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Perhaps it should go without saying that just because you’re on a business or other trip, away from your “regular” surroundings, that the laws of nature, society and life still apply. I think that it goes without saying that you want to be extra careful when say, you’re walking around naked.
What happens in Denver…
United Airlines captain Andrew Collins was in the Westin hotel in Denver in September 2018 (I’m assuming the Westin Denver International Airport), talking on the phone, walking around naked with his curtains open, for 20 minutes. He apparently thought that nobody could see him because the windows were somewhat opaque.
How this story SHOULD have ended (had someone that saw him naked even cared enough to mention it): the hotel should have contacted him and said “Hey people can see you naked; put some clothes on” = the end
How it ACTUALLY ended – the police were called, they came in with guns drawn, and he was arrested for indecent exposure and put in an airport jail. Here’s the body cam footage from the Denver Post
Lawsuit settled
While I do think it’s prudent to be careful about walking around naked, clearly this response was over the top. A judge agreed, and dismissed the case back in March. Collins sued the city and recently settled for $300,000. Apparently he is also considering suing the Westin for letting the police in, and wants to donate some / all of his winnings to The Innocence Project.
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The cops committed a terrorist attack by illegally entering a hotel room without cause. When someone rents a hotel room they have a right to be safe in the room. Indecent exposure (which is a capricious and arbitrary charge) does not warrant cops entering a room with guns drawn or even entering a room in the first place without permission of the guest. This doesn’t even take into account that whoever reported it could have made it up and there is no evidence aside from someone saying so that the guy was walking around naked. There was no criminal intent in his actions which means he committed no crime.
I wonder how cops will feel if citizens entered the homes of their daughters and wives and sisters and parents with guns drawn because someone said one was walking around visible to the public. How will cops feel if their daughters are naked when citizens enter their homes and handcuff them naked. I think they will be disgusted and should look in the mirror. The worship of the police by my fellow christians and conservatives is disheartening. The police are the enforcer of liberal laws.
Well thankfully the justice system agreed with you and the man won his lawsuit but it is unfortunate that it had to come to it and certainly he ended up “winning” at least in part because he was a white man who (I am making an assumption with limited facts) has money. A poor POC would likely not have had such a good experience in the end, unfortunately
That is possible but whites are more likely to be victims of police abuse and enforcement of liberal/neo conservative laws that violate fundamental freedoms. That is because whites commit a lot less crime than other groups and thus many more as a percentage are actually innocent of committing real crime. One reason conservatives unfortunately blindly support the police is because blacks and non white latinos commit a disproportionately high amount of violent crime. They see dangerous groups ruining neighborhoods and support the police not realizing the police are the cause of the former (enforcement of court orders relating to housing and hiring) and the cops are dangerous groups themselves who often act with aggression, malice and as enforcers of liberal laws.
Indecent exposure is a conservative law, not a liberal one. No smoking within 50 feet of a building entrance is an example of a liberal law. That said, the whole situation was pretty much a comedy of errors.
Staying at the Westin next month. Wonder if they will provide a warning about the windows.
I love how stupid American police are. Really shows you they really have nothing better to do.
“Don’t stand by the window naked (like this airline pilot did).”
I fixed your title.
As they say, Only in America. $300,000, is that all? If I was the Pilot, I would have sued for reputation damages, Millions upon Million $$$$, and I would have demanded the cops resignation or demotion. Perhaps the cop could be demoted to the Health & Fitness arm of Denver Police. He is clearly obese and I would question his ability to perform his duties required. Is he fit to perform his duties? He was heavy breathing as it was during this random act of terrorism. What an absolute scandal. The United Pilot remained calm under pressure, said nothing, just took it all in with a smile on his face. United would be super proud knowing this is how one of their captains reacted under duress. And I do hope he sues the hell out of the Westin. Part of Marriott, go figure. And while they are at it, go on United, sue the mongrels. Last time they get any of my business. Stuff em.
OMG, this would be hilarious … if it weren’t so sad. WTH were the hotel people thinking? WTH were the cops thinking? It’s not exactly a Cheap Charlie motel, with a nut-case guest. It was a Westin*. And not in some goofy little town in the bible belt*, it was in Denver. Forgive me for thinking that an upscale hotel(?) guest should have received a phone call or a knock on the door FIRST. I’m glad he got some compensation out of this whole incredibly dim-witted incident. And I hope that United removes any Westin from their list of crew hotels. That will be more painful than the pilot suing Westin.
* This is not an elitist view, it’s a realistic view, so don’t throw rocks at my head, OK?