Innocent Man Mistaken for Offender by E-Vigilant Neighbors

[Leopolds Ghost]

First this, and now This:

Caught in a Neighborhood Web

Innocent Man Mistaken For Registered Offender

By Fredrick Kunkle
Washington Post Staff WriterSaturday, May 13, 2006; Page A01

It all seemed darkly funny at first.

Eric Haskett was merely taking a nap in a car when he roused suspicion in a rural Frederick County neighborhood. A neighbor traced Haskett's license plate to an address once used by a registered sex offender.

Then his girlfriend's parents told him to scram; law enforcement officials, including three FBI agents, began investigating; and Haskett began fearing that the suspicions could cost him his job at a gag shop that sells such kid-friendly items as whoopie cushions.

"It blew me away that a federal agent was sticking a badge in my face. Three agents, dog -- like I'm the ringleader!" said Haskett, 28, of Mount Airy.

After allaying the concerns of several law enforcement officials over the past few weeks, Haskett also asked them what he could do to clear his name.

"They said the best bet is to leave the area," Haskett said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/12/AR2006051202025.html

[No New War]

1. Wow... Let the witch-hunting begin n/t

[napi21]

2. What a damn stupid response!

LEAVE THE AREA?????? That's BS! Of course, I think if I was him, I wouldn't want to stay anyway.

Did those cops never hear of a Front Page Apology? Put it in the local news on the damn radio?

Geesh!

[DBoon]

3. You no longer have to commit a crime to be guilty

you only need to be similar to someone who might commit a crime

[MadMaddie]

4. This is * America.....

Why should he leave the area...he did not violate a crime....