The Fives: Criminal charges against a councilman, a cop and a man who abused malamutes

By Todd Williams, Journal staff | Friday, August 29, 2008

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Conflict.

It's the thing that makes the news world go round. And nothing points more to that truth than the past week in news. As August draws to a close, there were arrests and standoffs, court rulings and resignations, and all of it points back to the essential truth of the news: it is created when there is conflict.

OK, so normally that doesn't have to involve the police. But it certainly doesn't hurt to have the law enforcement angle in there. And here's your examples.

Top Five Stories

1.  Rapid City council member arrested again on DUI charges

In reality, the arrest of Rapid City Councilman Bob Hurlbut gave us three of the week's most read stories. There was this story about his arrest, there was the one where he said he was weighing resigning from the council and there was the one where it was revealed he was arrested not twice, but three times, in the past six years for suspected DUI. The latter noted that a 2002 arrest ended up as a reckless driving charge after the councilman refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.

Regardless, the drama will likely play out through early next week when Hurlbut is expected to make a decision on his political future.

Politics aside, though, here's to hoping a turnaround is in store for the councilman whose issues with alcohol have played out like a modern morality play before his constituents.

2.  Police seek public info in apparent suicide

The story about a man found dead at his own hand and the police identifying him as a Rapid City resident both landed in the top 10. Public suicides, in particular ones in which an identity is not immediately known, are the unpleasant necessities of news coverage sometimes.

3.  Seattle cop, five others charged in Sturgis shooting

A follow up to the most read story of the year, a Meade County Grand Jury returned indictments against six people in an Aug. 9 bar shooting during the Sturgis motorcycle rally that left a member of the Hells Angels in the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.

The man who shot him, an off-duty Seattle police officer with a history of disciplinary problems, faces a number of charges, including assault and perjury. The man whom he shot faces assault charges as well. Four others who were involved in the confrontation between the Hells Angels and the Iron Pigs, the motorcycle club to which the off-duty police officer and his cohorts belonged, face weapons charges.

Needless to say, this story isn't over yet.

4.  Belle Fourche man surrenders to police

A standoff with authorities by a man armed with a crossbow and a handgun or two had tensions running high in Belle Fourche on Monday. Fortunately, the 90 minute standoff ended peacefully.

5.  Mason Short resigns Rapid City Regional Airport board

The only story in the top five this week that didn't feature members of the law enforcement community still had hints of conflict. Mason Short's sudden resignation Tuesday after nearly four years of heading Rapid City Regional Airport caught many by surprise.

Few details have emerged on why Short resigned, and Mayor Alan Hanks would offer little but the boilerplate "wish him success in the future" comments.

Top Five Videos

1. Walking Miracle

Jaci Kennison's miraculous story of survival after a tragic motorcycle accident was inspiring in print and video alike. The video story, told from the view of one of the emergency responders who attended to Kennison shortly after her accident, is a great sidebar to the story that appeared in print and online.

2. CLLL Parade

For the many that couldn't be there, this relatively raw video featured shots of the Canyon Lake Little League team's return from Williamsport, Pa., as the first team from South Dakota to play in the Little League World Series. A lot like being there, minus the candy.

3. Raw Video: Car Swept Away by Floodwaters

More raw video. The simple image of flash flooding, this time from central Arizona, seems at first to be standard video of someone's parked car being swept away by floodwaters. But stick around for the surprise ending; it's worth it.

4. Johnson on Debate Decision

Tim Johnson offers up in his own words why he chose not to take part in any debates with Republican challenger Joel Dykstra.

5. Celebrating Outdoor Roots

A dose of humor and a lesson in how to best prepare rattlesnake as a meal. Who could ask for more?

Poll of the Week

This poll not only drew the most votes of the week, but it was the closes we've seen in a while as well. No doubt this one was drawn on political lines.

Who do you believe best fulfilled the role of first lady?

Dolly Madison   

77 Votes, 6%

Eleanor Roosevelt   

456 Votes, 33%

Jacqueline Kennedy   

352 Votes, 25%

Nancy Reagan   

441 Votes, 32%

Lady Bird Johnson

71 Votes, 5%

Rapid Reply of the Week

The unusual twist in the Chad Cooper malamute abuse case in which the plea bargain failed to take into account restitution for care of all the dogs involved in the case certainly brought out the rabid Rapid Repliers, but there were some measured reader replies as well. This was among the best stated.

Jayde wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:06 PM:

" I would like to know what type of oversight led to Chad Cooper being convicted of only two counts. Was it clerical, maybe a typographical error?

I certainly hope that he is not going to be allowed to obtain a future kennel license, let alone have any more animals in his possession.

If his punishment were the equal to the crime he committed against those dogs, he would have been kept in a filthy cage without food, water and decomposed bodies to keep him company.

I would rather spend every last cent I have ever earned to ensure that an animal is cared for before I would willingly foot the bill for the care, comfort and wellbeing of a criminal, but since I pay taxes (just as most of those who read this also do) Chad Cooper was given "3 hots and a cot" at our expense, and society will end up paying for the cost associated with the dogs that were take away from him.

It's jail, and it's not supposed to be a fun-filled experience for those who spend time there, but rather a punishment, a place to reflect upon one's actions and to validate why that course of behavior should never be repeated again. "

Editor's choice

First Rate Advice

Videographer Tim Appel packed up his equipment and headed to Badger Clark Elementary school on Thursday to ask first graders what kind of advice they would offer students entering kindergarten this year.

The results are unpredictable, funny, and maybe even a little useful.