Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 944 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.20
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:46 pm: | |
http://www.clickondetroit.com/ news/8251564/detail.html |
Evelethcdenver Member Username: Evelethcdenver
Post Number: 98 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 71.211.166.9
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:49 pm: | |
Sad fact is that his family will sue The City of Detroit and probably get paid pretty handsomely. |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 7061 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.2.149.88
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:56 pm: | |
Good riddance. Too bad this doesn't happen to more scrappers and low lifes. |
Eric Member Username: Eric
Post Number: 385 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 35.11.210.161
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:58 pm: | |
Too bad this can't happen to more of them scrappers cause far too damage around here |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 977 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.93
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 1:09 pm: | |
I hope that he didn't breed before he Darwined himself. |
Bertz Member Username: Bertz
Post Number: 538 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.61.15.89
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 1:22 pm: | |
looks like he got his karma-kickback |
Ray Member Username: Ray
Post Number: 653 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 68.42.220.37
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 4:57 pm: | |
Gosh, I sure hope the power station wasn't damaged. |
321brian Member Username: 321brian
Post Number: 87 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.62.6.147
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 5:02 pm: | |
Watch for the lawsuit by his family suing the city for cuasing his death. Believe me it's coming. |
Cheddar_bob Member Username: Cheddar_bob
Post Number: 512 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 204.128.192.5
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 5:41 pm: | |
I'm amazed that he lived to 41. He must have been very lucky. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1063 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 5:43 pm: | |
We had a few of those cases for Detroit Edison back when service had been cut off and/or the "consumer" illegally tied into his neighbor's power. We called them "zap-cases," though the expression was never uttered in open court. Yet desperate people do desperate things. I recall mediating a case where the guy cut thru a chain link fence at the old Clark Ave Cadillac assembly plant at 2 in the morning,, skirted around the guard shack, climbed two sets of stairs in an area of the plant that was being demolished,, and while in the process of removing some copper piping, managed to fall through an open hole and ended up a quad. His medical bills were astronomical. Everyone was sued, the City, GM, security guard company, etc. You would think those type of cases are slam-dunks for the defendents, but when the now rather pathetic plaintiff comes into the court room in a wheel chair, with his grieving mother/wife/family members, and the jury is shown the traditional "day-in-the-life-of {the plaintiff}"video depicting the former robust/athletic/dynamic- plaintiff who now has to be fed,dressed, put to bed, bodily needs attended to etc., the jury is sometimes hard-pressed to decide the case on the facts rather than on emotions. The City staff attorneys used to try most of those cases, but now the more serious cases are often sent out to private counsel to defend. I hated those "sure winners". |
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289
Post Number: 1076 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.183.223
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 8:27 pm: | |
LOL... what a dumbass... if they give this assholes family money... that would be disgusting... Crime isnt supposed to pay... |
Andyguard73 Member Username: Andyguard73
Post Number: 22 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 64.25.200.14
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 10:55 pm: | |
I understand everyone hating what he did, and I agree 100% it would be rediculous for his family to win a lawsuit against the city, but don't you guys think things like "good riddence" and it should happen to more of them are a little harsh? |
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 568 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.2.191.57
| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 11:00 pm: | |
Yeah, it's harsh. Loss of life versus loss of property. Still, no one can bring him back. Let it be a warning to others. There are no safety regulations in that trade. (Alexei289, there was a recent case of scrappers stealing copper from new residential developments in Phoenix.) (Message edited by Jimaz on March 25, 2006) |
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 399 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139
| Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 1:19 am: | |
Here lies Theopolis.... He wanted some scrap, But he made a blunder Instead of six bucks up, He's six feet under |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3448 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 1:42 am: | |
Theopolis Mitchell 24,000 volts, Theopolis Twitchell. There once a man from Detroit who went scrapping one fine night He said with a look, his ass being cooked The risk was great but my budget is tight. jjaba, With a Nod to Ray1936. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 1921 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.150.26
| Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 2:07 am: | |
Hmmmmm..... Back when folks were posting about the stripping of the roof to the Lee Plaza on W. Grand Blvd. & Grand River... I commented that we should "WD-40" the Lee Plaza roof before the strippers got to it. I can see the Limerick now.... There was once a scrapper named Thad. Who thought the Lee Plaza roof could be had. He went up one day. But to his dismay. He slid off and it ended real bad!
|
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1066 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 4:11 pm: | |
There once was a scrapper named jjaba Who wanted to be richer than ABBA So he rigged his gas meter So heat bills would be cheaper And now he posts from the slamma. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3449 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 6:01 pm: | |
There once a scrapper name Rock whose ladder skills were best on the block Up he went with flair, ass in the air Flipped a 24,000 volt switch, son of a bitch, he flew like the rest of the flock. jjaba, with a nod to Gistok. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1067 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 6:39 pm: | |
OK-- I give up. You win, hands down or ass up. |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 945 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.20
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 10:15 am: | |
I feel little sympathy. Those guys should pick up a hammer, not a crow-bar and wire cutters. They put so much effort into destroying things, that could be put towards building things. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 3861 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.174.227
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 10:22 am: | |
Evelethcdenver, I DON'T THINK SO!!! That man who broke into the DPL power station has NO BUSINESS messing with the powerlines. Therefore they can't sue the city for any circumstances of crimes. |
Pamequus Member Username: Pamequus
Post Number: 10 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 158.229.218.204
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 10:48 am: | |
You miss the point Danny.........here's how it works.....the good folks of DPL KNEW that there was copper wiring in there and the good folks of DPL SHOULD HAVE KNOWN the copper wiring would be a tremendous temptation to certain individuals and, therefore, SHOULD have taken more steps to assure that the tempted individuals weren't injured. Silly as that may seem, that is how it will be played out in a court room. Even more amazing is how many folks on the juries buy into that crap. |
Pmardo Member Username: Pmardo
Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 10:51 am: | |
real issue = unemployment |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 143 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 11:04 am: | |
real issue=common lack of respect for laws and property. |
Pmardo Member Username: Pmardo
Post Number: 7 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:27 pm: | |
real problem = law and order mentality that takes little into account of realities of inner city poverty and treats symptoms instead of structural problems that create them. |
Outoftowner Member Username: Outoftowner
Post Number: 118 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.223.214.2
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:36 pm: | |
It's just the natural cleansing of the gene pool. It doesn't happen often enough. |
River_rat Member Username: River_rat
Post Number: 73 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.166.44.44
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:40 pm: | |
Pmardo, sure, lets just let our hearts bleed for the crooks and scofflaws of the world. It is always the fault of someone else. The world is a better and safer place for the 24,000 volts. As a really new forum member, save us from blaming anyone and everyone for the criminals of the world. the river rat tells it true |
Pmardo Member Username: Pmardo
Post Number: 8 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 1:28 pm: | |
river rat: Even if the ideal of respect for public laws and property is instilled in every citizen in the city of Detroit, the issue remains that the city is plagued by poverty, meaning that people will do what they have to do to get by. Blaming the victim really does not accomplish a whole lot besides a self-indulging catharsis. What we should really be thinking about is targeting poverty from a regional scope. Folks in the suburbs who move to the fringe every day are just as connected with the conditions in the city as are the "criminals." We need to think about how poverty was created in the first place and how those who were part of creating it can now help in the regeneration of our central city. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3459 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 1:42 pm: | |
Let the punishment fit the crime. You steal a candy bar, you might get shot by the store owner. You steal copper wire, you get a 24,000 volt jolt. Either way, you're on a slab down to the morgue. Pmardo, most of The Forum are liberals. Not to worry. You are most welcome here. This thread is about a universally understood illegal and stupid act. Sadly, for whatever reason he did it, he's now colder than a Escanaba well digger's ass. jjaba. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3460 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 1:45 pm: | |
Correction, ... colder than an Escanaba well digger's ass. (But the M-F is still dead.) Sorry for the grammatical error. jjaba. |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 147 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.106
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 5:20 pm: | |
Pmardo: your assertion that scrapping is justified due to poverty is an insult to every person who lifted themselves out of poverty by education and hard work (it ain't the easy way, but many have). The scrapping of vacant buildings is an equal affront to the building and area compared to the owner who abandoned it. BTW: didn't Lyndon Johnson declare war on poverty 40 years ago? |
River_rat Member Username: River_rat
Post Number: 74 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 198.172.203.246
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 5:40 pm: | |
Pmardo, More than once it has been pointed out that the war on poverty is the most expensive war this country has ever fought and, still, we lose it. Forty years and about Nine TRILLION dollars. A lot of us were born and lived poor in Detroit and didn't resort to crime, thievery or other criminal activities. You are welcome on the forum as a liberal; we want to hear you whine. Tell us, what is your solution? Another how many trillion. the river rat welcomes you |
Pmardo Member Username: Pmardo
Post Number: 10 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 6:37 pm: | |
I am not declaring a war on poverty - it has been done and has failed. What I am saying is that people throughout the region, those in our suburbs and exurbs are responsible for poverty just as much as anyone else. For poverty to ever be eradicated we need regional solutions such as fair-share housing practices (affordable housing not just concerntrated in Detroit) and tax-base sharing. Until these regional solutions are instilled, I sadly see little other way to end poverty. I do not believe I justified the crime either - it just does not surprise me at all. What do you think river rat? |
River_rat Member Username: River_rat
Post Number: 75 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 198.172.203.246
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 7:41 pm: | |
Well, Pmardo, what you are advocating resembles a different social and governmental system than we have. Eastern Europe is still trying to overcome decades of a system you seem to be espousing. Revenue sharing and tax sharing wouold imply a regional government and I doubt that the region as a whole would support the comingling of the electorate. Not that the suburbs and exurbs have great governments, but it would be a real stretch to think they would allow those who voted in the leadership of Detroit to select their leaders. Just as valid is that Detroit residents would not be accepting of control from without. So, your plan / suggestion is not very practical. What is practical is to make the region (any part of it)safe and job friendly. This means lower taxation and more responsible and smaller governments. Certainly not more government and more money. As an aside, river rat has been in many REALLY poor parts of this earth and found crime to be very minimal. An example that comes to mind is the poor areas of Cairo. the river rat who has seen it all |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3468 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 8:02 pm: | |
At issue with scrappers is civil order. jjaba was a War on Poverty Natl. staffer with VISTA Volunteers 1965-1970. We always knew that a rise in poverty means social upheavals. So dealing with poverty isn't just about helping individuals, it is preserving law and order. Having people breaking into public lighting systems is a breakdown in law and order. And it's not just for the healthy poor. Some meth addicts steal aluminium guard rails from highways and bridges. Imagine being so stoned to endanger people for the next hit of dope. Metal dealers can attest to what comes in the front end of their lots. jjaba. |
Pmardo Member Username: Pmardo
Post Number: 11 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 8:04 pm: | |
Think governance and not government. Regional solutuions to not have to come froma top down, all embracing government, in fact they often work best otherwise, such as in NYC. In fact, regionalism really has nothing to do with communism and is implemented in many areas throughout our nation. Minneapolis-St. Paul engages in revenue sharing and nowadays the city is subsidizing the declining suburbs! New Jersey has fair share housing practices (because of the Mt. Laurel case), and both Seattle and Portland have growth boundaries! It is essential to market the region as a whole: not just the city, not just the suburbs. We are all interdependent and must act as a unit to remain competitive in the national/international economy. Furthermore, we can become much more efficent by creating strategic partherships to cut down costly service-providing at unbenefical scales. Give it a chance, its really not communism! |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 355 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 8:17 pm: | |
Pmardo: I like the way you think. Feel free to subsidize my PayPal account anytime. I could use your interdependence. [It doesn't bother me much that it seems communist.] |
Opus Member Username: Opus
Post Number: 17 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 72.241.50.213
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 9:03 pm: | |
So tearing apart a possibly vital part of the power grid is a way to cope with poverty? This has nothing to do with the economy; this has to do with an individual with one or more problems that made a really bad choice. Many of the scrappers are guys who actually make a pretty good living, but have been raised to believe that what they have is not enough; they always want that extra buck that they feel is just laying there to be taken. They have 0 consciences regarding their actions, and they usually never consider the possible consequences. |
Supersport Member Username: Supersport
Post Number: 9963 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.37.236
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 9:13 pm: | |
One less armed homeless/mental guy too. http://www.clickondetroit.com/ news/8291705/detail.html |
River_rat Member Username: River_rat
Post Number: 76 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 198.172.203.246
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 9:17 pm: | |
Pmardo is correct in pointing out the ambitious plans in Seattle. Portland (and especially Vancouver, BC). These regional plans to create urban centers and discourage sprawl are moving forward with significant successes. This thread started out discussing a thief, crook, scrapper who paid the ultimate price for his criminal acts. It has turned into a discourse on urban planning and the causes of the crime / poverty relationship. The three cities mentioned that are managing the 'sprawl problem' do not have the public safety and crime issues that plague our area. People are not generally concerned for their personal safety and property to the degree Detroit residents are required to be. Sure, not all of those cities are shining gardens free of problems, but very different than here. To return to the reason for the thread. Stop crime and drugs (they aren't synonimous with poverty) and the city will begin to return as a place to work and play AND LIVE. the river rat |
623kraw
Member Username: 623kraw
Post Number: 869 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200
| Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 4:27 am: | |
"...You steal copper wire, you get a 24,000 volt jolt. Either way, you're on a slab down to the morgue..." My God, 24,000 volts? This guy was vaporized and ready to be poured into an urn...surprised he was even identifiable (dental records?) |