Blog #9

I read an article on http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120409_Dirt-bike_tragedy_an_example_of_bigger_problem.html?page=2&c=y  it was about how a fourteen year old boy named Jermaine Alexander was killed in a so called police pursuit. Jermaine parents say that he was a good kid and that all he really did was ride his dirt bike and play football. Although they knew it was illegal they still let him do it because unlike some kids his age he isn't selling drugs or out shooting people. His mother Sarina Howard-Witherspoon said that a day before her son was killed a cop had bumped the back of his bike. On the day of the accident Jermaine also known as Maine went to a friend house after school to borrow a bike. Afterward his friend and him went by the school to show off the bike. While they where riding his friend spotted an unmarked police car. They both sped off in different directions. His mother also stated that the car chased him and while he was riding across the street a car hit him. The police denies it ever being a chase. Jermaine's mother wants justice for her fourteen year old son because she feels as though this should not have happened, she has even hired a lawyer and everything. Also, in the article it talks about how riding dirt bikes or four wheelers in Philadelphia is illegal. Even though it's illegal cops aren't allowed to chase people who are riding them, therefore it makes it hard for police to catch them because they can just speed off. If the person is caught there bike is taken. Even after their bike is taken they can still get back by showing paper work on the bike, or even buying it at an auction for less then they may have paid for it. Officials are trying to crack down on how they can catch people who are not listening to these rules.