Wrongful Arrest - Plano, Texas

[Stalwart]

I used to play hockey on a team in Fort Worth where half the players were doctors and the other half were cops or firemen.  One guy used to boast all the time in the locker room about using his wand on the beat, beating up people.  On the ice he played the same way, knocking the piss out of people in a non-checking league.  He was a bully, plain and simple.  After a while I asked another cop on the team how they can stand working with this guy.  "He won't last long" was the response. 

I've got three more stories from personal experience like this.

While there are scores of benevolent officers that truly serve the community, the profession also attracts a certain type of person who earns the monikers hurled at police.

Today my home town of Plano, Texas is in the news because a mother was arrested for child abandonment and endangerment.
A neighbor called the police because they didn't like the two kids riding their scooters in the street in front of their own house.
The mother spent 18 hours in jail and the charges were eventually dropped after an eight month legal ordeal.

What I want to know is who called the police, and what was the officer's name that made the arrest decision.

[Tracerfi]

WOW Just WOW 

[RTHolmes]

thats terrible! / commendable!


(depending on what actually happened ...)

[dunnrite]

Is this it?

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Mom-sues-police-over-arrest/-/1735978/16528610/-/b7nf6o/-/index.html

[Stalwart]

That's the story.

It was La Porte, Texas not Plano.  My mistake.  It makes no difference to the injustice.

[RTHolmes]

alledged injustice ...

[Stalwart]

Here's some extended coverage.

And, the facts are the charges were dropped.

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/19600642/mom-arrested-for-letting-kids-play-outside

[RTHolmes]

ok so all we know is that the DA decided they didnt have enough evidence of a crime to prosecute.

unless we've heard all the statements given under oath from all parties, we cant really form an opinion on whether the officer/PD did anything wrong. the lady has given her side of the story to journalists, the PD dont get the same freedom to do this.

how about waiting for the evidence and judgement before reaching a verdict?

[gyrene81]

ok so all we know is that the DA decided they didnt have enough evidence of a crime to prosecute.

unless we've heard all the statements given under oath from all parties, we cant really form an opinion on whether the officer/PD did anything wrong. the lady has given her side of the story to journalists, the PD dont get the same freedom to do this.

how about waiting for the evidence and judgement before reaching a verdict?

according to the one article the cops called the da's office before they arrested the woman and some dipstick at the da's office instructed them to carry out the arrest. i'm guessing the cops in that town are allowed to think on their own.

[danny76]

In my experience the woman probably got nicked for gobbing off after being told repeatedly to calm down. Doubt the cops wated to be dealing with crap like this, but they nowadays have to be social workers and marriage counsellors as well

[Nathan60]

In my experience the woman probably got nicked for gobbing off after being told repeatedly to calm down. Doubt the cops wated to be dealing with crap like this, but they nowadays have to be social workers and marriage counsellors as well

You dont get "nicked" for child endangerment for mouthing off you'll get interference with investigation, or some such.

[danny76]

You dont get "nicked" for child endangerment for mouthing off you'll get interference with investigation, or some such.

I'm not up on US law but I have been in the situation many times. usually results in employment of the 'ways and means act'. Normally in UK S5 Public Order or BOP

[rogwar]

You might beat the rap but you can't beat the ride.

[Shifty]

Stalwart when did you live in Plano? I grew up there and graduated from Plano Sr High in 1977. I left Plano in 1978 when I joined the USAF and settled in East Texas when I got out.

[Stalwart]

Stalwart when did you live in Plano? I grew up there and graduated from Plano Sr High in 1977. I left Plano in 1978 when I joined the USAF and settled in East Texas when I got out.

PSHS class of '87.  Congratulations on your class' state championship.  We got ours ten years after yours... right after the class of '86 got theirs.  Rah! Rah! Wildcats!~  hehe

Back on subject... The neighbor calling the police on the kids for playing outside is the problem.  I can't believe they made an arrest for child endangerment, even if the mom was not watching the kids play in the street on her block, which she claims she was.  If that had been the standard in my day, me and all my mates, and all our moms would have been serial criminals.  When we went out the back with our bikes, mom would holler "Be home before dark".  That was the standard.

I hope this lady wins her suit and humiliates her rotten neighbor, exposing her for what she is, a no-good busybody.  If she had a problem with the kids, why didn't she just walk across the street and speak to the mother?  No, instead she calls the cops.  She's not just mean spirited, she's a coward.  I hope she gets all the ridicule she deserves from the rest of the community.

Whoa... gotta take a breath.  Why am I so fuming mad over this?