Absolutely no comparison. That is a situation were it is expected to see people swimming. There is no perception of imminent peril. As I said before, you need to separate the act of swimming from what this guy did. It's not about him going swimming -- it's about him doing so in a heavily populated and heavily traveled harbor, in front of untold numbers of people.

 

If he had done this idiotic stunt down-river at Boone County or somewhere like that, I would have said "God bless his little moronic heart." But he didn't.

 

I think the case will be thrown out and he will be set free.

OK - next time I see someone swim the river, or jump a bridge I'll assume they are having great time and go on my merry way.

All the best jokes and comments have been taken. I'm amazed that I swam in that river as a kid and I guess turned out okay. :lol:

Absolutely no comparison. That is a situation were it is expected to see people swimming. There is no perception of imminent peril. As I said before, you need to separate the act of swimming from what this guy did. It's not about him going swimming -- it's about him doing so in a heavily populated and heavily traveled harbor, in front of untold numbers of people.

 

If he had done this idiotic stunt down-river at Boone County or somewhere like that, I would have said "God bless his little moronic heart." But he didn't.

 

I'm glad he could swim - can you imagine a rescue person going and and "saving" him? What would have happened if they died?

I'm glad he could swim - can you imagine a rescue person going and and "saving" him? What would have happened if they died?

My guess - The guy would be facing manslaughter charges.

Think about what you just said the next time you're drowning. The police should have beat the tar out of the bafoon! Fortunately for him, they are professional and did EXACTLY the right thing.

 

This guy needs to do some serious jail time for staging such a horrible public hoax. This is no different than yelling "fire!" in a crowded theater. Anyone in their right mind would assume that someone in the middle of the river is drowning. The very last thing you would think is that some idiot is actually being foolish enough to swim across. So the caller did exactly the right thing to try to save this man's life. Maybe he should have sat there and watched him a while to see whether he was "really" going to drown oe not.

 

Now that we've established that it was right to call for emergency help in this situation, let's look at what could happen because of it. The police, fire, and rescue units, as well as multiple water rescue units have to fly to the scene at high speed in order to rescue the victim. Not only is this terribly costly, it takes the officers away from patrolling and take the other units away from responding to a possible "real" emergency.

 

Then of course, there's the terrifying prospect that someone could be killed in an auto accident involving one of the emergency responders. Are you going to laugh it off and say how unnecessary it was at the funerals of the accident victims?

 

And what about the copy-cat, who read about this genius's exploits and tries it for himself? "Surely, if he can do it, I can too!"

 

Whose going to explain it to his family?

 

This guy created a public panic by performing this foolishness at a time when it was obvious that he would be spotted. And he did so in such a way that he was certain to be mistaken for a drowning victim, fallen from one of the many boats or from anywhere else along the river.

 

There is only one person who did something wrong -- the swimmer. There is only one person who made a mistake -- the moron swimmer.

 

Just my opinion, but I must say BF, I think you are slightly overreacting.

Glad the "Doofus" is safe and sound.

Just my opinion, but I must say BF, I think you are slightly overreacting.

You don't actually think it's okay to induce a public panic and to give people the impression that you are in peril. And we haven't even talked about the danger to boaters. Again, this is not about "what" he did. It's about where and when he did it.

 

I'm sorry, but there's no overreaction here at all. If anything, I under-reacted. It's frightening to think of all the trouble and misery this idiot could have caused.

 

Overreacting? Yikes! :eek:

It is not illegal to swim across the Ohio River. I do not see how this is disorderly conduct.

 

Some well meaning bystanders called the police. I do not think this is inducing a panic.

 

Granted, it was a foolish thing to do, but if being foolish was against the law, we would all be arrested at some time or another.

 

Covington is an increasingly dangerous city. Once the police realized he was safe they should have gone about more important business.

It is not illegal to swim across the Ohio River. I do not see how this is disorderly conduct.

 

Some well meaning bystanders called the police. I do not think this is inducing a panic.

 

Granted, it was a foolish thing to do, but if being foolish was against the law, we would all be arrested at some time or another.

 

Covington is an increasingly dangerous city. Once the police realized he was safe they should have gone about more important business.

 

Agree:thumb:

Just my opinion, but I must say BF, I think you are slightly overreacting.

 

It's what he does best... :walk:

Ok - swim to you're water logged.

Granted, it was a foolish thing to do, but if being foolish was against the law, we would all be arrested at some time or another.

Many times, it is. This is one of those times.

It's what he does best... :walk:

You hush.

You don't actually think it's okay to induce a public panic and to give people the impression that you are in peril. And we haven't even talked about the danger to boaters. Again, this is not about "what" he did. It's about where and when he did it.

 

I'm sorry, but there's no overreaction here at all. If anything, I under-reacted. It's frightening to think of all the trouble and misery this idiot could have caused.

 

Overreacting? Yikes! :eek:

 

I don't think pulling out a cell phone and dialing 911 could be considered public panic.