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**tefraxKedWere** · 12-04-2010, 12:17 AM

By Roxana Hegeman - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Dec 2, 2010 21:50:46 EST
WICHITA, Kan. — "A wounded veteran was charged Thursday with targeting members of a fundamentalist church infamous for protesting at soldiers' funerals."
"Ryan Newell of Marion faces five misdemeanor counts after he allegedly followed members of the Westboro Baptist Church after a protest at a Mulvane school. The 26-year-old veteran allegedly was armed with an M4 rifle, a .45-caliber Glock pistol and a .38 Smith and Wesson pistol when he was arrested Tuesday in the Wichita City Hall parking garage."

"He is being held on a $500,000 bond."
"Newell, who lost both his legs in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan, was formally charged with intentional conduct causing fear to a person or family, falsely representing himself to be a law enforcement officer, and three counts of unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon."

Full article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...esters-120210/

I don't condone this guy's actions but it sure is sad it happened.

I can't imagine what his final act was to be but this guy sure needs help, bad.

What kind of life will he have if he ends up in the slammer as a double amputee and all?

I hope he gets a good lawyer...

I don't know how good of a lawyer he'll need. I'm thinking he could've apprehended in the act of gunning one of them down and you'd still get half a jury to say "Hell with it...NOT guilty"

I did find this little aspect of the article kind of comical:

On Tuesday, Sedgwick County Sheriff Robert Hinshaw said one of his detectives observed a vehicle driven by Newell that appeared to be following members of the church and stopped it. Newell initially told the officer he was providing security for church members and he was allowed to go. Shortly after, the detective stopped the van carrying the Westboro members and learned they did not know Newell.

The detective stopped Newell again and then released him after he told the detective he was a reserve law enforcement officer in Marion County. After returning to the courthouse, the detective found that Newell had a revoked driver's license and was not a law enforcement officer, Hinshaw said. The detective went to the city hall where the Westboro group was meeting with city police and checked the city garage. He found Newell's vehicle backed into one of the stalls and arrested him.
Who the hell was this detective?

Stopped the guy one time, he say "uhm...I'm a private securuity for the church...yeah, that's it...I'm private security"

So...he lets him go...no verification, follow-up, etc.

Stops him a SECOND time and he say "soooo...uh...I'm a reserve police officer...yeah, that's the ticket...a reserve cop!"

Let's him go....only to find out LATER that he wasn't a cop, had a revoked license, etc. and had to go find him a THIRD time.

Like...he didn't run the license on the first stop? Verify any info...just like..."oh, okay, as long as your carnival personnel..."

12-04-2010, 12:17 AM	#2
tefraxKedWere Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 392 Senior Member	By Roxana Hegeman - The Associated Press Posted : Thursday Dec 2, 2010 21:50:46 EST WICHITA, Kan. — "A wounded veteran was charged Thursday with targeting members of a fundamentalist church infamous for protesting at soldiers' funerals." "Ryan Newell of Marion faces five misdemeanor counts after he allegedly followed members of the Westboro Baptist Church after a protest at a Mulvane school. The 26-year-old veteran allegedly was armed with an M4 rifle, a .45-caliber Glock pistol and a .38 Smith and Wesson pistol when he was arrested Tuesday in the Wichita City Hall parking garage." "He is being held on a $500,000 bond." "Newell, who lost both his legs in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan, was formally charged with intentional conduct causing fear to a person or family, falsely representing himself to be a law enforcement officer, and three counts of unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon." Full article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...esters-120210/ I don't condone this guy's actions but it sure is sad it happened. I can't imagine what his final act was to be but this guy sure needs help, bad. What kind of life will he have if he ends up in the slammer as a double amputee and all? I hope he gets a good lawyer... I don't know how good of a lawyer he'll need. I'm thinking he could've apprehended in the act of gunning one of them down and you'd still get half a jury to say "Hell with it...NOT guilty" I did find this little aspect of the article kind of comical: On Tuesday, Sedgwick County Sheriff Robert Hinshaw said one of his detectives observed a vehicle driven by Newell that appeared to be following members of the church and stopped it. Newell initially told the officer he was providing security for church members and he was allowed to go. Shortly after, the detective stopped the van carrying the Westboro members and learned they did not know Newell. The detective stopped Newell again and then released him after he told the detective he was a reserve law enforcement officer in Marion County. After returning to the courthouse, the detective found that Newell had a revoked driver's license and was not a law enforcement officer, Hinshaw said. The detective went to the city hall where the Westboro group was meeting with city police and checked the city garage. He found Newell's vehicle backed into one of the stalls and arrested him. Who the hell was this detective? Stopped the guy one time, he say "uhm...I'm a private securuity for the church...yeah, that's it...I'm private security" So...he lets him go...no verification, follow-up, etc. Stops him a SECOND time and he say "soooo...uh...I'm a reserve police officer...yeah, that's the ticket...a reserve cop!" Let's him go....only to find out LATER that he wasn't a cop, had a revoked license, etc. and had to go find him a THIRD time. Like...he didn't run the license on the first stop? Verify any info...just like..."oh, okay, as long as your carnival personnel..."
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