Hero or Villain

Maryland State Police are still patrolling the wooded area where an armed man disappeared yesterday off of southbound 295 in Anne Arundel County after attacking a speed camera vehicle.

According to State Police, at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday a white man came out of the woods off of southbound 295 near 195 holding a shot gun and a hammer and approached a speed camera vehicle that was parked with an employee contracted by the State Highway Administration inside.

The man tapped on the back window of the vehicle with the shotgun and the employee started blowing the SUV's horn.

The man walked to the front of the SUV and hit the windshield several times breaking the glass.

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State Police are looking for an armed man in the woods off of 295 in Linthicum

outside of the fact he shut down a major hiway I think of him as some kind of Boston tea party freedom fighter ( or terrorist take your pick )

I do not think if him as a hero or villain. Until they get a statement from the suspect there is no way of determining what his exact reasons are for vandalizing the car. I guess the media used the word attacked because it sounds more sinister than the word vandalized.


Personally I think law enforcement should only be carried out by law enforcement, not contracted companies.They should have no authority what so ever in this matter. Speed cameras are just a precursor to the government spying on you with cameras. The government has no business spying on its employers we the people.

jamesrage said:

I do not think if him as a hero or villain. Until they get a statement from the suspect there is no way of determining what his exact reasons are for vandalizing the car. I guess the media used the word attacked because it sounds more sinister than the word vandalized.

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Pretty much same opinion here.

jamesrage said:

Personally I think law enforcement should only be carried out by law enforcement, not contracted companies.They should have no authority what so ever in this matter. Speed cameras are just a precursor to the government spying on you with cameras. The government has no business spying on its employers we the people.

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So, what is the difference between someone being contracted to catch speeders vs someone who voluntarily calls the cops because of speeders? In a court of law the testimony given is the same and valid. Actually the contracted person might be more believeable to a jury than a volunteer. Because a volunteer only estimates someones speed and normally isn't recording the instance. The person contracted will no doubt have the equipment to measure the speed and be video recording the instance.

As for the video bit...you do realize that every time you get pulled over by a cop, or even pass by a cop sitting next to the road, you are being recorded right? Are you against those also?

Sidgaf said:

State Police are looking for an armed man in the woods off of 295 in Linthicum

outside of the fact he shut down a major hiway I think of him as some kind of Boston tea party freedom fighter ( or terrorist take your pick )

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I think I can already see where you're going with this thread. :roll:

American said:

I think I can already see where you're going with this thread. :roll:

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Sounds like a "falling down" type guy - which has a certain amount of support ... hard to tell though.

Ockham said:

Sounds like a "falling down" type guy - which has a certain amount of support ... hard to tell though.

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No, we'll soon be hearing about the Tea Party being the cause, that's my point. I mean only a Tea Party member could do this kind of thing, right? :roll:

Kal'Stang said:

So, what is the difference between someone being contracted to catch speeders vs someone who voluntarily calls the cops because of speeders? In a court of law the testimony given is the same and valid. Actually the contracted person might be more believeable to a jury than a volunteer. Because a volunteer only estimates someones speed and normally isn't recording the instance. The person contracted will no doubt have the equipment to measure the speed and be video recording the instance.

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I have no problem with someone calling the cops if they see someone breaking the law. However this is not the same as a speed camera contracted by a private company that is paid to actively enforce the law. Law enforcement should be carried out by law enforcement. Instead of the swat team busting down someone's door would you like to see J&J law enforcement Corp or OCP(robocop reference) busting down doors to arrest drug dealers and other people with warrants?

As for the video bit...you do realize that every time you get pulled over by a cop, or even pass by a cop sitting next to the road, you are being recorded right? Are you against those also?

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If you are being pulled over for a traffic offense then I have no problem with the police using cameras to record themselves and you the whole time while the police is running checks and writing tickets/citations. This benefits both the police officer and the person who was pulled over. This ensures the politce officers does not do something they are not supposed to do and ensures that the police officer has something to back him or her up in case the offender harms the police officer or falsely claims something happened or did not happen. That is the only time you should be recorded by traffic cops.

Not a fan of vigilante-type actions. There are other means of ending this process. Commiting an act of vandalism and acting in a threatening manner aren't the right ways to do it.

tessaesque said:

Not a fan of vigilante-type actions. There are other means of ending this process. Commiting an act of vandalism and acting in a threatening manner aren't the right ways to do it.

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phrased it better than I could have.

American said:

No, we'll soon be hearing about the Tea Party being the cause, that's my point. I mean only a Tea Party member could do this kind of thing, right? :roll:

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Of course. Democrats never do stuff like this or blame the Tea Party and later find out such accusations were patently false.

He's a vandal and bully. This is not how you get things you don't like changed. It makes your side look crazy and wipes away any chance of change.