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Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:30PM (#10630183)
Everybody here in the comments seem to take the story on face value. Meanwhile, the only video attached to the post is pixelated to the highest degree, and you certainly can't see facial features on it.

Am I missing something here?

Re:I was falsely arrested by lyschoening on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:53PM (#10630305)
> Am I missing something here?

Yes. The video at the bottom is a video of the second robbery—the robbery that occurred after he was arrested and where the actual robbers got shot. It is not the video that was used to identify him.

This is explained in the second paragraph on the page.

Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:55PM (#10630317)
I should have make myself more clear. You see, I understand that.

What I also understand is that it is the _only_ video we actually have chance to see.

Re:I was falsely arrested by brazzledazzle on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @06:21PM (#10630437)
And as I stated in another comment which you didn't address in your reply:

>...the only thing worth questioning here is if that shot is in fact real–something that could only be evaluated if they released the tape. But since they're not exactly going out of their way to do that I can only assume that it would be against their interests.

The police and prosecution have the latitude to release that video and could certainly do so to exonerate themselves. Releasing it is what the police should have done immediately after his case was dropped if their interest was is in catching a robber on the loose or demonstrating publicly that they did have the right man and the prosecution was dropping the ball.

Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Thursday November 26, 2015 @05:13AM (#10632278)
This is only reasonable if we go with the assumption that release of evidence is a routine police procedure which is followed in cases like this, which, from the law enforcement standpoint, seems like typical and didn't receive any kind of special attention.

In other words, you think that they didn't release the video because they have something to prove. I think that they didn't bother because they have couple overworked clerks and hundred cases just like this — regardless of whether the video proves innocence or guilt. I honestly don't see this case as important enough for any officials involved to have any special motives or do anything other than bare minimum required.

Re:I was falsely arrested by brazzledazzle on Monday November 30, 2015 @09:26AM (#10649523)
>In other words, you think that they didn't release the video because they have something to prove.

Really what I'm saying is that if I'm going to try to extrapolate something more from the information presented that would be the direction, not "Can we be sure he hasn't faked this picture?". My point is that you're speculating that someone is guilty despite a strong piece of neutral information: the DA dropped the case and he was released from jail.

Sure, it's possible the attorney faked the picture and it's all bullshit, but there's nothing to demonstrate that as being likely besides your own biases.

Re:I was falsely arrested by dogma1138 on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:35PM (#10630210)
Why is this being downvoted? The 34s video they released has 3 offenders, and you can't see any of their faces.

While this could be not the only surveillance video in this case it doesn't really collaborates anything said in the post.

Re:I was falsely arrested by brazzledazzle on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:54PM (#10630314)
I'm starting to wonder if the site was updated between when you three read it and when I read it. Different video, different robbery. The video in evidence for his case hasn't been released. The attorney had to take a picture (which is the one you see at the top). The video at the bottom is the video of the robbery in which the person he suspects of being the real robber in his case is killed.
Re:I was falsely arrested by throw_this_away on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:46PM (#10630263)
Because...innocent until proven guilty. But according to the parent comment, guilty until proven innocent. The author of the story doesn't need to prove anything to you. His experience and the fact that he was ultimately released from prison should be enough.
Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:56PM (#10630323)
> But according to the parent comment, guilty until proven innocent

Where did I state something even remotely close to this?

Re:I was falsely arrested by throw_this_away on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @06:23PM (#10630444)
You said "Everybody here in the comments seem to take the story on face value.".

You're implying that we shouldn't take the story at face value OR that the author is being dishonest about his experience.

Then you say, "Meanwhile, the only video attached to the post is pixelated to the highest degree, and you certainly can't see facial features on it. Am I missing something here?"

A clear call for proof.

Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Thursday November 26, 2015 @02:39AM (#10631785)
You are correct, this is call for proof.

It seems that in your worldview, one either believes the author, or calls him a liar. But in real life, the third option is actually more optimal in majority of cases. This third option is doubt.

Re:I was falsely arrested by throw_this_away on Thursday November 26, 2015 @07:25PM (#10635307)
By definition, if you doubt someone's story, then you don't believe them. It's fairly simple, but if you would prefer to pretend that you didn't say what you said, that's certainly your right.
Re:I was falsely arrested by benbenolson on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @06:02PM (#10630360)
Sometimes I really wonder about how some commenters on Hacker News extrapolate things like this. My guess is that someone feels badly for the wrongly accused (which is quite understandable), and wants to do anything in his/her power to defend him, like bringing down comments like yours that may reveal any wrongdoing or mistakes on the website creator's part.
Re:I was falsely arrested by throw_this_away on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @06:26PM (#10630454)
Why do I need to defend the author? He hasn't done anything that needs defending...

I'm merely pointing out that the original comment is automatically assuming that the author's story is untrue. And that the comment makes a clear call for more proof.

Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Thursday November 26, 2015 @05:17AM (#10632286)
> I'm merely pointing out that the original comment is automatically assuming that the author's story is untrue. And that the comment makes a clear call for more proof.

Of course I do, because this is the default attitude one should have when approaching such stories on the internet.

This whole story could be complete fiction that never took place from the beginning to the end, unless you actually make an effort to locate and probably contact (since I don't think they would bother to publish any involved materials) the officials and departments involved. Have you?

This web-page is literally the only source we have. How the hell are we supposed to trust it by default?

Re:I was falsely arrested by brazzledazzle on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:48PM (#10630276)
If that shot of the person's face is from a video of the incident that person is not him. Yes, there's lossy compression applied but that don't make someone's nose into a completely different nose.

Healthy skepticism is good but the only thing worth questioning here is if that shot is in fact real–something that could only be evaluated if they released the tape. But since they're not exactly going out of their way to do that I can only assume that it would be against their interests. Until they produce it I'll have to take his word at face value.

Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:58PM (#10630340)
> If that shot of the person's face is from a video of the incident that person is not him.

Yes, but as far as we know, it's just a picture on the internet.

Re:I was falsely arrested by brazzledazzle on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @06:15PM (#10630413)
Is this healthy skepticism you're displaying? I regret that I'm bringing your motivations into question but given that we know his case was dropped because witnesses recanted after seeing said photo of the surveillance video I'm not entirely sure why you're pressing this.
Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Thursday November 26, 2015 @05:10AM (#10632267)
Because we hear only one, clearly biased side of the argument, and the most critical piece of evidence isn't available.
Re:I was falsely arrested by brazzledazzle on Monday November 30, 2015 @09:39AM (#10649585)
Actually the most critical piece of information is that the case was dropped and he was released from jail. Given that the US legal system hinges on a presumption of innocence this is the key indicator for us. We're forming an opinion of this city's police department and DA, not deciding their fate. If/When the police or prosecution release the tape we can change our conclusions appropriately. If they consider this to be a serious PR issue they might just do that.

To draw the photo taken by his attorney into question relies on assuming his guilt, his attorney's misconduct and the prosecutor taking that misconduct without putting up a fight. Occam's razor and all that.

Re:I was falsely arrested by throw_this_away on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @06:31PM (#10630469)
You should really examine why you automatically assume the author's account of his own lived experience is false.
Re:I was falsely arrested by spacemanmatt on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @07:07PM (#10630602)
Ignorance is an active denial of the truth, not a passive state of uninformation. Hope that helps.
Re:I was falsely arrested by golergka on Thursday November 26, 2015 @02:37AM (#10631780)
I never assumed that. Would you please actually read my comments?
Re:I was falsely arrested by benbenolson on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:48PM (#10630272)
If you're missing something, I must be missing it, too. He said that the person in the video is "lighter", and has a "hooked nose with a dent in it". I'm certain that there's another video that's not shown on the site, because there is no possible way that you could determine those details from the 20 pixels that make up the thief's face.
Re:I was falsely arrested by brazzledazzle on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @05:51PM (#10630289)
That video is from the other robbery where the robber was shot and killed by the clerk. The video from which the snapshot was taken hasn't been released and has only been shown to the suspect and his attorney and it was during that viewing that the attorney took the picture. hth
Re:I was falsely arrested by benbenolson on Wednesday November 25, 2015 @06:25PM (#10630451)
Oh, okay, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification!