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The TD Law and Order page for around the Shoals posts such things as a pack of cigarettes taken from a car, or a pair of sunglasses taken from a business. I'm glad they show arrests for possession and Criminal mischief. But how about posting arrests made for assaults, domestic violence etc. Is it for legal reasons, or they just don't do it? Could it be they don't have enough room in the paper to print them all. Have I answered my own question?
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quote:
Originally posted by dogsoldier0513:
ALL arrests are 'public record'. There shouldn't be any problem with reporting them. Exceptions are made with regards to releasing names of juveniles(except for violent felonies) and victims of sexual assault.


I have mixed feelings about some of the reporting. The son of a very prominent Florence businessman has been in trouble all his life. I think his brain is now so fried on drugs that he is really not responsible. Some months ago, he was arrested and his full name reported, as is common. His middle name is the same as his father's. A few weeks later, he was arrested again. His middle initial was used instead--no one else's, just his. What does this smack of?
quote:
Originally posted by FirenzeVeritas:
quote:
Originally posted by dogsoldier0513:
ALL arrests are 'public record'. There shouldn't be any problem with reporting them. Exceptions are made with regards to releasing names of juveniles(except for violent felonies) and victims of sexual assault.


I have mixed feelings about some of the reporting. The son of a very prominent Florence businessman has been in trouble all his life. I think his brain is now so fried on drugs that he is really not responsible. Some months ago, he was arrested and his full name reported, as is common. His middle name is the same as his father's. A few weeks later, he was arrested again. His middle initial was used instead--no one else's, just his. What does this smack of?


First, he IS ultimately responsible for his actions. THEY are what placed him in his current situation. As for his 'name', perhaps...just perhaps...TWO different officers made the arrests and filled out the paperwork?
I think that the person responsible for compiling the Law and Order information is probably just lazy. They make their way to all of the local PD's once a week and grab a handful of police reports. Then they just publish a few each day. It's kind of like putting croutons on a salad. They just throw some in there to make it a little better. But you never get enough croutons.

A little more diligence in the reporting of the Law and Order section would make it the hottest section of the paper.
THIS is exactly what I was referring to in another thread. HOW on earth can we have such a small crime rate in one article then 6 months later TD do another article about the over crowding of our jails? I do not care if the arrests are for past due child support, or murder,both are CRIMES to warrent one being ARRESTED and PUT IN JAIL.Lets have the REAL numbers for a change. Butr then if we did,then the Mayberry image might start slipping away into reality.
The Times Daily's selective, self-censorial reporting is a journalistic disgrace! Today's paper reported that at two local establishments, alcohol was being sold to minors, but did not identify those establishments. The who, what, where, when and why criteria of responsible journalism are abridged, ignored or distorted when the Times daily decides to protect the guilty by withholding the name(s) of the locations where local law enforcement authorities found violations of the law on alcohol sales to minors. It is shameful. It is unprofessional. And it is downright disgusting.

And WHY did the TD NOT report one of the most controversial items discussed at last night's Clowncil meeting, namely the DENIAL of a lounge license for the proposed "Copperhead" lounge on Royal Avenue? They listed a bunch of minor league actions by the Clowncil, including approval of elevator repairs at the parking deck and approval of baton twirling instruction by some lady contracting with the Parks & Recreation Department for such exciting and newsworthy services (Oh my heart, stop pounding so!). But not a word about the rare DENIAL of an alcohol beverage license. Maybe, just maybe, they will hold off a day or so and put up an independent article about the license denial, in the way they tend to string out Clouncil business into two or three stories to fill up space and compensate for the deadline writing-challenged reporters they employ. Let us hope that we see SOMETHING soon on this license denial, but we already should have seen it listed among the little one-paragraph items strung out in today's paper concerning much less interesting matters. Or maybe this is yet another indication of the very obvious bias of the TD for increased alcohol sales in Florence in the name of "progress." Just would not do, would it, to let the public know that an elected city governmental body actually said NO to an applicant for a lounge business! Come on, TD, get a story out on this. It IS newsworthy--surely more so than elevator repairs and baton twirling school!

Footnote: The Clowncil's APPROVAL of an alcoholic beverage license for a lounge at Brinley Brothers WAS reported.
Last edited by beternU
There is an independent newspaper rag in Atlanta called Creative Loafing. They post the juicy bits from the ATL police blotter every Thursday. You can read it <here>.

An excerpt from last week's BLOTTER: At an adult-fantasy store on Cheshire Bridge Road, a clerk said he argued with an unsatisfied customer about a vibrator. He said the female customer wanted to return the vibrator; however, the store has a "no return" policy. He said she got mad and argued with him, and then she left and called him and started arguing again. About 10 minutes later, the clerk heard a loud crash outside the store -- his scooter was totaled. (The scooter is worth $2,100.) He said the female customer's companion called him, laughing, and asked, "How he liked that." Also, the female customer had signed up for a video membership at the adult-fantasy store, using her Georgia driver's license. A computer check revealed her address on Todd Road, which is about 10 minutes away from the store, the officer noted. The female customer is 32 years old with brown hair.

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