United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: *Updated: Cops, Media Applaud Local Busybody for Bravely Harassing Dad Who Briefly Left Kid Alone
Source:
Reason
URL Source: http://reason.com/blog/2015/06/03/c ... -applaud-local-busybody-for-br
Published: Jun 3, 2015
Author: Lenore Skenazy
Post Date: 2015-06-03 21:29:22 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 1726
Comments: 16
Mark Herrmann didn’t choose to be a hero. No, no, he was just minding his own business when he noticed that a child’s life was in mortal danger. He acted decisively—ensuring the child’s safety, and guaranteeing a police investigation into the negligent parent’s actions. Thanks to the video of the encounter he filmed and posted to Facebook, the whole world shall know of his bravery. The child he saved was out of his father's sight for...uh...well, never. But still! The father did leave the child in his truck, in a carseat, with the windows down and engine running, while he got out to drop something off in front of a store. He was gone for two, possibly three minutes, walking to and from the truck. Gracious, how could any child survive that kind of depraved neglect? Let's hear it for the Kentucky police who have decided to open an investigation into this clear case of abandonment. As we have been told by public service announcements like this, even a moment unattended in a car is too long! No child is safe for a single, super-scary second. Neither are parents. For in that micro-moment, hero Herrmann noticed the truck, whipped out his phone and videotaped the child, who was playing with an electronic device and indicated he was fine when Herrmann asked him about his welfare. When the dad came back, Herrmann let him have it, pointing out that, "You know if I was a bad guy, I coulda probably drove off with this guy." The dad pointed out, "I was right there at the door.... He wasn't out of my eyesight." But still. "Worst-first" thinkers don't care about what is likely to happen. All that matters is what a bystander, cop, court, or CPS official imagines could happen. And since Herrmann imagined himself driving off with the kid, dad basically left his son to be kidnapped by a stranger. And while that happens to be pretty much the rarest crime of all, it is a popular one in the minds of folks like Herrmann, and the folks who applauded him on his Facebook page. As one wrote: "You told that meth-head! Nicely done!" For its part, the reporter for WCPO News immediately confused the issue by piling on statistics about how quickly a child in a car can die of hyperthermia. Except not in a car with the windows open. And not in two minutes. The reporter added that, "606 children have died between 1998 - 2013 due to heat related circumstances," including 18 who were left in the car intentionally. Which means that roughly one child a year dies when left intentionally in a car. Out of 20 million children under the age of 5 in America. So yes, it makes sense to take precautions like, say, keeping the windows rolled down. Ahem. But the chances are 1 in 7,300,000,000 (20 million kids x 365 days) that hero Herrmann was witnessing anything dangerous at all. But still. Billion-to-one odds be damned. Circumstances be damned. Reality be damned. Time for the state to investigate this dangerous dad and salute a true hero. *Update:Police have arrested the dad, Nathaniel Galloway. He is charged with "endangering the welfare of a child." Unbelievable. 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 14.
#8. To: Deckard (#0)
You don't not condone this....right? A person should not even leaves the keyes in the car You do understand this....right?
You don't not condone this....right? Back in the day, when I was raising my kids - yes. Nowdays some busybody would turn you in to the cops and you'd lose your kid. I'd be more concerned about that happening than my child being abducted.
Child found after Amber Alert issued in South Salt Lake, suspect in custody. A 3-year-old child was abducted when the car she was inside was stolen in South Salt Lake Wednesday, and after an Amber Alert was issued police reported the girl had been found and is safe; later Wednesday night, police said the suspect had been captured. Gary Keller, South Salt Lake Police Department, confirmed around 5:30 p.m. that Bella Martinez had been found and is safe. He said the vehicle has been located. The child and car were found at Mini’s Cupcakes at 14 East 800 South. Richard Chipping, Salt Lake City Police Department, said his department captured the suspect and will turn her over to South Salt Lake police. Chipping confirmed the suspect was in custody around 7 p.m. According to a press release from South Salt Lake police, the vehicle with the child inside was stolen outside of a 7-Eleven at 287 West 3300 South. Police said the suspect is a frequent customer at the 7-Eleven. The man driving the car with the child inside pulled up to the store, and at that time the suspect rode up on a bicycle and asked that man for a cigarette, which he gave her. He went inside the store, and when he returned the car and child were gone. “Suspect walks up to him, asks for a smoke, he’s cordial to her, hands her a cigarette, walks into the store,” Keller said. “Unfortunately he left his vehicle running. The suspect was seen leaving in the car, eastbound from this location… This probably took a matter of seconds for this vehicle and child to go missing.” Read the remainder of the story here.
Thank God the PD found the child, unharmed. I would hope the guy never makes that mistake again!
#15. To: Stoner (#14)
I have found some more stories, I may have time to post them. The important thing is that none of the kids were physically hurt in all the stories....frightened, I'm sure.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest...Briefly Left Kid Alone...
when they are outside pumping gas into the vehicle.
#9. To: Gatlin (#8)
(Edited)
...Briefly Left Kid Alone...
#13. To: Deckard (#9)
I'd be more concerned about that happening than my child being abducted.
#14. To: Gatlin (#13)
" “Suspect walks up to him, asks for a smoke, he’s cordial to her, hands her a cigarette, walks into the store,” Keller said. “Unfortunately he left his vehicle running. The suspect was seen leaving in the car, eastbound from this location… This probably took a matter of seconds for this vehicle and child to go missing.” "
Replies to Comment # 14.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 14.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]