Police in Zephryhills, Florida have charged Henry Ben Morgan with a felony for obstructing the extinguishment of a fire plus a misdemeanor for resisting arrest when he attempted to run into his burning home to save his pets and put the fire out. The pets perished, his house burned down, and he is now looking at jail time.
Sheriffs stated that they told Morgan to stay back and had to restrain him when he sought to save his pets. He kept trying to get to a window to pull his pets to safety. He lost three dogs and a cat in the fire. He is the father of three and drove up to the house after the fire had started and firefighters were already at the scene. He reacted by running to the house against the orders of police.
I can understand that such acts can make things much more difficult for firefighters and even dangerous. Citizens likely get themselves in great peril and have to be rescued at great risk for firefighters. However, a felony? Wouldn’t a ticket be enough of a lesson in such cases. Even if a misdemeanor charge is warranted, this seems a bit excessive.
Incredibly excessive. I know I would do the same thing. Would they convict you if you tried to get your children out? Pets are part of the family also. My feelings go out to this poor man.
Heroism is a felony. The world really is upside dow.
What an loon, he should’ve just sued the fire department for letting his pets die. That’s the way we do it.
Ah Florida, my home, do you know no bounds in the production of ironic lunacy?
I would sue the city anyways for not saving the pets.
I would also demand a trial by jury and make sure that I let them know that jury nullification is perfectly legal.