Who is to blame? (Way off Topic), Man dies running from Police Options

[seanery]

Lawsuit says authorities watched suspect drown
Man claims officers refused to help his son, who jumped into a lake to escape an arrest.


By Vic Ryckaert
vic.ryckaert@indystar.com
August 19, 2003


The father of a 17-year-old who fled from police and drowned in a Far-Eastside lake claims the officers stood by, watched and allowed his son to die.

Johnny Curry filed a lawsuit Monday in Marion Superior Court, blaming his son's death on police negligence.

"Joseph McHugh struggled and requested help for approximately 10 to 15 minutes and told officers he would drown," Curry's attorney, Mark Alderfer, wrote in the five-page complaint. "Officers and deputies from various agencies stood by and watched Joseph McHugh struggle for his life and negligently, willfully and maliciously refused to render aid."

McHugh was a passenger in a car stopped about 4 a.m. on Aug. 19, 2001, near the Marina Apartments, in the 9500 block of Shoreland Drive. After a preliminary blood-alcohol test placed him at 0.08, McHugh bolted from police, ran past a sign warning "no swimming in the lake," and jumped in. Officers lost sight of him. His body was discovered two days later.

Curry claims the officers could have used a small boat already in the lake to rescue his son. He said the officers were poorly trained and supervised and violated McHugh's civil rights by failing to assist him after he was in their custody. Curry claims that by allowing his son to die, the officers used excessive force. In Indiana, the maximum a jury may award for a wrongful death case is $300,000.

The lawsuit names as defendants the Marion County Sheriff's Department, former Sheriff Jack Cottey, the Indianapolis and Cumberland police departments, the town of Cumberland and every officer who responded to the scene.

Shortly after McHugh's death, his family said he ran because he faced arrest on warrants -- one was for a probation violation, the other was for theft.

Police said divers arrived within minutes but were hampered by murky waters that limited visibility.

Lt. Phil Burton, a spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff's Department, declined comment. Others named in the suit could not be reached for comment.

[SirAndy]

police should have the license to kill ANYONE who runs from them, armed or not.

ok, here's a little story ...

when i was about 17, we used to hang out outside this mall after school in the summer and listen to music and drink beer, no drugs, no violence, no "gang" bullshit, no weapons. (yes, legal age for drinking is 16 in germany and yes, you can drink ANYWHERE) ...
there were a few cops patrolling the mall and we got to know them after a while.
one day, they showed up with a "rookie". they gave him the tour etc.
next day, he shows up alone. so we decided to make some fun of him. circled him with like 5 guys and started talking stuff like "hey, i wonder if that radio will survive if i pee on it" etc etc. the guy freaks out and runs into the nearby bank and calls for backup.
so while we're still sitting there laughing at the cop, the backup pulls in and we RUN ...
we jump the wall to a "girls-only" boarding school thinking we'll be safe there (hehe), but the cops saw us and jump the wall too. guns drawn, they arrest us and escort us back to their cars. made the "rookie" feel good.
then, we get to the police station and all the cops there are rolling on the floor, laughing their asses off. they let us all go and just ask us to give the guy a break.
no one was harmed and we all live to tell the story to our grandchildren.

if it was for you Mr. Vortrex, i would be very dead now, my daughter would never have been born and no grandchildren either ...

Andy