Monday, July 25, 2011

Life in prison for failure to identify yourself?

Looks like that's what these cops have in mind...
John Doe, as they have been forced to call him, was arrested for trespassing after he was spotted hanging around the parking garage of the Provo City offices, looking into cars. Police told him to leave three times, but he refused and was arrested July 1.

From that day since, he hasn't told anyone who he is, where he came from, or what he was doing in Provo.

Utah County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Harris said they are baffled. They've told him he was arrested on minor misdemeanor charges and that if he tells them his name, he would probably be let out for time served. A judge did give him a $1,200 cash-only bail, but he hasn't come up with any cash, and it doesn't look like he's made any attempt to get the money. For now, he just sits in jail.
Sounds like there's a good chance he's simply crazy as a loon, which would certainly help with the whole "obstinacy in the face of authority" thing. I've had trouble keeping silence when faced with inquisitive cops, because you have to look into the eyes of a man who can hurt you without consequence and defy him, which will make him angry. That's harder to do in meatspace than it is on an internet forum, and the need to do so in more serious circumstances is a frequent topic for pondering.

So either hats off to the guy, or best wishes for getting over that head injury. I dunno which.

6 comments:

Judy said...

True story. The ex-husband was arrested and held in the 70's for using John Doe as his name.

You know there has to be some sick set of parents out there with the last name of Doe that have named their son John.

Matt said...

Maybe the UI gentleman feels better off in the county lock-up than living on the streets. Safe place to sleep, eat, showers, arts&crafts, cable tv etc. He might actually be smarter than the authorities...

Plug Nickel Outfit said...

Off the cuff and not knowing anything about the person... it would almost be fun to post the guy's bail just to see if they could be forced to let him walk without identifying himself. Of course, just my luck - he'd turn out to be some heinous cat-juggler or some such. It's probably for the best I don't have that sort of $$ to throw after oddball causes.

Matt said...

I don't see why they can't try, sentence and incarcerate Mr. Doe on the original trespassing charge. When the sentence is done, let him out to keep being Mr. Doe. At some point somebody should realize it will cost them vastly more to let him hang out in jail than the original charge was worth. I know beuracracy has it's own inertia and no one should be allowed to be different.

Joel said...

That's very...unmutual of you, Matt. Of course everyone needs to be properly cataloged, and most of all those who demonstrate any sort of deviant behavior. Otherwise how could we be safe?

Really, I'm terribly disquieted by your unherdlike opinion. Are you sure you don't need to come in for treatment?

Matt said...

Ha. My affliction is not treatable this side of the grave, thank you for the kind offer though.