OK, I am appalled by this on many accounts. First, I don't know what the laws are in your area but is your friend able to file for charges on her own with a court commissioner (we have that in our area) or at least can she pressure the prosecuting attorney to press charges? The squeaky wheel gets the grease. She should defnitely not let this rest for her sake, all the kids involved, and especially the one's who think he is some kind of role model.
Second, not knowing what this Watch Dog program is, I can only assume that they are working with kids, it's absurd that they are not doing background checks. Teachers, daycare providers, camp counselors, scout leadres, and all kinds of adults working with kids have to have background checks done. Any conscientious parent in this day and age would want it done and wouldn't object to it if these men (and women) are working closely with young children.
As was already said, sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
If nothing else, if your friend had the police their and a police report was written, she may be able to get a copy of it for her records and it could "conveniently" end up in the hands of the school (with her name blacked out of course. Then of course the pictures to back it up (no faces involved) would help.
But if charges are placed, convictions are public record, but keep in mind that attorneys like to plea to lesser charges, so make sure she fights for the most...especially considering that he did all this to her the dog and in the presence of children...he has no respect or decency or self-control.
Good luck, and if you have any questions (as you may be able to tell I have some knowledge of the legal system), feel free to pm me.
I would definitely let them know. It may be a realization for them that before they begin to accept these applications and designate these members, they need to to a background check, get fingerprinted and they should have to supply references.
They should have thought of this before making it public. Now they look foolish given that there is an issue already on record with a police department and a district attorney.
So they have these people who are supposed to be role models and provide security to the students and one of them is potentially violent if he doesn't get his way and they don't do background checks? Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
I can't believe that he can do something like that and just simply drive across state lines and go on with his life. So wrong in so many ways. Maybe you should make a little phone call to the district attorney and let him know that this gentleman is being touted as a role model for elementary students and has himself involved in the school. That might hurry things along a little.
There wouldn't be the delay if it would have happened in our state. Our city boarders our state and a river divides us from the state it happened in. He hightailed it back home and the police over there were not able to catch him. They did try to get him to come back and talk to them but he asked if he did, what would happen and they told him he would be arrested. He told the officer that he would have to talk to an attorney first and hung up. Needless to say, he didn't go over and talk to them. The police turned it over to the prosecuting attorney, but due to a back log they haven't even looked at the case yet, let alone get anything going.
The mother of her nephew did talk to someone at the school and they were rather nasty and told her that they don't do backround checks.
Because no charges have been filed, you would be treading a fine line between informing and slander. If he's already that big of a jerk, he'd probably come after you for the slander! Perhaps you could just ask the elementary PTO Prez if background checks are done on these Watch Dogs and see if maybe you can kind of prompt them in that direction. Again, nothing is going to show up until/unless he is convicted. If she asks for more specifics you could just say that you are aware of a situation where charges may be filed against one of the gentlemen for behavior that was quite violent, but because the charges haven't been formally made yet, you cannot provide more info than that. Once the charges have been filed, then I would forward her that info and let her do with it as she sees fit.
It would be hard for me to be involved in something like this and not let people know, but you have to be so careful these days.
Ok, in today's paper is another elementary school in our district had pictures of dad's who were signing up for Watch Dogs... (Dads of Great Students) . Their website describes this group of dads as "Role Models" and provide added security.
Problem...the dad in the picture is anything but! He was engaged to my best friend, and son's aunt until this summer. One evening she was at her brothers house about 20 miles from our town (across state line) babysitting her nieces while her brother was out of town for the weekend. This "Watch Dog" dad showed up after having a few drinks elsewhere and they had a heated disagreement that got way out of hand. He ended up beating her and while he was doing this, her dog attacked him. He then choked the dog until it pooped all over the floor. She had pictures of her bruises taken by the police department in that city where it happened. They called this guy (cause he left) and asked him to come back to town and discuss what happened that night. He refused. Since he is over state lines, makes this case complicated. It has been turned over to the prosecuting attorney and awaiting charges (back log).
The thought of him on the cover of our newspaper as a "role model" and adding "security" to this school is outrageous! Her nephew attends this school and I am sure that he doesn't feel to "secure" with him there.
I am on the middle school PTO with this elementary school's PTO president. Since this Watch Dog group is sponsored by their PTO, I feel like they have a right to know what is going on. Since it is not my school should I just keep quiet and let him be around these kids, or should I speak up and let them know what is pending just a short 20 miles away, although across state line.
