Getting arrested is generally not a good thing. At least, that's what I'm assuming: I haven't suffered the indignity myself, though I've come close!
I must confess that I can feel a bit self-righteous, even smug, when I recall that the times I almost found myself in the back of a police wagon, I wasn't committing "bad" crimes: I was engaged in protests and, being young and stupid, I gave the constables a hard time when they told us to move.
Deep down, I do have more respect for someone who's arrested for protesting an unjust war or unfair treatment of workers than for, say, beating a spouse or stealing someone's Social Security check. I suppose most people feel the same way.
So I guess my advice to future generations would be something like "Be careful of what you get arrested for." Oh, and don't let the cops find worse things on your record when they run your name through their computers.
Of course, anyone who would listen to such advice probably doesn't need to hear it. On the other hand, Roberto Carlos DeLeon most likely would not heed my pearl of wisdom, or much of anything I'd say.
During a traffic stop in San Angelo, Texas, he was found to be in possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. When the officer checked his records, a warrant was found--for assault causing bodily injury of a family member and continuous violence against the family.
Sounds like a real charmer, doesn't he?
And what led to the traffic stop that opened up this Pandora's box? He was riding a bicycle with "defective" brakes, headlights and reflector.
Hmm...I wonder how the cops determined that his brakes were "defective". Was he unable to stop when he was ordered to do so?
I must confess that I can feel a bit self-righteous, even smug, when I recall that the times I almost found myself in the back of a police wagon, I wasn't committing "bad" crimes: I was engaged in protests and, being young and stupid, I gave the constables a hard time when they told us to move.
Deep down, I do have more respect for someone who's arrested for protesting an unjust war or unfair treatment of workers than for, say, beating a spouse or stealing someone's Social Security check. I suppose most people feel the same way.
So I guess my advice to future generations would be something like "Be careful of what you get arrested for." Oh, and don't let the cops find worse things on your record when they run your name through their computers.
Of course, anyone who would listen to such advice probably doesn't need to hear it. On the other hand, Roberto Carlos DeLeon most likely would not heed my pearl of wisdom, or much of anything I'd say.
During a traffic stop in San Angelo, Texas, he was found to be in possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. When the officer checked his records, a warrant was found--for assault causing bodily injury of a family member and continuous violence against the family.
Sounds like a real charmer, doesn't he?
And what led to the traffic stop that opened up this Pandora's box? He was riding a bicycle with "defective" brakes, headlights and reflector.
Hmm...I wonder how the cops determined that his brakes were "defective". Was he unable to stop when he was ordered to do so?
