Mayor: 'Looks like somebody messed up'
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BY CHRISTINE KRALY
ckraly@nwitimes.com
219.662.5335 | Tuesday, September 18, 2007 | (264 comment(s))

GARY | Mayor Rudy Clay questioned Monday whether his city's officers responded properly to a weekend car accident that killed two Gary teens.

Meanwhile, the distraught parents of Brandon Smith, 18, one of the teens who died in the wreck, comforted Darius Moore, the 17-year-old surviving driver in the accident, absolving Moore of blame in the death of their son. (Watch the video.)

Clay said he was upset other rescue workers had not surveyed the wooded ditch along the 2700 block of Chase Street to search for more victims of the deadly crash. Moore said he told police and emergency workers as he was being transported to the hospital that Smith and Dominique Green, also 18, both of whom had been ejected from the vehicle, were still back at the accident scene.

But Gary Police Chief Thomas Houston defended his officers and emergency personnel Monday, saying they had received conflicting information regarding whether anyone had been left behind at the accident scene. Police also said the two survivors had been drinking and that one was legally drunk, though the chief would not specify who had been legally drunk at the time of the incident.

Still, Clay said the situation required more care.

"If I would have been the policeman on the scene, I would've called the Fire Department and said, 'Look for the people that was lost there,'" Clay said. "Looks like somebody messed up here."

The accident happened early Saturday morning when four teens were returning home from a hip-hop show. Moore said he lost control of the car, which flipped repeatedly, smashed through the guard rail and plunged into the ravine off Chase Street.

Brandon Smith's father, Arthur Smith, found his son and Green dead in the brush hours after the crash.

Moore and his teenaged friend DeAndre Anderson survived but suffered injuries. Moore said Monday his injuries and the dark prevented him from finding Smith and Green after the accident and that police ignored his repeated pleas to find them.

"Just go save my two friends," he said he told police.

Arthur Smith, kneeling next to Moore's bed at the teen's Gary home Monday, wept and comforted a sobbing Moore.

"Don't let your heart trouble, Darius," Arthur Smith said. "The Lord ain't mad, and we definitely ain't mad."

Samantha Epps, Brandon Smith's mother, wiped tears from Moore's face.

"Be strong," she told him. "Get well, and graduate. We know you did the best you can."

Moore and others denounced findings released Monday from the Lake County coroner that concluded Smith and Green died instantly in the crash, both suffering massive skull fractures and internal blunt force injuries.

But Houston stood by the coroner's findings, saying officials told him, "No matter how much medical assistance was at the scene, there were no lives to be saved."

Houston said police never actually received a report about an accident. Rather, Officer Jeffery Westerfield responded to a report from a resident of a "suspicious" person at the door. Moore said he had traveled on foot after the accident, knocking on nearby doors seeking help.

Houston said officers did search some of the area, even lifting the car, but did not find anyone.

Houston said after police responded, there was some confusion because of conflicting reports from survivors of the wreck as to whether Smith and Green were still at the scene or whether they had been dropped off at a location prior to the accident.

Survivors told police, "We may have dropped our friends off, we may not have," Houston said. "They couldn't remember."

Houston defended the responding officer's actions, calling Westerfield a "very dedicated police officer. He only could do what he had with the information he had."

Houston said reports detailing the accident were not yet complete.

He said speed and alcohol were involved in the accident. The two survivors had blood-alcohol concentrations of 0.05 and 0.09, but Houston would not say which level belonged to which teen. In Indiana, drivers with blood-alcohol concentrations of 0.08 or higher are legally intoxicated.

Police are continuing their investigation.

Helping classmates cope
Students at West Side High School, where Brandon Smith and Dominique Green attended, were emotional Monday, said school spokeswoman Sarita Stevens. A crisis team of additional counselors was on hand to help students cope, said Stevens, who called the situation particularly delicate, as ISTEP-Plus testing began this week.

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What were they thinking? wrote on Sep 30, 2007 6:45 AM:

" Okay, the Chief is a moron, obviously. The officers that turned over the vehicle were obviously not wrapped too tight. The Chief and two other upper level managers at GPD went on a local radio station and inadvertently revealed their dazed state of mental awareness by telling the listening audience that they turned over the vehicle without the GFD present which could have blown every one of them to kingdom come, like they had really done something worthy of applause. The Mayor aligns himself with the Chief, who he has to keep a muzzle on for fear that he might say something else moronic. If you align yourself with an idiot that you can't even trust to speak publically, what does that make you? An idiot. I think the people of Gary know this already. I certainly hope so. "

Do-it yourself Search-and-Recovery: Synonyms wrote on Sep 30, 2007 2:23 AM:

" Let's see. The term is an oxymoron alright. And, if the word "moron" can be used to describe the individual who came up with this concept, then every "synonym" of the word "moron" can be used to describe him. Therefore, this thread can conceivably be here for decades, according to my thesaurus. Because, I am sure that I, as well as anyone who cares to, is free to use each synonym more than once. I invite the public to find a thesaurus, and just look at the number of synonyms for the word "moron." But, only if you care to. To the GPD Chief: You dolt. "

Do-it-yourself Search-and-Recovery wrote on Sep 30, 2007 1:27 AM:

" Let's analyze this: Search-and-recovery equals public service. Public service equals, "I will do it for you". Therefore, do-it-yourself search-and-recovery equals do-it-yourself-I-will-do-it-for-you, which is a total contradiction of terms. It appears to be a "pure" oxymoron, although I'm no linguistics expert. The next thing you know, even they will descend upon our fair city from all parts of the world. But, where would they stay? And, where would they eat? At Bennignan's, I suppose. To GPD Chief: Have you ever considered donating your brain to science, idiot? "

Re:Re: Kit "Katz" wrote on Sep 30, 2007 12:01 AM:

" Don't you see that Kit "Katz" is playing the dumb-role (or, the "nut" role) here? By accusing someone of murder and bad-parenting, she simply displays her own ignorance and lack of home-training, the very thing she is accusing the parents involved of not providing to their children. Kit "Katz," didn't your parents ever teach you that is very rude and impolite to point fingers at people? This is a perfect example of what happens when you point fingers at someone - you get three right back at you. Or, Kit "Katz," haven't you ever heard of what goes around comes around, "raised-by-wolves?" "

Sue the city.... wrote on Sep 28, 2007 10:43 PM:

" Go ahead and sue the city, if you have ever driven through it, you sure know they dont have any money. You'll end up like the hundreds of cases against the city of Chicago that have never been paid. Face it, you are poor excuses for parents to let your kids stay out until 3 in the morning. Learn some responsibility...2 drunk teenagers running off at the cops after their car flips multiple times.....Who hasn't heard a drunk be completely talking out of his you know what while he 100 percent believes what he is saying. "

FF/EMT wrote on Sep 28, 2007 10:35 PM:

" 2 kids who were drinking under age, speeding, and probably high....Car flips multiple times...there are standard search areas around a car wreck, but unless you were on seen and know how the terrain is at 3:00 in the morning, dont pass judgement. Ignorant parents and family members trying to make a buck. Final thought: File charges of reckless homicide on the driver and make it three gang bangers off the street "

Shocked and Saddened wrote on Sep 28, 2007 9:36 PM:

" I am both shocked and saddened by the post on this page. My brother was murdered in a field in Chicago and found the next morning. I identified him later that day and his entire nose was eaten away by the animals in the field. We were forced to have a closed casket funeral and my mom never saw him for the last time (she wanted to remember him as she last saw him). I know this did not happen in this case but as humans we should empathize with other humans. Absolutley noone who loves their family members would appreciate them being left on the side of the road, dead or alive. Life is for the living and it is the living that was hurt by the actions and non actions of personnel charged to "serve and protect" "

Re: Kit Katz wrote on Sep 28, 2007 5:26 PM:

" You said, "So, The Dad is not mad at the young man who murdered his son, but he is mad at the PD who didnt find his dead body." First of all, in America, a man is presumed innocent until proven guilty. That is without question. The driver is innocent of murder until it is proven in a court of law without a doubt. Everybody knows this, or should know this. It's one of the greatest things about living in the US. It's a fundamental right. In the second place, no citizen should ever perform search-and-recovery for their own child, thus the worldwide media attention. If it wasn't so sensational, do you think a network like CNN would even spit in the direction of a Podunk town like Gary, IN?" And, the parents are not upset because no one is at fault in an accident. A tire blew out. The boys have refuted the claims of alcohol found in there blood. "

Re:Re: Conclusion: ... PD viewpoint wrote on Sep 28, 2007 5:10 PM:

" Because they had bood on them. You would think more the reason to want to look for the boys. If they had blood on them, and said they're friends were still back there, wouldn't a good office think "wow something is up". I have lost all confidence in the GPD. It is certainly not the same anymore. God speed to the GPD men and women who once were in law enforcement and are now retired. Your collegues have really shamed you. "

Re:Re: Conclusion: ... PD viewpoint wrote on Sep 28, 2007 4:52 PM:

" You said, "How dare you assume these kids were criminals". The driver stated on the video, that the officer made them "sit on the curb" and told them to "be quiet". If they were not criminals, then why did the officer make them "sit on the curb?" "

The Cavemen wrote on Sep 28, 2007 2:03 PM:

" We would like to publically state beforehand that we will take great offense at any comparisons made between us and the GPD. "

Re: Oh Boy wrote on Sep 28, 2007 1:48 PM:

" GPD wouldn’t have found the lady in Seattle had she been in Gary. That was an excellent performance by the Seattle rescue team. They deserve applause. Had she been in Gary, GPD would probably have given up and left her for dead after a day or two. Judging from GPD's most recent performance, it looks like they couldn't find their own butts in the dark with two hands and a flashlight. But what can you expect, from an organization with an imbecile for a leader? Quit lollygagging, GPD. And, quit making excuses. "

Kit Katz wrote on Sep 28, 2007 1:38 PM:

" Let me understand, So, The Dad is not mad at the young man who murdered his son, but he is mad at the PD who didnt find his dead body. Just another example of people not taking responsiblity for their actions. "

GPD Chief: Do-it-yourself Search-and-Recovery wrote on Sep 28, 2007 12:18 PM:

" For you figure of speech fans out there: correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that "Do-it-yourself Search-and-Recovery" is an "oxymoron." Think about it. Therefore, that makes the word "moron" in play. To GPD Chief: You moron! "

The 800-lb Gorilla in the room wrote on Sep 28, 2007 11:09 AM:

" If I were the Mayor, I would keep the GPD Chief, and let the Chief arrest the driver, even before the election. The people are going to elect him, anyway, because everybody knows that people in Gary are going to vote for the Democrat. However, I would have to advise him that if he does this, he will risk being "run out of town on a rail." Though rare, it has been known to happen; else, I wouldn't be able to talk about it. However, both the Mayor and the Chief will have time for me to go over their retirement plans (I’m at Axa Equitable). before the people make up their minds to storm both City Hall and GPD headquarters. Check out what’s going on with the Harvey, IL PD, if you don’t believe me. But, that's just me. And, you don't have to listen to me. "

To: Re: Re: wow wrote on Sep 28, 2007 11:05 AM:

" Maybe. But,I know what I am. I know I'm just "a bag of dust that God lets breathe His air". I know I'm not the Judge. But, the point is, that none of us should be judging anybody's hearts and motives. Anybody in law can tell that you can't judge intent. It just seems to fall right back on each of us. If you point a finger, you get three right back at you. Why not just wait to see how it all turns out? We are not the Judge. It's not a good thing to do, and there are plenty of examples to prove it. "

Oh Boy wrote on Sep 28, 2007 10:43 AM:

" I guess the Gary Police should be blamed for the woman that was missing for 8 days after she crashed her car in Washington. Thank God she is alive. Darius, please stop blaming the police for your own mistakes. Thanks CNN for the national coverage. "

TO:Re: Re: wow wrote on Sep 28, 2007 10:28 AM:

" Check you out, judging other people for judging other people. Pretty hyprocritical don't ya think? Give me a break. "

What were they thinking? wrote on Sep 27, 2007 6:45 PM:

" I have a problem with the way GPD turned over the car without calling GFD first: a potentially explosive situation. That kind of thinking is like not turning the oven off and then leaving the house. I just don't like people who are prone to do that around me. You don't need a prophet to tell you that there is going to be an accident around people like that. It would be nice to know when and where, though, so as to prevent it ahead of time. This is not the first mistake of bad judgement on GPD's part. I question the logic of initiating a high-speed chase, risking life and limb for a car of little value that's probably insured anyway. Poor judgement was exercised in both instances. And, it's becoming a pattern. The terrifying thing about the officers making these bad decisions is that GPD lets them carry guns. I do not allow people like this around me. They might blow themselves up, and me along with them. Somebody else is going to get hurt if nothing is done about it. Is anybody running this place? "

Do-it-yourself Search-and-Recovery wrote on Sep 27, 2007 6:10 PM:

" What next, Chief? Anymore bright ideas? How about: The Complete Guide to Search-and-Recovery for Idiots? You have really put Gary on the map. "

Re: Kit Katz wrote on Sep 27, 2007 6:05 PM:

" Don't you understand? The man found his own son's body. It is called search-and-recovery. It is a service that citizens pay taxes for municipal governments to provide. The GPD is sworn to "serve and protect." How is it service, when the police won't even help to find a citizen's child involved in an accident? Mr. Smith was at work, according to one newspaper article I read. It was a tragic accident. No one is blaming the GPD for it. Their response is what should be scrutinized. We deserve what we get for tolerating a man that utters such cruel and heartless things. Just this morning, the CNN news reported described the situation as "unbelievable." And, they rarely comment on anything. "

Re: Kit Katz wrote on Sep 27, 2007 5:46 PM:

" You said, "Why should the Chief resign?" Did you hear the callous, and incredibly inane remarks that he made on CNN (the world)?" He practically suggested that the man should have found his own son's body at 3:00 am. He made the comments after Mr. Smith had indeed found his own son's body. He said something like, "If he knew that they were there, why didn't he go down there himself and find him at 3:00am?" In the first place, that's the GPD's job. And, in the second place, the man was at work. He said something like, "It's a moot point. They were dead already." He was really short and unapologetic. His tone was cold, callous and insensitive." His statements were heartless and profane, even though he used no profanity. He should not only be forced to resign, he should be made to leave Gary, never to return. Forever. He is an embarassment to the community. I was ashamed to live in Gary before his remarks, and now I am even more ashamed. I'm attached to Gary because I was born and raised here. "

Re: Re: Wow wrote on Sep 27, 2007 5:37 PM:

" Oh stop with the religious crap already. You are sure quick to judge him/her for judging other people. Pretty hyprocritical. Give me a break. "

It obviously wrote on Sep 27, 2007 5:35 PM:

" does bother you...you keep responding, "hun". I never said you couldn't read. If that is what YOU imply that is your own business. I am sorry if this saddens you. Wanna know what saddens me? You should since we all have to know what is on your mind. Its that people are quick to accuse and judge the police, but I haven't heard the family speak up on their actions. I find it saddening that two boys lives are gone forever and all we can think about is the actions of the cops. I also find it saddening that we have to accept their stupidity but not the cops. What breaks my heart the most is the fact that you would rather argue with me then to take a moment to realize what is really going on. I make a comment, you don't agree, that is fine, that is life, but don't attack me for my opinion. There, aren't you glad we got that out of the way? I was simply defending my argument and you consistently want to change my words around and attack. I think you should take another look at your priorities. That in itself is saddening. "

PROBLEM SOLVE wrote on Sep 27, 2007 3:26 PM:

" Lets not produce anymore = O kids, and then we would not need any police. The fact is that if it weren't for kids, many of the polceiman today would not have a job b/c the majority of calls are kid related. Always ahve been. You are just noticing the problem more now because of the lack of parent repsonsibility and the lack of having good cops on the streets. "

ex bad guy from Gary wrote on Sep 27, 2007 3:22 PM:

" when i lived in Gary 25 yrs. ago,i know how lazy Some of the gary cops were.It would take an hour to answer a break in. Or they would pass by and my door would be kicked in from an intruder. It was always some delay not to mention they were ripping off tires from the box cars on clark road, oh i forgot about the stolen cars they would keep to retag. i know because i was involved. Could it be the officers were too lazy to check properly if there was anyone else. Probably to many mosquitos out that night. Try to imagine ,just try,if you went out and found your son or daughter dead in a field where cops had searched. Unimaginable...those officers should be fired and sue the city the incmpetence of the officers involved. Sorry to say that the driver is to blame also. "

Tales of the willfully stupid wrote on Sep 27, 2007 2:54 PM:

" I am a person who spends a lot of time thinking of stupid things to say. I think of it as a hobby of mine. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I have been this way since childhood. Therefore, I was really impressed by the GPD Chief's remarks on CNN. But, I don't think Chief came up with that deliberately. I think that he just has a natural talent for saying "astonishingly ignorant" things. All the deliberately stupid people in the CNN viewing audience must've given him a standing ovation. I can think of a million ways to tell you just how stupid those statements were. I don't think I'll be able to come up with anything stupider than that. The GPD declined to comment after CNN's latest request for a statement. The Mayor must've finally realized that he needed to put a muzzle on him. Smart move, Mayor. "

Kit Katz wrote on Sep 27, 2007 2:07 PM:

" Why in the world should the chief resign? It is not his fault these kids were out drinking and driving. Where were the Parents? Or is this what they teach at home. Do what you want, we can always blame everyone else for our mistakes and problems. "

TOMMY GUNN wrote on Sep 27, 2007 1:12 PM:

" That's what happens to leadership when you promote from the inside for the top cop job. It's like inbreeding, nothing get done. "

The 800-lb gorilla in the room wrote on Sep 27, 2007 12:59 PM:

" If I were the Mayor, I would keep the GPD Chief, and let the Chief go ahead and arrest the driver, even before the election. The people are going to elect him, anyway, because everybody knows that people in Gary always vote for the Democrat. However, I would have to advise him that if he does this, he will risk being "run out of town on a rail." Though rare, it has been known to occur; else, I wouldn't be able to talk about it. However, both the Mayor and the Chief will have time for me to go over their retirement plans before the people make up their minds to storm both City Hall and GPD headquarters. But, that's just me. You don't have to listen to me. "

To: Conclusion: Look at it from a PD viewpoint. wrote on Sep 27, 2007 12:58 PM:

" You are a poor excuse for ANY law related job. How dare you assume these kids were criminals. You better pray that God watches over you when you go out on calls. Oh just think about it! One less lazy cops salary I have to contribute to as a taxpayer! Maybe GPD was too tired to look for the boys because they don't make jack squat annually and have to take on 3 or 4 side jobs to make ends meet and they were tired from those jobs! Gary definitely gets what they pay for...VOTE 4 RUDY! (yeah right) "

The Slowskys wrote on Sep 27, 2007 11:04 AM:

" We saw that CNN report today that played the dispatch recordings from the unfortunate accident on Chase Street in Gary, IN and even we couldn't have been more "casual," and/or "unhurried," and/or "unhasty." And, we put the "i" in "leisurely." "

Enough is Enough wrote on Sep 27, 2007 7:43 AM:

" The GPD could have done better, BUT they didn't have all the facts from the other two boys because they were drunk and had just had a very bad car accident. These families need to stop looking at $$$ signs and deal with barring there young men and and getting Darius held accountable for what he did. It is always someone elses fault and not that of the Parents or the Kids. Your child screwed up, he deserves to be charged and then maybe something done with the Police Department.He should not be allowed to drive for a LONG time! Teach your children well ! "

For all concerned wrote on Sep 26, 2007 10:55 PM:

" First of all if the boys were drinking or not drinking the question now is did the police do all they could possibly do to find the two boys left behind. The facts are yes probably they were drinking and yes probably that lead to the accident but lack of concern and care for the boys dying in the ditch or even laziness on the part of the police made parents suffer more than need be.You cant say that because they were drinking they deserved less care than if they were stone sober and out preaching the bible or at a party. The fact is that each individual be it a straight A student or a drunk deserves respect and help when it is needed. I suspect if a police officer were in the same situation the whole Lake County force would be out looking and searching until everyone was accounted for. Take off your blinders and look and feel for these parents and people involved. Pain and hurt and loss was all involved time to show some compassion for the survivors. "

Conclusion: Look at it from a PD viewpoint. wrote on Sep 26, 2007 3:55 PM:

" Look on the bright side, everbody: There are two less criminals on the street that we have to deal with! "

Re: Re: wow wrote on Sep 26, 2007 3:40 PM:

" You said: "...the only fault is that of a cold hearted killer named Darius Moore. " How dare you? You are skating on thin ice. To think you are the Judge of the thoughts and intents of men's hearts? You are just a bag of dust that God lets breathe His air. I'm warning you, and those of you that think you know what goes on in a man's heart: You are an accident-waiting-to-happen. Let all your family and friends know that they need to stay away from you. "

wow wrote on Sep 26, 2007 2:37 PM:

" Your right you are intitled to your opinion as is anyone else.Normally i would say sorry for mistaking your post for being pointed at me but some how i find it hard considering your reply.Honestly I find it rather insulting myself that your implying Im not reading and there for I cant read is what your implying.Im not blind and Im certainly not impared.You can believe what you like hun but your comments dont bother me they just plain sadden me. "

A response to the 800-lb gorilla's comments(not to the gorilla) wrote on Sep 26, 2007 2:35 PM:

" The ape has a point. However, I think people tend to have a hard time distinguishing between "wrath" and hardships that they bring upon themselves. And, then God gets the blame for them. Or, they ask, "Where was God?" when God was right there all the time. For example, what if there had been an explosion at the accident scene, when the officers turned over the car before calling the GFD? Would you call that "wrath?" It sounds like to me that someone was operating at least “two cans short of a six-pack”, in this case. Or, take the accident itself. Is it "wrath" because the laws of nature are violated? I see several natural laws violated or that could have been violated: laws of physics (speed, gravity, bumpy road, blow-out); biology (alcohol-use, though refuted), chemistry (explosive vapors at the accident site). Yet, one of the mothers indicated that "It was the will of God." I don't agree, because that goes against the statement, "God takes care of fools, etc.” But, I do think it was God's will that the natural laws He has in place remain intact. "

Re: To Wow wrote on Sep 26, 2007 2:17 PM:

" I agree with you.The boy's lives should be more important but with everyone trying to blame the GPD, they are wrong, those policeman did the best they could, NOTHING in this case is their fault, the only fault is that of a cold hearted killer named Darius Moore. "

To wow wrote on Sep 26, 2007 1:47 PM:

" 1st of all if you cared less you wouldn't respond. Yet you do, which means it must be bugging you somewhere. And you would you respect other people's views by not consistently posting your own opinion. Are you even reading? 2nd of all I was responding to the person who said "i care" and called me a moron. That in itself is insulting and I was just defending my argument. I will say this just once more. I FEEL, not that anyone has to agree with me, that the boy's lives should be more of an issue than the cops actions for this particular case. The driver made a mistake that we have to accept why can't we accept the cops mistakes? That is what I meant. You turned it into me saying about not caring about today's youth and what not. Not even close. I was simply responding to the person who said that society is "the way it is" because of people like me. I wasn't asking anyone to agree with me. I have just as a right to my opinion as you do to yours. "

WHY IS THE NW BLIND? wrote on Sep 26, 2007 1:40 PM:

" OK, COULD THE GPD HAVE DONE BETTER? MAYBE, LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH THOUGH, THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO PUT ME THROUGH THE ROOF IF I WERE A POLICEMAN. DARIUS MOORE NEEDS TO FINALLY MAN UP AND ADMIT TO MURDERING HIS FRIENDS. END OF DISCUSSION. "

read it again wrote on Sep 26, 2007 1:25 PM:

" it actually SUPPORTS what the police said from the beginning. im sure they are glad you're so willing to pay for that lawsuit for them! "

HA HA wrote on Sep 26, 2007 12:57 PM:

" The Gary Police are going to be sued!!!!! "

What about the driver? And the lawyers? wrote on Sep 26, 2007 12:44 PM:

" Did GPD make a mistake? Sounds like it. Was the driver under 21 years old? Yes. Had the driver been drinking? Yes. Should the GPD be investigated? Absolutely. None of this absolves the driver from his mistake. He was driving the car that crashed and killed his friends. He has been heard pointing out the GPD's mistakes, but I've not heard him admit his own mistake. The families are willing to forgive the person driving the car, but haved armed themselves with lawyers against the GPD? Probably because there is more $$ with GPD. The whole situation is sad, may those two boys rest in peace. "

READ todays' other paper! wrote on Sep 26, 2007 11:13 AM:

" GPD screwed up accoridng to the transcripts. They knew about the other 2 boys!!Nice try GPD but I smell a HUGE lawsuit! "

wow wrote on Sep 26, 2007 7:34 AM:

" It never seem to amaze me how some must lower them selves to call people names.As far as reading well I read your comment right and I replied Im sorry if you dont respect others views but quite honestly after reading your insulting comment I care less what you think at this point.If you feel the need to insult to get your point across thats just sad.You say this society is screwed up because people like me well hun maybe you should look in the mirror.Because quite honestly this society is screwed up because people like you who insult others.I in no way said that the GPD is responcible for the deads! However they are responcible for not doing a full investication of the scene and finding those boys. "

Alive $$$$. wrote on Sep 26, 2007 5:50 AM:

" You had a corner saying Smith and Green pass away on impact. Quit the crap on a second opinion.All you want is money. You admited you got a lawyer advice. Money is the issued and the true fact that Dariuos was drunk and speeding this the the truth. So get your lawyer, fight G.P.D and why your at it. Do the right thing and sue Darious and his parents for the death of your son. P.S If you ever need the police for a break in. Don't call them. GOD you don't want them when someone robs you. You might accuse them of breaking in!! GOD BLESS THE GREEN FAMILY!! "

TO all the police on this forum who are on duty now..... wrote on Sep 25, 2007 1:48 PM:

" Please get off this forum and GO DO YOUR JOBS!!!!!!!! "

Please don't respond to the 800-lb gorilla in the room. wrote on Sep 25, 2007 1:27 PM:

" If you knew what a "figure of speech" was, you would not try to communicate with the 800-lb gorilla in the room. If you don't understand, it means it was not meant for you. If you don't exert some effort to try to find out, you will never understand. But, common sense should tell you that you can't communicate with 800-lb gorillas, anyway. "

To: Sean wrote on Sep 25, 2007 1:08 PM:

" To get us back on topic, the point is that had the people involved in the accident been looked upon with any value, that perhaps the search would have been performed more professionally. Clearly, the individuals who survived the accident were not held in high esteem. One of the young men was made to "sit" on a curb and told to "be quiet," with a punctured liver. People bleeding all over should be lying down, and not be treated like criminals. They were treated that way and had no credibility because they were young, black men - the police jumped to the conclusion that they had been "up-to-no-good," instead of trying to help the others involved in the accident. "

God takes care of fools, drunks, and children, therefore... wrote on Sep 25, 2007 12:32 PM:

" The 5 officers who lifted the car without calling the GFD could have gotten blown up if gasoline vapors had come in contact with an ignition source, i.e., a spark from metal hitting rock, a lit cigarette, or from somewhere else. We all can agree that this idea came from an officer who was not "the sharpest tool in the shed." Clearly, since there was no explosion, God must have taken care of them. A true miracle. So my question is, what category did they fall into? They were not children and they were not drunk (or,so they say). But, there's only one category left. Therefore, we can only conclude by simple logic that either they were indeed all drunk, or they had to be in the last category. Public, you decide. "

Sean wrote on Sep 25, 2007 11:55 AM:

" Anybody can be a racist. Racism doesn't just involve denying jobs to people. It can just be somebody saying something stupid. "

To The 800Lb Gorilla In The Room wrote on Sep 25, 2007 11:54 AM:

" You should go to church and pray for God to take away your ignorance. "

To I care wrote on Sep 25, 2007 11:38 AM:

" learn how to read before you try and attack someone. Obviously those boys paid as much as attention as you did. Scary thought. I said that the boy's lives were more important than the cops actions and that we are focusing on the wrong issues. It is morons like you and them who DONT pay attention or follow instructions that makes society the way it is. "

The 800-lb Gorilla in the room wrote on Sep 25, 2007 11:03 AM:

" I believe God would've saved the boys, or at least found their bodies in a timely fashion, if the humans involved had cooperated with Him. Remember, "God takes care of fools, drunks, and children?" I think the officers repeatedly "blew God off." A person does not just "blow God off" without any consequences. I feel those who failed to cooperate have the "wrath of God" on them. Do you know what that means? It means that they are "an-accident-waiting-to-happen." If I knew these individuals, or were related to them, I would advise them to confess, "Something kept telling me that we should keep searching," and then find the nearest church to attend regularly. Else, if I knew that they were "an-accident-waiting-to-happen, I wouldn't want to hang around them since a roof might cave in on them and me or lightning could strike them, or some other type of hardship could befall them and me, too. And, Heaven knows, Gary doesn't need another storm to come through here. But, that's just me. And, who am I? "

How did this get to colored? wrote on Sep 25, 2007 8:10 AM:

" You know I have to agree no one has used colored in years. As for myself, we are all one! And how did the postings on this young man killing two of his friends by drinking and driving turn to blonde women with blue eyes? Stay on the subject people. All in all two boys are dead,a friend did it by getting behind the wheel while drinking, and the Police could have done a better job. BUT the finger pointing needs to go to the driver and he needs to be held responsible.MANSLAUGHTER! "

To I Care wrote on Sep 25, 2007 7:20 AM:

" Who is the moron? You need to read before you start trying to attack someone. These boys paid as much as attention as you did. Scary thought. What I said was I am more concerned about these boys lives then the police action. I think we are focusing on the wrong thing. And for the record, it is people like you and them who obviously dont follow instructions carefully that makes society the way it is. "

To: Concerned Citizen wrote on Sep 25, 2007 2:09 AM:

" "The Post Tribune states that the grandmother said they did the best they could. Let it go already!! " You want to accept this type of performance? Don't we deserve better? Don't you see? This is the type of attitude that has Gary in its present condition. As long as there are people that think this way, Gary will remain the dump that it is. What is it about garbage that is attractive to you? Is it because you've been eating baloney for so long, you can't recognize steak? If you had a choice between filet mignon and baloney, I bet you would choose baloney. "They (GPD) made a mistake." Mistakes are for high school. You don't make mistakes in the real world without any consequences. If they can't perform, get someone who can. There is no such thing as a job for life. "

Let it end now!!! wrote on Sep 24, 2007 11:19 PM:

" I think that it is time to put this issue to rest. Mistakes were made on both parts. Open your hearts to the families of the victims and Bless the souls of the deceased that they may rest in peace, pray for the survivors that will be racked with guilt for many years. Everyone has their own opinion, it is time to put this to rest and move on with life and reflect upon the lessons to be learned. My deepest condolences to ALL of those involved in this tragedy. "

my thoughts on the matter... wrote on Sep 24, 2007 10:42 PM:

" The problem with Gary is that NO ONE wants to take responsibility for their own actions. They count on everyone else to get them through life and then when something bad happens they place the blame on anyone but themselves. The bottom line is that the MAJORITY of Gary is a dirty stagnant ghetto just getting worse every day. It's predominately section-8 neighborhoods where parents don't take the time to raise their kids and teach them wrong from right. The kids learn to blame everyone else from their parents and grow up to teach THEIR children the same standards. I don't blame the police for not "properly doing their jobs." Half the city of Gary doesn't pay taxes because they don't work and live off of the government anyway. I certainly wouldn't want to work for free either. "

In response to "i care" wrote on Sep 24, 2007 9:31 PM:

" Who is the moron? Learn how to read before you try to attack. Obviously these boys paid as much attention as you did. Scary thought. Anyhow, that isn't what I said. I said that the boys lives should be more important than the cops actions and that I didn't care how long it took them to find the bodies. Those stories are too conflicting. And they were dead anyhow. We should be more focused on the boys and not the cops. It isn't the cops fault they ended up that way. They just want to place blame on someone else. "

To: TSD - Quit using words you don't know the meaning of! wrote on Sep 24, 2007 4:27 PM:

" And, learn how to spell, for goodness' sake. I am a black female who lives in Gary. It is impossible for me to be a racist. If you really knew me, you would know that I am not a racist, because I am in no position to oppress anybody. I cannot deny a whole group of people jobs, or exclude them from restaurants, or country clubs, or neighborhoods and apartment complexes, because I don't own any. I can't deny anybody, black or white, a loan, because I don't have any money (yet). If I did have money, I wouldn't deny people credit because of what they looked like. There is more to a word than what's in a dictionary. "

To: TSD wrote on Sep 24, 2007 3:30 PM:

" By your use of the word "colored," you date yourself. People stopped using "colored" more than 40 years ago. "Colored" is considered politically incorrect today. As for blonde, blue-eyed women, it is a well-known fact that any man, black or white, finds them a prized possession. Black women even dye their hair blonde. Do you even look at TV? Do you have cable? I know you're old enough to know about Sammy Davis, Jr., who started it all for black men in modern times. What about O.J. Simpson? What about NFL cheerleaders? Don't be naive. Pick up a magazine. Don't you know about the Jena 6? Don't you know people were hanging nooses from the back of their pickups just last week? Don't ask me to believe that you honestly think that race is not an issue in today's society. Your TV must be broken. And, Gary, IN is hardly Fantasy Island. Return to the real world. "

To: you all kill me wrote on Sep 24, 2007 3:17 PM:

" Yes, actually, my thoughts are the same with reject just the same as it was with the mother in the train wreck, they both commited murder. What's your rebuttle? "

God takes care of fools, drunks, and children... wrote on Sep 24, 2007 2:14 PM:

" I, and many others, believe that this is true. For those of us who are spiritual, we know that God speaks in a "still, small voice," as well as in other ways. Even those of us who don't know God have had a "Something-told-me..." experience. I am convinced that God told someone to go look for those boys if they were alive, or even if they weren't alive. He had to tell somebody more than once, perhaps several times. Now for someone to ignore that, i.e., to "brush-off" God, is so hard-hearted. Someone wasn’t cooperating with Him, and He had at least 5 officers to work with. Whoever it was, (and, it may have been more than one officer) if I were you,I’d confess, get to a church, or somewhere quick, fast, and in a hurry. Else, you might end up at a barbeque where you find yourself as the main item on the grill. "

GPD Chief: "It's a moot point." wrote on Sep 24, 2007 12:47 PM:

" Our Gary Police Chief, the father of "do-it-yourself" search-and-recovery operations, has managed to revolutionize the science practically overnite during his recent CNN interview. To the GPD Chief: In the future, stop trying to impress me with your intelligence. Just continue to baffle me with your ignorance. "

I agree with after 2 weeks.. wrote on Sep 24, 2007 12:45 PM:

" people need to stop blaming the police, it's not their fault, when you have AN UNDERAGE DRUNK SPEEDING DRIVER tell you that they think they dropped their friends off, why would you check? The GPD did a WONDERFUL job in this situation. Also, Darius is the only one to blame, there is NO other excuse or person to blame out there aside from him, he killed 2 of his friends and I hope they are going to charge him with murder just as they would you or I. Good going Daruis, hope your couple hours of fun was worth 2 intelligent wonderful lives, it should have been you, not those 2 angels. "

Concerned Citizen wrote on Sep 24, 2007 12:44 PM:

" I cannot believe that this has been the argument for two weeks and just keeps going in cricles. The reason they are called accidents is because most people don't usually get into a vehcile with the intent of wrecking, circumstances and choices handle that. It then becomes an accident. As bad as these choices are that these boys made, it was still an accident. As far as the police, it is called a mistake. Nobody was there at the time that it hapoened, there are conflicting stories as far as how far away the bodies were, whether the driver remembered if he had dropped them off already or if they were indeed there. Sure, maybe if the police were told that there was a possiblity of more victims, they should have looked, BUT they did attend to the victims that they did see. The Post Tribune states that the grandmother said they did the best they could. Let it go already!! "

What were they thinking? wrote on Sep 24, 2007 12:34 PM:

" From my GFD sources, the GPD calls them even when there is a "fender-bender." Why would 5 police officers not think to call the GFD before they lifted a vehicle, which more than likely had gasoline in the tank? The gasoline could have even spilled out of the tank. Out of 5 people, not one of them had the presence of mind to call the GFD? What if gasoline vapors had found an ignition source? What if one of them had lit a cigarette? Then we would be mourning the deaths of 5 police officers, as well. I don't know about you, but this type of absent-mindedness is making me afraid. "

Doughnut Break wrote on Sep 24, 2007 10:11 AM:

" Hello....no one is blaming the police for the accident. just keep going around circles with excuses for not taking the responsibility on doing a thorough search. Sounds like a third party is now involved for a reason. hmmmm, I wonder what will be determinded? "

you all kill me wrote on Sep 24, 2007 10:05 AM:

" to everyone thats blaming this teenager... are your thoughts about him the same as they were for that mother that killed her kids by racing a train? or are you blaming this kid because of how it happened? very, very tragic accident. stupid, yes, but you know what... let you who is without sin, cast the first stone. "

After 2 Weeks wrote on Sep 24, 2007 8:52 AM:

" You STILL blame the GPD, you are all blind and stupid, this IS NOT and NEVER WILL BE the fault of the GPD, it is the fault of one man, that man is Darius, no others, stop being so blind and blame the person who is really at fault, the murderer that killed 2 people. stop being stupid people. This is why America is so hated, people are so blindsided by ignorance that they don't see the thruth for what it really is. "

I care wrote on Sep 24, 2007 4:35 AM:

" To Who Cares - It's morons like you that are the problem in society. Everybody should care about what happens to our youth. "

Previous Poster wrote on Sep 23, 2007 8:59 PM:

" I do have to wonder why the NWI Times paper would post such comments. Is this a newspaper with any kind of class and dignity or is it a national enquirer. Get some class Times. Or your paper will be the next joke. "

To: wow wrote on Sep 23, 2007 5:28 PM:

" Well said. "

Sam Recalster wrote on Sep 23, 2007 1:59 PM:

" I really hate the Gary cops with a passion that is rare for me. The little white pig that pulled me over a few nights ago was "out of control." This guy thought he was Rambo. I wonder if he was the same one who 'missed' the dead teens? I tried to tell the cop that I wasn't doing anything except driving home to work. He searched my vehicle, called me a drug dealer and found a used condom. His pig friend then drove up, harassed me, and acted like a dope. People, do NOT cooperate with Gary police. These guys are whacko, criminals. "

To Wow from the person who doesnt care wrote on Sep 23, 2007 10:54 AM:

" I find it disturbing that you think these police actions are more important than the lives of the boys involved. No parent should have to find their child in that capacity, but they wouldn't have had to had the drivers acted responsibly. It amazes me that we are supposed to accept the drivers mistakes but we can't except the fact that maybe the police made a mistake (if they even did). Everyone wants to blame someone else. And how come the other families aren't speaking out about the police? Maybe they don't agree? Either way we should be more focused on the point at issue...DEATH. Not the actions of the police. "

TSD wrote on Sep 23, 2007 10:51 AM:

" The day has come that someone has pulled the race card in a predominitly colored community with a predominitly colored police force,and says tell the police there was a blond haired blue eyed female with you.This here comment shows you the backwards thinking of most colored folks.Look we are all residents of the state of Indiana and the country of the United States of America.Race simply is not an issue, please stop being raceist! "

TSD wrote on Sep 23, 2007 10:48 AM:

" The day has come that someone has pulled the race card in a predominitly colored community with a predominitly colored police force,and says tell the police there was a blone haired blue eyed female with you.This here comment shows you the backwards thinking of most colored folks.Look we are all residents of the state of Indiana and the country of the United States of America.Race simply is not an issue, please stop being raceist! "

SICK of GI wrote on Sep 22, 2007 1:25 PM:

" I got a speeding ticket for going 30mph on that street and the speed limit is 20mph. The cop told me that too many people die on that street - so they stop me at 2pm on a sunny day. And I pay $150.00 for my mistake. But why sit and ticket on a sunny afternoon when everyone dies at night on that street going WAY over 30? And why hasn't that huge metal lined pothole been fixed on 35th and Chase - they just keep putting orange roadblocks that get crushed. Gary does what is convenient - instead of monitoring that street at night and cracking down on real offenders they sit and read a book and ticket people going to work. AND after sitting in that traffic court I know why Gary has the highest insurance rates. The judge tells these people with no license and no insurance just to come back when they get some. But me the person who abides by the law gets stuck paying for dumb people. The big stink is because they just want to sue and get money. "

GPD: You big bullies! wrote on Sep 22, 2007 1:23 PM:

" Shame on you! Trying to beat up on the credibility of some young boys to cover for your own shoddy performance! How dare you? I could have more respect for you if you admit your lack-luster performance, and take the consequences like men. Maybe the parents wouldn't sue us, and maybe the criminals won't take shots at the rest of the force, if you would just be humble, apologize and offer your resignations to save the taxpayers some money. But, you are too greedy and selfish for that. You are not even thinking about the position you're putting the Mayor in. You'd rather have the people pay the penalty for your lazy-minded performance. And then, you expect applause? Boo-oo-oo! You're only trying to save your own hides, and at the expense of some of the weakest members of our community. "

To: Waiting.... wrote on Sep 22, 2007 1:01 PM:

" What? File charges? What are you trying to do? Get us all killed? The bad people, who have their own brand of justice, are already taking shots at the police as we speak. What do you think will happen to us if there are no police? The police were sitting ducks, even before all this happened. You want us to be sitting ducks, too? Filing charges, right now would be a public-relations fiasco, especially around election time. Haven't the boys been punished enough, right now? I think the majority of the public would agree. I don't think the GPD has the guts to file charges right now, anyway. "

To: Waiting... wrote on Sep 22, 2007 12:52 PM:

" What? File charges? What are you trying to do? Get us all killed? The bad people, who have a brand of justice of there own,are already taking shots at the police. If there are no police, what do think will happen to the people? Filing charges right now would be a public-relations fiasco, and GPD knows it, and that's why it hasn't been done yet. Personally, I don't think GPD has the guts to file charges, anyway. Think people, think. "

TO ALL MALE HIGH-SCHOOL UPPERCLASSMEN IN GARY II wrote on Sep 22, 2007 12:43 PM:

" " Pay close attention: If you ever, ever find yourself in an accident like the one on Chase St. on 9/15, think about saying this: "There were two other people in the car, too, and a 'pit bull'." I guarantee that you will not have to repeat yourself, not even once. Later, (it should be about 4 days after they first talked to you) when they say to you, "We found your two friends just as you said, right after we talked to you, but we haven't found the 'pit bull', yet." Then you should say, "That's okay, officers. I can buy another dog. My pit bull can be replaced." The first statement would be a lie, but it is called a "righteous lie" and may even save your life some day. Consider it a survival mechanism. It's part of your history, anyway. You have to make the second statement to get them to call off the search (for a dog) and wasting the taxpayers money. Talk to your parents. " "

To Wow wrote on Sep 22, 2007 12:15 PM:

" In response to my response, I am glad to hear that the cops role in this case has more importance over the boys deaths. It is very disturbing that people are so stuck on the cops actions and not the actions of the young men. No the parents shouldn't have to find that child that way and it isnt the cops fault they did, it is the driver's fault. None of this would have happened if the boys acted responsibly. It is amazing how we are supposed to accept the boys actions and mistakes but we can't accept the fact that cops might have made a mistake. No one is perfect. And how come the other families involved aren't saying anything about the police? Maybe they don't agree. "

shutup wrote on Sep 22, 2007 8:53 AM:

" To the surviors and their parents stop talking because it is very apparent that your story has holes in it. Ms. Long if you are a Cousin your name was not in the paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone wants to be in the paper "

Help wrote on Sep 22, 2007 8:51 AM:

" Rudy, you donot disagree with your staff publicly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Behind closed doors you express your true feelings. However, you will be called to testify against your City!! Get a press person stop making statements stop all other staff from giving statements!!!!!!!!!! You need a spin doctor like yesterday. Also, Rudy stop making statements about that can be traced. Because, guess what you did say you would layoff police and fire it is in print!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

to : view from 30000 feet wrote on Sep 22, 2007 7:46 AM:

" you're a goof. think about what you said. yeah the police should of looked around. especially if they said they had 2 other people with them. drunk or not. if anything, just to cover their butts and make sure. better safe than sorry. its not cops fault the men got into the accident, but they have a job to do. secure the scene, make sure evidence and people involved are accounted for. "

Heart of stone wrote on Sep 22, 2007 4:47 AM:

" To ignore that there may have been even the slightest chance that other people were involved in the accident, and then to go home and go to sleep for 8 hrs without saying a word to anybody about it has to be the height of callousness to me. If it had been me, something in the back of my mind would keep bothering me about it. I could go to bed, but I wouldn't be able to sleep. It would be like I had toothpicks in my eyes. At some point, I would have to call somebody in charge, or even get up out of the bed and go out to the accident site to find the people myself. If you never have experienced that "something," I'm talking about, perhaps you need a "check-up-from-the-neck-up." You may avoid ending up in a place where there are tons of blsck smoke produced and no air pollution control devices. "

come on and try it wrote on Sep 21, 2007 10:21 PM:

" wow alot of ignorance on this page only thing i can say is if you think you can do it better come on out and try it. officers checked the area to the best of their ability sure they could have woke up gary fire and sure they would have came out to assist but obviously you have never had to deal with a crabby fireman who was resting up for his other job maybe if the helicopter was in the air that would have helped too but they dont fly after dark so no help there neither and the chief said it correctly a good leader will stand behind his troops "

wow wrote on Sep 21, 2007 4:03 PM:

" For the person that ask who cares if the police found them they died instintly. I CARE! Doesnt matter if they were alive or not.In no way do I want one of my love ones laying in a dutch like some kind of road kill! Yea maybe if the police would of call the fire dept and others to search like there suppose to the father wouldnt have had to find his son that way.This isnt about what caused the crash or who fault it was that those young men died. This is about why those young mens bodies laid there and no one bothered to look.Those young boys that lost there lives regardless of how it happened deserved respect.As for the police report well at this point I dont think I will believe a darn thing they say.Because quite honestly even if the boys were confused and suggest there friends were out there.GPD should of followed up on it anyway period! "

nate wrote on Sep 21, 2007 1:15 PM:

" I think the reason they didnt find the bodies right away is because the survivers told police there were no others in the car,they didnt want thier friends in trouble. Lets wait and see what the police report says. "

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! wrote on Sep 21, 2007 9:57 AM:

" Darius chose to put his friends at risk when he got behind that wheel, he then in turn killed them, if you don't see that, you should be charged for stupidity as well. "

Waiting.... wrote on Sep 21, 2007 9:45 AM:

" When are the police going to do their job and file charges against the driver of the car? Is he going to get a slap on the wrist for causing an accident that killed his two friends and seriously injured another? Are they waiting for things to die down first? Are the dead boy's parents going to sue Darius? If I was the one who caused that accident, my butt would be sitting in jail right now. IT IS TIME TO FILE THE CHARGES!!!! "

Who Cares? wrote on Sep 21, 2007 8:46 AM:

" Honestly, who cares that the police didn't find the boys (who died instantly)? Why is this subject even being brought up? What the hell would the cop have done if he did find them? Administer care? THATS NOT THEIR JOBS. It is the parents jobs to teach their kids not to drink and drive. I for one, am more upset that these kids lost their lives more than I am about the cops actions. They couldn't have been saved by the cops anyhow, but they could have been saved by the driver. It's amazing how the driver's story changes constantly, who is to say what really happened. "

Many of you are saying a lot of cruel and heartless things. wrote on Sep 21, 2007 6:02 AM:

" You are saying that the driver, a 17-yr old, killed his friends. How cruel! You are even saying the parents killed their own kids, in a time of grief. It was an accident. How do you people sleep at night? The only way a person can sleep at night after hurling such libelous accusations, is that you know you can't be identified, or you just don't have a conscience, or both. If you don't have a conscience, you know what that tells me? It tells me that your name is not written in the Book of Life yet. This means you could end up in a place where the temperature is at least 2000 degrees F. You better get a conscience, if its not too late already. "

TO: ALL MALE HIGH-SCHOOL UPPERCLASSMEN IN GARY wrote on Sep 21, 2007 5:31 AM:

" Pay close attention: If you ever, ever find yourself in an accident like the one on Chase St. on 9/15, think about saying this: "There was a blonde, blue-eyed girl in the car, too, with our other two friends." I guarantee that you will not have to repeat yourself, not even once. Later, (it should be about eight hours after they talked to you) when they say to you, "We found your two friends just as you said, right after we talked to you, but we haven't found the girl, yet." Then you should say, "She must have gotten up on her own and walked away somewhere." These are lies, but they are called "righteous lies," and may even save your life some day. Consider it a survival mechanism. It's part of your history, anyway. Ask your parents. "

Here is a moot point for you: wrote on Sep 21, 2007 4:27 AM:

" "Surely, when our GPD Chief passes away, all knowledge will pass away with him, too, because we all know that the police department is infallible. There is just no debating it." (Yeah, that will be true...when a moose needs a hat-rack!) "

Did he stutter? wrote on Sep 21, 2007 2:42 AM:

" Did Carmelita Evans' son stutter when he gave the officer his mother's cell phone number? I don't think so, according to the voice mail message that the police dispatcher left on her cell phone. And, he didn't stutter when he told the officer that there were two others also involved in the accident. "

Is there a cure for the walking brain-dead? - Part 3 wrote on Sep 21, 2007 1:34 AM:

" This cure soon will be known as "self-tasing(ST)." The concept is essentially the same as the portable self-defibrilator (PSD). All the officer has to do after he awakes from his (or her)midnight siesta, is to set his taser on the maximum level that he can take, apply the taser to the appropriate part of his anatomy, wherever he may desire, and then "tase" himself into consciousness. His own screams should drive him into the required state of vigilance. I got the idea from the Warren, OH police video last night. Providing tasers to our GPD officers would be "killing two birds with one stone." Not only would it be perfect to use for subduing injured, young black men, helpless women,wheelchair-bound individuals, or overly-inquisitive students, but he can also use it to jog himself out of his own nap-induced stupor. The only problem I see is that the officer may develop a tolerance to a certain level of electricity, however, he could just increase the amount delivered, ad infinitum, for all I care. I recommend the ST to police departments everywhere! "

When will we see!!!!! wrote on Sep 20, 2007 9:58 PM:

" I for one will be waiting to see how long it takes for 1. RECKLESS HOMICIDE charges to be filed against the driver. 2. When will the families FILE their LAWSUIT against the CITY OF GARY. I for one will just wait and see, just get in line with everyone else. "

Distance wrote on Sep 20, 2007 9:33 PM:

" 10 feet? 90 feet? I heard it was 1,000 ft. Seriously, people need to get the distance or story straight when trying to make an argument. "

To: The GPD Chief is a Genius wrote on Sep 20, 2007 9:18 PM:

" GPD not calling the GFD was dumb. (Dumb, meaning silent,mute, or unable to speak, as well as, stupid. I hate having to explain my metaphors. Only a select few will get it anyway). Here goes: All together, everybody: How dumb was it? It was dumber than a box of rocks. It was dumber than a box of hair. It was dumber than a box of dirt. Note: I am not calling anybody dumb or stupid. My comments are directed at the action (in this case, inaction) shown towards the victims of 9/15. "

To: Margate Florida wrote on Sep 20, 2007 8:26 PM:

" I couldnt say it any better myself. D. Moore killed those boys not the police. If the parents had a better hold on their children those 2 boys would still be alive. Nice parenting. "

You People wrote on Sep 20, 2007 4:58 PM:

" need to stop RIGHT NOW blaming the cops, they aren't at fault for those boys CHOOSING to drink and drive and race down an unstable street, IT IS ONLY the fault of those boys that did this to themselves, Darius is at fault, he chose to make this happen to his friends, I hope he is happy with his life now. I DON'T CARE about the people who will try to prove me wrong, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONES WRONG, this IS NOT the cops fault, it is the fault of that irresposible jerk that drank and drove and let 2 of his friends die, NOONE ELSE IS AT FAULT. "

Tax payers should pay up wrote on Sep 20, 2007 4:54 PM:

" Don't take responsibility, file a law suit, blame someone else, and make the tax payers pay, are there any tax payers left in Gary or will Lake county have to flip the bill???? "

Lower the bar wrote on Sep 20, 2007 4:45 PM:

" we have lowered the bar of behavior.....not my fault...its the governments fault "

View from 30,000 feet wrote on Sep 20, 2007 4:20 PM:

" If the survivors weren't irresponsible and drunk the police probably would have believed their claim to have friends in the field. Take a step back and put yourselves in the perspective of a police officer. You just picked up these kids who are so drunk, they crashed their car. They say they had friends with them. Would you believe them? I sure wouldn't, I'd be laughing with my officer pals saying "These crazy drunks are imagining things." I'm sorry for the loss the families may have had, but the boys made their own choice by drinking and/or getting in the car with drunk people behind the wheel. Friends are there to help each other out, and they shouldn't have let each other on the road, now two of them are dead. Don't blame anyone else but those kids. Let them take some responsibility, even if it's bad. "

ATTN: TO THE POLICE THAT DON'T DO YOUR JOBS wrote on Sep 20, 2007 3:51 PM:

" If not for the sake of the citizens, please do your jobs for the sake of your brothers out there!!!. For Goodness sake think of your brothers!!! Cops are getting shot at and people are running from them because they don't have any repect for ANY officers due to the bad behavior of only a FEW. PLEASE, THINK OF YOU'RE BROTHERS WHEN MAKING A BAD DECISION!!!!!!!!PLEASE!!!!!!! "

"It's a moot point." wrote on Sep 20, 2007 3:40 PM:

" "If I would have been the policeman on the scene, I would've called the Fire Department and said, 'Look for the people that was lost there,'" Clay said. "Looks like somebody messed up here." At least our Mayor was honest and not trying to "shuck and jive" on CNN. Get rid of your Chief, Mayor Clay. He is doing you a disservice. "

Inhumane wrote on Sep 20, 2007 2:54 PM:

" It is just inhumane for leaving possible bodies out there overnight, and its no excuse that its in Gary where there are tons of bodies still laying out goodness knows where. That poor poor father who had to find his dead son in those weeds. My heart goes out to you , sir! "

Tax payers must pay wrote on Sep 20, 2007 2:26 PM:

" Lets blame the GPD for this bad behavior, file a law suit, and the tax payers will once again flip the bill for this outrageous bad behavior. Are there any tax payers left in Gary? or will Lake county have to pay? This is ridiculous!!! No responsibility for bad behavior "

Shoe on the other foot wrote on Sep 20, 2007 2:26 PM:

" Many of you individuals have came to the conclusion that the people were dead. Emergency people came on the scene with invalid information that did not indicate there were other victims. So when you say the police did nothing wrong I agree. However, I disagree that we have so much technology we can determine these kids did instantly but our emergency teams can't look at the car damage and see there may be other people involved and searched the area in more detail. The family shouldn't have to go find their relatives after emergency teams had already been on the scene. That is unacceptable. If the shoe was on the other foot you would be just as ticked off as the next man. Yes the true fault is on the non-responsible 18 year who wants to drink and drive. How did he gain control? I'm 27 and can't buy alchol with an ID. Clearly, something is not right about our community. At age 18 their grown don't blame the parents. My opinion!!! "

Could someone please wrote on Sep 20, 2007 1:36 PM:

" explain to me how the cops were wrong for not finding the son quicker than the father? Is there a definition of a cop that someone can forward me? Like something that outlines their duties. I think we expect too much out of the cops and not enough out of the people who are actually responsible. And why is it the police's complete responsibility to look for these kids? Its not like they were kidnapped or being held hostage. They were already dead and I don't care if it took the police two weeks to find them, that doesn't change the fact that they were dead. These people just want to have the media coverage so that they can get sympathy for something their son did. That is all. "

Sick and Tired wrote on Sep 20, 2007 1:19 PM:

" I am so sick and tired of everyone blaming the Police Officers and Officials of Gary, but not blamming this young man that had the guts to get in a car drunk and drive his friends home. The smart thing would have been to call home for a ride BUT then again, some of the parents didn't even answer the phones when the Police were trying to call. Face the facts, Darius killed his friends,not on purpose but he did. "

who says wrote on Sep 20, 2007 12:45 PM:

" Who says the police didn't do a complete search. The kid that killed his "friends" the mama that tells her son, you know the one who killed his buds that he didn't do nothing wrong. GOOD JOB GARY POLICE!!!!!! "

Julie wrote on Sep 20, 2007 11:44 AM:

" Am I the only one who see that the families are not trying to blame the police for the accident. They are blaming the police for not looking and finding the two men that were thrown from the car. The fact that the driver was speeding, drinking or anything else is not important, the fact that no one looked for them and the parents had to go out there and find them is what is important and what everyone should be mad about. I agree that the driver was at fault for the accident not the police, and he should be punished for that, but to say that because he was drinking and speeding why should the police help his friends, that is "Stupid". If this were my child I would be mad as hell that the police did not look hard enough, or even look at all. I feel the police really messed up and are now putting all blame on the driver because he was drinking. I hope I am never in an accident with a drunk driver, because the police may not look to make sure all passingers are accounted for. "

Darn it! wrote on Sep 20, 2007 11:21 AM:

" Looks the findings of the "independent autopsy" are already back but the family has been advised to keep it secret. Hmmmm. Do you possibly think that maybe the autopsy shows that the boys died instantly? I figure that if it showed anything else then they would do anything but keep it quite. Darn, this might just make the settlement against Gary less than they had hoped. Could we possibly say that Darius is so emotionally scarred from the police not finding his friends that he may never recover? Yea, that should help! "

fire them all wrote on Sep 20, 2007 11:03 AM:

" I say that we should fire every single cop, fire fighter and public official in Gary. Then, once they are all gone, maybe the people of Gary will figure out that they have no one to blame but themselves for their own actions. After watching the video of Darius and the reaction of the parents, I am not a bit surprised that this happened to them. Already they were out at 3 A.M. and drinking. Now, after two die you have a parent telling the drunk driver that "the man" failed them. "You didn't do anyhting wrong, Darius". I even saw one report that called Darius a "hero". WHAT??? I think this is why people just shake their heads and walk away when they hear this kind of reaction. "

Once Again.... wrote on Sep 20, 2007 9:20 AM:

" Most people here are not blaming the police for the accident. I at least hope not! The kids (the parents should of known where these kids were!)were responsible:drinking, out way late, no seat belts,possibly driving fast. However, the thing that gives me the chills is the police not caring enough to do a proper search. It seems that happens alot nowadays. If you don't like you're job, quit. "

Fact wrote on Sep 20, 2007 8:54 AM:

" Darius Moore's actions caused the death of his two friends...PERIOD!!! "

Own it wrote on Sep 20, 2007 8:31 AM:

" Go after who sold them the liquor. Or maybe go after the car manufacturer for not putting their seatbelts on them automatically. Lets blame everyone and everybody except the driver. Own up to it. God Bless you all. Don't Drink and Drive and Wear Your Safety Belt!!!! "

To: Hoosier Hunter wrote on Sep 20, 2007 6:28 AM:

" No one blames the police for the accident. The GPD performed a slipshod search-and-rescue effort, and a search-and-rescue effort that they did not even bother to perform, even when daylight came. Search-and-recovery is a GPD/GFD function that the taxpayer should not have to undertake, contrary to what the chief indicated in his CNN interview. It is quite evident from the looks of the city that words like "slipshod," "botched," or "bungled," don't even exist in the vocabularies of the citizens of Gary. The people seem incapable making the distinction between making a "painstaking" or "meticulous" search and a "slipshod" search. Obviously, words like these have been erased from dictionaries in Gary by their politicians. Or, do they even use dictionaries in their homes in Gary? From the looks of things, I don't think so. And, I, or anyone else with eyes, can state emphatically that they are very unfamiliar with "attention-to-detail" there. "

Margate Florida wrote on Sep 20, 2007 5:25 AM:

" Rudy Clay " I would have searched if I was there" LOL He has never gotten dirty or messed up his mutton chops in his life. SCENERIO: 17 year old kid, speeding,probably ( MORE LIKELY THAN NOT)drinking or using drugs,no valid driver's license,on the street at 3AM. How many laws are broken in this scenerio? Lets not accept the blame as parents, lets shift the blame to cover our inability to parent our kids. Rudy is using this for his own motives. "

fishy wrote on Sep 20, 2007 2:36 AM:

" What time did this accident happen? What time did the police get called to see about the boys knocking on doors? What time was it when they were searching the wreck? Were they found 10 feet or 90 feet? If it happened at 3:00, why did it take 7 to 8 hours to find the bodies? Its daylight at 7:00 and if they were 10 feet away, why did it take 7 to 8 hours to find them? And why didn't the other parents contact the other parents when they found out? It all sounds like a bunch of lies. "

Gary is messed up, that's who. wrote on Sep 20, 2007 2:20 AM:

" Hall(s), Harris(s), Allen , Powell, Pratchert, Meeks, Smith, Yuk! Calumet Township Board. "

To Two Cents wrote on Sep 19, 2007 11:59 PM:

" Keep your two cents to yourself. The police are NOT to blame. They did not cause this accident. The driver did. How are the police to blame? Oh yeah, it was the cops that were drinking, speeding and driving the car with no seat belts on. The boys had nothing to do with it. "

Joe wrote on Sep 19, 2007 11:13 PM:

" Rudy Clay for President! "America's Mayor!" "

Hoosier Hunter wrote on Sep 19, 2007 10:00 PM:

" Underage drinking, out at 3 a.m., excessive speed, and no seat belts. And you want to blame the police? Get real. "

To: You Get What You Accept wrote on Sep 19, 2007 8:33 PM:

" Bless you! That is my philosophy on the matter. an activist. "

It was an unfortunate accident, however: wrote on Sep 19, 2007 8:12 PM:

" Let's pray we don't have a 9/11 type of incident in the city of Gary, or the GPD Chief might end up telling us citizens to do the search-and-rescue, or search-and-recovery ourselves. What a pretty picture that would make for CNN! "

It was an unfortunate accident, however: wrote on Sep 19, 2007 8:05 PM:

" Isn't it the duty of the Gary public safety officials to conduct the search-and-rescue, or the search-and-recovery after an accident? Isn't this what tax-payers like Arthur Smith are spending their hard-earned money for? Imagine the NYPD chief telling the families of the 9/11 victims to conduct their own search-and-rescue, or search-and-recovery. Can you picture it? This is the type of statement our GPD Chief made to the international community on CNN. Doesn't he make you feel proud? Let's keep him forever. Not! "

Is there a cure for the walking brain-dead? wrote on Sep 19, 2007 7:04 PM:

" Clearly the responsible officer's brain was not actively engaged when all it took was a call to the GFD for assistance in search-and-rescue, or search-and-recovery. A lot of people often wake up groggy and with an attitude. For these instances, the GPD should simply supply each vehicle with an ample supply of smelling salts to jog the officer's brain out of inactivity. Then he will be prepared to deal with the public and think in an orderly fashion when faced with an emergency situation. This is the least expensive alternative to being hateful and nasty. Many lawsuits can be avoided with this solution. I have another suggestion that I will explain in another post. "

Totally Sick Of Ignorance wrote on Sep 19, 2007 6:18 PM:

" Why is it there are always Monday morning quarterbacks thinking the "I would of done it this way... the other way was wrong". Have any of you fools seen the area around the crash? There is thick brush almost chest high. It was dark, No information was able to be confirmed. And the "KID" was drinking. oh yeah...when a body is 90 feet from a crash scene it is hard to find. the report of 10 feet off the road was fine. but the media forgot to let everyone know they were 90 feet from the car. get your facts before you critique someones actions. And when did the Mayor go to the police academy to qualify to be the officer on scene. OH YEAH... HE DIDN'T!!! "

You Get What You Accept wrote on Sep 19, 2007 6:07 PM:

" I'm beginning to believe that the citizens of Gary deserve the condition that the city is in because they accept the lousy performance of their public servants. They elect the same type of career politicians over and over again, who keep the same incompetent employees from administration to administration. Why? Are they all related to each other or something? What has the city gained over the past 40 years? I no longer feel sorry for Gary residents. I have concluded that they love to have the city in the condition that it is in. They love mediocrity and inferiority. They love to have it that way. "

mojo wrote on Sep 19, 2007 5:51 PM:

" My question is where were the parents, dont they know where there kids are. the kid will change his story 10 times over before the goes to court. dont believe a think he says. "

ha ha!!! wrote on Sep 19, 2007 5:46 PM:

" The drive said he dropped the off then he said they were with him. What are the police suppose to believe. Get over it. The kid (driver) killed those two. Not the GPD. All they want to do is sue someone and use the PD as a scapegoat. "

Valpo Rez wrote on Sep 19, 2007 5:11 PM:

" To Gary Resident and Concerned Parent: I agree that teenagers make dumb mistakes and it's unfortunate that this occurred. But they did break the law. Our justice system demands that law breakers pay the price. Another thing to think about: what about the passengers and the two who died? Did someone hold a gun to their head and tell them they were not allowed to wear their seatbelts? I ALWAYS wear mine, even if I'm in the backseat. "

Mrs. Firefighter wrote on Sep 19, 2007 2:48 PM:

" THE POLICE DID NOT KILL THOSE BOYS! END OF STORY. "

Blame Game wrote on Sep 19, 2007 2:38 PM:

" Fact- The driver of this vehicle is the only one at fault here. Contributing factors- Alcohol and underage drinking. Why is no one going after the individuals who provided the alcohol?? The occupants of the vehicle, The family, The police, and the Fire Dept. are just participating in good old fashion PASSING THE BUCK. "

to TO ONLY ISSUE-COPS DID NOT BOTHER wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:43 PM:

" JEEZES! will YOU please shut up! All your racket is giving us a headache. The police did not conduct a thorough search, and those bodies were left on the side like they were raodkill. It IS very tragic and a shame! 10 ft is less the length of the avergage body of a human being x 2. How much effort was there by the PD? "

JJ wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:42 PM:

" I lost a son at age 16 in an autobile accident. It was sheer horror for years to come. As for the Gary police. Remember, you get what you pay for and nothing more. "

They Crucified Michael Vicks over Some Dumb Dogs wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:27 PM:

" How can anyone possibly think that the GPD police officer is supposed to escape "crucifixion" over neglecting two human beings? "

Question... wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:23 PM:

" Why is it if an adult that has been drinking and driving has an accident and kills someone he gets to go to jail for murder? AND what we have here is underage drinking, speeding, no seatbeat wearing, and out SO late at night DRIVER/KID getting forgiviness from the family of the lives he has taken and a soft bed to recover in and not a cement jail cell? ANWSER ANYONE??? That's right its all the GPS fault!!! "

Was alcohol really involved? wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:20 PM:

" One TV news report stated that the Gary Police said that there was alcohol in the blood of the two survivors. Then the report went on to say that the boys "refuted" that. For those of you who don't know what it means "to refute" something, I'll save you a trip to the dictionary. It means "to prove to be false or mistaken," or "to deny the accuracy or truth of." Also, at the time that the boys' told the officer that their two friends were still at the accident scene, how could the officer know for sure that the two other boys were already dead? If the victims had been thin, female, blonde and blue-eyed, would this have engaged GPD brains into the emergency response mode any sooner? Did the accident interfere with the officer's nap? Is the officer grumpy when he wakes up? Did the boys interrupt his doughnut break? If the victims were Michael Vicks' dogs, would they have called for more equipment? Can you name any City of Gary public safety official who can hit a bull in the butt with a surfboard? I think not. "

me wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:00 PM:

" we know who was Drinking and who was driving no ones hidding that!what is beig hid is the fact the police were suppose to call the proper authorities to search and rescue.THATS WHAT RADIOS ARE FOR TO CALL WHEN IT IS BEYOND YOUR CONTROL.THATS WHAT HELP FROM GPD IS SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINED FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE KNOW WHOS FAULT IT IS DID GPD OR THERE CHIEF MAKE IT BETTER!NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

TO ONLY ISSUE-COPS DID NOT BOTHER PERIOD wrote on Sep 19, 2007 12:54 PM:

" OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE A MORAN! ACTUALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ON HERE ARE! THIS IS NOT THE POLICE'S FAULT AT ALL! THIS IS THE KID WHO WAS DRINKING AND DRIVING FAST DOWN THE ROADS FAULT! WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS WHAT THE PARENTS WANT TO HEAR. WHAT WERE THE COPS SUPPOSED TO DO? THEY HAD KIDS WHO WERE SCARED AND SHOOKUP FROM THE ACCIDENT SAYING THEY THOUGHT THEY TOOK THEIR FRIENDS HOME. SO THE POLICE LOOKED AROUND SAW NO ONE AND LEFT! WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY HUH? SERIOUSLY PUT YOURSELF IN THE OFFICERS POSITION. THEY HAD NO IDEA AND I BET THE POLICE WHO ARRIVED ON SCENE FEEL HORRIBLE! SO JUST SHUT UP AND GET A LIFE!! "

D wrote on Sep 19, 2007 12:46 PM:

" How can the parents "absolve" the driver from any wrondoing? How? I know they were friends but let's be real. He was the driver. A tire blow-out in most cases does cause a vehicle to flip unless he was moving at an excessive speed. I repeat "arrest the clown driver". "

Just to let everybody know wrote on Sep 19, 2007 12:42 PM:

" First of all everybody saying they mothers should teach them better than that and all this other bull mess. You have to think about it yeah all the teaching have to be done in the home but also in the community. How many police officers do you all know that drink and drive? I know a few. And any way have anyone though about it the club let out at 12:00 and the accident happened at 1 something. Also if they were drinking they would have not been drunk after the club and I believe he did lose control of the car by the tire blow out. To the families, keep your head up and remember that they are looking down on you all now, and they are home with the LORD. "

A concerned parent and Gary Resident wrote on Sep 19, 2007 11:46 AM:

" I have never read such insensitive comments in my life. It is obvious that some of the people writing comments here don't have children or don't have a compassionate bone in their hate-filled bodies. It was extremely unfortunate and a situation of bad judgment for this young man and his friends to drink at their young age and for him to decide to drive that fateful night, but to call for his arrest and persecution is wrong. If you think your kids are these perfect teenagers who NEVER get into trouble, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. Young people make mistakes, this one resulted in a tragedy of epic proportions. Let's hope the survivors and their friends and classmates receive and heed the lesson not to drink and drive. GPD should have taken the precautionary measure of calling the Gary Fire Department's search & rescue team to comb the area of the accident for additional victims. These aren't gangbangers or drug dealers or out of control juvenile delinquents, they were for the most part good kids, average high school teenagers whose lives are either over prematurely or damaged. Have some compassion for God's sake. "

Skeptic... wrote on Sep 19, 2007 11:20 AM:

" REMEMBER, you can't believe everything you read! The media blows a mountain out of a molehill at the first chance they get. Remember, the "pink gang" mess at Merrillville High School a few years ago? Three boys in pink shoes and the media had a full blown gang war going on! "

Mrs. Firefighter wrote on Sep 19, 2007 11:01 AM:

" First and foremost, may the two young men who passed away, rest in peace with the Lord. Having said that, there are many factors to be considered in this whole tragedy. 1) The two survivors were under the influence of alcohol. 2) The driver had a probationary license. 3) Cars don't flip over and over when the car blows a tire, unless the car is speeding. Has it been confirmed that there even was a blown tire on the vehicle? If not, will the driver be charged with filing a false report? 4) Chase street is a loaded gun for kids to play Russian Rulette with. How many kids have to die on that road before the city does something about it? 5) What about the dispatcher? Why didn't he/she send the fire department to the scene? The Gary PD did not kill those boys, but they did failed to locate them. Will it have made a difference if they had? Only God knows that.... "

Police Don't Care? wrote on Sep 19, 2007 10:16 AM:

" What some of you fail to realize, because of the publicity of this event, is this stuff happens. To a normal citizen this event seems extraordinary, however, to a police officer in a busy city it is just another day at work. Fatal accidents happen every single day, sometimes several times. To most of you each accident seems "tragic" and invokes a wide range of emotions. As morbid as it sounds these emotions are soon replaced with the fact it is just "work". When a person is ejected from a vehicle it can be harder than you think to find them. Tall weeds and soft ground conceal a contorted body quite well. It is ashame this father had to be the one to find the body of his son, but it was is an aberration. "

DUI Checkpoints wrote on Sep 19, 2007 10:05 AM:

" DUI & seatbelt checkpoints are federally funded activities which generally take place ONLY when grant funding is available. The individual municipalities do not have the extra money in the budget to pay all that overtime. "

FoolUsOnce wrote on Sep 19, 2007 9:54 AM:

" To demand that the police chief step down shows ignorance and passing responsibilty. Had the GPD known what truly happened there would have been all the bells, whistles, and equipment on the scene. This situation should serve as one of the most sad drinking and driving youth tragedies. It shout serve as a wake up call to students, parents, and teachers. Bless the family and bless Gary. In the coming days clear heads are going to be needed. Stop the violent name calling, demands, and controversy creation. Bless the young men who passed. "

New Measures wrote on Sep 19, 2007 9:21 AM:

" NWI Police Should set up random Alcohol and Seatbelt check points on weekends. Not is this only OT for the officers. But it can be profit for the local police force, from DUI and seatbelt tickets being issued and most important most of the roads will be DUI clear. Try to set up the check points by the local bars around 2:00am thru 5:00am. Illinois has been doing it and it has been successful. This will help in regards of underage drinking and drinking and driving. You can pin point on where they were serving to underage. question before releasing. Install fear in these clubs, bars and homeowners serving to underage. "

One question wrote on Sep 19, 2007 9:15 AM:

" Let's rewind back to the accident...let's say that the police were properly informed, the accident was reported, the police and fire departments were on the scene, found the four passengers, two of which were thrown from the vehicle and died on impact. Let's imagine that proper procedure, protocol, etc. were followed and it was discovered that alcohol, speed and no seatbelts were worn. What discussions would we be having? This is an unfortunate tragedy that I hope never happens again to anyone...my heart goes out to all involved. "

I guess to the person who tried to rebutle me wrote on Sep 19, 2007 9:00 AM:

" Now if you are going to throw out the "intellegance" card...I think you should know NWI girl is another blogger...? Anyway, just cause I wrote OMG means nothing, it means i was writing this at 2am and didn't think that people on here didn't understand what it means...I guess I have to spell it out for the reading challenged "Oh MY GOD". and no, I still don't think that the cops are at fault. If anything there should be a heartfelt appology from the City of Gary and from Gary Police and a review of search and rescue policies...you are missing the point, that the boys died on IMPACT, they were DEAD...so the person at fault for their deaths is DARIUS! There is nothing anyone can do or say to change the blame....are you going to bring them back to life and make sure that when they are ejected from the car that they are still alive and then that way when the police miss their bodies, the autopsy will show that in fact they were still alive and then the family can sue the City for some money and hopefully move out of Gary to Crown Point. "

Story Stinks wrote on Sep 19, 2007 8:56 AM:

" The story told by the young man driving has stunk from the beginning. He claims he told the police his friends were missing. He also claims he told his mother the same thing. She chose to do nothing about this. She didn't try to contact the parents of the missing nor contact the police to ask why they hadn't been found. In addition we're to believe none of these young men had cell phones and if they did they chose not to use them. Instead they walked away from the scene of a crime to get help. His story has way to many holes in it. "

eye opener wrote on Sep 19, 2007 8:14 AM:

" Everyone always wants to blame this person, that person, the police, etc.... Yese the police were negligent. Bottom line- all the parties involved are at fault. The driver will be dealt with and should be charged appropriately. Cars don't just go out of control and flip over at a low rate of speed. Obviously, there was something else going on... The police were negligent and so were the driver and the occupants in the car for letting the driver drive after drinking, if that is true. It is very sad that the two boys died. This whole thing could have been avoided had someone else taken the keys if they were in fact drinking. "

Observer wrote on Sep 19, 2007 8:03 AM:

" After looking over most of these comments I can see why society is the way it is now. Now I understand why, when we see someone stranded on the side of the road we look the other way. I don't want to end up in court because I did something wrong by helping someone. If these young adults(they are not kids) would'nt have been drinking, driving, and speeding the police wouldn't be involved. "

JJ wrote on Sep 19, 2007 6:38 AM:

" This whole situation points out the "I don't care" attitude throughout the city of Gary. The city does not care about hip-hop clubs serving minors, minors don't care if they drink and drive, parents don't care about the whereabouts of their underage children at 2 am, police dont'care about being thorough on their jobs and no one seems to care that Chase Street is a disaster. "

Where's your kids at 3 AM? wrote on Sep 19, 2007 6:17 AM:

" Model citizens Blame everyone but the guilty here. These kids knew what they were doing, they didn't tell the cops where their buddies were because they knew they were in trouble and they still are. The driver of that vehidle needs to be charged with vehicular homicide. "

Darius should be sent to prison...... wrote on Sep 19, 2007 5:08 AM:

" just like every other drunk that kills someone. Of course every one wants to blame the cops. Poo, poor, poor, poor, poor, poor, poor, widdle innocent DARIUS......please. "

TO: NWI GIRL wrote on Sep 19, 2007 2:13 AM:

" STARTING YOUR POSTING WITH OMG, SHOWS YOUR INTELLIGENCE..NOONE IS DISPUTING WHOSE FAULT THIS ACCIDENT WAS..WHAT THE PUBLIC IS OUTRAGED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT THE GARY POLICE LEFT TWO TEEN VICTIMS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A PARENT TO FIND, SO WHY ARE YOU ONLY COMMENTING ABOUT THE DRIVER?? THIS IS ABOUT POLICE NEGLIGENCE. I AM SURE THE DRIVER WILL HAVE TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS ACTIONS. I PRAY TO GOD THE OFFICERS WILL. "

TO: DOWN THE ROAD wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:58 AM:

" NOONE IS SUPPORTING THE DRIVER. ARE YOU READING THE POSTINGS CORRECTLY?? THE DRIVER WILL BE DEALT WITH. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING (READ CAREFULLY) IS THAT THE POLICE WERE NEGLIGENT AND THE VICTIMS MAY VERY WELL HAVE BEEN ALIVE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CORONER AND POLICE WANT YOU TO BELIEVE. WHAT THE GPD DID IS A CRIME TO ME AND ANYONE WITH ANY HUMAN FEELING AT ALL. "

To Unbelievable from NWI MOM JVD wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:57 AM:

" OMG...I think that it is "Unbelievable" that you are trying to say that if this happened in Crown Point, it would have been different? Are you serious...don't even try to pull the whole black/white thing because that is bogus! I am so tired of "vultures" trying to find any loop hole to make a buck...their kids were dead already and because of whatever miscommunication, the children were not recovered from the scene, so now it is the perfect opportunity for the family to crucify the city and make a buck at the same time...it is just sickening how people think. These poor kids are not even buried yet and the family is already trying to see how they can manipulate the facts so that they can file a suit and make a quick buck....poor kids. Istead of brewing up a sappy story they should be sitting down with the kids that they have left and teach them not to be idiots...but I guess if the parent is not "parenting" then its just a waste of breath. "

To the Police Officer "Vultures" NWI MOM JVD wrote on Sep 19, 2007 1:45 AM:

" I understand where the parents' stance would be on the fact that the 2 boys were not found right away....but I could swear that it was found that the boys were dead, they died instantly due to blunt force trama....anyway, that doesn't excuse the fact that they were laying there as the scene was being cleaned up. I don't think that the parents or anyone else for that matter have the right to blame the police or the city of Gary. The teens died due to the irresponsibility of their friend who was driving while intoxicated...but I can see, as a parent myself, that I would be devastated just to know that my sons dead body just laid there in the street...yes, there was confusion and the kids were drunk and yelling stuff but that still doesn't take the blame off of the drunk driver. His actions are what caused the deaths of his friends...sad but true and in any other case he would be charged with vehicular manslaughter in a heartbeat and not have all these ignorant people trying to blame those who are not at fault. "

Down the road... wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:17 PM:

" Are all of you who support the driver in this senseless tragedy going to still stand by him when GPD arrives at his door with an arrest warrant for vehicular homicide and/or manslaughter. Facts are still facts, and unfortunately, do the crime, do the time. Those preaching about how he has to deal with causing the death of his 2 friends is "punishment enough" may get a rude suprise when the charges are filed. We pray for all involved, but laws were broken, kids died, and it lies in the hands of the driver. "

Stone Sober wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:55 PM:

" Who bought the booze! "

Mr. Goodwrench wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:46 PM:

" Do cars go out of control, flip end over end and travel hundreds of feet off the roadway when a tire blows at 30 miles per hour? Maybe these surviving kids can sue the tire company after they sue the Gary Police for causing their lives to fall apart. "

Driving a Privilege, not a Right. wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:40 PM:

" Out of all the issues involving this crash, did the driver take into consideration that driving is a privilege and not a right? A driver shall ensure that he or she and all occupants are wearing seatbelts. A driver shall operate at or below the posted speed limit. A driver shall operate a vehicle that is road worthy and safe for travel. If involved in a crash, whether damage to a vehicle, other property, injury to others or death, such driver shall remain at the scene to report to the police. Could alcohol or drugs been contributing factors? While questions linger if these basics were adhered to, the driver did make the effort to log his 15 minutes of fame by appearing on several Chicagoland television news programs as well as on the Times website. In this media exposure, the driver blamed the Gary Police Department for not finding the bodies of his dead friends. Maybe the driver of this crash should plead for forgiveness from the families whose loved ones lost their lives instead of placing blame on anyone other than himself. "

ONLY ISSUE-COPS DID NOT BOTHER PERIOD wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:37 PM:

" ARE YOU PEOPLE COMPLETE MORONS THAT KEEP BLAMING PARENTS, THE KIDS.. ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING!!!! THE COPS DID NOT BOTHER EVEN TRYING TO LOCATE THE MISSING VICTIMS, DO YOU GET IT?? WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES LED UP TO THE ACCIDENT ARE NOT THE ISSUE, IT IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AFTER, AFTER PLEASE READ SLOWLY IF YOU DO NOT COMPREHEND THE PROBLEM WITH THIS. RUDY CLAY THANKYOU FROM MYSELF AND ANY OTHER CARING HUMAN BEING WHO HAS ANY FEELINGS. "

Gary Indiana wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:31 PM:

" This is just another example of why Gary, Indiana is a total dump.... Mayor Clay do yourself and the City a favor- Resign Immediately. You and your cronies are a total joke.... "

To: Jason P. wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:18 PM:

" #1 Yes, the teenagers were at fault, something about drinking and driving #2 Um, yes, the kids were stupid, two of them dies and the driver should be punished. Oh I don’t know maybe something like vehicular manslaughter? #3 Ok again it was the teenager’s fault, drinking and driving (remember?) In this case the autopsies show that the COD was severe trauma to the head. Really, do not know what a “lemon of case” is so I will leave that alone #4 Oh wait, again it was the KID’S fault. "

rocky of portage wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:13 PM:

" Just remember one thing. If their was no POLICE in Gary. This would be common. Dont drink and drive, saves lives. Parents remember teach them kids, and no we all didnot drink and drive in school, im 54. feel sorry for all the lives lost to drinking behind the wheel. "

ex-attorney wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:02 PM:

" c'mon parents who are you going to sue? I keep checking The Times daily because I know it's coming, especially after seeing a picture of the child lying in bed. Why hasn't anyone asked WHO PURCHASED THE ALCOHOL? I bet they're nervously hiding right now... "

the whole truth and nothing but the truth....... wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:36 PM:

" Both at fault! plain and simple. The boys, and the Gary P.D.. And Guess what? no body wins. I feel sorry for everyone involved. "

So Sad wrote on Sep 18, 2007 6:43 PM:

" Two young lives have ended and that is what is important here. A terrible terrible accident, caused by excessive speed and alcohol.......no one failed the driver but himself. People need to be held accountable for their actions. You drink, you drive, you break the law. If the father who is all over the news feels the need to blame someone, and who would not, he needs to blame who is truly and legaly at fault. "

Sad wrote on Sep 18, 2007 5:50 PM:

" where was this hip hop show and why was there minors drinking there? everyone involved is to blame "

Tragedy wrote on Sep 18, 2007 5:39 PM:

" This was a tragedy made worse because noone cares to take responsibility. "

some of you all are dumb wrote on Sep 18, 2007 5:20 PM:

" Dont try to blame it all on the kids, yes they were wrong for drinking and driving, but the police didnt do their job right. the fire department was supposed to be called out to the scene and they werent. they didnt know about the accident till afterwards. they could have brought the equipment needed for the accident and found those two teenagers, so dont sit and try to put it all on the kids. dont try to just blame DARIUS just because he was drinking and driving, its info that the police are holding back on. theyre trying to put it all on the kids, so they wont get sued. honestly gary is a load of bull "

Jason P. wrote on Sep 18, 2007 4:25 PM:

" A few Issues: 1) How quick others defend the cops negligence and want to the teenagers to pay 2) You see that the mention of alcohol means that the police don't have to do their jobs, the kids are just stupid and punishable 3) The Blame Game has started. The Gary Police has shifted it to the teenagers. In trying to cover their tracks, getting autopsies done in record time, suddenly stirring the pot with alcohol, refusing to acknowledge their shoddy police work and not saying anything that can be considered a apology, they've sold the idiot public a lemon of case. So the idiot public will support them. 4) Officials have little to say that supports the belief they care. Gary Mayor is a real joke. The Police Chief is indifferent to the whole thing. "No lives to be save," must be nice for him to take such a cavalier attitude toward two dead teenagers that aren't his. "

TO LG wrote on Sep 18, 2007 4:23 PM:

" Ya think? "

Clay says........ wrote on Sep 18, 2007 4:07 PM:

" Someone messed up? Yeah you are right there mr. clay. The kids in that car messed up. Drinking, not wearing seat belts and speeding. Now how in the world can anyone think it is the Gary Police that messed up? Think about it. "

You people are ridiculous! wrote on Sep 18, 2007 3:52 PM:

" You know what? This young man that was driving should not have been drinking at all, legally drunk or not! Yes we have all drank as teenagers, but were we ALL stupid enough to drive? NO ! And the young man could not even remember if he dropped off his friends yet or not so tell me he wasn't drunk? This young man is responsible for his friends death and that is very sad, he has to live with that. And yes the Police Department should have continued to look, BUT he thought he may have dropped the boys off already so should they believe what he said? Or keep looking? This is not the only emergency I am sure that they were called on. Please stop the teen drinking and driving, watch your kids,check out where they say they are going. Bless these families and the ones that have to live with this. "

to Gary Mom... wrote on Sep 18, 2007 3:45 PM:

" your kids should not be out all hours of the night period,..and you one why they keep getting killed are you really that freaking stupid... "

nwi girl wrote on Sep 18, 2007 3:37 PM:

" omg please this driver was totally at fault for this tragic accident and I only hope he can live with himself over all this to think his disregard for a "friends" life and his callous actions have now caused the end of those two young boy's life FAULT LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE DRIVER OF THAT VEHICLE and those individuals that 'served' these four boys too "

Clay an embarrassment wrote on Sep 18, 2007 3:16 PM:

" I am wondering if Rudy Clay ever took an english class, or a public speaking class? He has such a way with words. I feel sorry for the people of Gary to have this nearly illiterate man, represent your city on National Television. I say vote Rudy in, and put Scott King in. King cared about the people and the city. Everytime I saw King on T.V. he showed class and spoke about the positives that was happening in Gary, not the negatives. Rudy, you are a camera hound and hope to see you gone!!! "

Denise Johns wrote on Sep 18, 2007 2:58 PM:

" From what I understand, the four teenagers were involved in an accident. The tire on the car blew out. That can happen to anybody. No one is to blame in an accident. What I don't understand is, why couldn't the City of Gary safety officials find the bodies of the other two individuals? Why did a tax-paying citizen have to undertake and perform the duties of the so-called "servants of the people?" Is it because they couldn't find their butts in the dark using both hands? Shame on them. "

Cover UP wrote on Sep 18, 2007 2:51 PM:

" WOW, some people must drink themselves to sleep at night. How can you not held these cops responsible? Anything to make someone not look bad...but its way too late for Gary. HOW DO THESE PEOPLE SLEEP A NIGHT?? "

Whose the fool? wrote on Sep 18, 2007 2:44 PM:

" Is the fool the one that acts so irresponsibly or the ones that tolerate it over and over again. Is there an actual police force in Gary? "

According to one study... wrote on Sep 18, 2007 2:39 PM:

" When it comes to dealing with situations, there tends to be three types of police officers: Fool, Coward and Hero. Unfortunately, it looks like these are the fools. NWI officer. "

So sad wrote on Sep 18, 2007 2:32 PM:

" This entire situation is terrible. Let's face it, kids do stupid things without a thought of what the repercussions may be. Unfortunately, two of these kids paid the ultimate price, and one of them will be paying the price in a different way for the rest of his life. My heart goes out to all the people involved. It's obvious where this is heading with all the "he said, she said" stuff. Lines are being drawn. Gary can't afford to have its Mayor speaking out in such a negative way against the officers involved. A commander in chief should stand by his team. The people of Gary can't afford the law suit looming in the distance. Some comments should be left behind closed doors, not printed in the papers. Again, my heart and prayers are with the families. "

Stand up and take responsibility..... wrote on Sep 18, 2007 2:14 PM:

" This is the perfect opportunity for Gary Police to blame it on alcohol and blame it on the driver and everyone else blame it on the parents If I understand right the parents aren’t blaming Gary Police department for there kids death there blaming them for not looking there bodies or making sure there wasn’t someone out there fighting for there life’s and giving them the right medical attention. How many parents know what their kids do behind there back? I think the anger of the parents is the fact that there child was lying in the side of the road for 7 hours and no one bother to check. The city of Gary should take responsibility for the fact that they did not double check the area for more victims. Yes, these teens were drinking and driving and that will have to be addressed at a later time and they will have to live with it. But, Gary should at least to take responsibly of there lack of judgment on not searching the area. Please set up Alcohol and Seatbelt check points to help avoid these situations and raise more money for the force. Keep the streets safe. "

Valpo Rez wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:48 PM:

" There are several issues that need to be addressed. It seems to me that the first one, is that those kids are dead because of drinking and driving, plain and simple. The autopsy revealed that the missing kids were dead instantaneously. An earlier recovery of their bodies, would not have undone the fatal error of that young man's decision to drink and drive. However, the Gary PD, "lucked out", for lack of a better term. "What if" they hadn't been dead on impact? "What if" the young driver had NOT been drinking? The events leading up to the crash should NOT exonerate the Gary PD from TOTALLY screwing up. There are many fingers that can be pointed in this instance, all ALL responsible parties should be held accountable for their errors. "

Hey Former GI in Arizona wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:47 PM:

" Are you a cop or EMS or firefighter?? I am, and guess what...some calls we respond to, unfortunately, make the Coroners job easy...sometimes it's that simple to say they died of blunt force trauma due to their injuries and how they were found. Now some are trying to blame the coroners office too? Good grief, when is it enough? Sometimes the scene is so severe and wounds so drastic that yes, it can be called DOA or blunt force trauma within minutes. AND WE HATE SEEING THAT! But it's our job, and sometimes our job isn't fun. But obviously there are signs and symptoms these 2 deceased humans showed that can be called immediately. Toxicology takes time, but not some fatal injuries. Not every call is a C.S.I. type incident. "

PD, not FD wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:41 PM:

" To those blaming ALL City of Gary Public Safety Employees....GPD NEVER called for or dispatched the Gary Fire Department to the scene for any type of assistance. Gary Fire Department does not possess the equipment to monitor Gary Police Dept. radip traffic and calls they are on etc...therefore, Gary Fire Department had NO idea this was going on until well after the situation was over. This senseless blaming of everyone in Gary who wears a badge because thats all you know how to do in in fact nothing short of pathetic. FIRE DEPT. WASN'T CALLED, THEREFORE FIRE DEPT. CAN'T BE HELD LIABLE! God rest their souls and pray for the families. "

Some Of You Are DEAD Wrong. wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:39 PM:

" Those of you STILL blaming the GPD need to become true adults, yes, I said it, you must be 12 years old to blame the cops. FYI, if it was my son or daughter (12 and 19) in that vehicle, if they were driving, hospital or not, I would have walloped them so hard that they would beg for drinking and driving #1, #2, I would scream at them as well as the ignorant parents of those kids NOT wearing seatbelts, I taught my kids better, obviously, they did not care about theirs to teach them to wear their seatbelts. It is NOT the GPD that murdered those 2 boys, it was Darius, FACE THE FACTS PEOPLE! "

LG wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:31 PM:

" I smell a lawsuit brewing....... "

MRS. B. wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:11 PM:

" EVERYBODY WONTS TO POINT THE FINGER AT SOME ONE BUT YOU FORGOT ONE THING GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THIS OUR LIVES IS PLAND THE DAY WE ARE CONCIVED WHAT EVER WAY WE CAME HERE TO GO THAT IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO GO NO MATTER HOW BAD IT IS YOU CANT STOP IT OR CHANGE IT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT WAS GODS DOING WE DIDNOT COME HERE TO STAY SO JUST THANK GOD FOR THE TIME YOU HAVE WITH YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE WHEN GOD SAYS IT IS TIME TO COME HOME WE WILL GO NO MATER WHAT ANY ONE SAY OR THINK I LOST MY SON TO A DRUNK DRIVER LAST YEAR SO I NO HOW IT FEELS TO LOSE A CHILD "

Dropped the ball. wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:09 PM:

" As a mom i want to say my heart and prayers go to the victims.Do i think the boys should be held accountable for their actions if to be found guilty,YES.As for those saying that it wasn't the emergancy care workers fault two boys were left behind,where are you coming from?Being a emergancy care worker,there was no excuse not to find bodies 10 feet from the accident.As for you saying it's not their faults because the boys were drunk driving,that upserd.That's like saying we should not give cpr to a person thats had a heart attack because they are over weight and did it to themselves or not give care to a person with lung cancer because they smoked.Bottom line is when you become a emergancy care worker it doesn't matter if they did it to themselves or not,you help as much as you can. our job is not to judge it's to try and save lives.Also to that mother that says she watches every move her kids make and her youngest is 20,you've must of not done a good job not to trust them as adults..... "

Not an English Teacher... But... wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:03 PM:

" How did Rudy Clay even get elected in to office when he can't even speak proper english?!? It's just amazing to me the level of ignorance and stupidity that is tolerated by everyone these days! Oh well! Such is life I guess! "

To Empathetic: wrote on Sep 18, 2007 1:00 PM:

" Ok, I have wrote on here a couple times BUT I must say that I do agree with you actually. I am 24, have I got behind a wheel after drinking, sure, have I been drunk, no, do I stay out till 3AM, no. I can go on and on but as you said, it won't bring back these 2 teens that will no longer see the sun or grass, therefore, instead of me getting mad like I was at Darius and curse him, I pray for the families of the 2 gone as well as the families for the 2 injured, I pray for the passanger to come to peace HOWEVER, I am sorry to say that I do not pray for Darius, after what he did, I just can't, I don't wish him harm but I just can't pray for him, I apologize. "

NW IND wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:55 PM:

" thank God I don't live in Gary. Your mayor is an idiot "

Nice Going "Ace" wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:42 PM:

" You just admitted liability, they will have your statement to the times reproduced, blown up and displayed in the courtroom for the jury to see during the entire trial. You've got a lot going for you, e.g. contributory negligence, tort claims immunity, and a damages cap. Why did you want to go and admit liability? "

I know your pain wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:36 PM:

" I want to start off by saying that my prayers goes out to all families involved.But you all are saying some real cruel things about these boys. It does not matter if they were drunk which iam not saying is right. But the fact remains that the police dept. did not do the procedures that where suppose to be done. When you are investigating an accident scene you were suppose to check to see if there was any evevidence around to see what caused that accident.Every one wants to down talk the driver when they dont know how his emotional it is for him knowing that he was driving the car that killed his friends that is enough to drive him crazy right their. No one can judge him but"GOD" and none of us is him. So to Darius keep your head up and as long as keep in your heart you done your best you will never go wrong despite what is said about you, you were a good friend... "

What a Joke wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:33 PM:

" Rudy Clay is a Joke. "

Ms Aye wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:28 PM:

" My thoughts and prayer are with all of the families, an accident is exactly that an accident and no one deserved to lose their life. Maybe the police should have done a better job no one really knows because we were not there. I pray that DeAndrea and Darius recover soon. "

GRB wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:26 PM:

" The opinion from 'No hope in Gary" hit it right on the nose. So called Mayor Clay has no business being mayor of Gary. He should never make a comment as he did stating "looks like someone messed up". These kids were out past curfew, drunk, and probally driving without insurance. Blame their parents for not caring. For this is the problem in Gary. Parents don't care about what their children are doing. Don't put blame on the Gary PD. Their job is one I would never want. They should be congratulated for being police officers in Gary. Oh, by the way Mr. Mayor. You might want to be prepared for a law suit brought on by these two survivors. Your comment should really add to their case. Everyone looking for some easy money. "

A man of wisdom wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:08 PM:

" Isn't Rudy Clay the same guy that gave us "Gary is not a violent city"? Now we get "looks like somebody messed up". Perhaps the kid that was driving drunk messed up, eh? "

Unbelievable wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:00 PM:

" This is unbelievable. I agree with vultures. First of all you people talk about all of this mess but if any of you have children and the police did not find your child, you would be the first to blame police as well. You all are the coldest hearted people that I have ever seen. Some of you should be on Bin Laden’s team. My heart goes out to the victims’ family and friends. Drunk driving is wrong and our teens need to be more educated on this matter but tell me this, what would be done if this happened in Crown Point??? How would you feel if this happened to your children??? "

GROW UP!!!!!!!!! wrote on Sep 18, 2007 11:42 AM:

" IF EVERYBODY WOULD QUIT PUTTING THE BLAME ON THE PARENTS! 2 OF THE BOYS WAS 18! KIDS DO SNEAK NO MATTER HOW WELL U RAISE THEM! KIDS WILL BE KIDS! OK THEY SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN DRINKING BUT THERE BLOOD ALOCHOL LEVELS WAS NOT THAT HIGH! .05 &.09 NOW DAYS THAT IS WHAT 3 BEERS. NO THE POLICE DID NOT KILL THE BOYS! BUT THEY COULD OF LOOKED INTO THE MATTER A LITTLE MORE. HAD THE FATHER KNOWN OF THE ACCIDENT AT 3 AM I BET HE WOULD OF BEEN OUT THERE AT 3AM IN THE DARK LOOKIN FOR HIS SON!!!!! TO THE DRIVER BABY KEEP YOUR HEAD UP DON'T LISTEN TO ALL THE BULL! YOU DID NOT DO THAT ON PURPOSE! THAT IS WHY IT CALLED AN ACIDENT! ONLY TIME CAN HEAL YOUR HEART! TO ALL THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CURFEW YOU NEED TO CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE STATION ABOUT THAT CAUSE I KNOW MY TOWN DOES NOT HAVE A CURFEW LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ABOUT THE SEATBELT MAYBE IF WE SEE MORE POLICE WITH THERES ON MAYBE MORE PEOPLE WOULD WEAR THERES!!!!! "

to maggie wrote on Sep 18, 2007 11:39 AM:

" I was doing 40 on a back road and looked off the road for a sec.. hit the shoulder, the car got out of control and went into the ditch and rolled 3 times landing upside down. Thank god I had my seat belt on. But YEAH it is possible. That is unless you think 40 is REALLY fast speed. "

D wrote on Sep 18, 2007 11:08 AM:

" Arrest that clown driver! "

Watched on news in Arizona but from GI wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:55 AM:

" It was an unfortunate accident and the cause was someone drinking and driving. However after reading the reports and listening to the news accounts (as a police officer) I believe that if the young man said there were other victims or even possible victims they should have looked for them and called fire aparatus if needed. The fault of the accident is one thing but the improper police response and fastest autopsy finding in Lake County history are another thing!! "

To: vultures wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:50 AM:

" Not All of us citizens agree with you. The Facts ARE there. "

Joe wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:50 AM:

" I agree what a performance! These people are seeing this as a way to sue the police department. Im sorry for their loss, obviously it is unclear what happened that day. But what is for sure is those kids were out partying all night! Then made the decision to drive! How come now its finally being told that there was alcohol involved? These kids dont know what they told police. And I am sick of seeing all these people putting on performances on all the news channels! I am sorry for their loss, and may GOD ease their pain, but come on quit pointing the finger at everyone but who is to blame and that is the driver who was drinking. It doesnt matter how little he drank. He is under 21 so drinking anything is a big no no. I am also sorry that man had to find his son and his friend dead, but all of this is not going to bring back these kids! Its just gonna make Gary worse because now people are mad at the police. So yay, now gary will be hitting world records again. Murder capital, robbery capital, worst police capital, what else..... "

Drinking and Driving is a problem wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:48 AM:

" which needs to be addressed, and not ignored by many! "

To: Proud to live in NWI wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:39 AM:

" I don't know what story you're reading. But I am SICK of those that don't take responsibility for their actions. Parents, local wauhtorities, etc. I agree with "Hey Proud to live in NWI", if you don't like it too bad. The person(S) who made the mistake should of thought twice before responding to the matter! I am here to say as I want. If some people would think twice before making a poor decision, we would not be having his problem now. CORRECT? I am an activist, and this is my life! Stay tuned.... "

Shut up wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:36 AM:

" Just shut up you people make me sick with all of the hate in your hearts. Okay he had some drinks at 17 who hasn't. The only thing is you probably didn't get caught. The fact remains two kids were thrown from a car THE POLICE OFFICER DID NOT LOOK FOR THEM. So yes blame the police officer for that not the accident. "

GARY MOM wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:32 AM:

" TO ALL OF YOU WHO FEEL THAT THE PARENTS ARE THE BLAME AND THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY AND SHOULD NOT FAULT THE POLICE: THINK OF HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IF YOU FOUND OUT YOUR CHILD WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR AND YOU HAD TO GO AND FIND HIM IN A DITCH 6-7 HOURS LATER!!!! NOT PLACING THE BLAME TOTALLY ON THE POLICE BUT THEY ARE COVERING AS WELL AS DARIUS MAY BE TOO!!! "

in girl wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:27 AM:

" Hey maggie if your going down a hill side your gonna roll more than once GEEZE people are dumb these days. The cops messed up and the boys messed up. 10 feet isn't far so how long were the cops on the sceen for anyways?? Of course the cops are trying to cover there butts but really how long did they look? Did they try to maybe turn the squad car headlights towards the scene so they could see the bottom better? I bet they wern't smart enough to do that. "

MS. DANIELS wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:25 AM:

" I THINK THAT EVERYONE IS FOCUSING ON THE WRONG THING. THE PROBLEM THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE IS WHY THE POLICE DID NOT LOOK FOR THOSE BOYS. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT DRUGS, ALCOHOL OR RECKLESS DRIVING WAS INVOLVED AND WHOEVER THE FAULT OF THE ACCIDENT IS, PROCEDURE FOR THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT FOLLOWED. IF A BIT OF EFFORT WAS BROUGHT FORTH BY THE GPD THEN THOSE BOYS WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND AND ALL THIS WOULD NOT BE AS BIG OF AN ISSUE AS IT IS. MY HEARTS GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE BOYS. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THEM, AND MY BROTHER WHO KNEW AND WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THEM. THE POLICE CHIEF NEEDS TO REALLY CHECK HIS ATTITUDE ALSO. HE NEEDS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE FAMILIES HE IS YELLING AT. GPD REALLY DROPPED THE BALL HERE!!!! "

To: vultures wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:24 AM:

" I hope you are lying about being a cop because you stupid. Traveling at a posted speed 25 mph and going in a ditch will not cause a vehicle to flip multiple times and eject all four occupants. If you need five hours to figure that out you might want to study gravity a little longer in your back yard not our streets. "

in girl wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:22 AM:

" How do you know the driver was the one that was drunk? 08 is the legal limit one was at 9 and the other at 5. Only the people who took the test know which is which. It was a accident none of them were thinking ok they made mistakes just like everyone else does. My heart goes out to the families. God did this for a reason he wanted his son's home.. Blaming anyone isn't going to bring the boys back. This will be on there minds forever and that is enough "

To: Vultures wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:13 AM:

" I'm not sure where you are a Police Officer at, but they need to send you back to training. As an accident reconstructionist, I can usually tell within the first 5-10 minutes on scene whether speed was a factor involved or not. Although the vehicle rolled down a hill, speed is required to generate the momentum required to make the vehicle roll, not just gravity. Speed has everything to do with the vehicle rolling in this case. Excessive speed would almost definitely be a factor. I agree, the investigation is not complete yet, and there are still alot of unanswered questions, but it comes down to the basic fact that these underage kids were drinking and driving, traveling too fast, and not to mention not wearing their seatbelts. The Coroners verdit states that they died on impact, and no amount of medical care was going to save them. So, now lets hold those responsible for the deaths responsible, namely the driver of the vehicle and those who supplied them the alcohol. "

Sweetpea wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:03 AM:

" My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy. But to blame the people who responded is wrong. The driver should accept his responsibility for what happened and quit trying to shift the blame to anyone & everyone else. He was driving, he lost control, he is responsible. Period. "

to: vultures wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:00 AM:

" You are correct. I could not agree with your REASONING any more. You hit it ON THE NAIL! "

Disgusted wrote on Sep 18, 2007 10:00 AM:

" I am aboslutely disgusted at the remarks some of you have had. The Gary police fail at their responsibility to investigate an accident and everyone points the finger back at the teenagers. I do not think the survivors nor the parents of the deceased teenagers are blaming Gary cops for their sons' deaths. They are disgusted with Gary Police for failing to investigate an accident and have to live wondering if their sons could have survived. No one is saying the Gary cops are to blame for the fatalaties. Can't you people open your eyes and read??? Sick, just sick. The 2 surviving teens have to cope with the loss of their friends and the fact that they are responsible for their deaths. That is punishment enough. The fact of the matter here is that the Gary police failed, as they always do, and they should be held accountable for not properly investigating an accident. The fact that they received conflicting stories should make it all the more reason they should have went back down and looked for those boys. My heart goes out to the boys and their families. "

Hello? wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:57 AM:

" How could you miss bodies that were ONLY 10 to 15 feet away from the crash site? "

Sorry for the losses...but wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:55 AM:

" Most importantly, sorry to the families and victims of this senseless tragedy. GPD responded to an incident off-site of where the accident was, got those 2 kids to the hospital, then went to the crash site and removed the vehicle. There was no guarantee there were more victims, BUT, why didn't GPD call GFD to come and light up the area and the FD would've done an intensive search, thats my only "what if?". However, they were already dead, dead from senseless drinking and driving and partying and hip hopping and not following rules. I'm sure the parents will file a lawsuit to try to get $ from a broke city for something the city didn't cause. It's not Chase Streets fault, its the driver and the drinking. This kid could face charges of manslaughter/vehicular homicide, no wait, he SHOULD face charges. Sorry for the losses. "

Empathetic wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:47 AM:

" I will pray for the victims and the police and believe it or not Rudy Clay. You don't know until it happens to you what you would have done. Unfortunately this tragedy happened and instead of pointing the finger at people, it will not bring back these kids. So it's useless. Hopefully many learned from this incident and it will not happen again. Kids are kids and believe it or not they make mistakes. Just pray that it doesn't happen to yours or mine. "

up north wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:47 AM:

" the coroner's found the other two "missed" teens died "on impact"..........what about the next accident?????? what if it involves one of our loved ones???? people, look at the whole picture....i shiver to think that, possibly, my life or that of my children could be in the hands of the police, firemen, or other officers. everyone, it's time to take accountability for our childen, and mr. mayor, it's time you should hold accountability for your people! "

P.S. wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:39 AM:

" How dare that mayor say that "someone" messed up, it is not the COPS fault, it is the 18 year old drunk driver that killed his friends. It's nice to know that mayor cares NOTHING STILL about his city. "

Hey Darius wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:37 AM:

" I would love to talk to you in person one of these days and see why you planned to kill your buddies by the careless actions you chose, I hope you have a long happy life while you stole 2 of your friends. "

Hey Proud to live in NWI wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:28 AM:

" Don't read what we are writting if it sickens you. The fact remains that this young man was drinking and driving PERIOD! It was his fault from the beginning for getting behind that wheel. Parents today would rather put the blame on someone else rather then themselves or there children. Wake up people, drinking and drinving kills, and the Police did look in the area that they wer TOLD by the fdriver, but the driver was to drunk to even remember if he dropped his friends off yet or not. Should the Police have ESP NOW? Put the blame where it belongs, the kids and parents!And yes I have 3 children of my own, and I am watching there every move and my younges is 20! "

Blame Those At Fault. wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:22 AM:

" The kids were drinking and driving, ILLEGALY not to mention. This IS NOT the fault of the police, this is the fault of TEENAGE kids drinking and driving. "

vultures wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:22 AM:

" Wow I am not sure what story you people are reading but if i remember correctly, it's still inoccent until proven guilty. I am a police officer and while I don't blame anyone yet becuase all the facts aren't in, remember people this accident is still being investigated. and to MAGGIE; the car fell into a ditch of course it's gonan roll over more than once, speed has nothing to do with that, it's called gravity, duuuhh. what i want to know is how can you tell in a couple hours whether there was speed involved, i mean when i've worked traffic accidents such as this, we are on the scene for at least a good 5 hours. i am sure in those 5 hours someone could have found 2 teens laying about 10 feet from the wreck. from what i see is that someone on the scene messed up bad and now they are trying to voer their mistake. and yes the driver should also be held accountable but it does not excuse the fact that had the police and emergency personnel had done their job these kids might still be alive. "

Proud to live in NWI.... NOT! wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:06 AM:

" Wow the reactions of everyone on these last couple of stories, first the train wreck and now this. I'm not saying these people weren't wrong in what they did or what happened.. but for god sakes SHUT UP. You people make me sick the way that you sit here and bash these people.. in so much of a hurry to point blame. Reading all of these comments has made me realize just how cold-hearted everyone is. I can't believe that this is the community that I have grown up in.. people thriving on the drama of other peoples mistakes. I sure hope that NONE of you make a mistake.. god forbid. Give it a rest and get a life of your own already. "

Maggie wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:05 AM:

" The blame truly belongs to the driver who was driving intoxicated. And, for the car to roll over 3 times - the driver had to be travelling at a REALLY fast speed. You don't need to be an expert to figure that one out. Maybe some blame (not much) should be put on the police. But, the blame surely lies with the driver and why were these kids out so late. Whatever happened to curfew! They just want someone to blame - anyone - not the driver but anyone - oh wait let's blame the police and the city of Gary....... "

No hope for Gary wrote on Sep 18, 2007 9:01 AM:

" The Mayor of Gary needs to find a new job, i can't believe that this guy got voted in, does he have a clue what goes on ? Don't blame the Gary Police for doing their job ! "

Oh Boy wrote on Sep 18, 2007 8:57 AM:

" We will really see ignorance when the police come with the arrest warrant for vehicular homicide. I hate to sound cold but the real facts are that a young man killed his friends and the parents tried to blame the police. How many of you ever searched for victims at an accident scene. Probably none. So until you have been there, don't blame the police. "

deb wrote on Sep 18, 2007 8:31 AM:

" It is unfortunate that two young boys were killed while out drinking and partying all night. It is also unfortunate that the police is being blamed for the tragedy. Wake up folks, the cops were at work, the underage kids were out drinking and two got killed, it could have been four. I think as usual the parents are thinking l-a-w-s-u-i-t. The lesson to be learned from this tragedy is: Don't Drink and Drive. "

the drunk driver screwed up wrote on Sep 18, 2007 8:29 AM:

" The parents are so mad at the police-you know what makes me mad is the drunk kid driving like a jerk. Luckily, no innoicent people were killed just the drunks. Where is the responsible of the parents? or even the kids? Even a firestone built tire when it blows out doesn't cause that much damage as in this case. I would start pressing charges against the driver right now. "

The parents messed up wrote on Sep 18, 2007 8:26 AM:

" For not teaching the underage children not to drink, period! Second for allowing them to be out at 3 a.m., drinking and driving. The driver needs to be charged with murder. It was his drunken driving that killed those two kids, not the Gary P.D. Folks are trying to blame the police for not finding the bodies of two dead teenagers. Perhaps they should have searched more but, the fact remains that the entire mess was the cause of drinking and driving and inadequate parental supervision. Nothing more, nothing less. "

Two Cents wrote on Sep 18, 2007 8:23 AM:

" Listen to you people! The police chief himself said they received "conflicting information" - SO it is their duty to follow up and be thorough, and they weren't, they took the word of a confused person who just got bashed in the head regardless of the reason it happened. Damn right the police are part of the blame and they need to be held accountable! Is it not protocol to do a thorough check of the surrounding area????? "

Joker wrote on Sep 18, 2007 8:22 AM:

" ''Look for the people that was lost there,'' Clay said. ''Looks like somebody messed up here''......Atta Boy Rudy...I knew you wouldn't let us down... "

NW IN MOM JVD wrote on Sep 18, 2007 8:13 AM:

" This situation is sad indeed...but the fact of the matter is that the boy who was drunk and underage and driving home so late is at fault for the death of the 2 boys. I know when you are a parent and you are grieving, you are so angry and want to find someone to blame....but why is the parent not at fault again? I know for 1. The parent should not have allowed a 17 to go out to a rp party, get drunk and come home at 3am. 2. If the parent was going to be irresponsible in that sense, they should have at least given their child money for a hotel to stay at for the night/ or should have dropped them off and picked them up themselves... I don't know? I just can't see myself letting my child party and drink littleless drive home while intoxicated. "

Willie wrote on Sep 18, 2007 8:07 AM:

" Rudy Clay is brilliant!!!! NOT! "

Parent's see $ signs wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:57 AM:

" You know I am so sick of the parent's and family members and friends blaming everyone but the DRUNKEN TEENAGER of that car, or the person who got them the alcohol. I am very sorry two young men lost there life's but come on, blame the people that were really involved since they had stated those two young men died on instantly. And why were they not wearing seat belts? Everyone is always looking to blame others and to get that all mighty dollar! Pray for the boys that lived and died, and pray that these two young men are punished as they should be so this NEVER happens again. They should have called for a ride home, and the Police should have listened, but most of the blame should lie on the drunken driver of this car, he should have his liscense taken away.And whoever bought the alcohol. The Law can only do so much when lied to. "

What a sorry performance !!!!! wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:43 AM:

" Ready, quiet on the set ..... action !!!! You are watching the parents of one dead kid comforting the person that killed their kid..... but yet, it is the cop's fault, it is the mayor's fault, it is that bump in the road at fault, the gaurd rail is at fault ..... CUT ........ "

don't blame the police wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:41 AM:

" Why are the families so full of hate for the police and so forgiving of the driver?? The police did not kill the boys, the drunk driver killed them. The police did the best they could with information that they had that came from the two survivors who were intoxicated and in shock. Maybe the problem was the quality of information that they had. The survivors are NOT innocent victims. "

G Davis wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:37 AM:

" The Mayor of Gary likes this type of coverage because it makes people think about that instead of the corrupt people who run Gary! And you can't roll a car 3 times going 20 miles an hour! Thats what happins when you get loaded when you are 17 coming home from the Hip-Hop show at 3AM in the morning driving recklessly.Mabye next time they will have their priorities straight when they drive,better them than some innocent person going in the opposit lane! "

No Kidding wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:37 AM:

" Someone screwed up? Did he think of that on his own? How about the driver who was drinking, did he screw up? That is right, that would require people to think before they drink and drive and killed 2 of his friends. I wonder if any charges will be bought or just an other lawsuit. If a mayor speaks like that what is thought of the entire city? "

Sadness wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:30 AM:

" This is a sad situation. But the parents can not blame the police. Did they go out there at 3 am (in the dark) to look for the kids? Of course you found them in the morning. "

Stunned wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:28 AM:

" Let me get this clear - - if you've been drinking and have an accident in Gary; then you don't deserve to be rescued or to live? The police's "butt-covering", lame excuse are insulting to us all. No wonder folks are fleeing places like this in droves! Even those who are charged with the duty "to protect and serve" don't care about preserving human life and preserving the dignity of the dead. Talk about adding insult to injury for these families. What young person would look forward to contributing their energy and talent to a place where they're repeatedly shown that they have no value? "

Glenn Woods wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:14 AM:

" Heck, why would I want to blame the driver? He was only speeding and driving drunk. Hey, I know... Let's blame the police!! They were killed upon impact....Blame goes to driver!! "

So Sorry wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:11 AM:

" My heart goes out to all four families. I feel that if the police recieved conflicting that at least the cop should have called to confirm that they were at home. cops should have took into concideration that they were dealing with 2 people that were just in a serious accident and could be suffering from head injuries and are going to be disorriented, aren't they trained for that? On the other had the familes have to have some blame on the driver if it wasn't for his poor driving an drinking the accident would have never happened. "

Call me crazy!! wrote on Sep 18, 2007 6:24 AM:

" It should not matter which underage kid was "legally intoxicated" because they were both under 21, and any amount of alcohol in their system is illegal. Also, in my opinion it is really sad when the mayor of Gary can't speak with proper grammer, "Look for the people that was lost there." Nice. That's someone to aspire to be like. "

Concerned Citizen wrote on Sep 18, 2007 6:24 AM:

" These kids should not of had any alcohol in there systems, I am so sick of it always being someone else's fault. The person driving the car after drinking is truly the one that is guilty in this matter. They did not belong behind a wheel of the car. They are underage drinkers who should be sighted as such and made to pay the same as everyone else. But no it is the fault of the officers who were there to help!! What a bunch of crap "

Shanique wrote on Sep 18, 2007 6:06 AM:

" The police didnt kill those boys, they killed themselves by drinking and driving, and they need to take responsibility for what they done and not place blame. "

Reader wrote on Sep 18, 2007 5:24 AM:

" This is a very unfortunate situation and very sad that 2 young lives were lost. I dont get why this is being taken to the extreme. Yes police didnt find the bodies, but its not like they knew they were there and left them. I can see where this one is headed "

Prayers and thoughts wrote on Sep 18, 2007 5:17 AM:

" My heart and my prayers go out to the victims of this accident. I know the parents are grieving and attitudes can reflect the hurt and anger that comes from loss. It is an unfortunate incident and I believe that the police officer could have done more in the situation. At the same time, he can not be to blame for the accident. I must admit, the coroner's report did seem to come out a little too quickly in defense of the officer, but he is the expert in the situation and his word in the matter has to be taken at face value. Hopefully the classmates at West Side will take from this a valuable lesson: Don't Drink and Drive. "

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