IL: Man charged for failing to aid officer

St. Louis Post Dispatch ^ | 8/17/2005 | Leah Thorsen

[NuclearDruid]

"It's not what Peter Skinner did, but rather what he didn't do, that landed him in jail.

Skinner saw, but did not help, a Wood River police officer subdue a teen suspected of stealing a car.

And that is why Skinner, 41, is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 26 to face a misdemeanor charge of refusing to aid an officer. "Why I'm involved as anything but a witness is beyond me," he said Wednesday in an interview in his apartment in Wood River."

"Illinois law states that a person must help an officer who asks for help 'apprehending a person whom the officer is authorized to apprehend.'"

[NuclearDruid]

I'm pretty certain there is a Supreme Court ruling to the effect that there's no obligation for a law enforcement officer to come to the aid of a civilian. Seems to me that should be a two-way street. Of course, this did happen in the City-State of Chicago aka Illinois.

[correctthought]

I think you're spot on ND.

-CT

[T.Smith]

If I wanted to help a copy arrest a perp I would have become a cop. This is completely ridiculous.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Exactly. I believe in CCW precisely because courts have ruled many times that a cop is not required by law to assist a civilian during a crime in progress. It should go the other way, too.

[T.Smith]

Dang it! Copy=Cop.

[Red Badger]

If he is not paid for the aid, then it's involuntary servitude, aka SLAVERY!.........

[Echo Talon]

Policeman asks for help say ok, take his gun and shoot the thief. :D /obvious sarcasm

[ARCADIA]

I suspect that the law will unconstitutional if it is ever placed to the test. You cannot take work from a citizen without just compensation; then there are all of the other issues involving the personal liability of the deputized citizen; and their relative ability and personal risk of injury. This does not seem like a well thought out law.

[CasearianDaoist]

Yes, particularly when you consider the possiblity of litigation. LEOs are imdemified for against these sorts of problems, civilians are not.

More evidence that society is in a state of collective madness.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Policeman asks for help say ok, take his gun and shoot the thief. :D /obvious sarcasm

Police would have ALOT more help here in Illinois...if they let us freely exercise our second ammendment rights.

[hombre_sincero]

the part about "helping your fellow man" ??? yeah right - who gives a s**t anymore, right?

That is what I hear on this board - The man should NOT have been charged with a crime for not helping the police, but on the same token, he SHOULD have helped to his utmost ability.

This is the least/left coast big city liberal mentality - gimme gimme gimme - but I won't lift a finger to help.

all you, please never move into my neighborhood.

[Echo Talon]

agreed.

[absolootezer0]

it's probably either a 100 year old law where cops were fewer and actually worth something, and the citizen were more likely to volunteer to posse up, or a law dating back to 30s where officers might require a citizen's help against mobsters.

[L98Fiero]

Seinfeld finale?

[JIM O]

Isn't this why Jerry, George and Elaine went to jail?

[The Sons of Liberty]

What if the perp suffers a real, or imagined, injury during the arrest? Or what if the indidual himself is injured? Is the individual who aided the Cop covered for this libility?

I hate to even ask these questions, but let's face it, the lawyers are in control.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Don't forget Cosmo!

[absolootezer0]

big difference. i'll jump to help a neighbor, but if i see a cop arresting someone, i'm gonna stay back in case the cop turns out to be a jackboot thug and shoots ME thinking i'm attacking him.

[jwpjr]

I would put this in the same category as helping a drowning person. I am not a life guard and I am not a good swimmer. If I see someone who is in danger of drowning I am limited in what I can do to help in view of my lack of aquatic skills. As tempting as it might be, I have to remind myself that it will do no good for me to drown trying to save the other person. Regardless of the merit of my intentions if I act beyond my demonstrated abilities I will end up leaving a widow and three fatherless children behind. My actions would, however, benefit the local funeral home community.

In case of the law enforcement officer needing help I would be limited to using his/her radio or my cell phone to summon backup.

[Tspud1]

The city state of Chicago is about 300 miles from Wood River.
Wood River is across the Mississippi River from St. Louis