Humpday Happenings...
Middle of the week, and the middle of some rain here in the heartland, but we DO have a chance of seeing some SNOW within the next 24 hours...
(who knew?)
And, like Travis Bickle once said: "Some day a real rain will come, and wash all the scum off the streets..." Yeah, I can hope, too. Be real nice if that happened.
Today is also the first day we get to use our "brand new" RECYCLE bin - a rolling cart with a yellow lid (which I have already adorned with our ADDRESS, in case anyone gets to thinking THEY would rather have it). Of course, the recycle guys will have to come around to the garage side of our house to gather it up, as I don't plan to walk it all the way around to the front.
My property - my rules...LOL.
Now, let's get cracking and see what the dregs of our Fort Wayne society have to offer up for us today...fair enough?
*** First off, I heard on the police radio yesterday morning that a foot pursuit was initiated (sounds like fun). The cops were after TWO suspects wanted in a signal *50* (burglary), and the route they took came pretty close to where we live...
So, the first thing I do is "arm-up" and start looking out the windows for a running perp anywhere NEAR our place.
The police caught one, but the other one got away (was wearing a red jacket). Both subjects were black (big surprise).
Funny thing, I did not see ONE FWPD cruiser criss-cross the area, as in times past.
Usually, they go up and down the alleys, as well as go back and forth over the cross streets, but I saw nothing.
(guess there's a new method for canvassing an area other than what has worked in the past?)
I imagine the suspect is still at-large (as are a lot of them down here).
I've stated as much to our quadrant captain that the officers assigned to this sector need to realize that there's TOO many places to (easily) "get lost" down here, trust me.
You simply cannot spend 8 hours chasing a radio (then punch out) and expect to get to know the area you're serving in, nor the people IN that area.
It's not going to happen, and that's why I hear some officers actually ASKING for directions...!?!
Yeah, to ME, that's a real "WTF?" moment.
Hell, I got to know parts of Philly I would NEVER live in...because it was the SMART thing to do.
It was once told to me that: "For every ONE way into a situation, always have at least THREE ways out of it".
Same applies to neighborhoods in cities.
Get to know the "lay of the land", as it were.
But hey, it's not like I know ANYthing about this, even after living down here for a dozen ro so years...nah.
Meanwhile...back at the "Ghettoland Abusement Park" (and discount house of worship) We have these stories...
*** Roommate of Mother Charged in Boy's Death.
Here's the link to a followup story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110323/LOCAL03/303239982
Yeah, this was the "mom" who poured vinegar and olive oil down the child's throat until he died...helluva way to purge those nasty "demons", isn't it?
Makes a fine case for mental health, as well.
Seems the roommate had a hand in this...now I'm familiar with "prayer-partners", but this is almost beyond words.
Natasha Hawkins, 31 held the child's legs down as baby-mama Latisha Lawson, also 31, administered the mixture down the boy's throat and held his mouth shut until "he stopped struggling".
Nothing better than two good friends "working together", hmm?
It's a damn shame little Jeziah didn't have one word to offer in this...and never will, with the possible exception of what our judicial system has to say.
Let's hope justice isn't THAT blind...or voiceless.
But wait...there's more...
*** Police Discover Meth Lab Near School.
(...OOPS...)
(( Updated: Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011, 8:43 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011, 1:02 PM EDT
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)- - The Fort Wayne Police Department discovered a meth lab near an elementary school Tuesday morning.
According to police, Fort Wayne narcotics detectives were sent to 1205 Orchard Street to follow up on a tip that was called into their office.
When they searched the home, they discovered eight one pot meth labs and several other items of interest.
That home is across the street from Bloomingdale Elementary School.
The man living in the home, Brian Lee Hoskins, had been under surveillance for approximately one week and was taken into custody last Friday.
He now faces felony charges of Manufacturing Meth, Possession of 2 or more precursors, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Criminal Recklessness and Dumping a Controlled Substance.
He is currently being held in the Allen County Jail on a $69,000 bond.
Investigators believe Hoskins may also be connected to a meth lab in New Haven and two more trash meth labs in Fort Wayne. ))
Now this ranks up there with that "special kind of stupid", don'cha think?
Amazing how the FWPD can make a call after ONLY ONE WEEK, while I've been after the same folks for over a YEAR to at least "investigate" the house down the block that has (at least) pot-smoking going on...with TODDLERS inside, as well as code violations for number of people vs. sq. footage of the property.
(maybe I should tell them I smell starting fluid there?)
And then...there's THIS:
*** Five Young Children Found Home Alone With Rat Poison and Iron Within Reach.
(( Updated: Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011, 3:01 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011, 3:01 PM EDT
Drew Blair
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Formal charges are pending against a Fort Wayne mother who allegedly left five young children home alone at her residence along with an open container of rat poison and other items in the home that were considered threatening to the children’s safety.
Officers responded to a report of a burglary alarm sounding at the home on the 900 block of Hamilton Avenue on the city’s south side at 3:20 a.m. Sunday.
A nine-year-old boy in the home told police that he and four other children ages nine, seven, five and three were left at the home without supervision for approximately two hours. The child stated that he did not know where his mother, Amber Tinsley, 28, was located. Tinsley is the mother of four of the children found in the home; the fifth was a school friend according to FWPD spokesperson, Raquel Foster.
According to court documents, the home was found to be filthy. Police found items of concern within the children’s reach which included an iron left plugged in on high heat, an empty .45 caliber handgun case on a dining room table and an open container of rat poisoning.
Police reported that they were investigating the scene for 45 minutes before Tinsley called the phone at her residence. An officer spoke with the mother who said, "Oh, I was out back having a cigarette and my alarm went off."
Once Tinsley arrived on the scene, officers noted she was not wearing shoes and they could smell alcohol on her breath, court documents said.
Tinsley was arrested on preliminary charges of Neglect of a Dependant Child and Public Intoxication. Her children were placed with a family member, Foster said.
NewsChannel 15 uncovered Tinsley has an extensive criminal history including six criminal misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana and operating a vehicle while suspended. Tinsley’s rap sheet of infractions dates back to 2002.
She was released from Allen County Lockup after posting bond. ))
Wow, after all that, baby-mama's BACK OUT on our streets...astounding!
Let's do some "questioning" on this maternally-impaired piece of refuse, shall we?
-- She's got an extensive criminal history. Is THAT a surprise?
-- She leaves children unattended for almost a HOUR?
-- What "type" of cigarette takes FORTY-FIVE MINUTES to smoke?
-- How is being DRUNK being a better parent?
-- Where is the .45 handgun, and is it even legally HERS?
-- Why wasn't Child Protective Services notified SOONER?
-- If you have a rat problem, don't you either hire an exterminator, OR call the landlord on it?
(maybe that's what the .45 was for? them's some BIG-ass rats, then)
And we allow such people with absolutely NO clue of what it is to be a REAL parent to further procreate...WHY?
It's getting to the point where you're going to have to "test" certain people to determine whether or not they CAN be a parent, and comprehend the complexities in bringing up children, not to mention maintain a household (btw, nice "bedsheets for curtains" on that house) in the process.
We called that being RESPONSIBLE.
And guess what...THAT still works for most folk just fine.
Perhaps some others need not be screwing around (literally) so damn much, bringing children into a world where they will soon be neglected, or worse.
'Ya think?
It's frightening to see such things happen...but happen they do.
And we can always look to all those wonderful entitlements and thank THEM for this.
When people are given (seemingly) everything for doing nothing (except making babies), they have NO sense of accomplishment, NO sense of PRIDE, and NO sense of accountability.
But now, since we're into the 2nd generation of such people, it's going to take longer to get them off of this, and back into "normal" society as people who KNOW what it means to be self-reliant and responsible.
Be nice to hear from community "leaders" and have THEM make some overtures on how to remedy this addiction.
Until then, I'm afraid we're going to keep seeing stories like this.
"When people are made to feel uncomfortable in their poverty, they will flee from it."
I didn't say that...Ben Franklin did...and he was right.
And if you can call what these people "think" is poverty, you haven't seen real poverty...nor should you ever wish to.
We don't need this big "money-grab" as much as we need a return to human VALUES. The kind that Japan is displaying these days.
The kind this nation used to have in abundance. THAT will get us back on course.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.