Tragic News Story From Loz

[Bird Watcher]

I don't know. A lot of this story puzzles me, but very sad anyway you look at it for all parties involved.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2014/06/02/witness-describes-brandon-ellingsons-struggle-water-clive/9895195/?sf26877813=%5B%271%27%5D

[Old plug]

I have a lot of questions also. I watched them pull him out of the water about 200 yrds from where I am sitting. Only thing is most of them surround the victim not the patrol. What was he doing drunk ? where did he get it ? I have an idea on this one. Some of these bars around here will serve a minor drinks no question about it. What was he doing driving the boat? Was he certified to drive that boat in Missouri ? If he was not he was going to face additional charges when they got him in.

Now as to the water patrol. I have it from very good authority that all the rules were complied with by the patrolman. I do not believe for one minute the patrolman placed that PFD on him over the cuffed arms as his buddies. claim they seen. They were probably drunk themselves. Only thing I want to know about that part of it is how fast the boat was going. And why this young fool took it on himself to go to go to the side like he was going to jump ( and I believe he did ) out of the boat. He knew he was suppose to keep his butt on the seat next to the patrolman. I am sorry he drowned. But he surely could have killed people operating that boat drunk. I seen in the papers he was pretty smart young man. I do not question his intelligence BUT. I question his judgement at the age of 20.

That pfd would keep you safe because it is hooked under your arms. Only way it will slip off is down your body and over

Personally i believe he hit the water head first and the forward movement of the boat stripped it from his body

As far as his buddies go we will see how their claim of him having the PFD outside his arm will stand up.

So in fact the whole thing was his fault to begin with.

[5bites]

I understand that once in custody a person under arrest is the departments responsibility BUT the dude was breaking the law. He instigated it by that alone. Had he been within the law he'd likely still be alive. This should be a lesson for anyone that thinks that type of activity is a good idea.

[5bites]

I have a lot of questions also. I watched them pull him out of the water about 200 yrds from where I am sitting. Only thing is most of them surround the victim not the patrol. What was he doing drunk ? where did he get it ? I have an idea on this one. Some of these bars around here will serve a minor drinks no question about it. What was he doing driving the boat? Was he certified to drive that boat in Missouri ? If he was not he was going to face additional charges when they got him in.

Now as to the water patrol. I have it from very good authority that all the rules were complied with by the patrolman. I do not believe for one minute the patrolman placed that PFD on him over the cuffed arms as his buddies. claim they seen. They were probably drunk themselves. Only thing I want to know about that part of it is how fast the boat was going. And why this young fool took it on himself to go to go to the side like he was going to jump ( and I believe he did ) out of the boat. He knew he was suppose to keep his butt on the seat next to the patrolman. I am sorry he drowned. But he surely could have killed people operating that boat drunk. I seen in the papers he was pretty smart young man. I do not question his intelligence BUT. I question his judgement at the age of 20.

That pfd would keep you safe because it is hooked under your arms. Only way it will slip off is down your body and over Personally i

believe he hit the water head first and the for e of the forward movement of the boat stripped it from his body

As far as his buddies go we will see how their claim of him having the PFD outside his arm will stand up.

So in fact the whole thing was his fault to begin with. s

I agree 100%

[fishinwrench]

Was he over. 08% ? It has been said that he wasn't.

There is speculation that he was being taken in on a 12hr. hold to drill him about WHERE he had been served. (They knew where the boat left from last, indicating that the vessel had been marked for a pull over). Not cool! And if that is being denied NOW then what was the reason for the stop?

Witness states that the PFD was on him AFTER he was in the water and trying to stay "head up", but that he had to keep kicking to keep his head above water.

He went under and the PFD slipped off over his head.

He struggled to keep his head up afterwards but couldn't do it long enough between gulps of air because of the incoming wake from the boats shutting down (3 including the WP boat).

Did he have a few drinks? Probably.

Was he so wasted that it justified him being arrested and taken into custody? Or was he taken into custody because he had drank "some" alcohol and was a few months shy of his 21st birthday?

The uncuffed PFD clad patrolman was in the water less time than the boy, and was said to be "totally exhausted".

I feel worse for the kid (and his family). The "alcohol related" thing can be laid upon every single accident that occurs.

If it's a REAL SAFETY CONCERN then why is alcohol served at establishments where folks have to eventually leave....and must travel by road/water to do so?

Again....What was the reason for the stop/check? Was there any problem with the way the boat was being operated?

I'm so sure that nobody here ever had a few shots of liquor before their 21st B-day.....and if you did then WHO made it possible ?

You get drunk and cause an accident then you deserve your punishment.

You get buzzed in a state where serving alcohol is legal but get yourself home safely without causing any problems then you deserve to be left alone instead of handcuffed and treated like public enemy #1.

The whole thing is stupid.

[Riverwhy]

Fishinwrench is absolutely correct. Just makes me sick that this young man died in custody. We do not know he was intoxicated. We do know he was in custody and he drowned. A properly secured life jacket will not just slip off.

[Mitch f]

Was he over. 08% ? It has been said that he wasn't.

There is speculation that he was being taken in on a 12hr. hold to drill him about WHERE he had been served. (They knew where the boat left from last, indicating that the vessel had been marked for a pull over). Not cool! And if that is being denied NOW then what was the reason for the stop?

Witness states that the PFD was on him AFTER he was in the water and trying to stay "head up", but that he had to keep kicking to keep his head above water.

He went under and the PFD slipped off over his head.

He struggled to keep his head up afterwards but couldn't do it long enough between gulps of air because of the incoming wake from the boats shutting down (3 including the WP boat).

Did he have a few drinks? Probably.

Was he so wasted that it justified him being arrested and taken into custody? Or was he taken into custody because he had drank "some" alcohol and was a few months shy of his 21st birthday?

The uncuffed PFD clad patrolman was in the water less time than the boy, and was said to be "totally exhausted".

I feel worse for the kid (and his family). The "alcohol related" thing can be laid upon every single accident that occurs.

If it's a REAL SAFETY CONCERN then why is alcohol served at establishments where folks have to eventually leave....and must travel by road/water to do so?

Again....What was the reason for the stop/check? Was there any problem with the way the boat was being operated?

I'm so sure that nobody here ever had a few shots of liquor before their 21st B-day.....and if you did then WHO made it possible ?

You get drunk and cause an accident then you deserve your punishment.

You get buzzed in a state where serving alcohol is legal but get yourself home safely without causing any problems then you deserve to be left alone instead of handcuffed and treated like public enemy #1.

The whole thing is stupid.

Yep, read the whole story twice, it just doesn't add up.

[Smalliebigs]

I don't see how Water Patrol followed guidelines if they didn't secure the kid in a Donzi on a lake while they had someone handcuffed??? I think Wrench is correct something is not right on the Patrols side.....exhausted after a few minutes in the water???? well then you should not be Water Patrol, that is weak as shiot......you should also secure your prisoner while in a boat who is handcuffed no less.

If the kid was allegedly over the legal limit like it is being alleged, that's fine give him a DUI but, for Christ sake secure your prisoners.

I hope the Missouri HWY patrol gets thumped with a huge civil lawsuit and also that cop should loose his job.....complete stupidity on his part IMO

[ness]

Well, as usual, we really need to get the facts before we judge -- and I think they'll be pretty straight forward.

It is illegal to drink <21 and it is illegal to operate a boat under the influence. Reports say procedure was to handcuff and put on a life vest. Whether it was put on properly will have to be determined. Whether the kid jumped, fell, whatever will have to be determined. I'm not sure I could stand up in a moving boat with handcuffs sober.

I'm sure sorry for the kid and his friends and family. I'm also sorry for the highway patrolman who surely didn't want this to happen or knowingly endanger the kid.

[Old plug]

Smalliebigs----_ They never secure anyone In a patrol boat. I wondered about that too the thing is if something were to happen to the patrol boat and the patrolmen was knocked out or the boat was to flip or some other thing like explode etc they might bot be able to get the prisoner loose in time.

Wrench I have a he got the booze. They been closed since Saturday afternoon just after this happened.