Laurenceville, GA – Operation Rescue President Troy Newman drove the Truth Truck to the Gwinnett County Police Station on Saturday to hand-deliver a letter from the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) only to find the doors to the station locked. Efforts failed to get police to open the doors so the letter could be delivered.
“We rang the doorbell and knocked on the door, but no one would answer. We could see there were police inside, but none would come to the door. It was really bizarre behavior, in my opinion,” said Newman.
Finally, two officers in a patrol car arrived, accepted the letter, and left the scene.
The letter was in response to the arrest over Thanksgiving weekend of Truth Truck driver Bob Rothlisberger, the impound of the Truth Truck, and the destruction of signs and mounting hardware by police. In the letter, attorney Jim Henderson of the ACLJ spent twelve pages explaining in detail to Gwinnett County Police why their officers acted improperly during the incident. Reimbursement of costs and an apology were requested.
Newman was accompanied by Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, Peter Shinn of Pro-life Unity, and members of the Mount Zion Christian Church in Durham, North Carolina.
Police had earlier threatened to arrest anyone who might continue to drive the Truth Truck, adorned with photographs of aborted babies, in Gwinnett County, but later backed down from that threat. Newman and the other pro-lifers drove through the county without incident.
“We were left to wonder what would happen if the Truth Truck were to encounter Gwinnett County Police on the road without the media present,” said Newman. “Would they again arrest our people and slash our signs? We just don’t know. Currently there are no guarantees that the First Amendment protections will be respected here.”
Isn’t unlawful to lock a public building during normal business hours except in cases of emergencies?! Sounds like the police in Lanceville were embarassed by their actions attacking the First Amendment rights of a citizen. Or their pride is so inflated that they can’t bring themselves to apologize or ask for forgiveness.
It’s pathetic that Troy had to get an attorney, and that the attorney had to spell out the law for the Mayor and the Police.
This whole thing just reeks of corruption and is a disgrace.
It appears that the Gwinnett County P.D. ,can dish it out, but can’t take it? Why lock the doors, why the cowardice? Maybe, they are finally realizing that they did cross the line, and their nazisque tactics have backfired?
what a bunch of wimps…police there were afraid to receive a letter?
bringing the truth truck to the cops was a good idea.
driving the truck inside their locked building would have ensured the cops got the message.
Aren’t police stations supposed to be open in case the public needs their help? Certainly, on a Saturday afternoon they ought to be available. Does this police department actually care about the people they are supposed to serve? Were they just too embarrassed because they didn’t get away with shoving people around this time?
Gwinnett County in Georgia HAS A REPUTATION for being CORRUPT. The county operates under a “good ole’ boy” system still today.
Amazing that no one has cleaned this county up but then, that would call for more educated and honest people to do that. Most of the older law enforcement: cops, sherriffs, judges, attorneys, public attorneys, and DA office members are guilty of the trickle down system.
John ,I agree with you somewhat. I had a Detective with Lawrenceville steal from me. The DA’s office and the LPD seems to have just covered it up. They won’t contact me back and so far have just tried to intimidate me. It was what most would call a major theft. They have all the evidence but to date have done nothing. Its been many months. These people won’t have any power when I’m done I hope. They just abuse what they have. There have other agencies that oversee them . Thats where you go. They have been very helpful. Not to mention these people have made many enemies out of some folks they shouldn’t have. Amazing how after a while they feel they ARE the law ,not someone that should bring honor to the law.