Fw: News

["david stafford" <tridave@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.2wf.com/html/2001News/2001032CopsandAMA.shtml

       2WF News: March 22nd , 2001

       If this doesn't make you want to run out and get an AMA membership, 
seek help...

       Tennessee incidents raise concern among motorcyclists

       Two recent incidents in Blount County, Tennessee, have motorcyclists 
concerned about the relationship between riders and police in the area, the 
American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

       On March 10, Philip M. Laton, 27, a corrections officer from 
Knoxville, Tenn., was killed when his motorcycle apparently hit a guard 
rail and then collided with a police car driven by Rockford Police Sgt. 
James R. Johnson. Witnesses alleged that Johnson's car swerved into the 
motorcycle, which was passing it from behind.

       The Tennessee Highway Patrol, which is investigating the fatality, 
has stated that videotape from a camera mounted in Johnson's cruiser
indicates "the witnesses' account is accurate." Johnson has been placed on 
paid leave and faces possible criminal charges.

       Five weeks earlier, another motorcyclist, James B. Riddle, 19, of 
Maryville, Tenn., suffered near-fatal injuries in a crash following a 
high-speed chase involving another Rockford police officer in the same 
area. Riddle reportedly was hospitalized for 29 days before being released.

       The AMA notes that in both cases, the motorcyclists involved 
apparently were breaking traffic laws, resulting in the police response. 
But the Association is concerned that the actions of the officers may have 
played somepart in turning a traffic violation into something far worse. 
The Association is looking into these incidents and plans a report in the 
June issue of American Motorcyclist magazine, the journal of the AMA.

       From the AMA


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