Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

diabeticman

(3,121 posts)
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 04:18 PM Feb 2015

Seriously, How does Zimmerman keep getting away?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Zimmerman


In July 2005, when he was 21, Zimmerman was arrested after shoving an undercover alcohol-control agent while a friend of Zimmerman's was being arrested for underage drinking. The officer alleged that Zimmerman had said, "I don't care who you are," followed by a profanity, and had refused to leave the area after the officer had shown their badge.[25] The charges were subsequently dropped when Zimmerman entered a pre-trial diversion program that included anger-management classes.[3][26] Also in 2005, Zimmerman's ex-fiancée filed a restraining order against him, alleging domestic violence. Zimmerman requested a reciprocal restraining order. Both orders were granted.[3][27] These incidents were raised by prosecutors at Zimmerman's initial bond hearing. The judge described them as "run of the mill."[28][29]

On September 9, 2013, in Lake Mary, Florida, police responded to a 911 call by Zimmerman's estranged wife, who reported that Zimmerman had threatened her and her father with a gun and had punched her father in the face. Zimmerman was briefly detained and questioned by police.[30] No gun was found at the scene. Police took a broken iPad from the scene for examination of a video recording of the incident to determine whether to press charges against either Zimmerman or his wife.[31] His wife declined to press charges, later expressing regret about her decision.[32] After determining that the iPad video could not be recovered, the Lake Mary police department announced they would not be pressing charges against Zimmerman, his wife, or her father.[33]

On November 18, 2013, Zimmerman's girlfriend called the police alleging that after she had asked Zimmerman to leave her home, he had pointed a shotgun at her and begun breaking her belongings.[34] The police reported that Zimmerman had barricaded himself inside the apartment before they had made their way inside and arrested him.[35] He was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon – a felony – as well as domestic violence battery and criminal mischief.[36][37] On December 6, Zimmerman's girlfriend asked that the charges against Zimmerman be dropped and that the restraining order barring him from seeing her be lifted, after which prosecutors said that they would no longer be pursuing a case against him.[38][39]

On Tuesday September 9, 2014, George Zimmerman was named by police in a road rage incident where he reportedly threatened and followed another driver.[40] Zimmerman reportedly responded aggressively when he noticed another driver pointing at him. According to the other driver Zimmerman said "Do you know who I am?" before saying, "I'll (expletive) kill you." Zimmerman allegedly followed the other driver to a parking lot while the driver called 911, but he fled before the police arrived.[41] The other driver declined to press charges.

On January 9, 2015, Zimmerman was arrested by Lake Murray police and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon after allegedly throwing a wine bottle at his ex-girlfriend.[42] He was released on bond the following day.[43] The charges from the wine bottle incident were later dropped after the complainant recanted her story


Now he will not be charged Federal hate crime. This is scary.
30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Seriously, How does Zimmerman keep getting away? (Original Post) diabeticman Feb 2015 OP
It's kind of being discussed here JustAnotherGen Feb 2015 #1
One sentence answer? Blue_Tires Feb 2015 #2
You have to have the right lawyer liberal N proud Feb 2015 #3
Because he's an asshole. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2015 #4
people he runs across are scared of him so won't press charges. I hope someone is brave uppityperson Feb 2015 #5
The US DOJ is scared of him? former9thward Feb 2015 #7
the road rage guy, ex wife, girlfriend are uppityperson Feb 2015 #9
joking right? glasshouses Feb 2015 #13
his ex was scared, his girlfriend was scared, why joke accusation? uppityperson Feb 2015 #15
The guys an asshole and a women beater glasshouses Feb 2015 #19
ah, I was referring to the other cases mentioned when he got away. We were reading and uppityperson Feb 2015 #20
Gun rights trump human rights in the USA by Constitutional fiat. nt onehandle Feb 2015 #6
It's a matter of "who's your daddy?" Dont call me Shirley Feb 2015 #8
My Take: Jake Stern Feb 2015 #10
Nothing to do with federal charges glasshouses Feb 2015 #12
op title is "Seriously, How does Zimmerman keep getting away?" and talks about uppityperson Feb 2015 #17
Seriously ? you thought he should be charged witha hate crime of murder glasshouses Feb 2015 #11
It's not that it didn't happen, GGJohn Feb 2015 #14
There was never any evidence at the trial he had a racial tone towards African Americans glasshouses Feb 2015 #18
I disagree. GGJohn Feb 2015 #21
I watched it glasshouses Feb 2015 #22
Again, the DoJ didn't say there was no evidence, GGJohn Feb 2015 #23
They saw what you saw at the trial , what did you see glasshouses Feb 2015 #25
Didn't watch the trial, GGJohn Feb 2015 #26
There was a case that could be made for that glasshouses Feb 2015 #27
Are you a big fan of Mr. Zimmerman? Kingofalldems Feb 2015 #30
America loves the bad guy olddots Feb 2015 #16
He hasn't run into anyone who shoots back. DFW Feb 2015 #24
Karma has a strange way of catching up with some individuals benld74 Feb 2015 #28
May have something to do with his family's CIA connection nichomachus Feb 2015 #29

uppityperson

(115,680 posts)
15. his ex was scared, his girlfriend was scared, why joke accusation?
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 04:44 PM
Feb 2015

I do not hope he runs across anyone else, but the reason those in op didn't presses charges could very well be out of fear.

Eta, It is common in DV situations for the abused to not presses charges out of fear and more self esteem. I never pressed charges because I thought he'd come kill me, as for happen. I just wanted him gone, which is common.

 

glasshouses

(484 posts)
19. The guys an asshole and a women beater
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 04:57 PM
Feb 2015

I don't have any doubts on that . I was just referring to the federal charges the OP
wrote in his post.

He seemed surprised the justice dept didn't find evidence to charge him of a hate crime.

uppityperson

(115,680 posts)
20. ah, I was referring to the other cases mentioned when he got away. We were reading and
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 04:59 PM
Feb 2015

responding to different parts. No worries.

Jake Stern

(3,145 posts)
10. My Take:
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 04:37 PM
Feb 2015

1. Zim has supporters who help him out with $$$$. A few thou in the bank can induce amnesia.

2. He has fanboys in police departments and possibly the DAs office.

uppityperson

(115,680 posts)
17. op title is "Seriously, How does Zimmerman keep getting away?" and talks about
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 04:49 PM
Feb 2015

non-federal cases also.

 

glasshouses

(484 posts)
11. Seriously ? you thought he should be charged witha hate crime of murder
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 04:40 PM
Feb 2015

Holder and the justice dept didn't charge him because a hate crime didn't happen.





"Now he will not be charged Federal hate crime"

 

glasshouses

(484 posts)
18. There was never any evidence at the trial he had a racial tone towards African Americans
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 04:53 PM
Feb 2015

Not one single witness for or against him in his past before the shooting ever said he was a racist.
In fact it was the contrary .

GGJohn

(9,951 posts)
21. I disagree.
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 05:02 PM
Feb 2015

The DoJ said that there wasn't enough evidence to meet the high standard for an indictment, he didn't say there was no evidence.
Regardless, the Martin family is, again, IMO, let down by the Justice system.

 

glasshouses

(484 posts)
22. I watched it
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 05:06 PM
Feb 2015

Did you see something specific where you thought was evidence in a hate crime ?

The reason I ask is I didn't see any evidence of a hate crime.
I thought they might produce something from his past but the only thing they found was when
he had jumped into a fight to help an African American man he didn't know being beat up .

GGJohn

(9,951 posts)
23. Again, the DoJ didn't say there was no evidence,
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 05:08 PM
Feb 2015

they said there wasn't enough evidence to meet the high standard.

GGJohn

(9,951 posts)
26. Didn't watch the trial,
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 05:11 PM
Feb 2015

had far more important things on my plate at the time.
Anyway, this is my opinion, GZ got away with, at the least, manslaughter.

 

glasshouses

(484 posts)
27. There was a case that could be made for that
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 05:33 PM
Feb 2015

I don't want to retry this here but I watched the trial and what was first reported
with Zimmerman on top and he had no injuries or that his head
wasn't being banged on the side walk wasn't the case.

It happened , do you wait until you lose
consciousness?

tough call

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Seriously, How does Zimme...