*beep* *beep* *beep* *beep**beep* *beep* *beep**beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep**beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* 'tard!!



Texas Lawman Charged with Theft of Shuttle Parts

LUFKIN, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas constable who helped search across east Texas for debris from the space shuttle Columbia was arrested on Monday for allegedly pocketing some of what he found.

Robert Hagan, 45, a constable in Harrison County, Texas, was charged
with theft of U.S. government property. Five pieces of space shuttle tile
were found in a paper bag in his car after he helped in the search on Feb. 1 and 2, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of
Texas.

"It is a troubling day when an individual who swore to uphold the law is
charged with stealing evidence and hindering this historic investigation,"
U.S. Attorney Michael Orwig said in a statement.

Two people were arrested last week and charged with stealing shuttle parts. Those arrested faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Hagan showed a piece of what he said was shuttle debris to a colleague
after returning home on Feb. 2, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He
claimed he was given permission to keep the items, it said.

Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerss said his office turned over to
U.S. prosecutors two more cases of suspected theft of shuttle material in
his east Texas county.

Over the weekend, Kerss said he turned over nine other cases. The debris
field is centered in the county.

Kerss said he was saddened to hear that someone who had helped recover debris was charged with stealing shuttle pieces, especially after NASA(news - web sites) has said that any piece may provide a clue as to why Columbia disintegrated on Feb. 1, killing all seven crew members.

"It is sad for me to know another law enforcement officer would do such a
thing," Kerss told a news conference. U.S. attorneys said last week they have 17 investigations concerning people who tried to sell parts of the shuttle over Internet auction site eBay .

Debris was scattered over hundreds of miles of Texas and western
Louisiana.

I just don't get it....I don't think I will ever get it....I mean...I could see some tard civilian, but law enforcement? Are they just letting anyone become a police officer these days?

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!



That gun permit is becoming more and more attractive at this point, knowing that this type of guy is protecting our streets. Not to mention those two or three idiot Marines that are supposedly there to protect our country!!

No offense to any law enforcement or military personel that surfs this site. As I am sure you are ashamed to have these types of people in your field.

My biggest concern is that this whole "war" issue could put a rift in our own Country again.... not only causing us trouble with our allies, but within our own nation.

I'm all for ousting Saddam, but NOT without some ally support. If half the world is saying "wait..." we need to wait. I think that going against the world right now is a VERY BAD IDEA. I want to see more of what happens with the inspections.

At LEAST until we here more sound evidence of weapons. Mind you I'm from a strong republican family too, and my family is split. Me and my mom (even though probably the more liberal of the 4 registered republicans in the family) are both against war. While my father and brother are both strongly for it.

I think everything should be taken a step at a time. Once there is irrefutable evidence (and the US and UK think there is) then and then only should we go to war. We know Sadaam Hussien is a tyrrant and despot, but you must watch world public opinion. There is an old adage "people need people" so there are other things to be taken into consideration, rather than going it alone.

Keoni Mana wrote:

My biggest concern is that this whole "war" issue could put a rift in our own Country again.... not only causing us trouble with our allies, but within our own nation. I'm all for ousting Saddam, but NOT without some ally support. If half the world is saying "wait..." we need to wait. I think that going against the world right now is a VERY BAD IDEA. I want to see more of what happens with the inspections. At LEAST until we here more sound evidence of weapons. Mind you I'm from a strong republican family too, and my family is split. Me and my mom (even though probably the more liberal of the 4 registered republicans in the family) are both against war. While my father and brother are both strongly for it.

I can't help but wonder why Germany and France are so against it. Unless it's because one or both are selling critical parts of Iraq. I personally wish we were out of the United Nations.

Their seems to be an awful lot of misunderstanding here. Germany and France are not against it. They just want a few more assurances before there's a war. But if the decision is taken to fight, then the two countries will be on the side of the allies. At the moment there is a lot of political wheeling and dealing going on . You must remember that a lot of those countries have also got to try and appease their own smaller allies and give them assurances also. Most of the major Western European Nations have got to take into consideration the feelings of their smaller aligned nations, so it's not just as simple as people would like to make out. Some of the nations have got to honor commitments they have made in the past to the rest of their allies. Therefore everything has to be seen to be done before the inevitable. Rest assured that Great Britain has made it clear to both France and Germany where we stand, and don't forget that Great Britain is the strongest economy in Europe, and that also counts when those other nations are pondering over this.

I beg to disagree Mac, how much assurance do they need? Iraq can play this shell game from now till doomsday and we won't be a bit closer to finding the truth.

I agree with you there Bob. Iraq could go on and on with their subterfuge. What those other countries want as far as i can see is for Hans Blitz to report back this weekend with more evidence. I know the other countries have been sitting on the fence a bit, and this is down to their economies, not Sadaam. But given the deadline, then i am assured they will be onside when it's time to go for it. The only alternative would be the break-up of the UN, and you know where the UK stands if that happens.

No, no, no, I disagree....the chicken did come before the egg and he did not have sexual relations with that woman.