[jsalcedo]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/05/1062549019288.html?from=storyrhs



Actor arrested between acts
September 6, 2003


As the Northwest Classical Theatre Company prepared to put on Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part I, in a Portland, Oregon park, one cast member was hauled off in handcuffs.

Just before the curtain rose, the actor playing Lord Talbot was standing off to the side in full costume, swinging a sword. A startled off-duty police officer jogging past said, "Hey, man, be careful with that thing."

According to the police man, the actor began cursing loudly and brandishing the sword menacingly. The fleet-footed officer ran to a pay phone and dialled 911. Before you could say "enter stage left," the police arrived to arrest the faux-Elizabethan for menacing.

When they got him back to the station the actor, identified as Thaddeus Carson, also was charged with being an ex-convict in possession of a restricted weapon. Turns out he had a history of sex crimes.

One of the play's directors was pressed into duty to read Lord Talbot's lines.

[Hypnogator]

...thus proving once again, that Crooks Are Stupid! :neener:

Hope our swashbuckling hero spends more time in the joint learning firsthand about the receiving end of sex crimes.:D

[Colt46]

I'm from Kali and even we don't have anything preventing us from owning swords. They don't trust us with blowguns though- I know we had too many crooks knocking over 7-11's with them so Feinstein and her bretheren decided to protect the great unwashed masses from these weapons of mass destruction. Does anybody know Oregon code laws regarding swords? Maybe ex-felons can't possess anything that is deemed a weapon. Watch out for swiss army knives and toenail clippers.

[C.R.Sam]

Looks like if he hadn't sassed the cop, would have been "no ado about nothing".

Good catch.

Interesting that the cop dialled 911...wonder if that part right.

Sam

[seeker_two]

The fleet-footed officer ran to a pay phone and dialled 911.

:what:


This officer didn't have the means (i.e. off-duty gun) to take one perp into custody?... :uhoh:


...or has the cowardly deputy from Columbine H.S. found another job?...:fire:

[Greg L]

This officer didn't have the means (i.e. off-duty gun) to take one perp into custody?...

The link at the top ends with .au which puts him down under I think. I doubt he had an off duty weapon on him to try to arrest a guy with a sword by himself. Running away was probably the best option at the time.

[hammer4nc]

some points:

The incident took place in Portland, OR according to the story, not Australia.

The initial charge: "menacing", didn't have anything to do with the guy's criminal past, or the nature of his "weapon" (stage prop). However, reading between the lines, one would guess the officer took umbrage at being cussed out. I can't wait for the court testimony on this one: "Your honor, this man said f--- you, from which I perceived an imminent threat that he was going to rape me". Furthermore, anyone guessing that the officer's initial words (per the police report)... "Hey, man, be careful with that thing." might actually have been a little different?


Pile-on charge: Felon in possession of a restricted weapon (sword). Total BS. When LE knowingly misrepresents a stage prop as a real weapon, that's fraud. Hehehoho, the booking officer gets good entertainment coming up with bogus charges, must have been a slow night.

Prediction: Charges will be dropped. However, point made...if you insult a leo, expect a response.

One more thing:
...thus proving once again, that Crooks Are Stupid! No evidence this guy is a crook...hey, didn't anyone bother to read the article?

[El Tejon]

Don't make fun of da po-po to their faces. Eddie Haskell up, everyone.:D

My stage-prop long sword to me.

Thou shall not move a foot to seek a foe!

[C.R.Sam]

"Thou shall not move a foot to seek a foe!"

Just move mouth and foe comes to thee.

Sam

[buzz_knox]

No evidence this guy is a crook...hey, didn't anyone bother to read the article?

Yup, including the next to last paragraph about his history of sex crimes. Of course, you mention that in your post so you're aware of it. Sex crimes don't make one a crook, eh?

As for the "stage prop," do you have some inside information on this? You see, I've seen swords used for dramatic performances. Some are wood but many are steel and are merely dulled to reduce the likelihood of injury. From the article, you can't tell one way or another, but identification of the item as a sword gives a hint. I guess you just thought calling it a "stage prop" would support your claim that a person being yelled at by a guy holding a sword and calling the police is overreacting.

[TheeBadOne]

I guess you just thought calling it a "stage prop" would support your claim that a person being yelled at by a guy holding a sword and calling the police is overreacting.
Agreed. If the cop had been Joe civilian there'd be posts to the effect that the dumba$$ sword weilder was lucky he didn't get shot & killed like he 'should have'.
I suspect the cop called 911 to get someone there with Cuffs & and other tools (squad car w/cage to put him in, firearm to take sword man into custody with).

[Dilettante]

(Colt46)
Does anybody know Oregon code laws regarding swords? Maybe ex-felons can't possess anything that is deemed a weapon.

A few years ago in Palo Alto, someone was arrested for stealing a bicycle. When they arrested him, they searched his backpack, and found that it contained a small "billy club". So he was charged with something like "carrying a deadly weapon while committing a crime", which made it a felony and his third strike. I think he got 25-to-life, much to the dismay of my friend, who was the one who had alerted the cops in the first place. :(