickly in my understanding), and the homeowner is setting the stage for a lawsuite by demanding an apology from the police officer knowing full well that the officer will never apologize or admit he might have overstepped his legal authority. Only time and litigation will tell....
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Called "The Castle Doctrine" in Texas at least. I and very many others think it's a VERY good thing too! Unfortunately there will be some cases where people will get shot/killed by mistake... I don't recommend beating on anybody's door here in the early morning hours unless you're also crying loudly and clearly for HELP!!! I also wouldn't recommend entering a residence that's not yours without a clear invitation... seems simple enough, but somebody's of course not going to "get it" and they're going to "get it" as a result. Oh well.... (sigh!)
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Not at all! But I was starting to feel like I was being attacked for my opinions here... Vixen says she was joking, but to be totally clear I wasn't "getting-it" to say the least.
I will however take her at her word and presume she was joking, though I'm not really inclined to like her jokes that much. Sorry.
Do understand that Texans are very opinionated when it comes to private property rights... and the very idea of an officer arresting someone to "show them who's boss" absolutely boils my blood because THAT is criminal!
So when... Snuggs, I think it was.... posts something suggesting the officer in this case arrested the homeowner to show the homeowner "who's boss", I see red... deep, scarlet red! Not at Snuggs, but at the concept of an officer using the power of arrest in such a despicable unlawful way! Grrrr! The idea, makes me wanna cleave flesh from bone I tell you.
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Yeah I was starting to, no doubt Vixen. Use more smiley faces, cause I was starting to really wonder about your tone. Sorry.
I think it's a foregone conclusion that he will sue the city, I'm not sure why you'd think the city will come out (ahead? prevail?) though.
Some of the things you post as fact, I have not read or heard on any news channel here so far (but I've kinda been working, and reading CS forums, since this morning). I'm sure there will be more information coming out of this story in short order, especially now that even the President has been asked about and addressed the incident (in his opinion, of course).
In Houston, Texas there have been several pretty high-profile cases in recent years where the city has lost such civil court cases and had to pay thru the nose for police actions that were found to be not lawful. That's a fact I know for sure! I see simularities in the events that took place to this incident, especially the "Obara Brother's" case (I'm not good with names, sorry) where the brothers were arrested in their home by sheriff department officers for having done not a thing... and then when the brothers filed suit against the city, the sheriff's department did a secret investigation of them to try to find material to use against the brothers and when that came to light the cwap hit the fan and I believe the feds are still investigating that incident! It's ugly, for sure, and it's cost the taxpayers a pretty penny!
Of course, this is Texas and MA may have laws to shield municipalites against wrongful arrest lawsuites IDK.
You know, I'm not here on CS to make enemies or attack anybody or be attacked by anybody... I'd really just like a nice dinner and movie date. I am opinionated however, which is why I tend to jump into these discussions sometimes... lol!
Regards!
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Well I'm not getting the jokes then Vixen... really, not getting them.
All I know about this incident is what I've heard on the news and read in the news... alot of it is "he said he said", so it's hard to say if any of us know many facts about it.
Evidentally the police officer arrested the homeowner, but not for breaking into his own house (the reason for which the officer(s) had been dispatched to the house to begin with, as it appeared somebody was breaking into the home to commit a crime).
The charges however were promptly dropped. I don't honestly believe race had anything to do with anything in this incident (though the homeowner would like everyone to believe it did), but I do wonder why the charges against the homeowner were promptly dropped if the officer was in the right... which leads me to believe the office made a false arrest, just to "show who's boss" as has been posted here, which to me is a form of police crime and makes me see red obviously!
If you're against crime then you should acknowlege that police commit crimes with their badges on as well, and you should also be against police crime. The police should lead by example, and many times I don't think they even try. Police crime is therefore far worse than any other kind of crime IMO, as they are supposed to be better than that and are supposed to be "public servants". But that's just my opinion ya'll.
Snuggs, as for your typo's I really didn't get them... the homeowner has also accused the police officer of being beligerant, so who was beligerant to whome 1st and remember this isn't occurring on a public highway somewhere (as in your incident you related) this is all occurring on private property and as a Texan private property has a whole different set of rules assuming there is no criminal activity going on there! At least, in Texas. If somebody beats and kicks on my door in the middle of the night, I'm fully in my rights to blow a hole thru the door and whoever is on the other side with my .33 rifle... doesn't matter who they were (note past tense!) and Texans LIKE it this way. It's just an example mind you, and I hope I never have to exercise this right... I like my front door, it was expensive! LOL!
I'm a really BIG believer and supporter of private property rights, as are very many of my fellow Texans... understand that that's where I'm coming from when I post here on this subject. I'm also very anti-crime, and I don't believe the police are above committing crimes... the badge does not grant immunity. It's a job you could not pay me enough to do, I assure you this!!!
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Well then somebody should have arrested the officer then! Geez! So if the officer was beligerent, what was the homeowner's crime.... and why were all charges primptly dropped against the homeowner?
Snuggs/Vixen there are posts being made (including your own) while I'm working here and composing only in my spare moments... just because we crossed posts doesn't mean I'm ignoring what you posted, I may just not have read it yet cause I was on the Post Comment page composing a line from time to time for 20 minutes or longer. LOL!
Be nice for Pete's sake! I try hard to be even and just... probably why I'm not in law enforcement, I wouldn't fit in! Ha!
If feeling threatened is enough for a police officer to arrest somebody, then we have a really BIG problem in this nation... cause that is just plain wrong, IMHO.
Actually I recall another case in Houston not long ago where an NFL quarterback was tazered and arrested because, as I recall, the officers "felt threatened because he was a big man" (that was the only reason the officers could come up with, as I recall!). I cannot recall exactly how that turned out but I believe the officers at least got reprimands and all charges were dropped against the quarterback... feeling threatened is NOT a crime, at least not in Texas. This I know.
Tall people make short people feel threatened just by the fact that there's a height difference... I mean, be real! Big difference between being threatened and feeling threatened and feeling threatened is not an acceptable excuse for police crime.
Snuggs, interesting story you relate, but you weren't stopped for speeding on your own private property. In that, your situation was considerably different. Yes you should have filed a complaint, cause somebody with that "copy's" (what's a copy btw?) attitude shouldn't be allowed to carry a firearm (if copy's carry firearms, that is)! And that "copy" probably continued treating citizens thatta way... hopefully somebody finally did complain about him/her!!!
I have nothing against honest professional police officers, and I try my very best to be as respectful as possible whenever I meet one under any circumstance... I sure wouldn't want their job I swear! However, it doesn't take very many rotten apples to spoil the entire harvest, and police have to obey the laws as well darn'it, I insist and believe every citizen has the right to insist! The badge does not absolve one from following the law, in all honesty those who wear the badge should lead by example... which I often find they don't.
Regards.
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
In his own home? Disorderly conduct is an offense in public in Texas (and most all other states, at least I thought!). I can be as disorderly as I want to in my own home... my home is not a public space.
Evidentally Mr. Henry Gates was not committing disorderly conduct, the charges were very quickly dropped... the police officer had no case against the homeowner. Hello!
Hey ya'll, I believe they were both wrong BUT I believe the impending court case will show that only 1 person committed a crime and it will be very expensive for the taxpayers there! That's my opinion... you're welcome to disagree.
I scorn people of non-caucasion descent who wanna "play the race card". Truely, I don't think that's at all cool!
- Michael ("American by Birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
The officer felt threatened, or was threatened? There is a difference you know. Anybody can claim to feel threatened and frankly I don't believe that's a crime anywhere... but if somebody outright threatens you, then things are different! So which was it, feeling threatened or being threatened? That's what I'd like to know here since you brought it up!
If the homeowner, Henry, committed a crime in MA what was it? Somebody please tell me! Otherwise, the police officer and the city have big problems on their hands and it will get expensive!
What I saw of Obama on TV yesterday evening, when he was asked at the end about this incident, I didn't notice any joking or laughing or light being made of this incident. He seemed to be giving a very serious reply to the question, though he did try to lighten the mood somewhat by joking about the White House and being arrested if even he tried to break in to the White House (if I understood him correctly). But other than that small joke to lighten the mood a little, he answered the question very directly and seriously, I thought.
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Yeah that would seem like a good idea, ideally. But, it's not a law (even in MA, is it?).
The police officer however did not arrest Henry for breaking into his house, or any other crime that anybody has listed to my knowledge. What was Henry's crime? If he hadn't committed a crime, then arresting him to show him "who is boss" IS false arrest and that's a crime IMO at least. Funny how everybody forgets that.
And yes, had I been in Henry's position I would have quite willingly explained the situation and gotten my Texas Drivers License out of my vehicle and proven to the officer's satisfaction that it was my home and I'd locked myself out... and I would thank them for checking out the situation thoroughly and professionally (assuming they did so professionally), as I'd hate to have my house broken in to and my things stolen or vandalized!
But what went on between this particular police officer and the homeowner only those 2 know for sure and I doubt they have the same memory of the event. However, the homeowner evidentally committed no crime... is so, kindly tell me what crime he committed... which means that the police office likely did! That's bad, and makes me angry even from afar.
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
I'm not sure that's a fact though... the arresting officer I believe claims that, but Henry claims otherwise. So it's in dispute whether Henry presented an id or not. I'd imagine he had some choice words to say if he did present an id though, given the chip on his shoulder (which again, I don't think is a crime!).
I do however understand that it is fact that the police officer KNEW that Henry was in fact the home owner when the officer decided to lure him out onto the porch to arrest him. Ergo, false arrest and entrapment possibly even!
And for the record, I did know that the actual arrest was on Henry's front porch and not inside the house itself... in Texas, the front porch is considered the same as the house though. Legally the entire property has the same rights as the house here in Texas. We have much stronger private property rights in Texas I guess... and we like it thatta way.
Point remains though, Henry (though he was likely in a bad mood already and then mouthed off because he was convinced the color of his skin was why he was being asked to show some id) didn't commit a crime, so arresting him was a crime. You cannot get around that point!
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
No Vixen, I'm basing my opinion that it was false arrest on the fact that Henry (from what I've heard and read) hadn't committed any crime and the police officers knew he was the homeowner at the time they lured him out onto his porch so they could arrest him to "show him who's boss"... for not committing a crime. That's criminal I think.
So who committed a crime here... apparently even the city doesn't believe it was Henry.
Both were wrong, but only 1 committed a crime IMO (and it sounded like it is President Obama's opinion as well, in his speech last night... and possibly in the city mayor's opinion in an interview she did on camera this morning I saw). Probably a jury will unltimately decide the issue... asking for an Apology is the 1st step towards filing a lawsuite in my observations. Henry knows full well that the police will NEVER apologize for anything they do, so it seems obvious he'll end up filing suite... going to be expensive for your taxpayers there, I'm betting.
If I'm mistaken about some fact, I don't mind it being pointed out... things in MA are apparently a bit different than in Texas.
God Bless Texas!!!
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Well I sure ain't moving to or visiting MA anytime soon then! That's just wrong IMO. In Texas, we value private property rights... I paid for it, I pay taxes on it, it's mine not yours. Nough said.
Hmm... since they lured him onto his front porch so they could arrest him (for not committing a crime, go figure!), that would also indicate entrapment... gonna be expensive for the taxpayers. Hope ya'll think it was worth it so that officer could "show who's boss".
Regards!
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
So you think it's ok if you, SensualVixen, are arrested by a police officer on your own front porch, on your private property, even though you've committed no crime?
Interesting world you live in. I want no part of it! In Texas, my private property rights extend to my property line and I can say anything I want to anybody within those property lines. That's the law! My property is not the same as public property.
I do however wonder if Henry at any time told the police officers to leave his property... if he did, and they didn't even though they knew he was the home owner and no crime was being committed, then they are truely guilty of Tresspass... as well as false arrest. Should be very costly, especially considering that the victim is a university professor and otherwise upstanding citizen... ok, upstanding citizen with an attitude perhaps, but as long as that attitude stays on his property then he's entitled to it I think.
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Really? So who owns the porch then Vixen? Somehow I doubt it's the city's porch. Private property rights still apply. I believe I do have my facts pretty much straight as anybody.
The city is going to pay thru the nose I imagine. Wait and see. But race hasn't a thing to do with it, private property rights and police corruption do. What the police did was a crime, what Henry did (or, said actually) was just plain stupidity. There's a difference between the two. That's why the city almost immediately dropped the officer's charges and released Henry. Can you say "Damage Control"? I knew you could!
The officer committed the only crime here, not the homeowner. Please get your facts straight.
Regards!
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Uhhh, no... not in a person's own home on private property! That's tresspass and false arrest, and those ARE crimes. That's a corrupt officer IMO.
The day an office wants to show me "who's boss" on my property when no crime has been committed is the day I defend myself with extreme prejudice, badge be damned.
That's soooo NOT a professional attitude, and any officer with that attitude needs to find a new career Snuggs.
In a lawsuite, the city will lose big time. They were both wrong, but only 1 committed a crime in this case and it wasn't the homeowner.
- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")
Fyi: Henry is a black man who was recently arrested for breaking into his own home (he'd left his keys in the house, or something along those lines I'm gathering).
Henry claims the white officer(s) were racially motivated to arrest him. The officers claim Henry was being beligerant and disorderly (not sure how that can be a crime in your own home really.... private property rights anyone?).
I'm of the opinion that Henry probably had a racial "chip on the shoulder" and was probably angry from the get-go that white officer(s) would even suggest that he was illegally breaking into someone's home, because he is black.
However having a "chip on the shoulder" while in your own home in my opinion isn't a crime, and once the officers determined it was in fact Henry's home they should have left.... they were in fact tresspassing (IMHO) if they remained, after confirming no crime had been committed.
I think both were in the wrong.. Henry for having the racial "chip on the shoulder" (and probably mouthing off unnecessarily... he should have been grateful that the officers were checking on his house to make sure NOBODY was in fact breaking into it for ciminal purposes!), but the officers were MORE WRONG for arresting the man in his own home when no crime had been committed! False Arrest anyone? For that, I hope Henry get's a good attorney and sues the cwap outta them! The police should have left it at that when they determined there was in fact no crime being committed... and let Henry think whatever he wanted to think.
Michael211_2000 Forum Posts (775)
RE: ARE OLDER MEN SCARED OF YOUNGER WOMEN???!!!
Yeah but what a way to go though! Hehehe!- Michael ("American by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!")