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Title: Failing to pay a $100 traffic fine can be fatal
Source:
Edmonton Journal
URL Source: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news ... and+release/4781887/story.html
Published: May 14, 2011
Author: staff
Post Date: 2011-05-14 01:47:21 by Tatarewicz
Keywords: None
Views: 146
Comments: 3
EDMONTON - The man killed in the Edmonton Remand Centre early Thursday morning was only there because he chose not to pay a $110 fine, and was set to be released from custody later that day. Barry Raymond Stewart, 59, of Edmonton, was found dead inside a cell Thursday morning. Another prisoner, Justin Caldwell Somers, 25, has been charged with second-degree murder. According to court records, Stewart had missed an appearance in traffic court on Feb. 2. Two days later, a warrant was issued in his name. On May 10, he was arrested by police and chose to serve a day in jail rather than pay the $110 fine. Stewart was held in a basement cell of the remand centre, in a unit reserved for those who had just arrived, or were about to depart, the facility. Somers was his cell mate. On Friday, the president of the president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees said Somers was not supposed to be held in that area of the centre. “That inmate in questions, the one who was charged, was supposed to be in the mental-health unit, but it was too full, so he was put into that holding area,” Guy Smith said. Inmates in the mental-health unit are segregated from each other. Stewart stayed in various shelters and hotels before his death. He had recently stayed at the Salvation Army, and spent his final weeks in a room at the Grand Hotel on 103rd Street, until he left last week. Smith said the death highlights the staffing crisis at the remand centre. He spoke to Solicitor General Frank Oberle on Wednesday about staffing issues and staff morale. Workers had previously raised concerns about the particular unit where Stewart was killed. Smith said staffing is reduced by one guard between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. to deal with administrative duties. It’s also a time of preparation for escorting inmates to court appearances. Police were called to the centre just after 5 a.m. “We hoped this wouldn’t lead to a crisis, and now it has,” Smith said. The centre currently holds three times the number of inmates it was designed for. The cause of Stewart’s death has not been released. He is the 20th homicide victim of the year in Edmonton His death was the second homicide in the history of the 734-bed centre. On Sept. 10, 2005, Todd Stevenson was beaten to death in his cell. No charges were ever laid. A new $586-million remand centre will finish construction next year. It is designed to hold roughly 2,800 inmates. Yep, it can happen when you have government bureaucratic retards in charge of things.
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#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
U.S. Constitution - Article IV, Section 4: NO BORDERS + NO LAWS = NO COUNTRY
If everyone refused to pay and choose to serve the time, the system would collapse. This murder is an analomy. If somehow I end up with some judge trying to tell me I own $300 for some insignificant infraction, I'll smile and tell him I'll serve the time. a year? Boo hoo. Free room and board and medical care. A nice long vacation.
“I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend” - J.R.R. Tolkien
Great tag.
Somewhere in Kenya, a village is still missing its idiot.
#2. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
#3. To: Turtle (#2)
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