Madeline
Rookie
- Banned
- #1
WICHITA, Kansas -- Veterans from across the country are reaching out to support a Kansas man charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and other crimes against members of a controversial Topeka, Kan., church, saying they know what he has gone through since he lost his legs in Afghanistan.
Sheriff's officers say they stopped Newell on Tuesday when they noticed him following members of the church on their way back from Mulvane. Investigators say he initially told officers that he was protecting church members; later he said he was a reserve law enforcement officer.
Sheriff's officers say they found his vehicle backed into a spot in the City Hall parking lot while Westboro members were inside discussing safety concerns with Wichita police officials.
The weapons charges accuse Newell of unlawfully carrying and concealing or possessing with "intent to use" an M4 rifle, .45-caliber Glock handgun and .38-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun. Besides the weapons, Newell also had more than 90 rounds of ammunition in his vehicle, sources said.
Veterans support legless comrade jailed in stalking of church-picketing GI funerals | cleveland.com
It is not clear to me what basis they had for the arrest. Surely, just following church members in public is not stalking. If the weapons he had with him were illegal, why not arrest him for that?
Apparently, he's getting a great deal of support from veterans, and that seems understandable to me.
Your thoughts?