Cops: Man charged after referring to Conn. rampage

[cynatnite]

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — 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.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hIgcmXBH26HwGaNbu8TRIQw_w3lQD9HDUH880

[savalez]

1. Freedom of speech? This should be a false arrest lawsuit.

[Pavulon]

5. May have done him a favor. I would consider those fighting words

and kicked the fuck out of him and paid my $500 fee for simple assault.

It is actually illegal to run through harlem screaming I hate N*ggers..

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. A little more info

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Cops-Man-Arrested--100110779.html

<snip>
The officer at Building 4 of Science Park in New Haven reported having information about an employee, Francis Laskowski, 58, of Derby saying he understood the shooter’s mindset.

<snip>
Police investigated, interviewed witnesses and arrested Laskowski. He was charged with threatening and breach of peace, police said. Police found no weapons at the scene.

Could this have been a knee jerk reaction by the people who reported this Laskowski? Understanding someone's frustration is a matter of opinion. To use the word "mindset" in voicing that opinion may have been taken as literal, and overall his voiced remark could have been couched in different terms to more general context. But, Hey! Not everyone has those skills when talking with others or making an off-hand, perhaps in Laskowski's case, what he may have been simply remarking in casual conversation.

I can understand why there would be heightened sensitivity to fear so soon after that shooting, but this arrest also baffles me to some degree.

[HipChick]

3. In that case..should be a lot more r/w's arrested too...

[cynatnite]

4. I wondered if they somehow thought he said it in a threatening way...

but, I do agree with you. It made little sense to me when I heard it on TV a little while ago.

[sendero]

6. As far as I know.....

...saying "the fuckers deserved it" is legal. In what wsy is expressing an opinion illegal?

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. People seem to still be living under Bush Regime tactics

Sure hope that goes away in my lifetime (even better, would go a long way to see the BFEE arrested, charged and in prison for all the damages to our nation and world done illegally. A dream, but is one that is sometimes better than dreaming about winning the lottery.)

[Fumesucker]

8. Reminds me how a lot of bullied kids were targeted by officials after Columbine..

When it was thought that Klebold and Harris' attack was a reaction to their being bullied.

The solution in many official's minds was to harass the bullied kids rather than try to stop the bullying.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. It would be important to know what was actually said

It is quite possible to understand a mindset that you do not agree or empathize with

[EC]

10. Since it sounds as though someone reported it

maybe they know him and were scared...I know there are people my daughter works with that I wouldn't trust if they voiced agreement.

[Jennicut]

11. I think maybe the New Haven police went too far here. This is still a huge story in CT and

everyone is having all kinds of reactions about it.