Posted on 03/19/2012 11:07:03 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
An Illinois father of three faces a potential $750 fine and possible criminal charges after he pulled over to ask two teenage girls if they needed a ride during a snow storm on March 2, 2012. Rodney Peterson says he was simply trying to be a good Samaritan by trying to help the girls, not harm them. Peterson says he saw two young girls, ages 13, leave a Shell gas station in the Barrington, Illinois area on cold wintery day without coats, umbrellas or hoods. He said he pulled over and asked them how far they were walking and they just waved him on and he obliged. He told CBS Chicago that his actions were a case of, a good deed gone wrong.
Petersons wife of 12 years, who is also pregnant with their fourth child said that the act was misinterpreted.
The Petersons fully understand why the girls called police. The girls claimed the offer made them uncomfortable, but what the Petersons dont understand, is why the Barrington police are charging him.
The Barrington police defend their actions however. They say he should have called police to offer the girls a ride if he felt they were in danger. They say both girls were alarmed and disturbed by Petersons actions. Peterson is due in court some time today.
It’s risky...Our society has been brainwashed into thinking that all men are sexual predators, when in fact it is aberrant behavior.
And you shouldn't. Look after yourself first and foremost. There is no way in hell that I would get involved with anyone "on the street" notwithstanding my state's Good Samaritan Law. I will take my chances with prosecution under that law.
Given the society in which we now live, one should look after himself and himself only. Call me callous but that's the way I feel.
My Mom used to take the blood pressure of an elderly gentleman who lived locally. He'd never come during the day, only weekends when my Dad was home, because he didn't think it was proper for him - "An unattached Man", as he put it - to call upon a married lady when she was by herself. :-) People might talk, I suppose.
As an aside, he bathed only on alternate months, I think, and made a few extra bucks by hunting and running a trap line to boot. The dog LOVED it when he came by, she'd sniff him up one side and down the other.
I am a music teacher.
Your story touched my heart.
They explained that the girls, their parents and a local school were very concerned because of this situation.
What do you bet it was the school that created this?
About 30 years ago, I coached a girls' softball team (my daughter played on the team). The ages were 10-13. Parents used games and practices for baby-sitting, and many evenings I would sit until ALL were picked up by their parents, or, on occasion, would provide shuttle service as requested, driving them home when parents "couldn't make it".
Now, when I think of how the country has changed, I would NEVER think of doing that today, as ambulance-chasers and Liberal mothers would jump on the opportunity to make a buck by making FALSE accusations, and you would ALWAYS be branded a pervert, while doing NOTHING but good deeds.
For many years, my wife traveled on her job and often was not home when Halloween rolled around, I was home alone, so I would turn off all outside lights and refuse to answer the door. This article is why.
LOL
Hmmmm. Interesting point. Wonder if the girls were someplace that they shouldn't have been and this makes for a good misdirection on everyone's behalf?
Reason I say that is because I've got plenty of experience in cutting class and walking down to the local gas station for a soda and (more often than not) a pack of smokes.
The powers that be did away with smoking at the school when I was a junior (I think) so we'd just cut class, buy them at the local quickie stop (their motto: "Not old enough? Whatever.), and have a smoke on the way back to school.
“Have a nice day, officers. You can come back with a warrant.”
Absolutely correct! If the wife wasn’t there, go get a witness. Never say anything to the police without a witness and a lawyer.
The summons to court serves the same function as an indictment. No DA needed. The police officers provide the "charging" function in this case. The defendant can either plead guilty and pay the fine, or plead innocent in front of the judge.
And folks wonder why people don't help their neighbors, let alone strangers.
It is because an all powerful government doesn't want you interferring with peoples dependence on government. The police said he should have called the police if he was concerned about the girls safety............. what a statement about both society and what some police view as our ability to help one another.
Only if it were a line item on the tax bill for something like "police litigation settlement tax" Otherwise they'll just blame it on prices of everything going up.
I think this approach should be used for other town taxes as well. I think there should be a line item for "Road Crew Idleness tax" and a School Union Perpetuation Tax"
“The summons to court serves the same function as an indictment. No DA needed. The police officers provide the “charging” function in this case. The defendant can either plead guilty and pay the fine, or plead innocent in front of the judge. “
What are you pleading to? What would go on his record?
Even the fact that he was charged/ticketed goes on his record. The ticket is for disorderly conduct.
Never
Talk
To
Cops.
Period.
L
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The story below was based on several news stories based entirely on the word of Rodney Peterson, who claimed he simply offered to give two underdressed teenagers a ride home in a snowstorm. Peterson on Monday pled guilty to a Disorderly Conduct charge. Why? Because his story was mostly bogus. We received this note from the Office of the Chief of Police in Barrington:The Truth About Our Stranger-Danger Society - Slade Sohmer (hypervocal.com)
He was sentenced by Judge Anthony Iosco to two years supervision, a $400 fine and prohibited from having contact with the two students or their families. Mr. Peterson was represented by an attorney in the Cook County courthouse in Rolling Meadows, IL. The students and their families were present in court.Police provided evidence to the Village Prosecutor that, contrary to news reports and Mr. Peterson's statements to police and the press, there was no snowstorm yet nor was it snowing at the time of the incident. Further, investigation leading up to the charges showed that the students were dressed properly for the weather in coats and one wearing boots. That evidence came from area business security camera video and squad car camera video of unrelated police traffic stops at the time the incident first occurred.After first spotting the students at a gas station Mr. Peterson lost sight of them. A couple minutes later after paying for his gas, he drove down the alley into the neighborhood to look for them. They were not in any distress or in need of any assistance whatsoever. It wasn't dark out and they were in a residential neighborhood. Mr. Peterson tried to engage the students, asking them how far they had to walk home and if they needed a ride. The students said they did not have far to walk and waived him on.
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