By Steve Lannen
slannen@herald-leader.com
Police and emergency crews spent much of Wednesday night on a rural Lexington road after a report of a person barricaded in a house.
Kiddville Lane off Jacks Creek Pike was closed to traffic and filled with police cruisers, the emergency response unit’s vehicles and fire trucks.
Some residents who lived on or near the scene were forced leave their cars and walk to their homes.
After several hours, it was determined that the woman thought to be barricaded in the house was not there, Lexington police Lt. Richard Bottoms said.
Early Thursday, he confirmed that police were looking for Sharon Krimm, 60, who was possiibly driving a white Mitsubishi Montero and could have a handgun.
If you have any knowledge of Krimm’s whereabouts, call police at (859) 258-3600.
HAS LAW ENFORCEMENT TURNED INTO WHAT IS PERCEIVED BY THE WESTERN WORLD, THE EQUIVELENT OF THE RUSSIAN MAD DOG POLICE?
IT SEEMS SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF “HOMELAND SECURITY”, THAT NO RESPECT OF CITIZENS AND THEIR RIGHTS ARE ACKNOLEDGED BY ANY LOCAL LAW, EVEN DOWN TO THE BACKWOODS CONSTABLE,AND THE MINDSET IS TO ACT LIKE “RAMBO”, ON EVEN THE SLIGHTESS HINT OF A LAW VIOLATION.
I WOULDN’T BE SURPRISED TO READ ABOUT SOMEONE THAT FAILED TO DROP A NICKEL IN A PARKING METER BEING SWARMED BY A SWAT TEAM. IT SEEMS THE LAW HAS TURNED INTO COWARDS, LOCKING THEMSELVES BEHIND DOORS, AND HAVING CITIZENS TALK INTO A SPEAKER AND COMMUNICATING BY A CLOSED CIRCUIT TV.
THE MINUTE SOMEONES WALKS INTO THESE COUNTRY POLICE STATIONS, THEY ARE A SUSPECT, AND THEY MAY BE MACED, SHOT WITH ELECTRIC STUN, OR EVEN BLOWN AWAY WITH A “GLOCK”, IF THEY PUT THEIR HAD IN THEIR POCKET TO GET A PICTURE OF THEIR PET CAT, THAT IS MISSING.
I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE GREETED WITH A SMILE AND AN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE WHEN YOU APPROACHED A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, MUCH LIKE THE OLD TV SERIES ACTOR..ANDY TAYLOR.
THESE DAYS WE HAVE TO FEAR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEIR ACTIONS,EQUALLY AS WE DO THE CRIMINALS, OR IN MOST CASES,THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME.
WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAW TO THINK THEY NEED TO CALL IN A SWAT TEAM TO GO AFTER A PERSON…SO CALLED “BARICADED” HERSELF IN A HOUSE.
WHY NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE UNTIL THEY CHILL, AND LET THE SITUATION DEFUSE ITSELF.
SEEMS THE LAW MEN CRAVE PUBLICITY, DON’T IT?
What are you two basing your convoluted statements on? Did we read the same article? How can we pass judgement on how the police handled this situation without knowing all the facts, which we don’t. We have no idea why the police were and are looking for this individual. The police action could be totally justified, I DON’T KNOW…
Also, your outlandish claims of how local law enforcement handles citizens who walk into their police department is ludicrous. If we lived in a fictional television reality like Mayberry, then having a sheriff like Andy Taylor would be great, however, WE DON’T. Sounds like you need to learn how to separate reality from fiction. Oh yeah, by the way, the ACTOR in the Andy Griffith show, wasn’t Andy Taylor, it was Andy Griffith, Andy Taylor was the CHARACTER played by Andy Griffith.
Also, if your going to post something, might strengthen your credibility and argument if you used proper grammar. No need to put quotation marks around the word Glock, it’s a proper noun, the brand name of the gun the majority of police in this country carry.
I agree with Arnold. A few weeks ago it was Save-A-Lot where they had the whole police department called out and the guy still walked right by them. Now they have streets closed down, most of the cities police resources in one location, and residents who lived on or near the scene were forced to leave their cars and walk to their homes. All for a Ghost. I think it’s a game for the police department to dress up in their outfits.
All I can tell you is to read “Bedlam” by Joe Sharkey, then you will know why things like this are being allowed. I do believe the police have a difficult job, and the courts do too especially when they do the real job that they are put out there to do, but I also believe that there is a lot of unconstitutional things being allowed right now by the powers that be.
Can you give some examples of the unconstitutional things that are happening? What are your thoughts on this based on? Where did you get your constitutional law degree from? The constitution is often used as a hindge for people to base emotional unfounded arguments on (I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people say something is unconstitutional when the actions have absolutely nothing to do with the constitution), and who are these “powers to be” that are letting unconstitutional things to take place? Look, the police have a job to do, they don’t always make it public their motives for good reasons. We don’t know what is always going on, for good reasons. If every single action the police took were publicized, they would not be able to protect us effectively. Who are we to pass judgment on their actions UNTIL they give us a reason too.
I’m not saying that every law enforcement official in this country is legit, honest, and reputable, I am saying that until we are given a reason to criticize (a real true logical valid reason) then we shouldn’t.
Ok David you would like an example of recent unconstitutional acts which by the way all go back to the “Patriot Act”. How bout the fact that Police can search your luggage behind closed doors without you being present, or your lawyer. You do not have to be told before hand. No warrent is needed now. You do not have to have done anything suspicious. They can just randomly search.
How bout Gitmo. You can be named a terror suspect and held for weeks without the opportunity to contact a lawyer.
Now don’t get me wrong - I am all about getting the terrorists. Frankly I think we need to take the “muzzle” off of our big dog which is the military in Iraq. About a month would be all it would take. But this is the United States of America there are things guaranteed by the constitution. Read it for yourself. Get a copy. It is in pretty clear language….
I would venture to say that the police did not randomly show up to this house. They probably had a good reason as well as having a swat team out there. For whatever reason, everyone always questions how the police or government do their job. Well I don’t because I do not want thier jobs nor will I ever question them. I could bet that many of you are the same people who call the police for anything but talk about them when they leave. Oh and guess what, If you do not want your bags searched at an airport then do not fly, drive a car then you could complain about gas prices or i’m sure you could find something to gripe about. I dont mind them searching my luggage because I have nothing to hide and it provides a peace of mind to me that they are trying to keep me safe from harm. And as far as Gitmo goes, once again they have a job to do, many times they have information that is not provided to the public and do not need to ask your permission if you approve.
Gee, how in the hell does a five foot 60 year old grey hair lady low crawl past the Metro Swat Team? It is not illegal to carry a handgun. We all need to be able to protect ourselves from the law as well as be protected by the law. Everyone on Kiddville Lane knows that Sharon is out in la la land. Where is Janet Reno and the Clintons when you need them. I hope Metro Police will not torch Sharon’s House, might spread to Raven Run.
I think the folks out on Kidville lane should have at least gotten their tax money’s worth watching the fireworks show. The only real problem here is that a dispatcher is supposed to know the difference between a SUIcidal person and a HOMIcidal person. Sharon is a SUIcidal 60-year-old grandmother with crippled arms who could barely squeeze a trigger. That is where you call someone experienced working a suicide hotline.
It is a HOMIcidal person who merits a swat team. The Lexington police need to hire a dispatcher who can spell both words and can also understand the difference!
“Hurry - Let’s shoot her before she shoots herself!”
I just wish that all of you who have a complaint with the actions of the police would spend one shift on duty with them, realize how difficult and subjective their jobs really are. Let’s see how our country and lives would be if they didn’t do their jobs as effectively as they do. As Chad stated, we don’t always know the whole story, and I know for a fact the police don’t jus randomly show up at peoples houses without due cause.
As far as what Dave said, how in the world do you have any idea about the dispatchers understanding of a situation. Obviously if a person is suicidal they are not in the right state of mind, you have no idea what is said to a dispatcher. In addition, law enforcements’ job is to protect the public, that includes from themselves when a mental incapacitating event has taken place, at what ever cost. I’m very confident that the police are not going to shoot somebody who is about to shoot themselves.
Seriously, do you all read what you write before you hit the submit button?
While I believe that noone here that has posted would relly “know” what it was like to be an Officer or a dispatcher…I will only make a few comments.
I appreciate the defenses of the actions of the Swat Officers…the news paper or the public never knows the nature of a call out or the specifics till many days later…or never.
Swat units are not called out on a “routine” call…therefore there must have been some type of indication that the Uniformed Officer could not safely handle the call.
Lastly…just because someone is “suicidal” does not mean they won’t harm someone else as well. I believe if you look at radio call outs to “suicides” most suicidal people are also homicidal.
God forbid that the Police be worried about a “suicidal/homicidal” elderly woman armed with a weapon(Glock)….she would never hurt her neighbors, friends, family…….yeah right.
Good job guys…( no one was killed or injured ) just some egos…if you got the call out…there must have been a reason.
Bruce
TO Dr. Rick
If you really are a doctor, what is the major risk that goes along with your job hazards?? You may catch a cold or miss a tee off on the golf course. Hardly nothing for you to worry about. Now lets think of first responders and the hazards that are presented to
them: Death, car accidents, assaulted etc.etc.etc. I will stick to my engineering day job and let the professionals deal with the situations as they see fit. I do not question other people decisions when I am not trained in that field. That would be no different than me attempting to tell you how to practice medicine or teach a class depending on what field you are in, nor will you tell me how to do my job.
Sharon maybe a 60 with supposed crippled arms but she can still have affairs with other peoples husbands.
If she would get a life and stop with the drugs and BS then maybe she would not be so over the top.
As far as the police dept is concerned you need to get a copy of the 911 tape and listen to what the caller said before you critize the police.