The Criminalization of . . . Acting Like a Dick
Connecticut police say they arrested a man at a management company after he mentioned the shooting rampage across the state that killed nine people and said he understood the killer's mindset.
Fifty-eight-year-old Francis Laskowski of Derby was charged with breach of peace Wednesday after making the comments while working at Fusco Management Co. in New Haven.
Nine people died in the shootings Tuesday at Hartford Distributors in Manchester, including gunman Omar Thornton. Thornton told police in a 911 call that he wanted to avenge racial discrimination, allegations that company officials denied.
Laskowski told The Associated Press on Friday that his comments were blown out of proportion. He says his arrest was "ridiculous" and he didn't make any threats.
Laskowski posted bail and is due in New Haven Superior Court on Tuesday.
And from Chicago:
The manager of a North Chicago sandwich shop learned in a Lake County courtroom this week that the difference between a joke in poor taste and an inflammatory remark is 75 bucks.
Arjunsinh Sindha, 64, doesn't agree with the judge who hit him with a $75 fine after finding him guilty of disorderly conduct for asking a Pakistani-born customer if he was a terrorist.
"I don't think it was a fair deal," said Sindha, who manages the Subway sandwich shop at 2302 Green Bay Road in North Chicago. "We all talk when something happens. We just kid around."
I guess "I'm calling the cops" is the new "Hey, why don't you shut up, asshole?"