October 13, 2011 at 9:07am
This man now been in trouble with the law three times and I bet the only punishment he receives is probation once again. Probation, the cure for Cannon County crime problem what a joke.
October 14, 2011 at 7:27am
Justice, and I use the term loosely, is not the same for everyone in this town/county. Has anyone else noticed this? Some are punished severly, life ruined and no hope for a job while others receive probation and even some are not even arrested after being stopped by officers finding drugs,scales and all of the items for the sale of illegal drugs because man was honest and admitted he had all of the above. Also, the people with influence seem to be above the law. You may see that one has been arrested but then you never hear of any punishment whatsoever. It all goes back to who you know. Lady Justice should hang her head in shame.
October 14, 2011 at 4:21pm
No, I haven't noticed it, and I've seen every arrest warrant and every court outcome for almost three years now.
October 14, 2011 at 6:24pm
Also Totsy, it is often the case when a person is honest and upfront with a law enforcement officer, and it is a misdemeanor crime, they are given a citation in lieu of arrest. The person charged still has to appear in court. When a person is taken to jail, only to make bond, the only entity benefiting from that circumstance is the bail bondsman, who gets a non-refundable 10 percent of the bond. It has nothing to do with the eventual outcome of the case.
October 18, 2011 at 9:53pm
Kevin --- How about the cases that are not pursued to an arrest warrant. Not long ago you reported a guy charged with making a false police report for refusing to tell deputies that his brother shot him ---- I know a deputy that refused to investigate a report where a guy down right lied about a crime having been committed --- On guy refuses to ID his brother and is charged with a felony (filing a false report) – Another falsely reports a crime which is a felony and they do nothing about it ----- I can see totsy73’s point.
October 19, 2011 at 4:39am
"Another falsely reports a crime which is a felony and they do nothing about it"
Without knowing the specifics, perhaps the officer was not able to independently verify that what was reported was false. If there are only two parties involved and the officer is not present it is possible that both parties "down right lied." Or the person could have reported something, the officer investigated, and determined it was not a crime.
October 19, 2011 at 5:06am
Hypothetical situation Jim:
Say I'm at the office and you drop by to visit. Before your arrival, I've taken off my watch and laid it on a desk. After you leave, I find said watch to be missing. I call to report that it's missing, and a deputy comes to investigate. I tell the deputy that my watch is missing, when I thought it was taken, that you were the only other person here, but that I did not see you take it. Have a filed a false report?
October 19, 2011 at 6:14am
Kevin --- To say that deputy didn’t have evidence that a crime was committed is an assumption on your part – You know what they say about assumptions. In the incident that I wrote of, he evidence was there – The deputy ignored it and refused to act. My resume is in the courier archives --- Go back and read it ---- and then ask yourself? Should I be able to recognize the elements of a crime? If I said that I had evidence that a crime had been committed, wouldn’t you think with my background and education that I just might know what I was talking about? -- Frankly, the deputy just didn’t do his job. Only the deputy can answer as to why he refused to enforce the law and let this guy walk. Like I said before -- I can see totsy73’s point.
October 19, 2011 at 6:32am
Like I said, I don't have all the facts, so I can only make assumptions. Your resume doesn't mean a thing, and your word is no better or worse than the next person. However, the additional information you provide is even more telling of the situation. You are well aware that you, yourself, can go to a judicial commissioner and obtain a warrant if you know that a crime has been committed, and can convince the commissioner there is enough probable cause to warrant a charge or arrest.
October 19, 2011 at 6:57am
I think you missed the point. My resume does or should make a difference. I have the knowledge, and the experience to offer an very qualified opinion – If you think for a minute that favoritism by law enforcement, or for that matter by our local government, isn’t present in Cannon County you have to have your head in the sand. Like I said, I can see totsy73’s point. And I see her point from a very educated and experienced perspective. If you want to reject a reader’s education and experience to make an argument against their opinion, join the crowd – You have a lot of company in Cannon County Government –
And yes, I am aware of my options – I had intended to approach the DA and the Grand Jury but I have been waiting for the completion of a specific task by another deputy that would influence the case. I’m still waiting ---
October 19, 2011 at 7:27am
No, I don't think I missed your point at all. I do think you missed mine, which is there is nothing a deputy can do for you which you yourself can't do as well. I frequently see warrants which have been obtained by citizens, those who have less "education and experience" than you possess. Charges are very similar to those a deputy would make under other circumstances.
As to deputies performing tasks, the only person or persons who can assigned them are those higher up the chain of command. Likewise, they are the only ones who can determine whether they are performed or completed to satisfaction.
October 19, 2011 at 8:16am
In cases where a deputy was not present and a citizen alleges that a misdemeanor was committed, then the citizen pretty much has to pursue that case on their own --- but it should be with the assistance of the deputy. A felony however is a crime against the State of Tennessee – and a deputy can even make an arrest under certain circumstances even if that crime wasn’t committed right in front of him. The deputy should not have a choice to ignore the law. --- We hire and elect sheriffs and police as law enforcement officers --- to enforce the law across the board fairly and evenly and their actions are scrutinized by the courts and in some cases citizen review boards. The systems is intended to be fair – it often is not because of favoritism. Regardless, the system was not intended for citizens to take the law into their own hands to find justice. Again, I can see totsy73’s point. – I have experienced the point made by totsy73 --- And by the way – It isn’t just in Cannon County, sadly it is everywhere.
The task that I mentioned was assigned to the deputy by the sheriff – it was just never done. There isn’t a whole lot I can do about that. Right now, I believe the window of opportunity to see the judicial system work in this particular case is closed.
October 19, 2011 at 8:30am
Jim, there are a whole lot of things you can do, you are aware of that, you just choose not to do them. There is a reason for that, which only you know. Obtaining a warrant against someone is not "taking the law into your own hands." It is one method of seeking justice. Since you are one of the parties involved in the process, you are not in the best position to determine if the law is being enforced "fairly and evenly." Every loser in a court case feels as though the law has not been "fair" to them.
October 19, 2011 at 9:01am
Being involve in the process should not make a difference. Actually being involved gives one even more credibility with first hand knowledge and in the case of police, more authority. Do you think a cop shouldn't arrest a person because the victim of an assault was the cop himself? Judges can recuse themselves, politicians should have the ethics to refrain from voting when they have a personal interest – but the law enforcement officer has to do his job fairly regardless of who or what is standing in front of him or her. Fact is they don’t. And that is in part understandable, we are all human. – But – and the only reason I commented is that ----- tosy73 is correct ---- there is favoritism in law enforcement and it is sometimes very obvious in Cannon County. And yes, we all see the process that leads to a final judgment differently -- even in sports
October 19, 2011 at 9:13am
Then to the best of my knowledge Jim, the other party has equal credibility. I have not heard from that party. I will assume the law enforcement officers have. Nor have I heard from the law enforcement officers. I have not heard the facts of the incident or incidents. All you have presented is opinion. I am sure the other parties involved also have opinions. Because you think your opinion carries more weight that other persons does not make it so. Why you can't even see that simple premise is bewildering.
October 19, 2011 at 10:29am
Kevin – It really seems to be you that just doesn’t get it. I haven’t and won’t present to you the facts in the case I used as an example. So you can assume what you want. Law enforcement has seen them and ignored them. Defend them of you wish --- I only took issue with you when you essentially attack totsy73’s opinion. If you have a problem with that – then continue to attack my opinion. But, totsy73 and I both seem to think you are wrong. --- I think both you and I have said enough about it --- And I do appreciate the opportunity to give an opinion in the Courier. Thanks again.
October 19, 2011 at 10:52am
Oh Jim, I think I got it from the beginning. Both you and totsy73 want to make statements and have people take them as factual without providing supporting evidence. It's only unsubstantiated claims and innuendo. I would say I wish I could get by with that in my reporting, but I don't. I have more respect for what I do to stoop to that level.
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