Posted on 09/08/2005 9:38:33 PM PDT by c-b 1
Yuma city councilman says not on my watch
BY JEFFREY GAUTREAUX, Sun Staff Writer Sep 7, 2005, 9:49 pm
Yuma City Council member Al Krieger showed Tuesday that he wants to cut down on crime in Yuma. Even if he has to do it himself.
Krieger helped Yuma police arrest a man who allegedly attempted to carjack him after the man crashed his vehicle into a street sign on 32nd Street.
"That's my neighborhood," Krieger said. "I'm not going to tolerate that stuff. I think people need to do what they're able to do."
About 10:45 a.m., Krieger said he was sitting in his parked truck at 32nd Street and Chiquita Avenue talking on his cell phone. He heard a loud crash to his left rear and looked back to see that a vehicle had run over a stop sign and gone into a retention basin.
"The street sign fell into the sun roof. It was pretty comical," Krieger said. "But the guy just threw it out of the car and gunned it out of there. I said, ‘I've got to get this guy.’ ”
The "guy" in question was Cody Rogers, 18, of Yuma, according to YPD. Just prior to the accident, Rogers had been spotted by an officer traveling westbound in his 2002 Acura on 32nd Street at an excessive rate of speed, said YPD spokesman Clint Norred.
Krieger began following Rogers as he drove down Country Club Drive, which leads to a dead end. Krieger said he followed behind and then blocked Rogers' vehicle in.
Rogers bumped Krieger's truck with his vehicle in an attempt to escape and then got out of his vehicle. "He was yelling, ‘Get out of the truck, get out of the truck,’ ” Krieger said.
Krieger said when he put his truck in park, the doors automatically unlocked. He was not able to get the doors locked again before Rogers opened his door, grabbed his arm and attempted to remove him. At this point, Krieger reached for his concealed weapon, a .38-caliber revolver.
"As soon as he saw I had a gun in my hand, he turned and ran," Krieger said.
Norred said at this same time the officer, who had initially seen Rogers' vehicle, appeared at the scene. Krieger said the officer had clocked Rogers driving 71 mph on 32nd Street.
Rogers attempted to flee on foot but was arrested, Norred said. "It wasn't very long after. He didn't run very far."
In Yuma County Justice Court Wednesday, Rogers was advised that YPD was requesting that he face felony charges of robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal damage and reckless driving.
Justice of the Peace David Cooper set Rogers' bond at $1,769. He is scheduled to appear in court again Friday.
"I'm not sure each charge is supported by probable cause by the state," Cooper said in court. "I was going to set a high bond because of the seriousness of the charges, but for that reason I'm going to set a low bond."
Krieger said he was not afraid during the incident — he figured Rogers would stay in his vehicle. However, he said when Rogers started grabbing his arm, he became concerned.
The encounter left Krieger with a bruise on his elbow, but he said there could have been many more injuries if the two had "ended up rolling around on the street."
"I'm not going to be a willing victim," Krieger said.
Krieger, who was able to attend the city council work session Tuesday night at city hall, said citizens must take responsibility for themselves and their neighborhoods. He said incidents like this are escalating and police cannot be everywhere, so people need to help them.
When asked if Rogers might have known he was dealing with one of Yuma's council members, Krieger, elected in 2003, said he was sure he was unaware.
"There's no way he could have known that," he said. "Those are just odd circumstances."
--- Jeffrey Gautreaux can be reached at jgautreaux@yumasun.com or 539-6858.
Good for Mr. Krieger. All Americans should be that way. The trial lawyers and liberals have made many very cautious about doing what used to be common.
Justice of the Peace David Cooper set Rogers' bond at $1,769.
Lets see, two felony charges and three misdemeanors and bail is set @ $1796.
Something stinks in this town.
BMP
It does, not as bad as it used to, Councilman Kreiger is part of the clean up crew.
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