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Tuesday, February 07, 2012

A Letter To The Editor 2-7-12

There was a recent issue involving my teenage son and a Worcester Co. Sheriffs Deputy. My son was riding his skateboard locally when he noticed a car approaching from behind. He crossed to the other side of the road for his own safety. The car passed and my son returned to the other side. The car... a Sheriffs Deputy slammed on his brakes almost causing injury. My son was handcuffed, interrogated and verbally abused. The Deputy referred to him as a “punk kid”. He was detained for 30 minutes. He had 1 cigarette which was destroyed during the investigation. This is just one of example of the police behavior that has been going on here. My neighbors children recently told me that they don’t want to leave their homes. This is an obvious case of a violation of his civil rights. As a resident,a taxpayer,a voter and a member of the business community. This is the first time I have ever spoken up about this. Marylands motto... “Keep the free state free” What a joke!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Get a lawyer if you think your son's civil rights have been abused. If you can't afford one, contact the Maryland Bar for a list of lawyers who do pro bono (free charitable) work.

Anonymous said...

Many of Worcester's County cops act unlawful, just as they did in the case of this teenager. This county is comparable to the days of much lawlessness as the "Wild, Wild West" in many ways. Many believe they are above the law, which is why they not worthy of respect.
Action needs to be taken NOW to cease their unlawful ways, just as in this case where this thug of a ddeputy should be held accountable and reprimanded for his illegal actions.

Anonymous said...

lol there's a lot more to this "story" that you did not witness. I'm sure your son was a perfect angel.

Anonymous said...

What was the deputy's name?
Call them out publicly! Yes, it is a violation of civil rights and basic human rights. Fortunately your son was not injured during this extremist assault by a government goon like many are. Post his Name, address, and phone # so people, citizens can help remind him who pays his salary and maybe what its like to be bullied and harassed.
FIGHT BACK!

Anonymous said...

Who had the cigarette? Your son or the officer? Why does the cigarette matter to the story?

You state "he crossed to the other side of the road." Did he ride across traffic to the opposite side? Was he on the incorrect side to begin with? Was the car on the wrong side of the road?

How did the officer "almost cause injury" when he hit the brakes? If you son crossed back over the road after the car passed, how would the braking of the car affect him at all?

Did the officer just hop out of the car and call your son a "punk kid?" Did you son say anything at all? How was he "verbally abused." Did you only speak to your son and get his version, or did you speak with the officer? Did you witness this yourself?

Did you write this, or your son?

Details, and something more than an emotionally-written rant, would help clarify this. I have read over this a few times and cannot figure out what happened.

Anonymous said...

Yeah right, lets hope there was a dash cam. Care to put money on your son? Mine is on the officer. Matter of fact, I will give you odds! 2 to one, or 5 to one, your call.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 8:43!! There's two sides to every story!

Anonymous said...

8:43 If there was more to the story her son would have been arrested.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 8:47 AM, What was his name? I am sure you have the support from almost all of us "commoners" who are considered inferior people to all of these superior cops.

Anonymous said...

A responsible parent would not let their teenager smoke!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure there is more to this story. The kids in my neighborhood ride their skateboards in the middle of the road and when mom's not around they go behind a vacant house to smoke pot. I will gladly welcome your menace cop where I live.

Anonymous said...

Another point: How old is your son? If he is under 18, then he is not legally permitted to buy cigarettes. Who bought them for him? Why didn't the officer say something about him being too young to smoke?

Also, if your underage son is smoking, and your primary concern is how his skateboarding is interrupted, then your priorities are a bit off.

If he is old enough to have bought the cigarettes himself, then he is his own "man" and you cannot get involved in the life of this adult.

And if he is over 18 and spending his time smoking and skateboarding through town, then he needs a job and a little more police intervention in his life.

Anonymous said...

I hate to break it to all of the naysayers but this happens ALL the time in Ocean City. Children have even been arrested in Ocean City for skateboarding (and not doing property damage).

Also, for those of you still living in the stone age, most kids who skateboard are not using drugs.

Anonymous said...

Yes it does happen all the time. Last year the OC police were out of line on a young innocent man outside my condo. They zoomed up and got out of the car and said to the woman he was innocently talking to "if he is bothering you we can take him to jail". I saw the whole thing and piped in and said they were just talking, what is going on. So yes thee are two sides to every story, but the more I hear about this, the more these "tough guy cops" think they are on a TV show. Want to cause a scene about everything. Tehy probably would have taken that boy away too if I did not get up off my deck and say something.

Anonymous said...

I didn't say all kids who skateboard do drugs. I said the ones in my neighborhood do. I can see them, they hide from the parent not me. How about you learn how to read properly instead of jumping to conclusions. And stone age? I'm 28.

Anonymous said...

Maybe this officer should have been the one arresting the kids in Delmar who broke into the school last weekend. Because every single one of those kids need their a$$es kicked. They think they are above the law.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 9:00 said...
A responsible parent would not let their teenager smoke!

Most parents forbid our tennage children to smoke you fool! We do our best to prevent it but people, including teenagers, have minds of their own.
You probably don't have children yourself.

Anonymous said...

Face it people...most cops do whatever the hell they want and take the law into their own hands.
Many are criminal-minded and need to be brought to justice.

Dana said...

When I was growing up my parents believed we were GUILTY before they found out the truth. We were kids for Christ's sake. But they eventually got to the truth, and dealt with it accordingly.I treat my kid the same way. I'm certain your kid was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing.That's probably the way you parent him, by making excuses for him. That my dear will only get you a life of heartache with that kid. Wise up!

Anonymous said...

If someone is going to buy their child a skateboard then also buy them a place to use it, so they don't ruin other people's property with them!
I've had to paint my wall in OC every year due to these deliquents and one time when I saw one and asked him if he was going to repaint the damage he did, his answer was he would if I would pay him!

Anonymous said...

Poor little darling was "verbally abused." My oh my! Tell him to suck it up and to get over it. If your neighbor's children don't want to leave their homes than good! Tell them to study and to read books. Nothing good comes from hanging out in the streets anyway!

Anonymous said...

The worst are the child rentacops that they hire for the summer. A little authority turns them into crazies.

Anonymous said...

As a Worcester Co. resident, sadly, I too have noticed a deterioration of quality service from the Worcester County Sheriffs Dept. I don't know whether it is the new administration, or just poor quality hires, but the belligerence, and haughtiness displayed by some of the deputies toward county residents over trivial matters is unwarranted, unwelcomed, and unappreciated.

Anonymous said...

bottom line take the cop to court for abuse. things could be settled rather quickly to find out who was right and wrong here.

Anonymous said...

The parent in this situation probably did not get the whole or real story form their child. It is funny how a child may mistake Marijuana as a cigarette when describing a situation to a parent in an attempt to explain why they are late coming home. I would suggest that the parent call the Sheriff’s office and let them know how they feel. If they do that, they may get the true story.

Anonymous said...

2:16 If it was marijuana the kid would have been arrested. Duh.

Ironshire said...

This not the place to air an issue with the Worcester County Sheriff. Call the Sheriff, Riggie Mason at 410 632-1111. He will sit down with you and your son and take your complaint. He'll start an investigation and inform you of the results.
When you call, mention to him I recommended that he talk to you. Believe me, he will be more than happy to sit down with you. Not that I hold sway over the Sheriff, it's just the kind of guy he is. He wants to help everyone in this county. If there is a problem with one of his deputies, he wants to know about it. And so do I.

Craig Theobald
Vice President, Worcester FOP, VP
Ironshire

Bobby Brittingham said...

I agree with Ironshire: If this indeed had happeded the way the mother has stated, contact Sheriff Mason. I had worked with Sheriff Mason for many years, and I know he is fair and he will investigate this incident. There are two sides of every story.

lmclain said...

Craig....you mean you want citizens to call the police to complain about police behavior in order for the police to do an investigation of the police. How, exactly, do you think THAT'S going to turn out? Police have shot unarmed people in the back, killed children, beat old women to death, kicked the wrong door down and beat up the inhabitants, and after the police investigation, been cleared of any wrongdoing. I'm VERY confident that the serfs will find justice...My advice is for the parents to forget about any "complaint". Buy guns and ammo....the day is coming when, well, we'll get some. Justice, that is....and no---along with a whole lot of other people, I don't call cops when I need help. I make sure I never need it.

Ironshire said...

Imclain, That's exactly what I mean.

This is Worcester County, not New York or New Jersey. Have those things happened? Sure. And a lot of former cops, bad cops, are in jail over stuff like that. Real cops, myself included, hate, really hate, a cop that $hits on the badge. We do not tolerate it. And they are even more dangerous than a common criminal.
But, do it the right way... Good cops want to get rid of bad cops. Call Reggie... you"ll see good cops in action.


Craig Theobald
Ironshire