15 year armed standoff in Texas ends

[cirus]

"It wasn't worth it,” the sheriff said. “Joe Gray has been in prison out there himself, in my opinion, for 14 years."

It was justice served, the sheriff suggested, in a felony case that never went to court.

Interesting perspective.

I can see where he's coming from. I'm all for enforcing the law but at what cost? Depending on the crime is it worth other law enforcement possibly dying? Why didn't they just shut his utilities off? No water or electricity he would have came out eventually.

[The Annoyed Man]

"It wasn't worth it,” the sheriff said. “Joe Gray has been in prison out there himself, in my opinion, for 14 years."

It was justice served, the sheriff suggested, in a felony case that never went to court.

Interesting perspective.

I can see where he's coming from. I'm all for enforcing the law but at what cost? Depending on the crime is it worth other law enforcement possibly dying? Why didn't they just shut his utilities off? No water or electricity he would have came out eventually.

47 acres is about the size of a large prison. He hasn't left the property in 15 years. Granted, it was probably more comfortable, and he had greater freedom of movement, but he still wasn't "free", even if his sentence was self imposed. And all for something that could have been available to him anyway if he had been willing to buy permission from the state.......

Obviously, with a temper like that, he might not be in possession of very strong conflict resolution and deescalation skills; but it also seems to me that 15 years of self imposed imprisonment is punishment enough for being a cranky old fart.

[n5wd]

Sheriff Nutt is an elected official. That's why he did not use Nazi tactics like Waco nor Ruby Ridge to get this guy. Notice how you are more likely to get crooked cops in jurisdictions where the Sheriff is not elected but hired. ...

All Sheriffs in the State of Texas are elected.... none are appointed, or "hired".

[VMI77]

There had to be more to the story. This man broke the law (whether you agree he had the right to carry at the time) by assaulting an officer, locked himself up on his property where he had firepower and manpower to prevent law enforcement from getting him? This can not be the whole story...

This is a victory for the criminal and those who oppose no-knock warrants.

Yeah, there should be no knock warrants by the thousands because of this one guy. You think this will have ANY effect on the use of no knock warrants? Seriously?

I think it was Thomas Jefferson who said something to the effect that it's better for 10 guilty men to go free than for 1 innocent man to be punished. So, this one guy essentially self-incarcerated and thereby got away with something because he wasn't officially punished. How many innocent people have been killed in no knock raids at the wrong location because the police were sloppy and got the wrong address? More than one...that's for sure, including children, and including a baby in a crib maimed for life.

[n5wd]

I can see where he's coming from. I'm all for enforcing the law but at what cost? Depending on the crime is it worth other law enforcement possibly dying? Why didn't they just shut his utilities off? No water or electricity he would have came out eventually.

They probably have well water, so that wouldn't work. But, you're right, the authorities could have had the electricity turned off, if it was that big of a deal.

But, both of the offenses (UCW and simple assault on a peace officer) being misdemeanors (IIRC), there was no need to spool up the DPS SWAT team and go in with guns blazing. Those warrants would still be over his head if he ever came off the property... this way, no one (Grey, his family, or LEOs) got hurt.

[nightmare69]

I'm not sure what the offense was in 1999 but assault on a peace officer is a F/3.

[Richbirdhunter]

So is the place available? Sometimes the family could use a brake.

[chuckybrown]

So is the place available? Sometimes the family could use a brake.

Sorry brother, but you do not know about that which you speak.

I know that sounds insulting, but I have first hand experience/knowledge of this situation.

Peace.

[Lynyrd]

I drove by that place one time about 12 years ago just to see what it looked like. Back then the county road was dirt and crossed cattle guards at property lines with no fences on either side. It's on the banks of the Trinity River. Lots of weird hand painted signs were hanging on the fence.

[Richbirdhunter]

So is the place available? Sometimes the family could use a brake.

Sorry brother, but you do not know about that which you speak.

I know that sounds insulting, but I have first hand experience/knowledge of this situation.

Peace.

It was just a joke, my wife wouldn't let be stay by myself for 15 years. Id never know when I was wrong

[chuckybrown]

All good!