Felon faces new charges after Lakewood police killings threat
TACOMA, Wash. -- "It’s officers like you who cause people to do things like what happened in Lakewood. That’s what got those four officers killed.”
Convicted felon Dejon Dewayne Michael Simpson is facing new charges after making the above statement, accompanied by finger-gun gestures, to two community corrections officers last week, according to the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office.
The 24-year-old Simpson, who was previously convicted for riot with a deadly weapon, assault and malicious mischief, was brought into an area hospital with a stab wound to his back Feb. 28.
When the two officers assigned as his overnight guards prevented visitors from entering his room, Simpson became angry and started pulling out IV lines and a monitor cable, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
After the officers restrained Simpson to his bed, he made the statement referencing a 2009 incident in which four Lakewood Police Department officers were shot and killed at a coffee shop, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
Officers felt the statement, along with Simpson's finger-gun gestures, were direct threats.
On Wednesday, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Simpson with intimidating a public servant. Simpson is already in jail on unrelated charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and theft.
“We take threats to officer safety extremely seriously,” Lindquist said in a press release. “Attacks on police officers and the justice system are attacks on our entire community.”
This idiot is destine to be a permanent drain on tax dollars and worthless to the community. Too bad we can't take him out back and put him down. Hopefully when he is released from this stint in the big house he becomes a victim of gang violence and put out of his misery.
Don't sound like a threat to me. Man up and stop being cowardly woosies
What a babe... who is paying for this freak medical bills? .. oh US... seriously this 24 year old obviously is not going to amount to anything so just axe him and be done with it!
Where Simpson's remarks incorrect or harmful? Custodial Officers are not known for their decent treatment and understanding.
I have no problems with the cops arresting him. Thsi is just another punk gang banger who thinks he is untouchable!!! If it was someone else then maybe but in this case im perfectly fine with it.
Hmmmm... That statement doesn't sound like a threat to me. Sounds like he was referencing a past incident.
I'm not saying this man is an innocent citizen, by no means, however in my opinion, it just sounds like he was angry and running his mouth. He didn't say "I'm gonna kill you," or "You're going to end up like those 4 Lakewood cops."Â
He's a master of intellectual combat! Why, I'm sure he meant that in the nicest possible way and was just turning his life around! I'm sick of people like this...take him out back and put two in his head.Â
@dgruntled Is reasoning for wimps?
He has mastered his profession at a young age. A stellar subject of society. If the stab wound had been deeper, we wouldn't be paying for him to take up oxygen, food and lodging.Â
I guess if a kid can get kicked out of school for making a finger gun, then why can't the cops consider a finger gun a viable threat?...anyone else think our country is getting a little out of hand?
It sounds like Dejon Dewayne Michael Simpson is doing enough damage to himself without the police's help. He must had said something to someone else who was not too sympathetic. I have a feeling we will be reading an obit soon on this guy anyway. On the police side of it: It is sad but understandable if you were to hear this kind of talk every day it could wear an individual down.
Unless he said "I'm gonna...", the statement appears to me to be an expression of political and social opinion MUCH more than containing any shred of "threat". I think what we have here is more of an example of insular police arrogance and overreaction.Â
On the other hand, pulling out the IV lines and monitor cables while in a hospital and in custody MIGHT be construed as preparation for an escape attempt, and it would seem appropriate to investigate whether he got himself wounded deliberately so as to be transferred to a location where he might effect an escape. I think the cops are being blinded to the truth by their own self-serving (and self-preservation) prejudices. Wrong charges.
The dreaded "finger-gun" strikes again. The most deadly weapon out there. The only reason why I can think he got charged with anything because what he said is nowhere even close to a threat. It even has some truth to it; officers DO cultivate an "us-vs-them" attitude both amongst themselves and the people they encounter on a daily basis. This only serves to make police the enemy in the eyes of the people. Police work for us, and they need to start remembering that. Not the other way around.
@dg54321 seriously?
@Komo Dragon @dg54321 Well, the part about the "finger-gun" was facetious, of course....the part about the police cultivating a "us-vs-them" mentality, absolutely.
Is it ok for the cops to attack the people in the community? Cops have a bad rap sheet.