Sometimes the Police are just F'ing idiots. ugg!

[trumad]

Handling of 'abduction' case involving teen has been absurd

I know that in this paranoid world, you never approach a small child who is by herself, take her by the hand and walk out of a store with her in search of mommy.

But I am not 14 years old.

I am not Edwin.

Last week, Edwin went to the Burlington Coat Factory store on West Colonial Drive with his mother.

He saw a 3-year-old girl without a parent. If he had it to do all over again, if he could see the cops, the handcuffs, the TV cameras and the jail cell all awaiting him, I imagine the last thing he would have done was try to help her.

But he did.

I pieced together what happened from the investigative report, a 911 call, surveillance video, news reports and interviews with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Edwin approached the girl and told her he would find her mother. Edwin's mother said she saw the two together, asked Edwin what was going on, and then said she would help.

Then Edwin made his big mistake. He thought the girl's mother might be among a group of women that he saw leaving the store. So off he went.

The video shows him leaving the store, with the girl following behind. Once outside, he took her by the hand.

<snip>
Interestingly enough, the girl's mother never did press charges. But the Sheriff's Office decided it would, ultimately settling on a charge of false imprisonment.

"He was in custody of the child and had no authority to be so,'' said Capt. Angelo Nieves. "The thing is to make clear we have not charged him with an offense that did not occur.''

Congratulations.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/views/os-mike-thomas-juvenile-arrest-06151020100615,0,4905741.column

[Ranting_Wacko]

1. Is it any wonder we're becoming so apathetic to the suffering of others?

Between the teachers, librarians, social workers and other do-gooders who get mocked for choosing a life of service over a big salary and the horror stories like this, is it any wonder American society is spiraling downward?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. "A small child is safe and a teenager is in custody after an attempted abduction.''

The Sentinel forgot the word "alleged". Maybe they should be sued for libel. Seeing as though the kid wasn't even CHARGED with that offense.

[lpbk2713]

3. The Sentinel poll at the link says the PD over reacted.

By a huge margin 94% to 6%.

If they based false imprisonment on Edwin holding her hand, I say
he was keeping her safe while they were in the store's parking lot.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Extra butter on mine, please.

:popcorn:

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Wow. Thanks for that follow-up.