You probably don't know Mike Ferner, but in some circles - most notably the peace movement - he is something of a phenom. A Toledo native and Vietnam era veteran, he's spent most of his recent waking hours in protests against the Iraq War, and has written books on the war after visiting there. He's coming here, and here's why.....
Dear Swami,
I'm writing to let you know of an ongoing case in the 19th Circuit Court in Lake County that may interest you as a Waukegan journalist. (Hah! He thinks I'm a journalist!)
In July 2006 I was arrested on a public sidewalk outside the MEPCOM building at Great Lakes Naval Base, for taking photographs of three people doing a peaceful civil disobedience action in the MEPCOM parking lot, to protest the war in Iraq. I had followed the three onto the parking lot, but left as soon as a guard told me I would be arrested if I stayed.
I informed the arresting officer that I was there as a freelance writer and was covering the demonstration. To make a long story short my camera was taken and digital photos downloaded. I was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and resisting arrest.
I live in Toledo, Ohio and have now traveled to Waukegan four times (it would have been five except that my attorney convinced the judge I needn't appear for a minor preliminary hearing), only to have the judge postpone my trial each time. Most recently, on August 27 I was told to come back August 29. When I did, the prosecutor said the arresting officer "had training that day" and couldn't attend. My trial has now been set for October 1.
One of the policemen present during my arrest contacted my attorney and told him he thought the charges were bogus, but my attorney could not get the prosecutor to travel to Great Lakes and interview him.
Besides being bogus, I also think the charges are an affront to journalists, but that will come out in the trial and I don't expect you to take my word for that. What really has prompted me to contact your paper is the fact that neither the judge nor the prosecutor seem to think anything of having me travel four times to Waukegan, only to have the trial postponed again. Without someone shining the light of day on this court's behavior I can only see it continuing.
...Thank you very much for considering this matter.
Mike Ferner
The Swami is interested. More later.
Due to the repeated postponements of his trial, Mr. Ferner has grounds for dismissal of the case because of his constitutional right to a speedy trial. I "won" a speeding case because the state could not provide a timely trial. In discussions with the prosecutor previous to the trial, I made it known this case was going to be recorded, reported and published. On the court date, the state dropped the charges because the officer "had training" and could not be present, and due to the right to a speedy trial, the case was dismissed.