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Post by frankcor on Mar 17, 2009 10:43:44 GMT -5
I started this thread in the Rome forum on topix.com, thinking someone would know the story behind this story. But so far, no one admits to knowing. This clipping is from the city court report of the Saturday, March 14 Rome Sentinel (emphasis is mine): The case against Matthew J. Garlinghouse, 27, of 911 Highland Ave., charged with third-degree unlawfully fleeing police, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, breath test refusal, failure to obey police, failure to keep right, modified exhaust, illegal turn signal, two counts of speeding and three counts of running a stop sign, was dismissed due to a speedy trial violation. According to court documents, trial proceedings were required to begin within 90 days of Garlinghouse’s Aug. 18 arraignment, but they were never started.
Sheriff’s deputies said at midnight on Aug. 18, Garlinghouse was eastbound on Route 69 when he refused to pull over for a traffic violation. Garlinghouse sped away from pursuing police cruisers, and collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Route 69 and Tannery Road. Deputies said Garlinghouse left the scene of the accident and returned home, where he was arrested in his driveway. The other driver, Thomas G. Clance, 39, of Floyd, was treated at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Hartford for pain to his neck, back and shoulders. How does something like this happen? How does it make the deputies who made the arrest feel? How does it make Mr. Clance feel? |
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Post by corner on Mar 17, 2009 11:08:05 GMT -5
who does he know in the courts or clerks office is a
better question
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Post by frankcor on Mar 17, 2009 11:42:02 GMT -5
Soemone posted on topix that his grandfather is Joe Gillette, brother of James. If true, his family is of some prominence in Rome.
I suppose a clerical glitch, either accidental or intentional, could have caused this. But at what risk?
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Post by gearofzanzibar on Mar 18, 2009 6:21:30 GMT -5
:snark on:
He obviously felt threatened by the circumstances of his arrest and chose to exercise the "Sullivan Option" in order to avoid a "confrontation". Since he wasn't under arrest he was perfectly within his rights to gun the engine and get outta Dodge.
:snark off:
In all seriousness, I'm rather surprised this hasn't received more attention.
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Post by frankcor on Mar 18, 2009 6:51:06 GMT -5
You would think it would have at least provoked a question in the mind of the reporter who wrote the article.
In fact, I'm almost certain it would have. If so, and the reporter asked the question, the response must have been "shut up and go write something else."
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 18, 2009 8:57:37 GMT -5
Or the clinker could be Mr. Glance. Or the arresting officer. The case could have been so screwed up that no one wanted to touch it.
It's very frustrating to read a report where the writer did not appear to ask the obvious questions. Happens all the time, too. A reporter at our nearby daily used up about 12 column inches with a story about a county prescription program that seemed to be little used by low income residents.
He/she (I don't know if Barunka is a boy or girls first name) never asked why, or even speculated. A local weekly's reporter went online and worked though an application and an order. Then he telephoned up the agency. In his story he exposed the fact that the program offered such a tiny discount that no one ever used it. He discovered the real story.... another program for politicians to pipe up about that in reality helped no one.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 18, 2009 11:56:57 GMT -5
Well, if this was back in the 80's I would simply think that the guy had Rocco Versace for a lawyer, and it had been made to just "go away."
Other than that possibility, it may have simply slid through the cracks and got lost in the shuffle. Kinda doubtful, and more likely was politically taken care of, but still a remote possibility.l
The "sullivan option"? I see in the OD yesterday that his case was postponed again. Hmmm. gotta wonder about that one too. Have to imagine that they are exploring all avenues before simply wanting to hand it over to a grand jury. If they use the grand jury, it is out of their hands and they will have no further control as to what indictments may come out of it.
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