Unfortunately, yesterday's discussion about how/whether/when to use the Web to warn the community and help police with apprehension is far from hypothetical. The following was posted last night on the Channel 4000 Web site (excerpts are mine): "Police Search For Stalker; Suspect Has Previous Stalking Convictions Police say that a serial stalker is targeting women in Minneapolis. The most recent alleged incident occurred in a south Minneapolis neighborhood, just days after the suspect was released from jail for a similar crime. Police say that they are searching for 28-year-old Gerald Dettman. The suspect often enters homes where women live, goes through their underwear drawers and steals items, according to authorities . . . Dettman has previous convictions for stalking women and stealing, according to police. He was arrested in September for stalking near Xerxes Avenue and 60th Street in Minneapolis. Police say that he went through a woman's underwear drawer, stole a Jeep and left racial hate messages. He was jailed, but a judge reduced Dettman's bail from $100,000 to $20,000, and he was released. Stocke said that Dettman might be responsible for as many as 20 unsolved break-ins." So, the information is already out there; anyone who frequents the Channel 4000 Web site has already seen it, including Dettman's photo. Critics, remind me again why we're not making this available on community Web sites???? Concern for Dettman's civil rights just don't cut it anymore, especially weighed against the facts of this case, and the community's right to know and protect itself. Yes, lawsuits are an ever-present concern, but I would suggest the police are at greater risk of being sued if they DON'T circulate the info -- especially if Dettman commits more crimes -- than if they do. Ross Kaplan Fulton Neighborhood __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? >From homework help to love advice, Yahoo! Experts has your answer. http://experts.yahoo.com/
