United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: Ohio Cops Think This Guy Should Go to Jail for Making Fun of Them
Source:
Reason
URL Source: http://reason.com/blog/2016/03/28/o ... think-this-guy-should-go-to-ja
Published: Mar 28, 2016
Author: Jacob Sullum
Post Date: 2016-03-29 11:04:03 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 596
Comments: 4
Anthony Novak's parody of the Parma Police Department's Facebook page included what the Cleveland Plain Dealer describes as "obviously fake news posts," but this is not one of them: The Parma Police Department wants to charge the 27-year-old with a felony for creating the page. The felony, disrupting public services, is punishable by up to 18 months in prison—a pretty steep penalty for irking local police officials. "We believe the material that Novak posted on the fake account crossed the line from satire to an actual risk to public safety," Lt. Kevin Riley told The Plain Dealer. "We presented the facts of this case and the investigation to our law department, and they agreed that Novak's actions were criminal in nature." It is hard to see how. Novak's page is no longer online, but there is nothing in The Plain Dealer's description of of it that sounds like a crime. Here is one of the items: The Parma Civil Service Commission will conduct a written exam for basic Police Officer for the City of Parma to establish an eligibility list. The exam will be held on March 12, 2016. Applications are available February 14, 2016, through March 2, 2016. Parma is an equal opportunity employer but is strongly encouraging minorities to not apply. The test will consist of a 15 question multiple choice definition test followed by a hearing test. Should you pass you will be accepted as an officer of the Parma Police Department. That's a riff on this actual notice from the Parma Police Department. In case such jokes were too subtle for some readers, there were other clues that the fake page was not legit. It was categorized under "community," as opposed to "police station, government organization," as the real page is. Under "About," it said, "We no crime." And then there are the "obviously fake news posts" that The Plain Dealer mentions but does not, alas, quote. Lt. Riley complains that some of the material was "derogatory" and "inflammatory." Still not a crime. As far as "disrupting public services" goes, it's not as if Novak was intercepting emergency calls or otherwise interfering with police duties. A grand jury will decide whether a criminal charge is justified. The Plain Dealer reports that Novak's lawyer "said that the case might have the potential to raise some First Amendment issues." It just might. 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Deckard (#0)
The parody page was created on March 2 and looked identical to the official Parma Police profile. The only difference was in the fake link’s URL, which had a “The” before “City Of Parma Police Department.” "The satire page had posts suggesting it would be illegal to help the homeless, offering free abortions to teens and advertising a “Pedophile Reform event” that offered sex offenders an opportunity as an “honorary police officer of the Parma Police Department.”
Since when is it a felony to post satire? I figured you'd be the first one to post in favor of criminalizing free speech. No surprise there. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much That's some funny stuff!
He wasn't charged with "posting satire". He was charged with "disrupting public services". What made you think he was charged with posting satire? Or are you just making shit up again?
#2. To: misterwhite (#1)
The satire page...
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#3. To: misterwhite (#1)
#4. To: Deckard (#2)
"Since when is it a felony to post satire?"
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]