Should I Press Charges....

[rsmith6621]

Driving around Billings today I had a sign in my back window sized 18x40 inches, It allows me to see legally out of the top of the rear window.....Anyhow...the sign was a Anti Burns sign which said the following....

Re-Elect The CON-Rad Burns
Paid for by the Committee for Corrupt Capitalistic Politicians..

Going down Main Street a guy drives by in his Explorer and yell obscenity's at me and showed me his IQ with one hand then he threw an apple at my front windshield, he speed away....he didn't break it I was lucky there. about the time the apple hit I heard a siren and thought I guess Im going to get nailed instead the Police car pulled up along side of me and and I was instructed to pull over a wait and the PCar went up the road....about two minutes later another PCar pulled in beside me and escorted me up the road, I was asked if this person had thrown something at my car I said yes an apple and a few profain remarks. The Policeman took a few minutes to run our records and then told the other guy he could go but the matter was no where near over and to expect some sort of ticket or further interview....he left.

I have been told that even thought the police believe my sign is inflammatory it doesnt justify the guy going off on me...I have been given 48 hours to decide if I want to press assault charges.....

What do the people of DU do under these circumstances....Let it Go...or Press Charges..

[gfnrob]

1. Pres press press press

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[babylonsister]

2. Press charges. Maybe he'll learn something if he has to pay for

his juvenile behavior.

[Nimrod2005]

3. If it doesn't cost you money, press charges of course.

[bryant69]

4. Hard to say

On the one hand, fuck that guy - let him suffer - on the other hand, you'll probably end up suffering a bit too - having to come into contact with him and participating in the legal process.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Disturbed]

26. The police did not cite this guy?

Isn't there some sort of law about throwing something a moving vehicle? I would press charges.

[bryant69]

38. It's possible that if the cops didn't see the applethrowing

they need the guy to press charges? Something like that?

Bryant

[dflprincess]

5. Press charges,

If he gets away with it this time, he might think he can do it again. Maybe next time he'll use something big enough to break the windshield or startle the driver so badly it causes an accident - or maybe he'll use a gun.

[SeattleGirl]

6. I would definitely press charges. People like that need to know

that there are consequences for actions like that. BTW, glad your windshield didn't break and you didn't get hurt.

[photogirl12]

7. Absolutely

press charges!!

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Do unto others

If you do the crime, you pay the consequences.

[Midlodemocrat]

9. That sign is inflammatory?

Crap. I better go scrape my bumper stickers off.

Press charges. One less moran on the road.

[Octafish]

79. Nothing wrong with sign. It wasn't 'Hate' speech. It was Political.

Give the NAZI the what's for because he could've hurt you or someone else.

And please give anybody that tries to shut you up the what's for.

[PurpleChez]

10. PRESS CHARGES

PRESS CHARGES
PRESS CHARGES
PRESS CHARGES
PRESS CHARGES

These thugs and cretins need to learn that it is not alright, it is not standard practice to threaten and physically attack others who simply have different effing opinions. These petty idiots need to be shown that their sociopathic behavior is not a part of normal political discourse.

PRESS CHARGES
PRESS CHARGES
PRESS CHARGES
PRESS CHARGES

[Duer 157099]

11. You MUST

because if you don't, it will reinforce two of his strongly held beliefs:

1) he needn't be accountable for his actions
2) dems are weak

PLEASE, for the sake of your country, press!

[havocmom]

33. and his third belief: He can assult those who disagree with him

THAT needs to be nipped in the bud!

Time for people of the freep persuasion to understand we are a nation of LAWS and those laws apply to everyone.

The wingers see their leaders get away with lawlessness, so they figure they can to.

Time to draw a halt to the mob mentality and start holding individuals accountable for their crimes.

Press charges. The idiot attacker may have jotted down your license # and you want the authorities on notice that he is aggressive and may be a threat.

Go on record.

[me b zola]

73. That is exactly why I would press charges if it were me

The gop machine really has given the impression that it is okay to assault Democrats or anyone who doesn't agree with them. Just this past week we saw an example of the thugs working for Allen physically assault someone because he was saying something that they didn't want to hear.

Excellent post :thumbsup:

[HereSince1628]

12. My advice is talk to any family out there with you.

I don't have to live in Billings with you. If they're there, they do.

[a kennedy]

13. I spose taking the high road and turning the other cheek......

nah, press them charges. :evilgrin:

[Libby2]

14. Yes!!! n/t

[nini]

15. If the officer felt it was bad enough to go after him.. you should

They need cooperation from citizens to stop this stuff.

[WinkyDink]

16. I'd at least let the police know that SIGNS are FREEDOM

of EXPRESSION, and not "INFLAMMATORY": i.e., they actually think the guy was within his rights, as he was "inflamed" by YOU, but there's the pesky Constitution.

[Union Thug]

17. PRESS CHARGES... Do not let this bastard get away with his bullying!

[Aviation Pro]

18. Press and....

...let this oxygen thief feel very uncomfortable in tight quarters with men who have ulterior motives beyond their apparent friendliness.

[stop the bleeding]

19. kick his ass - just kidding :)

press charges

[hatrack]

20. Press charges

It's why we pay cops and judges.

[Richard Steele]

21. No question in my mind:

PRESS!

[Hepburn]

22. Press charges.

This time the hothead only threw an apple at you. You were lucky ~~ you were not injured by the apple and you did not lose control of your vehicle and have an accident and injure yourself or someone else. The next person with whom this asshole has a political disagreement might not be so lucky. It's not just what happened to you specifically ~~ it's about getting him into anger management classes and on probation.

Just my opinion......

[Red Right and BLUE]

23. Press charges.

Never take this crap lying down, especially from a freep. Kudos to those officers.

[Vorta]

24. I wouldn't think so.

If it was just a moment of stupidity, then it won't happen again and no one was truly hurt. If it's a symptom of a bigger problem, and your pressing charges sees him in anger management, then he won't have gotten in much trouble. If it's a symptom of a bigger problem and you don't press charges, then maybe next time he'll do it to an off-duty cop or a cop's wife and then that ahole will go to jail.

I

[populistdriven]

25. Press Charges! 4 the DU'ers who have had their cars vandalized but there were no witnesses

this is a gift - there are hundreds of DU'ers who have had their cars vandalized but there were no witnesses - please press charges

[TahitiNut]

27. Press Charges! Absolutely. If you don't, who'll be his next target?

People like that MUST be taken off the roads. They're worse than drunk drivers.

[Ohio Joe]

28. Yes, press charges

That is exactly what should be done.

[AllegroRondo]

29. Dont back down from a bully.

if you do, you only encourage them.

[AndyA]

30. Absolutely press charges!

Just because nothing bad happened, doesn't mean something bad COULDN'T have happened. He could have broken your windshield, startled you and caused an accident, obscured your view causing an accident.

You just don't do shit like that when you're driving a vehicle. He put your life in danger. All because he can't face the truth and accept reality.

So, give him a dose of reality. He needs a wake up call before he hurts someone.

PRESS CHARGES, if you don't it will just encourage his bad behavior in the future, and next time it might not turn out as it did today.

[CPschem]

31. press charges

teach him a lesson

[SmokingJacket]

32. Of course. Throwing stuff on the highway is freaking dangerous.

He could have caused an accident.

Hey, pro-Bush stickers on cars piss me off to no end, but I don't throw stuff.

[mmonk]

34. Bad time to ask me. I encountered road rage today.

I was going to say to request an hand written apology with something like, writing "I will not throw apples at cars" 100 times or something. But since I had someone swerve in front of me from the passing lane waving the middle finger at me, I say press charges.

[LSK]

35. Press

[Hubert Flottz]

36. I would have done it on the spot.

[Duer 157099]

37. Why didn't he get a ticket for littering?

Isn't that illegal?

[laundry_queen]

39. Shouldn't even be a question.

YES press charges. For all the reasons everyone here has already stated.

[Warpy]

40. Do it.

Even if you drop them later, you've got to teach this ball of rage and stupidity a lesson in manners.

There's nothing like pressing assault charges to do just that.

The law's on your side. Use it.

[williesgirl]

41. Definitely press charges, teach him a lesson

[reichstag911]

42. Press. {nt}

[warrens]

43. Press charges

NO excuse. And he'd press charges against you, for sure.

[TheCowsCameHome]

44. Press. But be sure

and find out where he lives for later, um, well, you know............

[mhatrw]

45. PC. n/t

[rsmith6621]

46. An UPDATE.....

Seems as though I wont have to press charges but may get called upon to assist. The guy while he was released at the scene upon further check by the PD they found out he had a Warrant out for vandalism in another part of the state and in another state to....guess what he vandalizes????...Democratic Party candidate signs......He will be spending at least a five nights in the POKEY until he is transfered out of state as that charge is more severe. The PD took a statement and told me to go about my BIZ. Iwas able to encourage them to vote their own best interest and vote for the DEMS.


Thanks for your concerns...

[mnhtnbb]

47. that's great! Hope he's in jail on election day, too and can't vote.

[dchill]

55. Good point.

[survivor999]

48. Cool! Get all this drunken asshole and put them in jail!

[Kingofalldems]

52. You caught yourself a freeper!

Congratulations--you might want to call the local paper. This could help dems.

[never_get_over_it]

56. He vandalizes Dem Party signs

Jesus these people are SUCH FREAKS!!!

Hey rePUNKS GET A LIFE....

[Roland99]

66. AH HA HA HA HA!! Proof that Karma is a bitch!!

:toast:

[badgerpup]

74. I called the police dep't about this...I'm in Billings too.

Told them I'd seen the incident on 'a website' and commended them for not letting their personal views get in the way of doing their jobs in a professional manner...
on not letting the apple thrower slide just because they disagreed with rsmith6621's politics. :thumbsup:

edit...did not use any names or identifiers

[gardenista]

75. Hmmmm.... five days.....

Do they have polling machines in the POKEY?

I still think you should press charges anyway!

[Major Hogwash]

83. Wow, strange story.

For someone from Montana anyway.

Where was that guy from? Wyoming? Idaho? Utah?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

49. Hell yes you should press charges. Why should this guy feel he's

entitled to throw things at you (which could have hurt you directly or caused you to get into an accident) with no consequences?

[Kerrytravelers]

50. Press Charges.

I'd also contact my local Dem club and possibly the state Dem party regarding intimidation and the fact that your sign was said to be inflammatory. That, to me, is a pretty clear message that you're considered a fringe fool, even though you're not.

[kevinbgoode]

51. Yes. These nimrods have gotten away with bullying people

far too long. Those profanities and throwing that apple was an attempt at intimidation. If that doofus wants to live in a one party dictatorship, he can move his ass to one of those tinhat dictatorships Republicans love to prop up. . .

Conrad Burns HAS to GO. Every stinking politician who deliberately campaigned on a platform of fear-and-smear needs to be pulled out of public office.

[casus belli]

53. Yes. Do it. If you don't he'll just continue thinking he can get away with it. n/t

[dchill]

54. Press charges...

if you have the time to deal with it. It's truly a shame that the truth is what's regarded as inflammatory these days. It's NOT inflammatory, it's funny - and TRUE.

[Lusted4]

57. Tell them to offer a plea bargain if he publicly apologizes in your local

news paper and you have to see it before tuesday.

[AnneD]

58. Press charges

it is road rage pure and simple. You are entitled to free speech. GOP have pressed and won less. I would press-he'll think twice once he is held accountable for his actions. He shows a defiant pattern.

[Liberal In Texas]

59. It was assault. Press charges.

If nothing else it will discourage this behavior by other idiots.

[badgerpup]

60. I'd press charges on the grounds...

...that he could have caused a severe accident.
This fool needs a wake-up call.
You would be doing him a favor, really. If he tries this sort of stunt again, he could cause an accident and some real damage or even kill someone.

And kudos to our police dep't for not letting this slide!!!
:applause:

[BlackVelvet04]

61. I don't understand why you would even consider

not pressing charges.

[Warren DeMontague]

62. I vote "press charges". nt

[blogslut]

63. Press charges

You could have had a wreck. You could have been seriously injured or killed.

[Ino]

64. Vandalism is more severe than physically threatening someone?

That's out of whack. Road rage is dangerous to property AND life.

[rsmith6621]

65. The Prosecutor Says Because Of His Out Of State...

once he leaves their jurisdiction he will probably not see Montana or any other state for several years....they wont tell me where he heading back to but he has at least 50 counts of malicious mischievous conduct each being a felony and perhaps at least 5 possible federal charges which I cannot be privy to right now....

Basically there is no need to stack charges.....frankly I'm just happy he not out terrorizing the political system anymore and I say that with a bipartisan spirit.....

[gardenista]

76. His activities bear further investigation. Who is financing his

undemocratic activities?

He's traveling in different states doing this?

Weird.

[readmoreoften]

67. Press Charges. Throwing an apple at a windshield can kill someone. /nt

[joeunderdog]

68. If your car was just parked, he would've keyed you. Definitely.

Press charges against this asshole. It's not the last or the worst thing he's done. Probably had to do it 20 times just to get caught once. There are 19 other drivers wishing there was a cop around when he did it to them.

[Vidar]

69. Yes.

[greendog]

70. Press Charges

He's entitled to vote for Burns. He's entitled to put a sign on his own vehicle. He's entitled to personally express his opinion to you.

He's not entitled to assault you for your political opinions.

Press charges.

[jobycom]

71. Heck yeah. Jack could have killed someone, next time might.

Don't do it for political reasons, but don't avoid it for political reasons, either. The other driver saw red at your sign, and part of all of us can understand that, because we've all seen red at what the other side says.

But this isn't about politics. This is about a man willing to risk your life and the lives of anyone else riding with you or near you by hurling something at your car. What if you had flinched at the wrong time? What if someone would have run in front of you, or the other driver? What if you had swerved to avoid the apple?

This is about assualt, and don't make it about politics in your mind, or you'll go easier on him. He could have killed someone. Laws are created to punish and deter people like that from doing exactly what he did.

ANyway, if it's his first offense, he'll get very little punishment, but he'll have a record in case he does it again. If he's done it before, then he deserves a stiffer sentence.

[mtnsnake]

72. Press charges! How many times does something like this happen and

the guy gets away because there wasn't time to get his license plate...and you wished to hell you could've at least found out who did it? Here you've got the guy's indentity through the police and the golden opportunity to embarrass the hell out of him by pressing charges...and deservedly so. Please do it.

[madmusic]

77. Wow, tough crowd.

[mdmc]

81. we got the GOP on the ropes

lol

[StellaBlue]

78. Press charges and call the ACLU nt

[mdmc]

80. If the cops are willing to go ahead

PLEASE DON'T STOP THEM! Hold this dude accountable and allow the police to protect your community.

[AspenRose]

82. Press charges.

An example and precedent needs to be set. NO MORE BULLYING.

[arewenotdemo]

84. Press Charges!

[Skittles]

85. I would press charges

the next time this guy throws something it could cause a wreck