Swain Co. cops waited two days after crash to respond to scene where Key Largo man was mortally...

[FrodosPet]

Naked, blatant coverup! The USDOJ needs to go through this department with a fine tooth comb.

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Swain Co. cops waited two days after crash to respond to scene where Key Largo man was mortally wounded

http://www.keysnet.com/2014/08/29/498485/swain-co-cops-waited-two-days.html?sp=%2F99%2F100%2F&ihp=1

Medical Examiner report: He died from abdomen wounds inflicted by cable
BY DAVID GOODHUE
[e-mail]
August 29, 2014

Swain County, N.C., emergency medical service responders might not have notified police that a low-lying metal cable someone placed almost hidden across a dirt path gravely injured Shane Hamilton while he was riding his ATV in the western North Carolina woods on July 3, documents shows.

Nor does it appear that Swain County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives went to the crash scene until the day after Hamilton died and two days after he was injured.

~ snip ~

Moffatt did not return a phone call left with his answering service asking him to explain some of the statements he wrote in his report. For instance, on the “Law Enforcement Agency” designation slot, he wrote “None!” It’s not clear why he punctuated the word with an exclamation point.

~ snip ~

Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran said several times, including in a face-to-face interview with The Keynoter/Reporter, that the matter is now “civil” and out of the hands of his agency. Cochran did not respond to an e-mail this week asking him if he is still not going to investigate Hamilton’s death following the release of Moffatt’s report.

~ snip ~

[NYC_SKP]

1. It looks like the victim might have been trespassing.

If one has an ATV they should probably limit use of it to public or commercial areas specifically designated for their use.

I'm no fan of tearing up the landscape by boys with their toys.

It's a sad thing for the victim and family and, yes, the authorities should have responded sooner.

One wonders if the property owners placed the cable there to deter or injury ATV riders.

[FrodosPet]

2. One wonders if the property owners placed the cable there to deter or injury ATV riders

That is the point that I would think moves it into criminality.

If that cable was there for a legitimate reason, it should be civil. But there is no self defence argument that I can see for creating an extraordinary and deliberate hazard, even if it is private property.

[NYC_SKP]

3. That's what I wonder and, yes, it's a crime IMO unless there were also warning signs.

And the rider, apparently, was not unfamiliar with the area.... Possible retaliation for some other thing?

It's a curious set of circumstances.

Nevertheless, on July 7 — just four days after Hamilton struck the cable, with only one deputy ever visiting the scene of the crash and without seeing Moffatt’s report — Cochran “determined that the incident is considered an accident therefore no criminal action has occurred.”

Hamilton was in Swain County with his wife and children on vacation with the express intent of riding ATVs, his friend Mark Page said. Page and Hamilton were business partners. He owns Page Excavating in Key Largo.

He said Hamilton specifically rented Clayton’s cabin after thoroughly researching ATV-friendly locations.

Clayton told the Keynoter/Reporter he has owned his cabin for 14 years, and the surrounding trails have been ATV and hiking hotspots for as long as he’s been there. He was on the trail where Hamilton crashed in January and the cable was not there, he said.

[GeorgeGist]

4. Apparently the Sheriffs Dept wasn't notified until 2 days after incident.