Posted on 08/09/2006 5:00:14 PM PDT by JennysCool
ALBUQUERQUE -- Right in the middle of today’s deadly carjacker pursuit, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department arrested two members of Albuquerque’s famous Unser racing family. Both Al Unser Sr. and Bobby Unser Sr. were booked into the Metro Detention Center this afternoon charged with failure to obey a police officer and resisting arrest.
Both walked out of the jail about 3:30 p.m.
The brothers, who have a combined seven checkered flags at the Indianapolis 500 and are huge names in the racing world, apparently thought their celebrity status meant they were above the law.
The police pursuit of a stolen car, complete with reported shotgun fire aimed at pursuing officers, ended about 11 a.m. when the suspect crashed into another car and then accidentally or deliberately shot himself to death with the sawed-off shotgun. That dramatic conclusion happened at an intersection close to some Unser family property.
While the incident was still unfolding, Bernalillo County sheriff's investigators allege Al Unser started going through a roadblock in an attempt to get to his property. Despite six or seven warnings to leave the area, he still refused to leave, saying it was his property--he owned it.
When the deputy told him he would be arrested, Unser allegedly said, “You can't take me to jail,” and began cussing at the officer.
Officers report he then jerked away and said, “Don't you know who I am? I'm Al Unser.”
A short time after he was arrested, Bobby Unser showed up. Deputies said he, too, refused to leave and resisted arrest.
Both were transported to holding cells at the Valley substation before being taken to jail.
“They simply told them numerous times to leave the area, and they simply refused to do so,” Erin Kinnard of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department said. “Were not talking about a situation where we're trying to catch a shoplifter.
“This was a serious and dangerous situation.”
KRQE News 13 was told Al Unser threatened the arresting officer, telling him he would get back at him some day.
People on the scene also said the deputies didn’t recognize Al Unser and didn’t care who he was, they just wanted the men to leave since shots were being fired in the area.
Contacted later, Al Unser Jr. declined a request for an interview. KRQE News 13 was unable to reach Bobby Unser.
Both were assertions of liberty that involved defying presumptive authority. Both bespeak a refusal to accept constraints just because they come from some self-appointed representative of the collective.
You're reading out of a militia handbook, aren't you?
If the police had let the Unsers through, and they'd been shot and killed by the perp, their families would have the basis for a lawsuit against the city, for sure.
You know you sound like a hopped-up Bircher, don't you?
That the cops kept these two hot dogs from getting their heads blown off?
Notice the little fantasy land that sinkie created from whole cloth.
You're full of it, sinkspur. Perhaps you could spin some more fantasies involving the Unsers for our entertainment. :-)
If it was on his property the cops should obey his request.
Obey never. Request maybe but...
The scene of a serious crime is always controlled by authorities for all kinds of logical reasons. No one has a right to ignore lawful orders made by legal authorities at the scene.
"Don't you know who I am" tells me all I need to know about who to support in this incident. And those words tell me everything about the person mouthing those words.
Have you been taking clairvoyance lessons from sink?
I would be yawning with apathy. The Unsers are big boys; they knew what they were doing, and if they got killed, it's on their heads, not the cops'.
Your every reply shows your prejudice against cops. Nothing they do or don't do pleases you does it?
They are civil servants, the hired help. Nothing more. Donning that uniform and badge doesn't endow them with some Jedi-like wisdom. As long as they understand who they are and what they are, I have no problem with them. But when they become renegades who invent restrictions on American citizens that they then enforce at the point of a gun, they are not protectors, but enemies.
My son and I'm sure sinkspur's sons are hard working honest cops, my son is a recent veteran of the war in Iraq any one of these fine policemen would have stopped the Unsers.
"some self-appointed representative's of the collective"? "Uniformed thugs"? Your "hate cops" agenda is showing.
As long as the little people know their place and stay in it they won't get any grief from you.
Wow! I can't begin to rebut such a witty, enlightened, and well-constructed thesis. Unless I stoop to YOUR tactics and invoke the "Oh Yeah?" counter.
Oh, and I would wager that my paternal ancestor could trump your paternal ancestor in a pugilistic endeavor. Nyah nyah nyah.
I don't see where this incident interfered with the investigation.
But we don't know the whole story either. But we do know that the police control a crime scene completely and have the legal authority to prevent access to anyone during the investigation, collection of evidence etc.
in my book someone who says, "don't you know who I am" tells me everything I need to know about that person and it ain't good.
More clairvoyance? Maybe Blaine could use TWO sidekicks.
That's a John Birch Society word.
We are all living in a collective, except for the Birchers, who are the only real constimatooshinalists in this pitiful country.
Do you know who we used to be?
LOL, you said it all in a few choice words. Great post
See my reply number 127. Apparently it depends where you are in the social order as to whether you are under the law like the little folks.
HAHAHA! And I just show my papers when the Gestapo demands them and I won't have any grief from them.
Your window on the world is fractured.
Something tells me these boys never venture out without a little liquid fortification under their belts.
Know what I mean, Vern?
More clairvoyance?
None needed, I know my son. sinkspur's sons? You got me there, I admit, I don't know them maybe sinkspur can answer that.
"You're full of it, sinkspur. Perhaps you could spin some more fantasies involving the Unsers for our entertainment."
sinkie:
Something tells me these boys never venture out without a little liquid fortification under their belts.
OK, now roll over and bark twice. GOOD sinkie.
Here's a biscuit, boy. :-)
I presume this street is named after Unser?
I believe they are Native Americans?
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