# Why hasn't the Neighborhood Watch shooter been arrested? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504 "2012-03-12T00:53:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 116
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2301 "2012-03-29T03:19:04Z")
> [@treis](#): > > I think there was some question earlier about the position of Zimmerman’s truck. Here’s a picture I found: [Transfer Station: Image](http://transferstation.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/street-view-overhead1.jpg) His truck is ~200 feet away from where Martin was shot. A distance Martin took 2 minutes to cover, or a speed of about 1.15 miles per hour. And he was running for part of that time. > > Nothing about this is making much sense. That diagram is wrong, according to the police report that someone linked to yesterday Martin was killed at 2831 Retreat View. Why would you accept some stranger’s map instead of Newme’s? I already pointed out that Martin had enough time to be home eating his Skittles if he had just kept going. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2302 "2012-03-29T03:23:45Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Wait. You think it’s remotely possible that the cops carry a wardrobe of replacement clothes around to give to people who’ve gotten them bloody? He was going voluntarily and his house was a couple of blocks away. They probably just went by his house and let him put on fresh clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2303 "2012-03-29T03:24:49Z")
Lots of “goose eggs”; lots of victims of Trayvon Martin: [What a thug](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bald+head+back&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=796&tbm=isch&tbnid=pVmaiyuWPlMrFM:&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowpeck/&docid=3oSgl-5jBRyUbM&imgurl=http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3149/2438454620_44ca6bdf16_m.jpg&w=240&h=180&ei=mNNzT9eoIcPr0gGr1bD_Ag&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=356&sig=114494891772909480629&page=2&tbnh=141&tbnw=188&start=29&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:29&tx=108&ty=54) [He’s a vicious animal](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bald+head+back&start=98&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=796&tbm=isch&tbnid=ye4U0Hvrkcw2GM:&imgrefurl=http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-1564475-bald-head.php&docid=UFqvErv-kDXVgM&imgurl=http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/1564475/2/stock-photo-1564475-bald-head.jpg&w=254&h=380&ei=3dNzT_XSC5OD0QGE1-H_Ag&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=184&vpy=355&dur=2934&hovh=275&hovw=183&tx=127&ty=80&sig=114494891772909480629&page=4&tbnh=148&tbnw=111&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:28,s:98) [Serial assault](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bald+head+back&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=796&tbm=isch&tbnid=uEX63XL2wjrzVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.canstockphoto.com/bald-head-1561037.html&docid=awflOGMOzMgg-M&imgurl=http://comps.canstockphoto.com/can-stock-photo_csp1561037.jpg&w=400&h=301&ei=mNNzT9eoIcPr0gGr1bD_Ag&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=233&sig=114494891772909480629&page=3&tbnh=132&tbnw=182&start=64&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:64&tx=122&ty=29) [He should have been stopped years ago](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bald+head+back&start=380&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=796&tbm=isch&tbnid=-gWKoCO3YpswiM:&imgrefurl=http://www.visualphotos.com/image/1x4160745/back_view_of_bald_man_with_flames_on_head&docid=Tt8dlKEfbtadgM&imgurl=http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/1x4160745/back_view_of_bald_man_with_flames_on_head_700-00046787.jpg&w=428&h=570&ei=XtRzT9aNHILn0QG_nNX_Ag&zoom=1) [Thank god for George Zimmerman](http://cdn4.fotosearch.com/bthumb/ISP/ISP003/isp0802725.jpg) [So many victims](http://cdn5.fotosearch.com/bthumb/PLB/PLB002/PLS-00006005-001.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2304 "2012-03-29T03:25:26Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] Also, what I don’t see on the back of Zimmerman’s head is any sort of abrasions, cuts, bruising, discoloration or other types of indicators of injury that one might associate with repeatedly having one’s head slammed onto cement to such an extent that you feared for your life. [/QUOTE] Thank you. Even I was thinking Martin put up a good fight. But dude’s head doesn’t even appear bruised. I don’t buy the lump argument–to me, it looks like the beginning of a “pack of hot dogs” thing. But even if I did think it looked like an injury, I’d still be curious about the lack of discoloration. A “bash” would do something more than that. Especially a bash on a hard surface, like cement. I really hope that Zimmerman was questioned long and good and not just given a whole bunch of “alone” time while the detective argued with the DA on the phone. Because if they did not get every detail regarding the last two minutes of Martin’s life, well, it’s too late to play “gotcha” now. We’ve pretty much told him whatever he needs to say. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2305 "2012-03-29T03:26:33Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > He was going voluntarily and his house was a couple of blocks away. They probably just went by his house and let him put on fresh clothes. Good thinking. Hey, with these cops, they probably did. Yeah, you better go get cleaned up first, and then we’ll handcuff you, and then we’ll take you to the station, and then we’ll check your pockets. Airtight, man, airtight. There’s no putting one past you. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2306 "2012-03-29T03:27:00Z")
First, the police did not give the man a fresh shirt. I mean, please. Therefore, Zimmerman’s story is a steaming pile of bullshit. He had a broken bloody nose AND he shot Martin in the chest when he was above him, just a few inches away, if that, and his shirt has no traces of blood anywhere??? That’s it. I don’t know what DID happen, but I feel pretty confident I know what did NOT happen, and what did NOT happen is the story Zimmerman told. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2307 "2012-03-29T03:29:55Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > He was going voluntarily and his house was a couple of blocks away. They probably just went by his house and let him put on fresh clothes. I cannot tell if you are being serious or not. I’m just trying to imagine the conversation: “Hey, brah. Can you swing by my place for a sec? I just want to change out of these clothes. 'Cuz if ya’ll are about to book me, I want to look my best!” ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2308 "2012-03-29T03:30:07Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I already pointed out that Martin had enough time to be home eating his Skittles if he had just kept going. Yes, and if he knew that a relentless, armed lunatic was chasing him, he probably would have kept running. But all he knew is a creepy dude in a truck was driving after him. Get off the road until he’s gone. The only one who knew what was happening, actually, was Zimmerman. He knew that he had taken his gun (in violation of neighborhood watch guidelines) to chase a suspected messed up criminal. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2309 "2012-03-29T03:32:36Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > But hes still wearing his red sweater. Why wouldn’t the cops collect that as well? Surely blood and grass stains would be on this as well. He was wearing a red **sweatshirt**. Apparently ABC doesn’t read their own website. [http://abcnews.go.com/US/neighborhood-watch-shooting-trayvon-martin-probe-reveals-questionable/story?id=15907136#.T3PUJzEgc04](http://abcnews.go.com/US/neighborhood-watch-shooting-trayvon-martin-probe-reveals-questionable/story?id=15907136#.T3PUJzEgc04) > [@](#): > > But about a minute later, Zimmerman left his car wearing a **red sweatshirt** and pursued Martin on foot between two rows of townhouses, about 70 yards from where the teen was going. That jacket he has on doesn’t look like a sweater or a sweatshirt. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2310 "2012-03-29T03:40:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I think I can see a bump, and he does look like he’s been in a scuffle. I’d never have guessed he was in a fight. There is no “laceration” on the back of his head, as we have heard claimed. There’s no blood under his nose. Guy looks just fine. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2311 "2012-03-29T03:40:48Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Walk quietly up to someone who has their back turned to you.. According to Zimmerman or the girlfriend, there was a brief conversation. I think they’re facing each other. And nobody did anything quietly. > [@](#): > > Yes, It’s pretty easy to knock someone out on the first blow or knock them to the ground in a daze. I’ve been nearly knocked out with just body contact playing sports. I was referring to when Zimmerman is on the ground getting his head slammed. Martin would have to be pinning Zimmerman’s arms with his legs for Zimmerman not to be able to defend himself. Plus multiple head slams would mean a concussion, would it not? I’ve actually seen hard foul lead to a concussion. I’ll concede your last point. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2312 "2012-03-29T03:42:59Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > He was wearing a red **sweatshirt**. Apparently ABC doesn’t read their own website. > [http://abcnews.go.com/US/neighborhood-watch-shooting-trayvon-martin-probe-reveals-questionable/story?id=15907136#.T3PUJzEgc04](http://abcnews.go.com/US/neighborhood-watch-shooting-trayvon-martin-probe-reveals-questionable/story?id=15907136#.T3PUJzEgc04) > That jacket he has on doesn’t look like a sweater or a sweatshirt. So do you contend that he changed clothes three times now? From sweatshirt to sweater to jacket (all red)? And the jacket was after the cops let him get all gussied up for their talk? Because there’s a much more parsimonious explanation… ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2313 "2012-03-29T03:45:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’d never have guessed he was in a fight. > > There is no “laceration” on the back of his head, as we have heard claimed. > > There’s no blood under his nose. > > Guy looks just fine. I’ve seen people come away from a chess match looking worse for wear than Zimmerman does. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2314 "2012-03-29T03:47:23Z")
I’m pretty sure the “bump” is the [external](http://www.upstate.edu/cdb/education/grossanat/hnsklatob1.shtml) [occipital protuberance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/External_occipital_protuberance). CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2315 "2012-03-29T03:47:56Z")
Don’t forget that this borrowed jacket was also searched by the police when they reached the precinct. I guess they don’t miss a thing. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2316 "2012-03-29T03:50:43Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > And now the police are saying that they recommended filing charges, but the county prosecutor wouldn’t back them up: [http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/27/2718130/sanford-cops-wanted-to-charge.html#morer](http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/27/2718130/sanford-cops-wanted-to-charge.html#morer) > > Truth or ass-covering retcon? I don’t think it’s necessarily a retcon. A small town’s police force would not normally want to get into a public pissing match with the prosecutor’s office and so normally would just sing the party tune and not air the sort of disagreements that’s, let’;s be honest, are probably a weekly occurrence. You can’t go public every time the PD and the prosecutor disagree on what to do about a particular case or you’d be waging an endless war. But this has blown into a shitphoon of gargantuan proportions. This isn’t the usual little disagreement; this is a world-famous fiasco and the Sanford PD is now about as popular as scabies. So they may have decided “Fuck the prosecutor.” ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2317 "2012-03-29T04:20:03Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I don’t see anyone examining his head. There’s a point at which he gestures to his head, and a guy looks in the direction of his head, but that’s about it. Can you tell me what time you see this examination? The examination happened at 50 seconds as I already said > [@](#): > > Also, what I don’t see on the back of Zimmerman’s head is any sort of abrasions, cuts, bruising, discoloration or other types of indicators of injury that one might associate with repeatedly having one’s head slammed onto cement to such an extent that you feared for your life. Nobody said repeatly. If his head had been slammed repeatedly into concrete, Zimmerman would be unconscious. It is interesting that I can’t tell the size of the lump on the back of his head, but you can do a detailed medical examination. > [@](#): > > Can you give me a close up of a still photo that shows anything like that? Otherwise, you’ve got an oddly shadowed close up of something that looks like what a lot of guys naturally have on the back of their head. [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/\_mvv\_jFDFp5g/TIaF8SNXq1I/AAAAAAAABPc/azGOriF0a54/s1600/IMG\_1410.JPG](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mvv_jFDFp5g/TIaF8SNXq1I/AAAAAAAABPc/azGOriF0a54/s1600/IMG_1410.JPG) Are you going to claim you never saw an injury like that? Did you not have a childhood? Of course when I was a kid nobody wore a helmet when they played baseball. You end up with bruising, swelling but no bleeding. Actually I had a bigger lump than Zimmerman when my brother hit me in the head with a baseball bat. When I regained consciousness my brother was trying to hide the body. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2318 "2012-03-29T04:23:45Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Jesus, that seems like an incredibly slow and inefficient system! > > I’m not sure how they do it here in California, but I think it’s all left up to the prosecutor… I am in CA. So no that’s not slow or inefficient. Remember, you get one chance at the GJ. You present the evidence you have. if they say that’s not enough evidence, that’s generally it. You have been clearly watching too much TV, Murder investigations aren’t wrapped up in a hour. Even a month is often not enough. If a DA presents too soon, the killer may get off. (In CA, unlike Fla, Murder does not _require_ a GJ indictment, however). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2319 "2012-03-29T04:28:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’d never have guessed he was in a fight. > > There is no “laceration” on the back of his head, as we have heard claimed. > > There’s no blood under his nose. > > Guy looks just fine. Dude.:dubious: Come on, what I then said was "_But I have to admit, he does not appear to have been in the kind of beating that would justify shooting someone. I’d like to see a medical report, tho. "_ He looks like he’s been in a minor scuffle, not a fight for his life. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2320 "2012-03-29T04:29:57Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > So do you contend that he changed clothes three times now? From sweatshirt to sweater to jacket (all red)? And the jacket was after the cops let him get all gussied up for their talk? > > Because there’s a much more parsimonious explanation… “John” claimed he was wearing a sweater. If you want to assume that he could tell the difference between a sweater and a sweatshirt at night, then you have to accept that he could tell that the guy in red was on the bottom and this whole discussion is moot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=115) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=117)