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To: Rick.Donaldson
Nonsense. There is a “distinction with difference” here. He was stopping a fleeing criminal. Period. It wasn’t HIS fault the guy ran between the fence and the perp’s own car.

The question would be whether he could see, or reasonably foresee, that the guy was between the cr and the fence when he rammed it.

He stated he accidentally hit the gas. Truthfully, I don’t think there is a chance in hell Reid is going to be charged with anything.

Agree. Unless there's something we don't know -- for example, if Reid was yelling to his buddies at a bar the week before that he was going to run down the next guy who robbed his place -- I agree it's highly unlikely he'll be prosecuted. There's enough reasonable doubt that I don't see a chance of a conviction, and DAs don't like to waste their time.

It's possible Reid could plead guilty to some misdemeanor with a suspended sentence just so both sides can make the case go away.

It’s very OBVIOUS the guy died accidentally.

It looks that way to us armchair quarterbacks based on one news story. How it looks to the law is another matter.

Even so, the guy was BREAKING the law, stealing, trespassing, and who knows what else? Who is to say he didn’t have a weapon on him? Not me, not you. No one has said yet. Whether he did or didn’t *I* am going to assume someone with the balls to enter my property to take something is ARMED. He’d better be.

Again, what you assume isn't necessarily what you're legally entitled to assume and act on.

80 posted on 11/09/2007 10:47:39 AM PST by ReignOfError
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To: ReignOfError
The question would be whether he could see, or reasonably foresee, that the guy was between the cr and the fence when he rammed it. The guy was running, and I'll bet you dimes to doughnuts that this happened so quickly that Reid didn't see ANYTHING other than stopping the car. What he said LATER about what he saw is just as suspect as anything people are willing to say "he couldn't or could see". Having been in several real-life rescues of people myself, I know time "dilation" occurs and adrenline can have a large effect on the situation and what happens. Doubtful that this will even come into question at this point. Agree. Unless there's something we don't know -- for example, if Reid was yelling to his buddies at a bar the week before that he was going to run down the next guy who robbed his place -- I agree it's highly unlikely he'll be prosecuted. There's enough reasonable doubt that I don't see a chance of a conviction, and DAs don't like to waste their time.

Which is why you don't put "Beware of Owner" signs all over your property with a picture of a gun. And you don't mouth off at the bar about shooting intruders either. lol It's possible Reid could plead guilty to some misdemeanor with a suspended sentence just so both sides can make the case go away.

Is that wishful thinking or something? Didn't you read the whole article? The Sheriff said he didn't see anything wrong here with what Reid did. Unless the Sheriff presses the issue with the DA, it's doubtful anything will happen. It looks that way to us armchair quarterbacks based on one news story. How it looks to the law is another matter. Well, to some degree. None of us were there. IF everything happened exactly as stated though, and nothing else comes of the investigation, then it is as it appears to us "arm chair quarterbacks". Have you ever had to defend yourself against a robber? Have you ever had your home broken into while you're in it, or while you were gone? Have you ever tried to stop a crime in progress? Have you ever had to do something to save someone's life? Unless you have been in one or more of those particular circumstances, you're likely an "armchair quarterback". I'm NOT an "armchair" quarterback. I speak from experience, I don't talk out my ass like some people do when they try to discredit the other side of an argument. Again, what you assume isn't necessarily what you're legally entitled to assume and act on.

As a reasonable person, if I came up to my home and say someone fleeing the property I'm going to get a description of the car, license plate, individual or whatever else I can do. IF I am in a position to prevent them from departing, I'm going to do so. What I am LEGALLY entitled to "assume" about the situation isn't relevant at the time of the incident. If I came upon my property, and the same situation were occuring, I'd have done the exact same thing, whether I knew or not my property was in his car. You can assume anything you like about my thinking, but I've "been there, done that" before. Ok... the other guy is "an alleged perpetrator" then, better for you? The deceased got out of the drivers side of the car from what I saw. Property was found in the guy's car. Hmmm... would I have been justified in shooting the guy? NO. Stopping him? YES. If he ACCIDENTLY died, as it appears, am I responsible for putting him in the position he FOUND himself? NO. He did it to himself, and he'd be alive if he weren't robbing peoples' homes.
100 posted on 11/09/2007 11:09:59 AM PST by Rick.Donaldson (http://www.transasianaxis.com - Visit for lastest on DPRK/Russia/China/Etc --Fred Thompson for Prez.)
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