Angry mob attacks "person of interest"

Am I the only one for whom this brings to mind our country's horrific history with lynchings?  HUNDREDS of these took place in the early 20th century.

I live in Philadelphia too - work in North Philly, I understand the city is no picnic.  But we have a JUDICIAL SYSTEM for the suspect.  I hope mister "I cracked his head with a board" is arrested.

"I don't condone violence," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said yesterday.

Although "members of the community were very upset over this, and some may have used more force than a trained police officer," none will be charged, he said.

So because people were "very upset", that makes it acceptable under the law to give the guy a beat down? What precedent does that set?

"No one's going to want to prosecute them . . . but as a policy decision, do you have to?" asked local defense lawyer Rocco Cipparone. "Suppose it turns out to be the wrong guy. Then you have an even bigger problem."

But, he added, "on a human, emotional level, myself included . . . if he's the guy who did it, no, I don't feel bad for him."

Nonetheless, "public officials ought to be very careful about what they say that could be construed as condoning or encouraging vigilante justice," said David Rudovsky, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

The mayors comments were particulary dumb

Mayor Nutter said yesterday that he did not condone "vigilantism out in our streets, but it's indicative of the anger and compassion that many of our citizens have."

"It's a further demonstration that Philadelphians care passionately about this city, about our quality of life, and certainly about our children," he added.

One can almost hear the lawyers lining up. I think they have to charge them with something.

McNesby said early yesterday that he did not think residents would be charged because Carrasquillo had tried to run away.

But, he said, the situation would have been different had police administered a similar beating to a fleeing suspect.

"If they were police officers on tape, they'd be arrested," he said.

What?

My wife is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

I was a victim of gun violence in Philly a few years ago.

I use to live near the Kensington neighborhood where this happened.  I know the neighborhood and the people there.

Bottom line: we can't accept this kind of vigilantism in Philadelphia.  It was wrong.  Maybe understandable and one can feel compassion, but still wrong.

The rule of law needs to be upheld in this case.  It seems to me that two crimes were committed in this case.