Man arrested after rescuing swimmer - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Ishmal · 07-05-2005, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azcentral.com

SAN MARCOS, Texas - A man who rescued a swimmer caught in swirling river currents found himself in trouble soon afterward when he was arrested by authorities who claimed he was interfering.

Dave Newman, 48, disobeyed repeated orders by emergency personnel to leave the water, police said. He was charged with interfering with public duties.

"I was amazed," Newman said Monday after his release on $2,000 bail. "I had a very uncomfortable night after saving that guy's life. He thanked me for it in front of the police, and then they took me to jail."

Abed Duamni, 35, of Houston, said he had just finished eating at a restaurant Sunday when he decided to go for a swim in a nearby river. Duamni said he didn't see any signs warning swimmers of dangerous currents.

Newman said he pulled Duamni out of the water, swimming under a waterfall and over to the shore opposite from the restaurant. He could hear law enforcement personnel telling him to come back to the other side.

According to police, Newman smirked and seemed annoyed by officers' requests. He stood in the water for about 15 seconds before swimming downstream.

"When he came across the river, the officer stuck out his hand like he's going to help him out of the water, and he put cuffs on him," said John Parnell, pastor of St. Augustine Old Roman Catholic Church in Fort Worth.

what the hell???

i think this is bloody stupid...

he saved a guys life only to spend the night in jail for it.

Charlatan · 07-05-2005, 06:29 PM

Clearly we don't have the whole story but on the surface the most they should have done (considering he just saved the guy) was give him a stern talking to...

Jail seems a little out of line.

feelgood · 07-05-2005, 07:03 PM

The world is just senstive these days. When a 10 years old girl jaywalks, she'll be arrested. This is just another case of it.

JStrider · 07-05-2005, 07:04 PM

i can kinda see where they are coming from...

if the Newman guy had ended up not being a strong enough swimmer to save the other guy then the police would have had to rescue 2 people instead of just one...

but i dont think they shoulda arrested the guy...

kramus · 07-05-2005, 07:09 PM

He made them look bad I guess - some uniform types are like that. And when they feel dissed, well, most anything can be found to be against some law. And the law was probably written by a committee.

ForgottenKnight · 07-05-2005, 07:17 PM

He endangered his life to save another. It's the most selfless act anyone can do. He saved the guy's life. Going to jail for it is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of happening to someone.

MexicanOnABike · 07-05-2005, 10:42 PM

fuck i'm glad I dont live in the USA when i read shit like this!!! wow.... i would SUE the police station for putting me in jail for saving someone....

guthmund · 07-06-2005, 05:05 AM

Quote:

"When he came across the river, the officer stuck out his hand like he's going to help him out of the water, and he put cuffs on him," said John Parnell, pastor of St. Augustine Old Roman Catholic Church in Fort Worth.

That really says it all right there doesn't it? What a bunch of dicks. Like Kramus pointed out, the guy made the uniforms look like a bunch of idiots. Of course, the natural progression in such cases is from "idiot" to "dick" so this story doesn't at all surprise me much.

sapiens · 07-06-2005, 05:14 AM

I heard something on the radio about this incident. There is a lot of debate about swimming in that area of the San Marcos river. The current is strong and there's a weak dam nearby. The guy who was arrested was an activist in favor of allowing swimming in that area. So, the police knew the guy. I'll see if I can find a source.

pan6467 · 07-06-2005, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JStrider

i can kinda see where they are coming from...

if the Newman guy had ended up not being a strong enough swimmer to save the other guy then the police would have had to rescue 2 people instead of just one...

but i dont think they shoulda arrested the guy...

If he is impeding the job of the true rescuers whose job it is and they had things under control before he butted in...... then it's an obstruction. Is it jail worthy? Depends on his attitude.

It's the same as if a fire breaks out and some guy starts running in and endangers firefighters lives because he is trying to be a hero.

Now if noone is there helping, and he chooses to do something, then cool. But it sounds like he took it upon himself to interfere, and while the deed was noble it could seriously have had negative repercussions.

joecool · 07-06-2005, 06:36 AM

I believe the police when telling him to stop, where considering the likelihood that instead of saving 1 person they would soon be facing the situation of saving both men, thus endangering the life’s of the real emergency crews twice as much. Jail time, a little harsh but its all based on this guys attitude, assholes who break the law (no matter how insignificant) don’t catch breaks from the police. I would love to hear the 'whole' story here.

rsl12 · 07-08-2005, 12:39 PM

I agree with joecool et al. It's great that he saved the guy, but what if he hadn't? Then the rescue team would have an even tricker situation to handle, trying to save two lives, endangering the safety of the *rescue team* even more. Besides that, there the issue that the guy ignored police orders--orders that were there for two reasons: 1. to ensure that other people's safety are not compromised, and 2. to ensure that the police are able to do their job. You say, what's the big deal if one person crosses a police line? Well then, what's the big deal if one spectator walks into the basketball court, out of the way of players, during the Big Game? It's the same thing.

Not that it matters, but I'm an EMT, and his arrest makes perfect sense to me.

Aladdin Sane · 07-08-2005, 09:57 PM

I live in San Marcos, two mnutes drive from this area of the river.
People drown or almost drown at that site frequently. There's a waterfall. People jump into it and get sucked under. In the summer, people have to be rescued at that spot more times than I know. It's very dangerous there. I swim just below the falls every weekend. I was there when this incident occurred. The fire rescue squad knows exactly what must be done to rescue swimmers at that place. They don't need some nucklehead getting in the way, and perhaps drowning himself. Trained rescuers can't go in the water while someone else is there who might pose a threat to them. It happens all the time that a panicked swimmer will drown someone who is trying to save him. The guy who saved the drowning man is no hero. This time he got lucky. He could've caused something worse to have happened.

Aladdin Sane · 07-09-2005, 07:08 AM

I just found out that since April the rescue squad has been called to the falls 7 times. Six times they came away with a warm body. One time they recovered a corpse.

In other news, the "hero" of this story has published a letter in the San Marcos Daily Record. He makes a good case for his actions, and he doesn't seem like he's on an ego trip.

I'm beginning to think this one depends on which side of the river you were standing on. Or if you happened to be in the water...

Astrocloud · 07-09-2005, 10:03 AM

I personally think that the cops are the ones with the ego's here. If they tell you that 2 and 2 is 3 then you are supposed to smile and nod and agree whole heartedly.

Saving the guys life seemed obvious to the guy doing the saving -but the cops undoubtedly wanted to tell him what was possible and what wasn't. "Oh you don't agree that 2 and 2 is 3? -Well then, you are under arrest."

From the San Marcos Record

Here is the only quote I could find on the defendent's letter to the editor:

Quote:

"Had there been divers in the area, ready to take over, I would have gladly moved aside, yet I saw no rescue divers present at the scene, nor any rescue personnel at large, who even got their feet wet that day," Newman said in a letter to the Daily Record. "... I knew and hoped that maybe I had a chance there to help him, and I stand by the decision that I made that day."

http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/artic...news/news2.txt

jalora · 07-09-2005, 06:55 PM

The bottom line is always the same: Police officers are not your friends.

fhqwhgads · 07-09-2005, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalora

The bottom line is always the same: Police officers are not your friends.

*sigh* This is why sometimes I hate my job...

Ok, I felt the need to elaborate:

Quote:

Dave Newman, 48, disobeyed repeated orders by emergency personnel to leave the water, police said.

I'm sure that the guys intentions were good, but if he was told repeatedly not to interfere with the rescue effort, and he made the concious decision to disobey, then he can face the consequences. If the rescuers wanted his help, and he was indeed helping, I doubt that they would have had a problem with his efforts. If he was "getting in the way" or otherwise making their rescue effort more difficult, then he deserved to get locked up.

I was handling a traffic accident one day, directing traffic, and a guy didn't like the way I was handling it, so he took it upon himself and started to direct traffic himself. He almost caused a serious accident. I'm sure that his intentions were good, but he ended up creating more problems.

If this guy had been told several times not to get in the way, and he ended up drowning, we'd all be calling him a dumbass. Do the ends justify the means?

ngdawg · 07-09-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalora

The bottom line is always the same: Police officers are not your friends.

Some of mine are. I sincerely hope that one day you don't have to make a call that requires their area of expertise. Call a friend instead.
/me steps off soapbox.

Bill O'Rights · 07-09-2005, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalora

The bottom line is always the same: Police officers are not your friends.

Not so. I still have several very good friends that are police officers. I would trust my life to them, and did...day, after day, after day...for about five years. Until I hung up my gun belt for good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhqwhgads

If this guy had been told several times not to get in the way, and he ended up drowning, we'd all be calling him a dumbass.

And that pretty much sums up the whole damn thing.

Elphaba · 07-09-2005, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalora

The bottom line is always the same: Police officers are not your friends.

This post deeply troubles me. I have never had a problem with any form of law enforcement unless I deserved it. (Speeding, not wearing seatbeat, etc.)

I HAVE been "protected and served" many times. Some of the homicide detectives went above and beyond the call of duty to protect us. They were not our "friends" in terms of a personal relationship.

Jalora, please explain your meaning when you claim that "police officers are not your friends."

jorgelito · 07-10-2005, 09:45 AM

It may be different if you're a minority. I live in LA and unfortunately, cops aren't your "freind" here. It's a city where you call 9-11 and either get a busy signal, no answer, or voice-mail. It's a city where the cops are severely understaffed. For some reason, LA is a "unfriendly" place. I've had to call the cops many, many times. Mostly, they don't show up. (Our store was held up by gub oint - the cops took two hours to come). The next time we were robbed, I had the white girl in our store call the cops and tell them the robber wsa black and last seen headed for Beverly Hills. The cops arrived in less than 5 minutes.

So it depend on your experience whether or not cops are perceived to be your "friend" or not.

Aladdin Sane · 07-10-2005, 12:02 PM

The charges were dropped against the rescuer yesterday. The cops say they were correct in arresting him but in light of the circumstances they have dropped the charges.

I've flipped and flopped on this one, but in light of an eye witness account published in this morning's local paper, I think the university police botched this one good.

In any case, charges have been dropped.

End of case.

Blackthorn · 07-10-2005, 12:31 PM

Quote:

He was charged with interfering with public duties.

Well what public duties were being interfered with? If there is a group of people standing around not doing something to rescue someone who is in danger of drowning (who is also arguably a dumbass) then what choice did he have? Were they waiting to take a vote on who was going in after this ass-clown who couldn't swim? Sounds to me like the police folk got their feelings hurt by being shown up by someone more willing to take action. At least common sense prevailed and they dropped the charges.

07-05-2005, 06:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Clearly we don't have the whole story but on the surface the most they should have done (considering he just saved the guy) was give him a stern talking to... Jail seems a little out of line. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-05-2005, 07:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
feelgood Free Mars! Location: I dunno, there's white people around me saying "eh" all the time	The world is just senstive these days. When a 10 years old girl jaywalks, she'll be arrested. This is just another case of it. __________________ Looking out the window, that's an act of war. Staring at my shoes, that's an act of war. Committing an act of war? Oh you better believe that's an act of war

07-05-2005, 07:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	i can kinda see where they are coming from... if the Newman guy had ended up not being a strong enough swimmer to save the other guy then the police would have had to rescue 2 people instead of just one... but i dont think they shoulda arrested the guy... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

07-05-2005, 07:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
kramus loving the curves Location: my Lady's manor	He made them look bad I guess - some uniform types are like that. And when they feel dissed, well, most anything can be found to be against some law. And the law was probably written by a committee. __________________ And now to disengage the clutch of the forebrain ... I'm going with this - if you like artwork visit http://markfineart.ca

07-05-2005, 07:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
ForgottenKnight Jesus Freak Location: Following the light...	He endangered his life to save another. It's the most selfless act anyone can do. He saved the guy's life. Going to jail for it is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of happening to someone. __________________ "People say I'm strange, does that make me a stranger?"

07-05-2005, 10:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	fuck i'm glad I dont live in the USA when i read shit like this!!! wow.... i would SUE the police station for putting me in jail for saving someone.... __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

07-06-2005, 05:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
sapiens Junkie Location: Some place windy	I heard something on the radio about this incident. There is a lot of debate about swimming in that area of the San Marcos river. The current is strong and there's a weak dam nearby. The guy who was arrested was an activist in favor of allowing swimming in that area. So, the police knew the guy. I'll see if I can find a source. Last edited by sapiens; 07-06-2005 at 06:04 AM..

07-06-2005, 06:36 AM	#11 (permalink)
joecool Upright	Yeah But....... I believe the police when telling him to stop, where considering the likelihood that instead of saving 1 person they would soon be facing the situation of saving both men, thus endangering the life’s of the real emergency crews twice as much. Jail time, a little harsh but its all based on this guys attitude, assholes who break the law (no matter how insignificant) don’t catch breaks from the police. I would love to hear the 'whole' story here.

07-08-2005, 12:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	I agree with joecool et al. It's great that he saved the guy, but what if he hadn't? Then the rescue team would have an even tricker situation to handle, trying to save two lives, endangering the safety of the rescue team even more. Besides that, there the issue that the guy ignored police orders--orders that were there for two reasons: 1. to ensure that other people's safety are not compromised, and 2. to ensure that the police are able to do their job. You say, what's the big deal if one person crosses a police line? Well then, what's the big deal if one spectator walks into the basketball court, out of the way of players, during the Big Game? It's the same thing. Not that it matters, but I'm an EMT, and his arrest makes perfect sense to me. __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.

07-08-2005, 09:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Aladdin Sane Degenerate Location: San Marvelous	I live in San Marcos, two mnutes drive from this area of the river. People drown or almost drown at that site frequently. There's a waterfall. People jump into it and get sucked under. In the summer, people have to be rescued at that spot more times than I know. It's very dangerous there. I swim just below the falls every weekend. I was there when this incident occurred. The fire rescue squad knows exactly what must be done to rescue swimmers at that place. They don't need some nucklehead getting in the way, and perhaps drowning himself. Trained rescuers can't go in the water while someone else is there who might pose a threat to them. It happens all the time that a panicked swimmer will drown someone who is trying to save him. The guy who saved the drowning man is no hero. This time he got lucky. He could've caused something worse to have happened. __________________ Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

07-09-2005, 07:08 AM	#14 (permalink)
Aladdin Sane Degenerate Location: San Marvelous	I just found out that since April the rescue squad has been called to the falls 7 times. Six times they came away with a warm body. One time they recovered a corpse. In other news, the "hero" of this story has published a letter in the San Marcos Daily Record. He makes a good case for his actions, and he doesn't seem like he's on an ego trip. I'm beginning to think this one depends on which side of the river you were standing on. Or if you happened to be in the water... __________________ Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

07-09-2005, 06:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
jalora Tilted Location: California	The bottom line is always the same: Police officers are not your friends. __________________ Like my diamonds? The Devil himself gave them to me...

07-10-2005, 09:45 AM	#21 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	It may be different if you're a minority. I live in LA and unfortunately, cops aren't your "freind" here. It's a city where you call 9-11 and either get a busy signal, no answer, or voice-mail. It's a city where the cops are severely understaffed. For some reason, LA is a "unfriendly" place. I've had to call the cops many, many times. Mostly, they don't show up. (Our store was held up by gub oint - the cops took two hours to come). The next time we were robbed, I had the white girl in our store call the cops and tell them the robber wsa black and last seen headed for Beverly Hills. The cops arrived in less than 5 minutes. So it depend on your experience whether or not cops are perceived to be your "friend" or not. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

07-10-2005, 12:02 PM	#22 (permalink)
Aladdin Sane Degenerate Location: San Marvelous	The charges were dropped against the rescuer yesterday. The cops say they were correct in arresting him but in light of the circumstances they have dropped the charges. I've flipped and flopped on this one, but in light of an eye witness account published in this morning's local paper, I think the university police botched this one good. In any case, charges have been dropped. End of case. __________________ Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.