Public Safety Report - March 31
Published Monday, March 31, 2008
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Stumble It!The public safety report is compiled from criminal complaints filed in state and federal courts, as well as some police blotter information, trooper dispatches, fire department reports and interviews with public safety officials. Individuals named as arrested and/or charged with crimes in this report are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law.
Underage driving
Fairbanks Police Department officers contacted a Fairbanks man at home Saturday to let him know state law bars his 12-year-old son from driving a car or truck. Police had received a report from another driver who had complained after seeing a young boy driving from a Danby Street-area gas station to the family’s house a few blocks away. The complainant driver told police he or she had confronted the father on the road for allowing such a young-looking person to drive. Police said the 36-year-old father acknowledged letting his son drive, and officers warned him about a state law barring underage people from driving, Lt. Tara Tippett said.
“He was apologetic and agreed not to do it again,” Tippett said. She said the father, who was in the car, could have been cited for allowing his son to drive — state law allows learners permits at 14 and either full or provisional licenses at 16.
Domestic violence
Police arrested a 28-year-old man Saturday in Birchwood Homes on domestic violence charges after allegedly assaulting his wife at home. Tippett said the woman had several injuries including a cut under her left eye and bumps on her head from allegedly being shoved into kitchen cabinets and dragged down stairs. Tippett said the woman had called the police before the man, an Army soldier, had ripped the phone cord out of the wall.
Weapons misconduct
Police and the Community Service Patrol arrested a 41-year-old man for disorderly conduct Saturday after the man allegedly lunged at others and became aggressive with patrol workers at the Cushman Street bus center. Tippett said the man allegedly tried to punch a CSP van driver and pulled a small ulu knife from his coat and pointed it at someone else at the bus center.
Community Discussion
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How do you "point" an ulu knife?
Excellent police report today - it reported all the items/information while leaving names of the ALLEGED offenders out. Well done NM - I hope this is an indication of things to come! Innocent until proven guilty is the basis for our society after all - and we tend to forget it at times...especially on emotional issues.
$10 says akguy has had his name featured on this wall of shame...if a person is truly innocent of charges, then thats all that matters...keep naming names newsminer because its a valuable public safety tool...
Put my name in there anytime, unless their accusing me of peeing my pants.
No fair - I want to see the wife beaters name!!!!!
If Im innocent and then proved innocent, I still don't want to be known as "the guy who pee'd on the sugar!" (example)
Yeah seriously, what's the point if we don't know names. I want to feel safe and avoid these people too. There really is no point in this if there are not names. If you don't want your name printed in the paper smart up buckos.
lol-- 2pennies I forgot about that one.
C'mon people - if this is your resource for 'feeling safe' than maybe you need to re-evaluate. A simple search of public records on the Alaska Court site name search (which you can also do on-line) will pull up far more than this 'valuable safety tool' - and it also lists verdicts/outcomes of trials...not just this alleged information.
If you are too lazy to look it up in the court system then I guess your 'public safety' is not worth the effort - why should the news miner feed you gossip - - read the enquirer. Seems you dont care about the results of these charges...only the gossip factor involved...
I routinely look at the court system records when evaluating a perspective new-hire...but wouldn't dare use the 'police report' as it is, in my opinion, one side of the story and biased. Sadly, as Ms Calhoun states - she uses it as her safety blanket...might be better to bury you head in the sand - for at least it would be more accurate.
I would so be like "I am the guy that peed in the sugar". Had they left the name out I would have been like "yeah that was me".
Actually this isn't anything new. If you check the March 17th PSR, you will see it was written the same way by the same author. I guess we'll just have to check the author every day and decide whether or not we wish to read.
I was "the guy who pee'd in the sugar" in high school...I want a new name..
I say post the names. No one has a problem with say, former Mayor's names being mentioned on the FRONT page when he is accused. Whats the difference?
Define why they waste there time even doing a "Public Safety" report.
By the way it's Mrs. Calhoun.
OK. Its Mr. Reader1.
Mrs. Calhoun - I read it for two reasons 1) to see if anyone I know has been busted for anything (to laugh or console, depending). 2) to see what our law enforcement dollars are doing for us.
So, if they don't post the names, half of my reason for reading it goes out the door! *LOL*
On another note, I'm wondering how reading names allows you to "avoid these people"? Seems like you'd need pictures and addresses to do that...???
Hmm very good point.
Come on newsminer have a backbone!!! A lot of us liked to see the names.
Go google sex offenders near your address for a picture, it will scare you to see so many faces that you see every day. Could you imagine all of your friends (or not so close fiends)having a picture on a website like a wall of shame from when the woke up in the drunk tank similar to what they do to the sex offenders? (any one see Nick Nolte's?)that might deter drinking and driving and really give us something to laugh about
I would like to know the name of the person who thought the driver looked young and followed the poor kid a few blocks to his house. According to the report (which has been thoroughly debated as to its accuracy) the driver, underage or not, did nothing wrong. Is this a case of a "concerned citizen" wasting our resources to start a fluff about nothing? So what? My dad let me drive short distances when I was that age, and as a result I had a fair amount of experience when I hit the road alone. For once I think the police handled this "offense" practically. Apparently there was nothing criminal in the fathers/drivers actions or they would have been arrested and charged. Thank you, "concerned citizen" for diverting our already stressed police force to feed your thirst for drama.
Well spoken Newsreader -
I have enjoyed thoroughly reading your comments. Please keep posting.
And I personally think we could just do away with this section - the NM should hire an investigative journalist instead. Those articles might at least be informative.
Oh - and Mrs Calhoun - - now that you know the name of the gentleman that pee'd in the sugar...will you hide your condiments under the stairs if he lives in the neighborhood? Not sure of the benefit still.
i love reading the police blotter but when the perps arent i.d.'ed that does take all the fun out of it..
As I sit here at Camp Ramadi, Iraq bored out of my mind and waiting to come home, I have found a new reason to read the NM: Your postings. They are truly entertaining and I enjoy "listening" to the discussion. We just don't realize how good a life we have good, clean discussions about something a larger community wouldn't give two shakes about. Thats why we live where we do...
BTW: Post the names, 9 chances out of 10 the individual is guilty and for crying out loud, let the kid drive Dad's truck around the block!!
I for one would like to see the names of those arrested posted on this page. In fact I would like to see a FULL posting of arrests and police and fire calls to this online public safety report. I think that as a public service it should be expanded. I am sorry that the posting of names gets some people upset. A solution to this might be to not get arrested. However, since the start of the new Newsminer web site this forum has been fraught with questionable comments. Comments that would be better kept to private emails between those parties interested or on some other social networking site.
If the Newsminer does not have the resources (money or time) to staff an expanded service, perhaps they could get some journalism students at UAF to do some intern time working on it. Fairbanks is a colorful place and I would bet a full posting of public service calls (within reason) might be a useful tool for the public and policy makers. Not only to inform but to allow some measure other than statistics to base public safety policy on. As for a forum on this part of the Newsminer site, as entertaining as it is, I think it should be cut. Keep the names, expand the listing and cut the forum. There are other outlets for commenting on these issues without risking the service. Thanks.
Wow - what an excellent idea.
I think we should do away with the paper, forums, nightly news shows and everything else and just run a police report. After all - it would help generate those needed statistics.
I really hope our lawmakers actually have access to numbers from the troopers, etc and dont have to base policy on the heaven sent police reports.
I do love the forums though....and I commend the NM for providing the service - it gives the community a centralized place for discussion...and I respect everyone's opinion in it
After all...how can dialog be bad - even if it doesn't agree with your own...
neuliano -
Forgot to mention - thank you for your service to our country and for your sacrifice.
I spent a while in that vicinity and even though it was a good experience overall...It wasn't home.
God Bless
I agree with AKGUY. Innocent until proven guilty, but suspicions live forever. I know personally of two incidents where angry adolecents wrongly accused a parent of sexual misconduct and later recanted. One just because she was grounded for breaking curfew. Domestic violence is another area where it gets grey...sometimes turns out that the person going to jail wasn't the initiator, just defending themselves.
i already have my taser if someone tired using knife point at me
No names because of hurt feelings? Weak. Lets face it, you just gave up one of your main impulse attractions to your demographics that aren't primarily article bound.
Next, get rid of the comics. They are a waste of space. Then the movie listings. Lets get rid of all the ancillary reasons to have a newspaper lying around. Speaking of waste of space, hellllo community calendar.
Sometimes the blotter is the talk of town. Stripping out down is a disservice and ultimately waters down a powerful deterrent.
For example, how many high-profile DUI in this town have been publicized via the blotter?
It's all or nothing. Blotter with names, or might as well expand the calendar.
Powerful Deterrent....I don't think so -
How many names have you seen over and over again in the blotter....
Do you honestly think people about to commit crimes think twice because of the blotter? I think not. People commit crimes because they think they can get away with them.
publish those found guilty all you want....but until that guilt is determined in a court of law - and not by a cop having a bad day - keep the names out
Confession!!
I know there have been a few times I would have liked to stay and had another drink.
I knew I wouldn't kill or maim anyone on the way home (I live much too far to afford a cab--MADD's or whoever's ads about "if you can afford to drink, you can afford a cab" are not true in many cases. Wish MADD would put their money where their mouth is and provide me a night out once! I notice they never offer their passionately felt beliefs as an actual service. Oh no. Wouldn't want to actually spend TIME when they can get public funding for ads).
But I damn sure don't want my name in the paper as a DUI, besides the money it costs because I hardly have any.
So I guess, for perhaps the more reasonable among us, there is some deterrent effect...
Newsreader, I like your comments just fine. I like all of this. It's the best part of the paper.
And Thomas is absolutely right. There are lots of ancillary reasons to have a paper laying (lying?) around.
No drunk driving is good. It kills people its proven, and if that is not enough to make you think twice, lets add that your name will go in the paper for all to see. Unfortunately that threat of being exposed will stop someone before they think that they shouldn't drive because they might hurt someone..
JB, good idea.
The problem with most of you guys is the people in the police blotter are either you are people you know. Why else would you make such a huge stink about it? If it wasnt you, and you dont know the person or know what they look like who really gives a rip if they name names or not? You all just sit on here and hide behind your stupid screen names, come on and grow some balls.
On another note, America as a country does not do enough for drunk driving. I lived in Canada for a summer and on weekends or special events they will set up checkstops. Blocking the whole road and have like 20 cops on hand, stopping every car and making them blow.
I know for a first offense the fine is about $800 and you get your license revoked for 3 months. On either 2nd or 3rd you get your car immpounded for a year.
one more thing, my cousin was killed by a drunk driver in washington while walking on a street with her friends.
Mrs. Calhoun -- Wow! It is so nice to see such caring, thoughtful statements about your fellow citizens... *dripping irony*
You might as well state - who gives a rip if they were innocent and wrongly accused, let's nail 'em up anyhow!!!
Something tells me that you and JB were either jocks or bullies in school - those are the type of people who seem to get off on publicly humiliating others.
[Sorry to hear about your cousin...]
You are half right newsreader- i was a wrestler. I was also on the debate team ( 'master debater' was the name from all the narrow minded people who need to stereotype) and I recieved a dwi in 96. Personally, I would laugh at my own photo being on there at this point in life, back then I would have been pissed, that is part of life. What ever it takes to learn from the mistakes you make, you need to do it. If the threat of losing your license doesnt do it and the costs from your insurance dont do it and the possibility that you might kill someone dont do it; THEN MAYBE putting there picture out there so people can see who they are might! And if it saved 1 (one) singular life than it would be worth it, hopefully that one life would not have to be your son or daughter because these things alway happen to the guy up the road, right?
Just for the record, the guy up the road was the first friend I made in alaska and he died from a drunk driver, so take it for what it is, an option that just might help.
This is now a conversation - not about the Police Report - but about drunk driving....it is a good demonstration of how emotions take over.
Maybe we should hit religion, politics or global warming next....
And...I don't live in Canada for just those reasons. I live in America and should not have to justify freedoms that were one time self-evident.
Where do the regulations and the impositions into freedom end. Take a stand now - even on an issue as 'meaningless' as the Police Report - or someday it may be too late.
DNM, keep the names! I have only had one, and it will be my only one, DUI in 1990, but I would not have minded having my name in the paper. While it is not a good thing, it is not the end of the world. Heck, how many people reading the newsminer have NOT had a DUI?? I would venture not many. As for the regular crimes, put their names in here. It is comical most times.
Funny to make such asumptions about someone over an internet discussion form. I actually was neither, I am extremely laid back. Yeah, who in their right mind WOULD want to live in Canada, you're right. I'm just saying they don't do enough about drunk drivers.
CC -
I do agree with you on that point 100%
A friend of mine got a DUI - got like 3 days in the half-way house where he got to hang out and play video games.
Funny that he turned around and did it again. Maybe he missed the arcade. He did mention the food was good.
DUI = chain gang...now I am ALL for that.
in Florida if a spring breaker gets drunk and rowdy they have to work for the city picking up trash for a week in loud colored road guard vests - another great idea.
If the penalty is 30 days - give'em the whole meal deal...that I can agree with you on :)
I'm, with ak_guy!!
I like it MUCH better when this column prints the names of those involved. I like keeping up with what my friends are doing.
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