Marine vet detained for comments he made on Facebook wins release | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    The alarming aspect of this story is that it is indicative of a trend in this nation since 9-11

    This is a follow-up of a story we posted Thursday (8-23-12) about a Marine who was detained in Chesterfield County, Virginia for making what authorities contended were threatening comments. But a judge reviewed the detention and found that there were not factual elements that would warrant such detention. So after five days of confinement Brandon Raub, 26, was scheduled to be released.

    The link above includes another link to yet another similar story, this one coming from Pennsylvania. Click here to read that article.

    Commentary

    We're glad both of these two citizens have now been freed. In a sense the system worked, albeit slowly. But we don't think that is the issue. The issue is how such a mistake could be made in the first place and continued for days without relief. Secondly, we note that there is no indication in news reports that any of the officers involved in either of these two cases were or will be disciplined. That is unacceptable.

    We've got to put a stop to this nonsense. Not in America we would say. The government has no authority to arrest you unless there is factual evidence that you have committed a crime. That you said something also requires a clear violation of a specific statute and evidence to support that there was a violation of established law.

    We said it in our earlier article that we think the arresting officers should be liable personally for the injury they inflicted on both of these two men. And that injury includes the cost of their legal services to gain justice. Those expenses should be paid by the officers who abused their authority their badge gives them--abuse of authority under color of law.

    So the outcome of Mr. Raub's case does not make us feel good. What the judge's order Thursday says to us is that the original reason the police had for detaining him was bogus. Those who inflicted this injustice on Mr. Raub should be held accountable for abusing their authority and the punishment should be sufficient to send a clear message to other officers that they better not repeat such an injustice.

    Call your next case.

    What we are talking about in expressing our concern about abuse of authority under color of law is seen in the following articles:

    Click here to read the publication "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" which was published by the Dept. of Homeland Security.

    "Law Enforcement Is Not Your Friend" published at www.zerohedge.com.

    As Thomas Jefferson is reported to have said: The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.