A college student who was allegedly “gay bashed” on the campus of Hope College last week was asked by Holland Police to take a lie detector test.It is alleged that Jason Burns was grabbed, punched, and called slurs outside the library.
"Hey look! There's the faggot that speaks in classes," recalls Burns of the incident.
Burns says he was able to break free and run for his car after being punched a number of times.
"They didn't chase me, but said, 'Yeah. Go ahead and run fag...we'll get you anyways," Burns told 24 Hour News 8.
Burns, a Hope College senior, speaks about homophobia and hate crimes on campus. He decided to go to police after speaking with a Dean and a number of professors. Police have now asked him to take a lie detector test. He initially agreed, but was later advised not to do so.
"I was kinda offended," says Burns of being asked to take a polygraph.
"It suggests they (police) don't believe the persons story," says noted defense attorney Chris Yates of Willey Chamberlain and Yates LLP.
"If you analogize this to rape, for example; if you confront individuals on the front end of investigations, people may not come forward with such allegations," Yates told us.
24 Hour News 8 learned it is actually a crime - a misdemeanor - for a “law enforcement officer” to ask an alleged victim of a sex crime to take a polygraph. But there is no law or rule when it comes to alleged hate crimes.
"If they can discredit you, then they're gonna do so," says Burns.
Burns will graduate with a double major in a few days, and he plans to continue to lecture about hate crimes - something he now has firsthand knowledge of.
Holland Police would not talk to 24 Hour News 8 on camera, but said in a statement:
"It's not a common procedure to ask a victim for a polygraph. We are working on this case assuming the allegations made in this case are true."
Burns said his main focus right now is “graduating from school.”
from WOOD-TV
True or not true, I recon this guy (assuming he's gay) is a bit frightened of electronics. What wrong could a polygraph do? Besides that, it is a bad way to find out if someone is telling the tuth. Taking too many cups ah coffee can turn you into a liar, even though you're speaking the truth.
ReplyDeleteHe is cute though, you don't happen to have an e-mail adress or phone number of him?... ;)
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What wrong could a polygraph do?
ReplyDeleteNot even related to Jason, polygraph tests are only like 50% effective; there’s a reason they’re not allowed to be used in a court of law!
I was offended that they'd suggest such a thing of Jason anyway, which they did because they found it too "convenient" that it happened a week before the rally. The timeline doesn't work out so that he would have made it up. FHis attack preceded any thoughts of a rally. The homophobic nature of both John Hanson's being denied tenure and Jason's attack gave me the idea for the rally actually. So yeah, ugh, this whole thing is very frustrating.
Perhaps mr/mrs Anonymous missed my point, polygraphs are not accurate. As I said too much coffee can turn you into a liar. Besides, justice can figure this out for you, can't it?
ReplyDeleteI want to post a comment.I`m really angry.EVERYTIME I TRY TO REGISTER AT blogger.com and at www.feedblitz.com I face utmost difficulties.I`m sure about the password and it does not work.I gave in,I `ll join another site.Some BASTARDS Want TO GAG OUR SPEECH IN THE NAME OF F......G FAKe DEMOCRACY.
ReplyDelete