Sex offender law prompts lawsuit
Now the police are not only going after registrants, but those trying to help them too!
A federal lawsuit filed against a county sheriff’s office in the Kansas City area alleges that an initiative to arrest sex offenders near a charity violates the organization’s constitutionally protected rights of religious freedom.
The suit filed by the City Union Mission focuses on how the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office interprets a Missouri law. The law mentioned in the suit prohibits some offenders from “loitering” within 500 feet of a public park that contains a pool or playground equipment.
The suit argues that the law doesn’t sufficiently define the term “loiter” and is too vague.
“We want to get that cleared up,” said Jonathan Whitehead, attorney for the mission. “Seeking shelter, food or prayer is not loitering.”
According to the suit, the sheriff’s office now says that the law applies to the charity’s kitchens and shelters even though those buildings are being used for religious ministry.
“As a result, the sheriff’s office has threatened to arrest certain mission employees or guests on mission property,” the suit says.
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp said his office is merely following the law.
“I am statutorily obligated to enforce the laws of Missouri,” Sharp said. “That includes sex offender laws, and I will continue to do so until I’m told otherwise by the courts.”
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Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp said his office is merely following the law.
“I am statutorily obligated to enforce the laws of Missouri,” Sharp said. “That includes sex offender laws, and I will continue to do so until I’m told otherwise by the courts.”
Really…I am sure that the low level Nazis said that same thing as they rounded up Jews and packed them onto cattle cars to send them to death camps. Just keep telling yourself that Sheriff Sharp.
This is our “justice system” in action. May those who choose to enforce these laws in such a manner one day be in need of assistance and experience others actively trying to obstruct that assistance. It’s a disgrace on the part of law enforcement. Too bad they don’t enforce immigration laws with the same vigor.
Several years ago the local sheriff dept tried to oust my son from his place of residence. They claimed the county was building a Trail (considered by Seminole Cty. to be a linear park) within 1000 ft of his home. At the time, they actually got on the phone with his landlord and threatened the landlord with a crime if he continued to rent to my son. As it was, the reported “park” was bogus! It was something that had merely been talked about in a county meeting and the sheriffs office decided to add it to their little map. My son fought for himself and we had great help from B. of FAC (thank you from the bottom of my heart!). A deputy showed up on his doorstep the day before he was going to have to move to let him know that he was fine to stay. The point being is that these cops do not always know the law – and many times they interpret it in different ways.
Sheriff Sharp was not trying to enforce the laws of the land he was just being a plain criminal, for there was never a park there. nowadays we have a lot of criminal in the police force, and because they are in the police force the courts keep them in office. Such is an unarmed Canadian woman killed by a cop after he shut off his body camera.