Comments on: The WSBeat: What else turned up in the police files… http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files West Seattle news, information, and discussion, updated multiple times daily, 24/7/365 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:52:25 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: RG http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-962198 RG Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:51:39 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-962198 Ajax, I don't think they're arguing. I think they're just trying to make sense of what happened. Ajax, I don’t think they’re arguing. I think they’re just trying to make sense of what happened.

]]> By: Ajax http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-962160 Ajax Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:37:19 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-962160 It's pretty disgusting that this has turned into an argument about property rights and the definition of theft and not about which person can better provide a good home for the dog. Par for the course when animals are considered property under the law. It’s pretty disgusting that this has turned into an argument about property rights and the definition of theft and not about which person can better provide a good home for the dog. Par for the course when animals are considered property under the law.

]]> By: waterworld http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-962125 waterworld Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:24:40 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-962125 Jim: I am not assuming that the caregiver will get to keep the dog. I assume there are facts we don't know about why the officer did not take the dog from the caregiver. I was responding to your question about why she wasn't arrested on the spot. I think the comparison to car thieves misses the mark, because from what I read here, the caregiver did not steal the dog -- someone brought it to her to take care of it. This sounds more like a situation where someone takes his car to the shop and the mechanic does more work than was authorized. The mechanic wants to hold the car until he gets paid; the car owner wants the car back without paying for the unauthorized work. Jim: I am not assuming that the caregiver will get to keep the dog. I assume there are facts we don’t know about why the officer did not take the dog from the caregiver. I was responding to your question about why she wasn’t arrested on the spot. I think the comparison to car thieves misses the mark, because from what I read here, the caregiver did not steal the dog — someone brought it to her to take care of it. This sounds more like a situation where someone takes his car to the shop and the mechanic does more work than was authorized. The mechanic wants to hold the car until he gets paid; the car owner wants the car back without paying for the unauthorized work.

]]> By: Jim P. http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-962116 Jim P. Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:00:09 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-962116 That's cool, you can admit theft to an officer and get to keep the property in question. Nice racket but a bit rough on the dog and the real owner. The problem, to me is she admitted to the cop's face she stole the dog. " ..if she refused to return the dog to the owner, she would be charged with theft..The caregiver said, “Fine,” and decided to keep the dog. " I wasn't aware a thief was allowed a choice in retaining stolen property. Not the officer said "would be" charged, not "might be", rather a large difference. I hope the dog owner goes after the city if her animal is harmed by this woman. Car thieves should try this. "I took care of his car, he owes me $1200 for detailing it and he can't have it back until he pays." Officer "Oh, OK. Here's a case number, you two work this out and let us know how it goes." Being admittedly in possession of stolen property and having the cop just give you a case number just doesn't sound either fair or proper to me. That’s cool, you can admit theft to an officer and get to keep the property in question. Nice racket but a bit rough on the dog and the real owner.

The problem, to me is she admitted to the cop’s face she stole the dog.
” ..if she refused to return the dog to the owner, she would be charged with theft..The caregiver said, “Fine,” and decided to keep the dog. ”

I wasn’t aware a thief was allowed a choice in retaining stolen property. Not the officer said “would be” charged, not “might be”, rather a large difference. I hope the dog owner goes after the city if her animal is harmed by this woman.

Car thieves should try this. “I took care of his car, he owes me $1200 for detailing it and he can’t have it back until he pays.” Officer “Oh, OK. Here’s a case number, you two work this out and let us know how it goes.”

Being admittedly in possession of stolen property and having the cop just give you a case number just doesn’t sound either fair or proper to me.

]]> By: waterworld http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-962074 waterworld Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:06:11 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-962074 Jim P.: Officers are not always required to arrest a person who appears to have engaged in a crime. There are many situations where an officer has discretion and can choose not to make an arrest. Arrest or no arrest, the person can still be prosecuted. In the situation described here, if the officer believes the alleged perpetrator does not pose a danger to the community, the officer can collect identification and contact information and write up the incident report later. The report then goes to the prosecutor's office to be reviewed. If the prosecutor decides to file charges, a summons is issued and sent to the defendant's address. The summons says that charges have been filed and directs the defendant to be in court on a specific date to be arraigned. The thing about this incident is that, from what the story says, the dog was not stolen from the owner by the caregiver: one way or another, the dog was "placed in her care." The issues seem to be (a) whether the owner is required to reimburse the caregiver the cost of veterinary care he says he did not authorize, and (b) whether the caregiver is entitled to keep the dog unless and until the owner pays the bill (or maybe even regardless of whether the owner is willing to pay the bill). Jim P.: Officers are not always required to arrest a person who appears to have engaged in a crime. There are many situations where an officer has discretion and can choose not to make an arrest. Arrest or no arrest, the person can still be prosecuted. In the situation described here, if the officer believes the alleged perpetrator does not pose a danger to the community, the officer can collect identification and contact information and write up the incident report later. The report then goes to the prosecutor’s office to be reviewed. If the prosecutor decides to file charges, a summons is issued and sent to the defendant’s address. The summons says that charges have been filed and directs the defendant to be in court on a specific date to be arraigned.

The thing about this incident is that, from what the story says, the dog was not stolen from the owner by the caregiver: one way or another, the dog was “placed in her care.” The issues seem to be (a) whether the owner is required to reimburse the caregiver the cost of veterinary care he says he did not authorize, and (b) whether the caregiver is entitled to keep the dog unless and until the owner pays the bill (or maybe even regardless of whether the owner is willing to pay the bill).

]]> By: Jim P. http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961986 Jim P. Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:04:34 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961986 "An officer explained that the caregiver had taken on the expense at her own risk and that if she refused to return the dog to the owner, she would be charged with theft." Wait...the woman admitted she is stealing the dog to the officer and he did not arrest her on the spot? What am I missing here? “An officer explained that the caregiver had taken on the expense at her own risk and that if she refused to return the dog to the owner, she would be charged with theft.”

Wait…the woman admitted she is stealing the dog to the officer and he did not arrest her on the spot?

What am I missing here?

]]> By: waterworld http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961960 waterworld Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:41:55 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961960 WSWanderer and Kayo: From what it says here, the driver is the only person the officers had any basis to arrest in that situation. It does not appear from the description that the passenger was in possession of any heroin or other narcotics when the police arrived. Her admission of having used it is not sufficient to prove possession under the law. (Possession of drugs, distribution, manufacture, etc. are crimes; having used a drug is not a crime.) As for the prostitution, the fact of a history of prostitution is not a basis to arrest. The officers could have arrested someone for that if there was evidence that one of them, or both, were engaged in a prostitution-related crime at the time the police encountered them, but the story doesn't say that was going on. WSWanderer and Kayo: From what it says here, the driver is the only person the officers had any basis to arrest in that situation. It does not appear from the description that the passenger was in possession of any heroin or other narcotics when the police arrived. Her admission of having used it is not sufficient to prove possession under the law. (Possession of drugs, distribution, manufacture, etc. are crimes; having used a drug is not a crime.)

As for the prostitution, the fact of a history of prostitution is not a basis to arrest. The officers could have arrested someone for that if there was evidence that one of them, or both, were engaged in a prostitution-related crime at the time the police encountered them, but the story doesn’t say that was going on.

]]> By: Heather http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961959 Heather Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:41:01 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961959 Geez. And on a lighter note I tried the shoo fly pie @ Shoo Fly Pies on CA the other day. With a little home made whipped cream, which they had, it was by far the most delicious thing I'd eaten all week! Yum! Geez.
And on a lighter note I tried the shoo fly pie @ Shoo Fly Pies on CA the other day. With a little home made whipped cream, which they had, it was by far the most delicious thing I’d eaten all week! Yum!

]]> By: Christopher http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961954 Christopher Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:25:55 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961954 What have YOU done to help make Nicklesville unnecessary? What have YOU done to help make Nicklesville unnecessary?

]]> By: J http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961934 J Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:17:23 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961934 It's time to get rid of all unauthorized encampments near 1st ave bridge and surrounding greenbelts. The encampment which is viewable on the right a you drive south on the bridge out on the"island" has been there more than two years! Get rid of Nicklesville while we're at it and watch highland park car prowls plummet. It’s time to get rid of all unauthorized encampments near 1st ave bridge and surrounding greenbelts. The encampment which is viewable on the right a you drive south on the bridge out on the”island” has been there more than two years! Get rid of Nicklesville while we’re at it and watch highland park car prowls plummet.

]]> By: onceachef http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961888 onceachef Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:43:44 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961888 Do the parents know what they're doing...the parents are busy smoking crack somewhere....c'mon! Do the parents know what they’re doing…the parents are busy smoking crack somewhere….c’mon!

]]> By: kayo http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961840 kayo Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:17:28 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961840 West seattle wanderer. I agree completely, especially because this was a block from my house! Yikes. Prostituting and smoking heroin is not enough to at least get hauled off to jail these days? I shake my head. That brawl in North Admiral sounds crazy. High schoolers I am guessing? Do their parents know what they were doing? Apparently not. West seattle wanderer. I agree completely, especially because this was a block from my house! Yikes. Prostituting and smoking heroin is not enough to at least get hauled off to jail these days? I shake my head.

That brawl in North Admiral sounds crazy. High schoolers I am guessing? Do their parents know what they were doing? Apparently not.

]]> By: RG http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961834 RG Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:05:03 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961834 "Due to recent burglaries, drug problems and car prowls in the area, officers decided to investigate." . Otherwise, they would have done what... left? “Due to recent burglaries, drug problems and car prowls in the area, officers decided to investigate.”
.
Otherwise, they would have done what… left?

]]> By: MercyMoi http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961828 MercyMoi Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:39:18 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961828 I wonder if the story of the guy who originally reported a mugger stabbing him was the guy hurt on Delridge recently, who took 15 mins to call the police about the stabbing. It would be nice to know if it was his girlfriend since several people were upset about the random nature of the assault. I wonder if the story of the guy who originally reported a mugger stabbing him was the guy hurt on Delridge recently, who took 15 mins to call the police about the stabbing. It would be nice to know if it was his girlfriend since several people were upset about the random nature of the assault.

]]> By: West Seattle Wanderer http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/the-wsbeat-what-else-turned-up-in-the-police-files#comment-961818 West Seattle Wanderer Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:33:29 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139040#comment-961818 " The passenger admitted to smoking heroin just before officers arrived. She was cooperative and honest and released from the scene." Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong with this? ” The passenger admitted to smoking heroin just before officers arrived. She was cooperative and honest and released from the scene.”

Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong with this?

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