Co-worker arrested; Now what?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
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From: Travelers Rest SC
Co-worker arrested; Now what?
A guy in my department was arrested (at work!) a couple of weeks ago, and we are left wondering what becomes of his stuff? He was a young toolmaker's apprentice, on probation for drugs and theft, and he came up positive for pot and heroine. Since I am his mentor, I secured his toolbox, and have his house/car keys and cell phone. I feel bad for the kid, but he deserves whatever happens to him now. We would like to buy his tools (he is unemployed and out of the apprentice program, in addition to being in jail), and I'm sure he could use the money, but nobody knows how to contact him. The company already had his car towed, and I have no idea what they will eventually do with his tools. From what we think, he will probably get jail time for the remainder of his probation (over a year), then probation after that. Anybody know what the law is here? The company I work for is notoriously heartless, and they've already talked about using his toolbox in another department! That ain't right...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
He will probably be assigned a public defender as an attorney. I'd make a few calls and find out just who is representing him and take it from there.
All of his stuff is his property and he (through his attorney) is the one who can decide what to do with it.
Lou Braun
All of his stuff is his property and he (through his attorney) is the one who can decide what to do with it.
Lou Braun
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
He must have a family member or emergency contact person listed on his employment application. They should be contacted and do with his things as they say. The company owner /human resources department should be responsible for finding who should receive his belongings, not co -workers.
Last edited by Greg 79 f150; Mar 29, 2006 at 06:51 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
You could try visiting the lockup he was taken to, and get the straight input from HIM as to who should be contacted. Very often in these situations the last people on earth they want to get into their things is the immediate family.
It would give him a chance to decide for himself how that should be handled.
It's good that you want to see the right thing done, even if it is someone who has made what we might call "Poor choices".
But don't get caught up in it - it isn't your situation to settle.
KUDOS for your sence of fairplay!
It would give him a chance to decide for himself how that should be handled.
It's good that you want to see the right thing done, even if it is someone who has made what we might call "Poor choices".
But don't get caught up in it - it isn't your situation to settle.
KUDOS for your sence of fairplay!
Last edited by Greywolf; Mar 29, 2006 at 06:57 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
What "TQ1" said exactly!!!
If you don't have a legal document saying you should do something, DON'T TOUCH ANY OF IT!
"It is entirely possible to get burnt to a crisp in court while attempting to do what is right"
At this point the most you can do is watch for anyone messing with the tools. But that is not your job. Does the plant have security?
Chances are the rent, the bills, and everything else the guy had going on will snowball up into a mess that I don't know how is sorted out.
What happens when someone vanishes into jail, and the bills are left unpaid? I don't know - it never happened to me. I have no idea how that stuff is settled.
I never thought of that before - what DOES happen?
Rent
Electricity
Gas
Car payment
Cable or dish TV
Loans
Is being in jail an out for non-payment????
If you don't have a legal document saying you should do something, DON'T TOUCH ANY OF IT!
"It is entirely possible to get burnt to a crisp in court while attempting to do what is right"
At this point the most you can do is watch for anyone messing with the tools. But that is not your job. Does the plant have security?
Chances are the rent, the bills, and everything else the guy had going on will snowball up into a mess that I don't know how is sorted out.
What happens when someone vanishes into jail, and the bills are left unpaid? I don't know - it never happened to me. I have no idea how that stuff is settled.
I never thought of that before - what DOES happen?
Rent
Electricity
Gas
Car payment
Cable or dish TV
Loans
Is being in jail an out for non-payment????
Last edited by Greywolf; Mar 29, 2006 at 08:09 PM.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Sunny SOCAL!
I would have to agree with the other responses that you should not get to involved. This is a company issue and they should handle it. That being said I think it is commendable that even though this young man has made some poor choices in his life that you want to do the right thing. His posessions are his possessions and he should have them or the fair market value of them. I would imagine he must have some sort of emergency contact type card in his personnel file. If you were his mentor maybe you would have access to that information and could contact someone that could get a hold of him.
and BTW in my professional opinion it was pretty poor police work of them to not at least take the mans keys and cell phone. I mean how much extra work would it have been for them???? O that's right NO extra work..What a shame!
and BTW in my professional opinion it was pretty poor police work of them to not at least take the mans keys and cell phone. I mean how much extra work would it have been for them???? O that's right NO extra work..What a shame!
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
Dunno how it works civilian side yet. In the NAVY abandoned baggage goes into the security department "LUCKY BAG" and is transferred to the Chaplains office I think for whoever wants to look through it on a case by case basis.
After a while it goes into a dumpster...
You screw up - you end up at ground zero.
In the military screwing up often leaves you at MINUS ZERO, since many join to get out of where they were...
(They WILL drop you off where you joined up at)
You need to hand on the keys and phone to a higher up.
Unless you REALLY want to become tied up in it.
You're a MENTOR, not an exec. Let the policy makers become liable.
After a while it goes into a dumpster...
You screw up - you end up at ground zero.
In the military screwing up often leaves you at MINUS ZERO, since many join to get out of where they were...
(They WILL drop you off where you joined up at)
You need to hand on the keys and phone to a higher up.
Unless you REALLY want to become tied up in it.
You're a MENTOR, not an exec. Let the policy makers become liable.
Last edited by Greywolf; Mar 29, 2006 at 08:22 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Wichita KS.
Since it is most likely that he won't be able to bond out (the probation office probably has him on an arrest and detain = no bail or bail hearing for that matter), he can't come get his stuff. If the company has any ethics, they will contact his family or hold the stuff untill someone with a signed letter comes to claim it. Using someones personal property without their permission is just the same as theft in my book. I am the General Manager in a hotel and I would never let something like that happen where I work. If the rumor about using the guys tools is true, then that says loads about the management and I would start looking for another job right now. You never know how they will treat you if something bad happens to you.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 14
From: Travelers Rest SC
It's true- he can't post bail, so he may be out of circulation for a year or more. As for the people who own my company, it's in the process of being sold, and it can't happen soon enough. They all thought it was pretty funny when he was arrested. As for the quality of the police work, they sent 4 cop cars! They said we could bring him to the front when they arrived. Instead, they walked in without talking to anybody, put him in cuffs and took him away. His personal effects were about 10 feet away at the time. He was arrested by the local county, then transported over to the county where he violated, about 30 miles away. His family isn't much to write home about, either. I suppose I could find out who his attorney is through his family, and leave it in his hands. How sad that a young man is throwing his life away to get high.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
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From: Blue Hill Township
Its too bad that some people choose to throw their lives away like that, but that choice comes with the personal freedom that we have.
Last edited by MisterCMK; Mar 30, 2006 at 04:37 PM.