Ohio Police Chief Defends Driver Who Didn't Intervene in Roadside Rape

**Pudge** · 01-23-10, 06:59 PM

TOLEDO, Ohio — An Ohio police chief is defending a driver who called 911 but didn't do more to stop a woman from being raped along a street in broad daylight.

Ohio Police Chief Defends Driver Who Didn't Intervene in Roadside Rape - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

**pgg** · 01-23-10, 07:47 PM

Isn't that all that politicians and admin want people to do anymore? Call 911 and stand and wring your hands? Its rare now a days for someone to take a stand. The wussification of America.

**lewisipso** · 01-23-10, 08:41 PM

To bad she wasn't armed.

**Second Chance** · 01-23-10, 09:00 PM

How can people just stand there and do nothing..........sad

**Jks9199** · 01-23-10, 09:35 PM

I've got mixed feelings.

At least the driver called it in. I'll give her credit for that. (And the others mentioned in the article, too. 'Cause too damn many figure that someone else will call it in and do nothing.)

The article describes the driver as female; whether because of gender, health, physical capability -- she may not have been able to effectively intervene physically.

At the same time --- I don't see how I could have stood by and simply called it in. Of course, that might be why I'm a cop...

**Xiphos** · 01-24-10, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by Jks9199

I've got mixed feelings.

At least the driver called it in. I'll give her credit for that. (And the others mentioned in the article, too. 'Cause too damn many figure that someone else will call it in and do nothing.)

The article describes the driver as female; whether because of gender, health, physical capability -- she may not have been able to effectively intervene physically.

At the same time --- I don't see how I could have stood by and simply called it in. Of course, that might be why I'm a cop...

My thoughts exactly.

**HudsonHawk** · 01-24-10, 09:28 AM

The perp might have been a big 15 year old, but I imagine with a tire iron the female driver could have solved the problem prior to police arrival.

**Jenna** · 01-24-10, 10:02 AM

If I were the witness, I would have called 911, honked at the rapist, told him I had called 911, and tried to verbally persuade him to stop raping the victim, but I wouldn't have gotten out of the car and tried to physically stop him either, since he could rape and/or kill me as well (especially if he has a gun, and one has to assume that anyone might have a gun). If he started shooting at me I would have driven away as quickly as possible and called 911 only after getting too far away for him to shoot me. If I were carrying a gun and felt confident about using LEO style tactics to get him to stop and shoot him if he did not stop, I might have done that, but it's not clear whether the witness in this case was even armed. If I couldn't talk him out of continuing with the rape and weren't carrying a gun, I wouldn't have done anything more than what this witness did. I think the witness did the right thing by calling 911 and shouldn't be blamed for not doing more unless it was clear that she had the ability to do more. At least she didn't just ignore it and drive away without calling 911 as many others might have.

**Five-0** · 01-24-10, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Second Chance

How can people just stand there and do nothing..........sad

I would tell you, but I'm just going to call someone else on the board and get them to do it for me.

**Radar** · 01-24-10, 05:12 PM

Hi, Five-0 called and asked me to come say something in this thread but he forgot to tell me what to say.

I will say this, I wish the public today would do more, but I can understand people not feeling comfortable and safe enough to do more than call police.

In a perfect world all law abiding citizens would carry concealed, everyone would know and understand firearm safety and marksmenship, criminals would be afraid of everyone and anyone who saw them, and people would walk up or pull up next to a cop everytime they see one and say thank you for keeping us safe.

But none of us live in a perfect world and I can't remember when the last time somebody thanked me, but I've already heard "go to hell pig" twice this week.

**Jenna** · 01-24-10, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Radar

Hi, Five-0 called and asked me to come say something in this thread but he forgot to tell me what to say.

I will say this, I wish the public today would do more, but I can understand people not feeling comfortable and safe enough to do more than call police.

In a perfect world all law abiding citizens would carry concealed, everyone would know and understand firearm safety and marksmenship, criminals would be afraid of everyone and anyone who saw them, and people would walk up or pull up next to a cop everytime they see one and say thank you for keeping us safe.

But none of us live in a perfect world and I can't remember when the last time somebody thanked me, but I've already heard "go to hell pig" twice this week.

In my perfect world, no one would need guns because no one would commit crimes. Everyone would just be nice to each other, LEOs would be needed mainly to rescue people in accidents and natural disasters, and everyone would be thanking LEOs all the time for that, as well as helping with rescue efforts whenever possible.

The fact that we don't live in a perfect world is all the more reason to thank LEOs for keeping us safe from those who make the world far from perfect.

**TXCharlie** · 01-24-10, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by lewisipso

To bad she wasn't armed.

A car makes a pretty good weapon - I have a feeling the rapist would have tried to run away first upon seeing a car speeding toward him honking the horn, allowing for a much better sight picture...

But I've never been in a situation to put that to the test, so it's only armchair quarterbacking..

**Ace** · 01-24-10, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

A car makes a pretty good weapon - I have a feeling the rapist would have tried to run away first upon seeing a car speeding toward him honking the horn, allowing for a much better sight picture...

But I've never been in a situation to put that to the test, so it's only armchair quarterbacking..

Plus there's the whole running over the victim part as well...

**Ducky** · 01-24-10, 08:09 PM

For all we know, the caller was 80 years old and infirm.

That said, an able bodied person can wield a baseball bat with surprising effect.

**lewisipso** · 01-24-10, 08:31 PM

I have known a few people that wish they had crossed the line when they had the chance. The opportunity to do so is often times fleeting and not for the faint of heart. Hesitation in doing so can not only produce the intended victim but possibly two. It is a coin toss as to whether you should or shouldn't. That being said all but one of the persons I knew had a great dose of guilt for not doing so. Decisions are sometimes a hard thing to live with. Consequences abound.

**CTR man** · 01-24-10, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by Radar

Hi, Five-0 called and asked me to come say something in this thread but he forgot to tell me what to say.

I will say this, I wish the public today would do more, but I can understand people not feeling comfortable and safe enough to do more than call police.

In a perfect world all law abiding citizens would carry concealed, everyone would know and understand firearm safety and marksmenship, criminals would be afraid of everyone and anyone who saw them, and people would walk up or pull up next to a cop everytime they see one and say thank you for keeping us safe.

But none of us live in a perfect world and I can't remember when the last time somebody thanked me, but I've already heard "go to hell pig" twice this week.

Originally Posted by Jenna

In my perfect world, no one would need guns because no one would commit crimes. Everyone would just be nice to each other, LEOs would be needed mainly to rescue people in accidents and natural disasters, and everyone would be thanking LEOs all the time for that, as well as helping with rescue efforts whenever possible.

The fact that we don't live in a perfect world is all the more reason to thank LEOs for keeping us safe from those who make the world far from perfect.

I would like to think that I would step up to the plate if called upon and if the opportunity presented itself. I know I'm in the minority. California residency be damned.

I'm going to side with Jenna here. In a perfect world, there would be no criminals because they would already be in hell for their deeds. But alas we are not in heaven yet. So there is a greater need for those who do what you do. I, for one, really appreciate that. Thank You from THIS civilian for doing what you do from the depths of my heart and fiber of my being.

**tapout** · 01-25-10, 12:06 AM

turn the tables for a second...you are driving along in your personal car, and you see a two suspect, single victim armed (handgun) street robbery happen on the corner. you also see one of the suspects hit the victim with his gun, knock him down, and start pounding on him while the other covers him with his firearm. youre not armed (i know i know some of you guys are always armed, but i usually dont carry, so lets say im not armed). no chance im getting out of my car to intervene. ill call 911 and be a damn good witness. if i can safely follow the suspects as they flee to see where they go, i may do that too. but im not getting killed. and if my wife or kids were in the vehicle, the absolute only thing i would do is call 911, give a description, and get my family the fuck out of there.

its all about perception. if the witness was scared to take action and feared her life would be in danger if she did, i dont blame her. there are situations where i would not dare intervene, and there are situations where i would definitely intervene. an incident where an actual rape is occurring on the side of the road right in front of me is one of those situations that i probably would intervene regardless of any other circumstances. but i wouldnt expect a 110 lb female whos never been in a fight in her life to risk her life by trying to physically stop someone from attacking a stranger.

all im required to do when off duty is take some form of action...depending on the circumstances, that action could be as a simple as call 911.

**pgg** · 01-25-10, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by Ace

Plus there's the whole running over the victim part as well...

First thing I though of after reading his post lol

**dadyswat** · 01-25-10, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

A car makes a pretty good weapon - I have a feeling the rapist would have tried to run away first upon seeing a car speeding toward him honking the horn, allowing for a much better sight picture...

But I've never been in a situation to put that to the test, so it's only armchair quarterbacking..

You're not susposed to run over the victim.

**Jks9199** · 01-26-10, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by tapout

turn the tables for a second...you are driving along in your personal car, and you see a two suspect, single victim armed (handgun) street robbery happen on the corner. you also see one of the suspects hit the victim with his gun, knock him down, and start pounding on him while the other covers him with his firearm. youre not armed (i know i know some of you guys are always armed, but i usually dont carry, so lets say im not armed). no chance im getting out of my car to intervene. ill call 911 and be a damn good witness. if i can safely follow the suspects as they flee to see where they go, i may do that too. but im not getting killed. and if my wife or kids were in the vehicle, the absolute only thing i would do is call 911, give a description, and get my family the fuck out of there.

its all about perception. if the witness was scared to take action and feared her life would be in danger if she did, i dont blame her. there are situations where i would not dare intervene, and there are situations where i would definitely intervene. an incident where an actual rape is occurring on the side of the road right in front of me is one of those situations that i probably would intervene regardless of any other circumstances. but i wouldnt expect a 110 lb female whos never been in a fight in her life to risk her life by trying to physically stop someone from attacking a stranger.

all im required to do when off duty is take some form of action...depending on the circumstances, that action could be as a simple as call 911.

Tapout's got an important point here. Off duty, we don't have all the gear that we do while working. I typically have one form of restraint, one spare mag, and a gun. No baton, no OC, no Taser... and especially no vest. When I'm off duty, if I'm out somewhere there's at least a 50/50 chance that I've got my wife and/or kid in the car with me. All of that has to figure in on the decision about what action to take. Just like it's sometimes the right thing to get the hell out and wait for backup while on duty -- it's even more so when you're off the clock. Sometimes, the best choice is to be a good witness...

In this particular case, we don't know much about this 911 caller -- but we do know they called. There are lots of reasons (covered by various folks) why they may not have intervened directly. I respect and applaud that they at least called it in.