Man Arrested After Rescuing Swimmer

[Amused]

^

 

[Aharami]

well ofcourse he should be arrested. not only did he disobey the fat, donut-eating pigs and save the man, but he smirked at them while doing so
:roll:

 

[Hammer]

Newman: A man is alive because I acted, so why am I in trouble?
Dave Newman, LOCAL CONTRIBUTOR

Friday, July 08, 2005

Overall, I have a feeling of comfort and satisfaction in just knowing that I was able to save the life of another human being. I was just in the right place at the right time.

On Sunday in San Marcos, I feel that I made a correct decision to momentarily delay complying with police directives in order to make one more dive into the underwater cavity where Abed Duamni had been trapped for more than 10 minutes.

I knew time was of the essence if a rescue was possible at all, but I did believe at the time that Duamni more than likely had already drowned.

I knew that I had touched something in that cavity on the previous attempt, and I made a decision to go down for one more try, against police orders. On that last attempt, I did locate the trapped swimmer. I was able to extract him from the underwater cavity and push him toward the surface. When I surfaced, I was overwhelmed with astonishment to find him alive and well, clinging to a wall amid the turbulent water.

I was also amazed that the police subsequently arrested me and took me to jail. I did take a few moments to catch my breath on the other side of the river before I had to swim again, this time over to the officers, but I maintain that I complied with their request to exit the river, immediately after the higher priority of saving that man's life.

From the police news conference on Tuesday, I was hoping for some good news that the Fire Marshall's office and the Texas State University-San Marcos Police Department might have reconsidered their decision to prosecute, but it appears that police actually have arrived at the conclusion that I was part of the problem.

Officials even raised the question as to whether I had actually rescued that man at all, and they implied that Duamni had somehow rescued himself.

Had there been divers in the area, ready to take over, I would have gladly moved aside, yet I saw no rescue divers at the scene. Having been underwater for 10 minutes already, Duamni may or may not have survived long enough under there for a rescue response team to get him out alive. I knew and hoped that maybe I had a chance there to help him, and I stand by the decision that I made that day.

I can only hope that if under slightly different circumstances ? that if I were in dire need or trouble ? some good Samaritan would come to my aid. I have been helped by others in the past, and I feel that it is my obligation and duty to do the same.

I still have a criminal charge hanging over my head, a brand new police record and legitimate concerns about how this will affect my professional career.

I hope that the fire marshall's office and the police will come to their senses and let this matter drop.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Newman, a corporate airline pilot, lives in San Marcos.

Link

 

[Hammer]

nevermind, the cops caved pretty fast after that was published.

Police drop charges against man who rescued swimmer
Officials say man performed 'a heroic act.'
By Katie Humphrey

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Friday, July 08, 2005

Texas State University Police said today that they have dropped charges against Dave Newman, the San Marcos man who helped a distressed swimmer out of the river last weekend.

Police charged Newman with interfering with public duties, a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail, after he pulled Abed Duamni of Houston out of the water near the Spring Lake Dam.

"Mr. Newman was arrested because of his refusal to comply first with pleas, then requests and then orders to leave the river after his rescue of Mr. Duamni," University President Denise Trauth and San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz said in a joint statement. "However, Mr. Newman did perform a heroic act, and we believe the proper course of action is to drop the charges."

Duamni was swimming near the waterfall by Joe's Crab Shack on July 3 when he was caught in the current. He became stuck in an underground air pocket below the restaurant.

Newman, who has frequented the popular swimming hole for more than 30 years, swam over to Duamni, dove underwater and pulled him to safety.

According to the police report of the incident, Newman ignored repeated requests to get out of the water. Newman said he wasn't trying to be disrespectful, he was just tired after the physically demanding rescue.

In their joint statement, Trauth and Narvaiz said the public needs to heed the warning signs posted around the dangerous area near the Spring Lake Dam.

Another swimmer, 22-year-old Jason Lee Bonnin, a Joe's Crab Shack employee and Texas State University-San Marcos student, drowned there in April after he and three other employees jumped from the restaurant into the river.

Trauth and Narvaiz also said the public needs to follow the orders of police, fire and rescue personnel on the scene of an emergency. They are forming a university and community committee to discuss how to make the popular swimming hole safer.

khumphrey@statesman.com