Mom on Trial - Leaves child in Car for minutes

[meandtheguys2]

I have no idea! I didn't even see that until I came back this morning. Sorry!

just stirring up trouble...

 

[mjkacmom]

You have the right to remain silent, and when a police officer is investigating a possible crime and you know you did nothing wrong but instead of just answering some questions and going on your way you become belligerent and excited and uncooperative you end up arrested.

Anybody think that if the woman just explained herself this would have just ended? No its the big bad police officers fault, period. This angelic mother could not possibly have overreacted and contributed to the situation in the first place, shes a mother after all.

I think you might have the facts wrong. The community officer was excited and belligerent, not the mom. She comes back to her car, gets screamed at, becomes frightened, calls her DH, who tells her to stay quiet.

 

[piglet too]

I have no idea! I didn't even see that until I came back this morning. Sorry!

That's ok, I was just wondering what I had done wrong.

 

[piglet too]

I think you might have the facts wrong. The community officer was excited and belligerent, not the mom. She comes back to her car, gets screamed at, becomes frightened, calls her DH, who tells her to stay quiet.

That sounds like everything I have seen here in the local papers.

 

[disneymom3]

For me, I don't automatically disregard some one's opinion about raising children just because they don't have children. It's when they present their opinion in a manner that it seems like they fancy themselves an expert and their way is the only way. Then I start to

I'll give you one too. THAT is exactly what irks me. For instance, Missy is a poster on this thread. She doesn't have kids, but she does spend a lot of time with her niece and nephew. (That might be plural, sorry Missy!) Anyway, she will offer ideas and advice from time to time, but it's never "I will always do this, I will never do that kind of an attitude. There are several other posters that I know don't have kids but I value their insights and opinions on kid issues anyway. I don't think anyone is saying (well, maybe some are) that you can't know anything about kids until you have them. Just like you STILL don't know everything about all kids personalities just because you have a baby. I mean, heck. I thought when DD was a toddler I was the greatest mother on earth. Then my first DS was sick a lot when he was a baby/toddler so I didn't learn much different. When my third one came along I realized I had no idea WTH I was doing!

 

[jodifla]

Ok all the defendants side of the story, I was looking for something less bias to the situation

If you look at the comments sections on the local news stories, you'll find that posters have PLENTY to say about the obnoxious Crestwood officers.

One person describes how an officer drove by and started YELLING at her that he was going to arrest her. She was out front of the shopping center talking on a cell phone. The cop wrongly thought apparently that the truck she was standing near in a fire zone was hers...it wasn't.

They shoot first, ask questions later there apparently.

 

[jodifla]

If you are not these things you dont get arrested for resisting arrest, I believe that she was arrested for that as well, that is what I am refering to.

My DH has told me NEVER to talk to the police, to call a lawyer first.

 

[disneymom3]

just stirring up trouble...

Hey, watch it!

 

[meandtheguys2]

My DH has told me NEVER to talk to the police, to call a lawyer first.

Anywhere, but here, and I agree.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Update: I just heard on Yahoo news that the charges have been dropped!

http://www.yahoo.com/s/831703

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=6972324&ch=4226713&src=news

 

[jodifla]

Yahoo has a video report link on the main page. Mom seems really credible.

I hope they SUE!!! It costs a lot of money to defend yourself against even bogus charges.

Maybe a nice lawsuit will make that police department think before they try to ruin another mom's life.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I can go find the links if you want, but her arrest charges were for "child endangerment" and "obstruction of justice". The Crestwood police chief has said that she did not cooperate by refusing to answer questions. Never once have I seen him refer to her as belligerent.

You don't have to be screaming and hollering to be uncooperative. What I don't undestand is if she didn't do anything wrong, then why didn't she speak up? I think she was more afraid because she realized that she may have made a bad decision.

Update: I just heard on Yahoo news that the charges have been dropped!

Not to be rude but this has already been reported several times on this thread.

 

[mickeyboat]

You don't have to be screaming and hollering to be uncooperative. What I don't undestand is if she didn't do anything wrong, then why didn't she speak up? I think she was more afraid because she realized that she may have made a bad decision.

Anyone who has ever watched a crime show on tv knows that you shouldn't answer questions, because your answers can and will be used against you in a court of law.

If you were being falsely accused, tried to explain your position, and were making no headway with an officer, would you continue to defend yourself?

And if she told them she was not going to answer any questions, why did they continue to badger her? Maybe because this community officer had no training on the law!

 

[daisax]

Not that it really matters, but I just saw an article from today that says the community service officer and the police officer who responded, are dating.

Yup. Community officer freaked out, boyfriend arrives at scene, mother is toast.

Police chief asks "what difference does it make that they're dating?"

 

[Becky2005]

Anyone who has ever watched a crime show on tv knows that you shouldn't answer questions, because your answers can and will be used against you in a court of law.

If you were being falsely accused, tried to explain your position, and were making no headway with an officer, would you continue to defend yourself?

And if she told them she was not going to answer any questions, why did they continue to badger her? Maybe because this community officer had no training on the law!

Agreed...plus if she has ever had any situation in which police were involved previous. I'm not talking about child endagerment, etc... In our family, in-law situation and comments that were made that seemed innocent enough, ended up finding their way into the court! Heck, *I* found my way on the witness stand when I knew absolutely nothing about the case but by virtue of me being the DIL. WHY I had to show up is beyond me, I knew nothing -- all it did was scare the bejeepers out of me being yelled at by the prosecutor since I don't have a crystal ball to tell him what I may or may not do in the future in regards to association (umm...Dude....it's my husband parents -- as if I have anything to do with anything) and now want to never ever be near a courthouse as long as I live (which includes being a juror!)

And if for any reason, no matter how innocent I am, if I'm being arrested for anything I'm keeping my mouth shut. I'm not about to say anything that can then be taken out of context and changed around.

 

[TwinsinCA]

The first person who confronted the mom set the scene. And I can only wish karma on the person making the initial report...re. the narc.

I wish Karma on them too. They saw a CHILD ALONE IN A CAR in a crowded store parking lot and took action. There was NO parent in sight (because once again, this "attentive mother" didn't SEE that someone was looking in her car window). That is what upsets me the most about this story. She was NOT paying attention like she claimed.

I'm disappointed the charges were dropped. The more I think about this, it makes my blood boil.

And yes, I have kids.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Anyone who has ever watched a crime show on tv knows that you shouldn't answer questions, because your answers can and will be used against you in a court of law.

If you were being falsely accused, tried to explain your position, and were making no headway with an officer, would you continue to defend yourself?

And if she told them she was not going to answer any questions, why did they continue to badger her? Maybe because this community officer had no training on the law!

So we're getting our legal counsel from CSI now? That's scary.

No, if I wasn't making any headway with the police, I probably would remain silent. However, if they simply asked me my name, I would tell them. I wouldn't rudely and arrogantly whip out my cell phone.

You do have the right to remain silent. Too bad this mother didn't choose to do that. Instead, she talked on her cell phone, told the officers that she wouldn't cooperate with them, etc. Remaining silent means . . . not saying anything.

 

[NYBlue1]

I think you might have the facts wrong. The community officer was excited and belligerent, not the mom. She comes back to her car, gets screamed at, becomes frightened, calls her DH, who tells her to stay quiet.

And you know this cause you were there to witness it? Or your going by comments made by the woman to the paper? Because if she said thats how it went than thats how it went?

 

[meandtheguys2]

And you know this cause you were there to witness it? Or your going by comments made by the woman to the paper? Because if she said thats how it went than thats how it went?

You infer what you like, we'll do the same...

Not one heck of a lot of difference. And, considering charges were dropped...I'd say my side wins...

 

[NYBlue1]

Anyone who has ever watched a crime show on tv knows that you shouldn't answer questions, because your answers can and will be used against you in a court of law.

If you were being falsely accused, tried to explain your position, and were making no headway with an officer, would you continue to defend yourself?

And if she told them she was not going to answer any questions, why did they continue to badger her? Maybe because this community officer had no training on the law!

Please tell me you are not getting your law information from TV shows.

All of those ready to string up the police were not there you are going by one sided reports from the mother.

I have tryed to explain to you all the factors that are in play for this to have gotten to the point that it did. Did the saftey officer overreact, very possible, they are not police officers, they are by all accounts security gaurds if im understanding what they are.

The events that traspired after the real police officer arrived are not being released at this point, its all very one sided, you cant condem anybody till all the facts are on the table.