Playing the roll of one of the good guys, a young man made a frightful mistake this weekend.
After a neighbour reported his vehicle broken into, the young man made a frenzied attempt to catch up to the ‘suspected’ culprit he had seen leaving. The move ended in a near tragedy.
In stalking down an alley in the early evening, Saturday, (scoping out an alleged drug house), the young man came across - in blackness of the night - two bike riders….
His next move was just so wrong at so many levels.
Jumping to the conclusion that they were connected to the theft, he rammed the bikers with his van, pinning them against a fence – twice… And in the name of what? Justice? Jibber hunting, as the locals joke about it?
As it turns out, the two bikers were plain-clothes police officers on bike patrol out that night doing street checks in an attempt to catch the suspect or suspects in the litany of recent vehicle break-ins. Neither officer was injured, but it ended the large undercover operation, which we had been demanding, as police scrambled all night to sort out the mess. And yes, the real thief got away; the attempted break-ins to vehicles and homes continue.
The young man is now facing charges of dangerous driving…. (I believe much more serious charges could have been considered). His mom and dad are traumatized, and loving comforted their son, who stood that night in the street outside his home screaming, “I am sorry, Mom. I’m sorry, Mom,” over and over again, as police prepared to packed him off.
Back in the alley, police say they identified themselves to the driver, but in the dark, not knowing who was in the van attacking them, I also suspect this “Good Samaritan” was close to being shot.
An investigation blown; a thief still at large; two taxpayer-owned bikes trashed; two officers hit; a near tragic shooting; a chance taken against any of our sons or daughters who may have been out for a walk when this young man cruised by; lawyer fees to be paid by family and taxpayers; police and court time wasted… not worth it… Please just observe and report.
Social media in Hope is in frenzy with calls for violence against an alleged suspect, names and photos are being bandied about – anger and frustration rein. Don’t be the next one to make a mistake – police uphold the law whether you’re a good guy or one of the bad guys. Only you, your family, and your innocent victim will suffer. And in social media terms, lmao (laughing my ass off) is what the thief will be texting.