Tonya
10-25-2003, 10:49 PM
Citizen's Arrest Rules Tested By Former Lodi Police Chief
LODI, Calif., 6:05 p.m. PDT October 24, 2003 - The rules for making a citizen's arrest are being put to the test in the Central Valley because of something that recently happened on the streets of Lodi.
The question is, did a former police chief go too far when he pulled over a teenager for speeding?
Larry Hansen said he was driving on Elm Street in Lodi past an elementary school when he first noticed a teenager in a blue pickup pull up behind him.
"I watched him in my rearview mirror, and I hear him breaking traction. (Reporter: Squealing?) Squealing tires," Hansen said.
Hansen said the teenager pulled into the middle turning lane, passed him and four other cars, and continued on at double the legal speed limit.
"I've seen many things before. I've not got involved in it. But I had some real concerns about this one. I just felt like I had a duty here," Hansen said.
Hansen used his cell phone to call police, then he followed the teenager's pickup for more than a mile. When the teen stopped, Hansen pulled him out of the pickup and announced he was placing him under citizen's arrest.
A neighbor said he watched as Hansen physically restrained the teen until police arrived. And Hansen knows how to arrest because that's what he used to do for a living. He was Lodi's police chief until three years ago. Now he's retired.
But Brannan Frey -- who was riding in the pickup with the teenager and who was also arrested -- said they had no idea who Hansen was and why he was chasing them through the streets.
"We didn't really know who he was. So we were scared. I didn't know who he was. So I wanted to get out of there for our safety," Frey said.
The teenager who Hansen arrested now faces reckless-driving charges. But his mother said Hansen had no right to do what he did and that his chase could have caused an accident. She also said her son was bruised during the arrest, so she wants Hansen criminally charged.
"We're going to gather all the statements of the people involved and simply present the case to the district attorney," said Lodi police Capt. Davis Main.
Hansen said he has no regrets about what he did, and he feels he had every right to make a citizen's arrest in this case. But he said he would not recommend other people in his position do the same.
Just wondering what you all think about this story...
LODI, Calif., 6:05 p.m. PDT October 24, 2003 - The rules for making a citizen's arrest are being put to the test in the Central Valley because of something that recently happened on the streets of Lodi.
The question is, did a former police chief go too far when he pulled over a teenager for speeding?
Larry Hansen said he was driving on Elm Street in Lodi past an elementary school when he first noticed a teenager in a blue pickup pull up behind him.
"I watched him in my rearview mirror, and I hear him breaking traction. (Reporter: Squealing?) Squealing tires," Hansen said.
Hansen said the teenager pulled into the middle turning lane, passed him and four other cars, and continued on at double the legal speed limit.
"I've seen many things before. I've not got involved in it. But I had some real concerns about this one. I just felt like I had a duty here," Hansen said.
Hansen used his cell phone to call police, then he followed the teenager's pickup for more than a mile. When the teen stopped, Hansen pulled him out of the pickup and announced he was placing him under citizen's arrest.
A neighbor said he watched as Hansen physically restrained the teen until police arrived. And Hansen knows how to arrest because that's what he used to do for a living. He was Lodi's police chief until three years ago. Now he's retired.
But Brannan Frey -- who was riding in the pickup with the teenager and who was also arrested -- said they had no idea who Hansen was and why he was chasing them through the streets.
"We didn't really know who he was. So we were scared. I didn't know who he was. So I wanted to get out of there for our safety," Frey said.
The teenager who Hansen arrested now faces reckless-driving charges. But his mother said Hansen had no right to do what he did and that his chase could have caused an accident. She also said her son was bruised during the arrest, so she wants Hansen criminally charged.
"We're going to gather all the statements of the people involved and simply present the case to the district attorney," said Lodi police Capt. Davis Main.
Hansen said he has no regrets about what he did, and he feels he had every right to make a citizen's arrest in this case. But he said he would not recommend other people in his position do the same.
Just wondering what you all think about this story...