26 votes

Police owe nothing to man whose home they blew up, appeals court says

11 comments

  1. [2]
    on_a_trollercoaster
    Link
    What stands out the most here is this line: Since the man had the money to rebuild the house he doesn’t need any compensation for the damage which he didn’t cause, right? And he is also to blame...

    What stands out the most here is this line:

    "What Mr. Lech also failed to tell you was that he chose on his own to demolish the house rather than repair it, repour the foundation that wasn't damaged and built a bigger better house where the old one stood,"

    Since the man had the money to rebuild the house he doesn’t need any compensation for the damage which he didn’t cause, right?

    And he is also to blame because he choose to use his own property as he wished, after the event.

    This is on the same level of reasoning of those people who accuse raped women of being guilty because of how they dressed up that day.

    19 votes
    1. Greg
      Link Parent
      Not only that, but per the article "The city of Greenwood Village condemned Lech's home.". He would have been well within his rights to decide that a rebuild was the best choice even if they...

      Not only that, but per the article "The city of Greenwood Village condemned Lech's home.". He would have been well within his rights to decide that a rebuild was the best choice even if they hadn't condemned it, but the police painting this as a decision of luxury when the city themselves determined it wasn't fit to live in is staggeringly callous and self serving.

      21 votes
  2. [9]
    rkcr
    Link
    The same plot line plays out in a lot of superhero comics. Superhero stops villain, but destroys half the city doing it, then people get angry at superhero. I'm sympathetic to all sides here and...

    The same plot line plays out in a lot of superhero comics. Superhero stops villain, but destroys half the city doing it, then people get angry at superhero.

    I'm sympathetic to all sides here and it's a difficult problem. The real person who should be paying is the criminal, but they probably don't have the funds to actually do so.

    3 votes
    1. [4]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Ephemere
        Link Parent
        Especially if you contrast it to the police response if you otherwise report a theft, which is "Sure, we'll write down that something was stolen from you."

        Especially if you contrast it to the police response if you otherwise report a theft, which is "Sure, we'll write down that something was stolen from you."

        18 votes
      2. [2]
        Ellimist
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        https://greenwoodvillage.com/DocumentCenter/View/13916/Affidavit-Seacat?bidId= Based on the arrest affidavit, this was far more than PD chasing someone down for petty theft. It started off fairly...

        https://greenwoodvillage.com/DocumentCenter/View/13916/Affidavit-Seacat?bidId=

        Based on the arrest affidavit, this was far more than PD chasing someone down for petty theft. It started off fairly low key and then escalated when the suspect nearly ran over the initial responding officer. The PD didn't escalate the situation, the suspect did.

        Had the suspect not fled, attempting to run over a police officer in the process, he probably gets a ticket for what he stole and criminally trespassed from the Wal Mart and goes about his day

        3 votes
        1. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. Ellimist
            Link Parent
            I didn't say it did. I simply wanted the facts of the situation to be out in the open. Your initial response.... Painted an inaccurate picture of what happened. Gave the impression that 100...

            I didn't say it did. I simply wanted the facts of the situation to be out in the open. Your initial response....

            it's an absolutely insane response for them to be chasing someone down for something like this in the first place

            Painted an inaccurate picture of what happened. Gave the impression that 100 officers from across Colorado descended on this man for nothing more than stealing a few items from Wal Mart when, in fact, it was considerably more than that.

    2. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. monarda
        Link Parent
        That was my exact thought when I first read the article. I do not understand in anyway the thought process of the police in this matter. And since they do not have to pay the actual price of their...

        That was my exact thought when I first read the article. I do not understand in anyway the thought process of the police in this matter. And since they do not have to pay the actual price of their destruction, their thought process in the future is not likely to change.

        5 votes
    3. Thrabalen
      Link Parent
      A superhero doesn't (usually) have the financial backing of the government though. And often, the ones that do have funds (Batman, Iron Man) wind up making restitution somehow (the Wayne...

      A superhero doesn't (usually) have the financial backing of the government though. And often, the ones that do have funds (Batman, Iron Man) wind up making restitution somehow (the Wayne Foundation, Tony Stark's bottomless pockets.)

      14 votes
    4. [3]
      tlalexander
      Link Parent
      I’m thinking the city should have police damage insurance and the insurance company should pay.

      I’m thinking the city should have police damage insurance and the insurance company should pay.

      1 vote
      1. [3]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. Litmus2336
          Link Parent
          Yes. As someone who got rear-ended by a cop, police officers have insurance through their department.

          Yes. As someone who got rear-ended by a cop, police officers have insurance through their department.

          2 votes
        2. tlalexander
          Link Parent
          Probably the police department pays for their car insurance. Or whatever local government is paying for that department.

          Probably the police department pays for their car insurance. Or whatever local government is paying for that department.

          1 vote