Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Charges won't be filed against anti-Obama protesters arrested on St. Charles overpass
St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 09/17/2013 | Mark Schlinkman

Posted on 09/17/2013 3:39:24 PM PDT by rwa265

No charges will be filed against two anti-President Barack Obama protesters arrested on an Interstate 70 overpass last month, St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar announced Tuesday.

snip

"The Highway Patrol has a job to do, and that includes ensuring that our roadways remain safe," Lohmar said.

"However, based upon the facts and circumstances, we do not believe that criminal charges are appropriate, nor do we believe that we can prove that a crime occurred."

Excerpt

(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: nocharges; obama; protesters; stcharles
Good news!
1 posted on 09/17/2013 3:39:24 PM PDT by rwa265
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rwa265

Yes, thankfully we haven’t reached that level of tyrrany, yet.


2 posted on 09/17/2013 3:41:08 PM PDT by vpintheak (Thankful to be God blessed & chosen!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rwa265

LAWSUIT...

ALL political speech is protected speech.


3 posted on 09/17/2013 3:43:45 PM PDT by tcrlaf (Well, it is what the Sheeple voted for....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rwa265

Well Tim Lohmar, what actions are being taken to make sure this type of harassment doesn’t happen in the future? Are the officers involved being punished? Will the police be required to attend additional training highlighting citizens rights and the limits of police power? If no, then I think a lawsuit is in order to get your mind right.


4 posted on 09/17/2013 3:50:11 PM PDT by RightOnTheBorder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rwa265

Now sue them for false arrest! This is happening far too often for my taste.

Arresting someone for protesting, even if the charges are dropped later, does not take away from the fact that they shut down the protest. Since most protesters choose venues for maximum impact, letting them go when the venue is closed does not take away from the fact that they were prevented from exercising their constitutional rights.


5 posted on 09/17/2013 3:51:55 PM PDT by Ronin (Dumb, dependent and Democrat is no way to go through life - Rep. L. Gohmert, Tex)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rwa265

What crime was alleged to have happened?


6 posted on 09/17/2013 4:10:43 PM PDT by Paladin2 (h)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: vpintheak

Keyword: YET.


7 posted on 09/17/2013 4:19:36 PM PDT by Straight8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

“Damaged the honor of the king!”


8 posted on 09/17/2013 4:22:24 PM PDT by Darksheare (Try my coffee, first one's free..... Even robots will kill for it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: rwa265

Now sue them into oblivion.


9 posted on 09/17/2013 4:36:22 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rwa265
I have my flame suit on. Point one: As a former state trooper there is a public safety issue with people holding ANY kind of signs off an overpass of an interstate highway.
You want people paying attention to the road so that when some illiterate in front of them STOPS so THEY can read the signs they are not rear ended and killed. Point two: It was my understanding the protesters did not leave when asked to do so. Bad move. I have seen these protests on the sides of interstates etc. It is still a hazard but not as much of one as posed by the overpass.
Point three: There are tons of other places to protest this clown. I am all for political protest but once in awhile you have to use some UNCOMMON SENSE to protect people from themselves. This sounds nanny state to some but have you seen the carnage of a wreck at 70-80 mph? It is not pretty. Put yourself on the overpass as you watch a fatal wreck that was due to your sign of protest.
Boy you sure showed that Obama clown didn't you.
10 posted on 09/17/2013 4:36:31 PM PDT by prof.h.mandingo (Buck v. Bell (1927) An idea whose time has come (for extreme liberalism))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Darksheare
That's what I thought:

Improper forelock tugging.

11 posted on 09/17/2013 4:46:34 PM PDT by Paladin2 (h)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: prof.h.mandingo

“You want people paying attention to the road so that when some illiterate in front of them STOPS so THEY can read the signs they are not rear ended and killed.”

If you can’t drive and look at a two word sign without causing an accident, you don’t belong on the road. Tell us how many accidents occur from people reading signs on the interstate announcing that McDonald’s, Shell and Super 8 are at the next exit.


12 posted on 09/17/2013 5:02:46 PM PDT by sergeantdave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: prof.h.mandingo

Sorry do not agree with you on any of your points.

Day does not go by that I do not see in the city where some person in a chicken suit or some other suit is hired to draw patrons into some establishment to eat. I have never seen them arrested..... Where are the state troopers at to protect the drivers against this hopping chicken distracting drivers.

Signs on overpasses....how about billboard signs along the side of the road that change ever 30 seconds or so or even the ones that don’t. Have never seen a state trooper arresting the sign erectors.

No the 1st amendment should not be infringed.


13 posted on 09/17/2013 5:07:02 PM PDT by eartick (Been to the line in the sand and liked it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: prof.h.mandingo

Point two: It was my understanding the protesters did not leave when asked to do so. Bad move.

So, anytime some uniformed thug who unlawfully tramples the First Amendment, he or she should be given a free pass? Are you saying that during your tenure as a State Trooper you would have done the same thing? Didn't you swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution?

Odd that you'd be more outraged by the location of an "Impeach Obama" sign than the activities of Obama who clearly needs to be impeached.

14 posted on 09/17/2013 5:25:55 PM PDT by garybob (More sweat in training, less blood in combat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: prof.h.mandingo

no prof you.
When was the last time anyone STOPPED to read an overpass sign?
All bridges have them.


15 posted on 09/17/2013 5:37:15 PM PDT by aumrl (let's keep it real Conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: aumrl

Not on the interstate. It’s a question of speed and also attention.


16 posted on 09/18/2013 5:02:36 AM PDT by prof.h.mandingo (Buck v. Bell (1927) An idea whose time has come (for extreme liberalism))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: sergeantdave

You obviously don’t get out much. People are idiots on the road. I have seen people stop to change lanes after missing an exit etc. How many bodies have you seen? Twisted, bleeding, dead bodies due to stupidity? Many drivers do not belong on the road but they are there. Our job was to try to save lives if we could. Originally there were very few signs on the interstate system. That has changed. Still the interstates ARE safe compared to other road systems.
The problem with interstate is the speed of the average driver.
The problem with people hanging signs off overpasses on an interstate is one of speed, seeing something for the first time and amount of traffic. This was a fairly busy hwy. at the time of the incident.


17 posted on 09/18/2013 5:12:01 AM PDT by prof.h.mandingo (Buck v. Bell (1927) An idea whose time has come (for extreme liberalism))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: prof.h.mandingo

ALL interstates have signage PERIOD


18 posted on 09/18/2013 6:23:15 AM PDT by aumrl (let's keep it real Conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: aumrl

Only signs on overpasses on interstate are directional. And these cause problems for people new to the area. I am talking about introducing something people are not ACCOUSTOMED to seeing. That is a major factor in accidents. Something out of the ordinary distracts ones attention. This is not rocket science. There are millions of places people can protest. I have been at protests. It was unsafe and if you can’t understand that simple idea... well ya can’t fix stupid.


19 posted on 09/18/2013 3:55:23 PM PDT by prof.h.mandingo (Buck v. Bell (1927) An idea whose time has come (for extreme liberalism))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: prof.h.mandingo

I repeat my previous post. If you can’t read, what does that make you? (not nice to ayyack personally. tisk tisk!)
“ALL interstates have signage PERIOD”

Yes you are correct ‘there are millions(sic) of places people can protest’ - How about in the middle of a forest....no one to be distracted there!
I recall all overpass’ in the northeast had flags displayed from them after 9/11....NEVER HEARD OF ACIDENT RATES INCREASING...


20 posted on 09/18/2013 7:09:20 PM PDT by aumrl (let's keep it real Conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson