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Burlington Man Arrested, Jailed For Overdue Library Books

March 4, 2005 - 9:07am — Blake

Anonymous Patron writes "News From Washington state on a Burlington, Washington man who has been ordered to pay a library $150 and do community service after he was arrested for overdue library books. He insists he tried to give his overdue library books to police. "They wouldn't even take them. That kind of irked me," he said. "I told them they are right on the table, take them. They said 'No, we have a warrant, we have to arrest you.'"

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March 4, 2005 - 3:44pm — John

Semantic quibbling...

If I'm pulled over for speeding and punch the cop in the nose, and later end up in jail because of it, am I "Jailed for Speeding"?This guy wasn't hauled off to a debtor's prison; he was arrested for ignoring a summons. (Like Martha Stewart, who was *not* jailed for insider trading, but for a comparable no-no.)

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March 4, 2005 - 3:51pm — kylere

Nerve

This guy has a ton of nerve, this is the same as people that report their cars stolen when they are repossessed, or whine about losing all their "things" when credit card companies take them back over non-payment.Lack of personal responsibility is the worst problem facing the US today, brought on by multiple generations raised under the "each child is truly special" parental misguidance.

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March 4, 2005 - 5:34pm — mdoneil

Re:Nerve

"Lack of personal responsibility is the worst problem facing the US today, brought on by multiple generations raised under the "each child is truly special" parental misguidance."


I could have typed that myself. You have expressed it wonderfully.


The police officer could have taken the books though, they would have made it back to the library quicker that way. The crime had already been committed so the library theif, and truly that is what he was, would not get a free pass when the books were recovered.

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March 4, 2005 - 6:16pm — Bibliofuture

Replaceable

From the story, "I'm sorry, they are books for crying out loud. if it was a computer part or a CD or something, I could understand" said Colburn said. "You know, they are books they are replaceable."
Computer parts are not replaceable?
CDs are not replaceable?

One final note. The police should have explained that giving the library books back was not enough because there was also the issue of failure to appear in court. Since he failed to appear in court last time there was a warrant issued.

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March 4, 2005 - 6:26pm — kylere

Re:Nerve

Thanks!On the issue of the officer taking the books, since a warrant was involved, I believe it becomes a criminal not a civil offense, and the books would technically be evidence at this point, but IANAL.

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