[Peace-discuss] Non-interaction with Champaign police

[David Green]

This past Sunday, sometime between 6:00 and 6:30 in the evening, I was walking 
around the paved track at Hessel Park. As I approached the entrance to the park 
(north side, Elm St.), I witnessed a white Mustang convertible with a young, 
white, male driver (along), speeding along Grandview, the street the 
semi-circles the park from Kirby to Elm to Kirby. He was travelling east towards 
Elm at at least 60 mph. Again, this was on a nice evening with much activity at 
the park. His car spun out of control and he careened off of Grandview into a 
front yard, coming to a halt. He drove back out over the short embankment (there 
are no sidewalks on Grandview), out back onto Grandview, and turned left, going 
North up Elm St. towards Hessel Ave. He continued surpassing the speed limit. He 
did stop at the stop sign at the corner of Hessel and Elm. 


I caught his license plate, easier because it was personalized: STANGO 1. As I 
continued walking around the park, I noticed a gentlemen on his cell phone. I 
assumed he was calling the police, which was correct. I told him the license 
plate. Shortly after, there was another man calling police, and I also told him 
the license plate. 


Later in the evening, I called the CPD--the public number, not 911. I informed 
the male answering the phone about my experience, assuming he had already heard 
from the others. I offered myself as a witness. He wasn't particularly 
interested. He told me that there had been no officers in the area at the time 
of the incident, and gave me the impression that the case was closed, unless 
other officers came across this driver during the evening.

I am no making moralistic judgments about this young man driving the car. I have 
no idea what circumstances may have prompted this behavior. Nevertheless, a car 
travelling at that speed and going out of control is clearly life-threatening. 
If there had been someone in that front yard, they could have been killed.

I am quite sure that STANGO 1 is a greater threat to public safety than Kiwane, 
the young man at Douglas Park, and any number of others.

I assume that the CPD can access information on the basis of the license plate, 
at least the residence of the owner of the car.

What accounts for this disinterest?

David Green


      
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