General Cycling Discussion - TV newsman accused of enticing kids to ride bikes in floodwater

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Bikes-N-Drums
07-06-06, 10:06 AM
TV newsman accused of enticing kids to ride bikes in floodwater

Associated Press
Jul. 5, 2006 08:20 AM

NORWALK, Ohio - A television news cameraman paid a $145 fine after police said he enticed three teenagers to ride their bikes through waist-high floodwaters.

The boys told police that Gary Abrahamsen of WEWS-TV in Cleveland offered to put them on TV if they rode through the water on a bridge, according to a police report. They said a reporter waded into the water so they would be riding behind her in the video.

Police cited Abrahamsen with misdemeanor disorderly conduct June 22. He paid the fine June 28, according to Norwalk Municipal Court.

Messages seeking from Abrahamsen and WEWS were not immediately returned Wednesday.

Abrahamsen denied coaxing the two 13-year-olds and one 14-year-old to ride through the water, and told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that paying the fine was cheaper than fighting the citation.

Norwalk, about halfway between Toledo and Cleveland in Huron County, was hit hard by damaging storms that began June 21 and were blamed for flash flooding and two deaths. The flood water in the Norwalk nearly covered cars in some low-lying areas.

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat//articles/0705camera-floodfine05-ON.html


shakeNbake
07-06-06, 10:44 PM
Lol!

folder fanatic
07-08-06, 11:28 AM
Oh come on! One of the things I have observed working with children that adults nowadays automatically assume that children are not capable of lying. Ask any parent or teacher and they will most likely tell you some horror stories about that. Teens are more adults than children anyway. There is only 4-5 years from reaching legal adulthood with these particular kids. Is there any concrete proof like video or audio recordings? I don't think just the word of anyone (child or adult) should be enough to accuse or especially convict (by issuing a citation) to someone with no concrete evidence of poven wrongdoing.


spider-man
07-08-06, 12:32 PM
Oh come on! One of the things I have observed working with children that adults nowadays automatically assume that children are not capable of lying. Ask any parent or teacher and they will most likely tell you some horror stories about that. Teens are more adults than children anyway. There is only 4-5 years from reaching legal adulthood with these particular kids. Is there any concrete proof like video or audio recordings? I don't think just the word of anyone (child or adult) should be enough to accuse or especially convict (by issuing a citation) to someone with no concrete evidence of poven wrongdoing.

It isn't poof :D , but he paid the fine instead of contesting the charge.

gwhunt23
07-08-06, 12:59 PM
"[He] told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that paying the fine was cheaper than fighting the citation."

BS! If the citation were contested, it would go to the General District court. With just this fine, you could easily contest it on your own without paying a lawyer. The court fee, if any, would be much less than $145.

Nermal
07-08-06, 01:35 PM
Oh, a speeding ticket may be easier to pay than contest. If I were in a field where integrity counted for anything, I would have to take it to court.