Well, the LJS never fails to amaze. I previously blogged about how the Lincoln Journal Star staff writers often omit details on the description of crime suspects for reasons unbeknownst to anyone with a functional brain. Today, on both the LJS and 10/11 websites, there is a story regarding the robbery of the Berean Church by a man posing as a guard. But something changed today...the LJS actually gives a good description of the suspect:
From the LJS:
'Guard' gets away with $145k church deposit
Description of suspect: The woman at the church told police the man who left with the deposit was white, in his late 20s, 5-foot-7 or 5-foot-8, around 150 pounds with short light brown hair, glasses and a couple of days growth of facial hair. He was wearing a dark baseball cap, dark pants and a shirt with an emblem that looked just like a security uniform.
From 10/11:
"Fake" Guard Steals Money from Berean Church
Description of suspect: The man is described as white, in his late 20s, 5'7"-5'8" 150 pounds with short brown hair, short facial hair and glasses. (They also make mention of the suspect being dressed in what looked like a security uniform.)
So what changed? The fact that we know he has brown hair, whiskers, and glasses? That will surely narrow it right down. Lots of people, myself included, have 'short, light brown hair'. Of course, the description would no longer be useful if the man a) dyes his hair b) takes off his glasses, c) changes clothes, and d) shaves. The IMPORTANT details, height/weight/age/race are sufficient enough to help identify someone. The clothing can help, but I have a feeling that, if the suspect isn't apprehended quickly, the description of the clothing is, henceforth, useless.
So, the real question is this...what IMPORTANT details changed? What was the difference in the available information that prompted the LJS to include a full description of this suspect, and not of the rape/robbery suspect? And, based upon the difference in details, what reason would the LJS have for not providing a full, accurate description of a violent criminal?
You decide.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Stinkin' Journal Star
As Gerard Harbison recently blogged, the Lincoln Journal Star has been increasingly derelict in their duty to report the facts. The most recent episode involves a rape and robbery that took place at Hot Rayz Tanning Salon at 4344 North 62nd Street (Havelock area in Lincoln).
Here's how 10/11 news summarized the event:
Police: Salon Worker Raped and Robbed
Description of suspect: Authorities say the victim described the man as a black male in his early 20's, between 5'8'' and 5'10'' with a slim build. He was wearing a black ski mask, sweatshirt, sweatpants and white latex gloves.
Now, here's how the LJS reported the very same crime:
Police Investigate Robbery, Sexual Assault
Description of suspect: The robber, who was wearing a black ski mask, black sweater, black sweat pants and white latex gloves, fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.
Interesting, to say the least. I'm fairly certain that, if the woman says she was raped, she was raped...there's no need to sugarcoat it with terms like "sexual assault". On top of this, conspicuously missing from the LJS story is a description of the suspect's age, height, weight, and race.
I recently contacted the LJS regarding this ongoing lack of consistency in reporting, as this has occurred many times over the recent months...10/11 gives all details related to the police report, while the LJS omits many of those details. An official from the LJS responded that, while it is sometimes due to sloppy reporting (SHOCK!!!), there is an official policy that they are not to release details on the suspect if those details are deemed to be to generic. Here, a description giving race, age, weight, height, AND clothing is available...and we only get a description of the clothing from LJS. What more do they need for the description to be deemed specific enough to identify the suspect?
Is it not possible for the purp to remove the latex gloves and ski mask? I guess it's a bad day to be in Lincoln while wearing a black sweater and sweatpants.
Here's how 10/11 news summarized the event:
Police: Salon Worker Raped and Robbed
Description of suspect: Authorities say the victim described the man as a black male in his early 20's, between 5'8'' and 5'10'' with a slim build. He was wearing a black ski mask, sweatshirt, sweatpants and white latex gloves.
Now, here's how the LJS reported the very same crime:
Police Investigate Robbery, Sexual Assault
Description of suspect: The robber, who was wearing a black ski mask, black sweater, black sweat pants and white latex gloves, fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.
Interesting, to say the least. I'm fairly certain that, if the woman says she was raped, she was raped...there's no need to sugarcoat it with terms like "sexual assault". On top of this, conspicuously missing from the LJS story is a description of the suspect's age, height, weight, and race.
I recently contacted the LJS regarding this ongoing lack of consistency in reporting, as this has occurred many times over the recent months...10/11 gives all details related to the police report, while the LJS omits many of those details. An official from the LJS responded that, while it is sometimes due to sloppy reporting (SHOCK!!!), there is an official policy that they are not to release details on the suspect if those details are deemed to be to generic. Here, a description giving race, age, weight, height, AND clothing is available...and we only get a description of the clothing from LJS. What more do they need for the description to be deemed specific enough to identify the suspect?
Is it not possible for the purp to remove the latex gloves and ski mask? I guess it's a bad day to be in Lincoln while wearing a black sweater and sweatpants.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Broken Promises
Looks like dear leader Obama, in addition to all of his other broken promises (ban on corporate lobbyists, vows of bipartisanship vs. "I won", hope-n-change vs. doom-n-gloom, restoring integrity with tax-dodging nominees...the list goes on), 'The One' and AG Eric Holder apparently do want to "take your guns away." Holder announced to day that Obama would support re-instating the Klinton era 'assault weapons ban'...you know, the law that said you couldn't have things on your gun like flash suppressors, grenade launchers, and bayonet mounts?! Good thing too, the last thing I want is to face a criminal with a bayonet on his gun! Yikes!!
The guys who ran out and bought so-called 'assault rifles' (as referred to by the leftists) look like geniuses right now. Obama said he wasn't going to mess people's guns, yet here he and his AG are talking about gun legislation before the end of his 2nd month as president.
After his election, gun sales shot up...he responded by saying that gun-owning Americans did not need to rush out and stock up before he was sworn in. Clearly, that statement was a lie.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6960824&page=1
The guys who ran out and bought so-called 'assault rifles' (as referred to by the leftists) look like geniuses right now. Obama said he wasn't going to mess people's guns, yet here he and his AG are talking about gun legislation before the end of his 2nd month as president.
After his election, gun sales shot up...he responded by saying that gun-owning Americans did not need to rush out and stock up before he was sworn in. Clearly, that statement was a lie.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6960824&page=1
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