Michigan man accused of ramming car into women's clinic in Iowa

[IChing]

9/12/2006, 11:21 a.m. ET
The Associated Press
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of ramming his car into a women's clinic and then setting his car on fire thought it was an abortion clinic, police said Tuesday.

"He was using his car to torch the building," Davenport police Detective Mike Bowers said.

David Robert McMenemy, 45, of Sterling Heights, Mich., is charged with second-degree arson. He's accused of driving his car into the Edgerton Women's Health Center about 4:30 a.m. on Monday.The center does not perform abortions and does not provide abortion referrals, said Tom Fedje, the president of the clinic. He said the clinic does advise pregnant women on the various options available to them. Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa is monitoring the incident, spokeswoman Kathi Di Nicola said.

"He drove into the clinic and set his car on fire using an accelerant. He knew what he was doing. He planned it. It wasn't an accident," Bowers said.

Bowers said McMenemy has no ties to the Davenport area and has been driving around the Midwest since August.

"He has admitted looking them (abortion clinics) up in phone books and online," Bowers said. "I have no idea why Iowa.">>>>snip

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-37/1158074946243690.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

[Renew Deal]

1. Another right wing terrorist.

Off to Gitmo with him!

[IChing]

3. If this is not a terrorist I don't know what is? $500 fine?

2nd degree arson and that is it? This from the code in Iowa:

712.3 Arson in the second degree.

Arson which is not arson in the first degree is arson in the second degree when the property which the defendant intends to destroy or damage, or which the defendant knowingly endangers, is a building or a structure, or real property of any kind, or standing crops, or is personal property the value of which exceeds five hundred dollars. Arson in the second degree is a class "C" felony.

http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/1999SUPPLEMENT/712/3.html

[rsdsharp]

19. The section you quote has nothing to do with punishment.

A class C felony in Iowa is punishable by imprisonment of not more than 10 years and a fine between $1000 and $10,000.

Iowa Code section 902.9(4) (2005).

[Tigress DEM]

22. If the building's value were less than $500... then that would be 2nd

It must be a plea bargain of some sort.


2nd degree arson would be a lesser offence than $20,000.00 worth of damage.


Someone torching a free standing newspaper box maybe.

Setting fire to an old metal dumpster that wasn't closely adjacent to a building.

A kid playing with matches and setting a vacant lot on fire.

[onenote]

31. the value of the building has nothing to do with it

A building is not personal property. In Iowa any arson involving a building or structure or real property of any kind is deemed Arson in the Second degree. Arson in the first degree occurs when a firefighter is killed fighting the fire or if the presence of one or more persons can be reasonably anticipated in or near the property which is the subject of the arson. Presumably this latter provision doesn't apply because he tried to set the building on fire at 4:30 in the morning.

[Tigress DEM]

47. Ah, so 2nd degree arson is more like 2nd degree murder ---

in that it is degree of intent to cause bodily harm that is being assessed.

It is still very serious charge then, and unlike the difference between a petty misdemenor and a felony where one is looked at as barely a crime and the other as a life and death matter.

Maybe it plays out more like a gross misdemeanor where the penalties are assessed case by case according to the factors involved.

[libhill]

8. If he's a right wing terrorist

it's ok, don't ya know- probably give him a medal..

[Tigress DEM]

23. Sigh, I was too depressed to type that.. but I thought it. nt

[damntexdem]

25. Rightwing terrorist or insane person?

What's the difference? Insanity can sometimes be cured.

[warrens]

28. Right wingers are freedom fighters, not terrorists

Unless they're the Taliban or other nutcase Ay-rab group. Gotta get your terminology in line, pal. Or off to Gitmo with you.

[Canuckistanian]

38. Even animal activists get charged under terrorism laws:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2506994&mesg_id=2506994

[jpak]

2. No terra attacks since 9/11

and none here, by ChimpCo standards...

[rpannier]

4. Here's a note to add

The Women Infant Children program, a government-run program that provides nutritious foods for low-income women, infants and children, is run out of the health center. About 4,300 Scott County WIC clients receive checks for food products each month. They can continue to receive those at the Friendly House, at 1221 Myrtle St. in Davenport.

So...did the guy think the clinic was providing abortions or does he hate places that help underpriviledged mothers?

Either way...I'll go out on a limb and say he's a nutbag member of the American Taliban and probably a scrub supporter.

[jwirr]

5. 2nd degree arson? Why not terrorism?

[rpannier]

6. Here's one for the ages IChing

From a poster at QConline

Let me set the record straight as a pro-lifer. This is not funny at all. A clinic is not a clinic to us. And I don't see anything in this article that says the man was pro-life. It only said that his beliefs led him to do this, so maybe he was pro-choice and angry that this clinic did not do abortions. Think of that? No, because you're too narrow-minded to think of anything else.


Gotta love it. "Maybe he's pro-choice and angry the clinic didn't do abortions...."

My two cents: Maybe he was chasing martians who had babies at the clinic. It's just as likely as him being pro-choice.

Link:
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=305412

Loon for Mindy from East Moline

on edit: This one is hysterical

You know, I think we all fondly remember those Bible tales from our youth, when Jesus set fire to a chariot and drove it into the pagan temple.

[IChing]

9. I don't know what to say. Violence is violence

I'm really not trying to have an agenda, I am only reporting what is on my news feeds.
If you want to read a real odd story read this one!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006420225,00.html

[rpannier]

13. Bizarre

Thanks for the link.
People are really strange.

[IChing]

14. That news story would never make it on DU's LBN

It would get cut off

:evilgrin: :spank: :rofl: :rofl:

[Tigress DEM]

26. Why do you say that?

And SHOULD it? On one hand, yeah, it's good for people to know how out of control these people are getting. At the same time, why give them their 15 minutes of fame in LBN?

I mean, shouldn't it be more of a "News of the Weird" type thing? Maybe we could make a request for "Bizzare Things Rethugs Do" forum.

[IChing]

27. Follow the thread it was about this other story I found

Not this one

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006420225,00.html

[Tigress DEM]

29. Geeze. Now I get it. Cut off. Is my face red?!

:blush:

:dunce:

:shrug:

[Tigress DEM]

24. To be fair... a lot of pro-lifers don't go and torch clinics.

But to be honest... pro choice people haven't been widely known to "look up abortion clinics" and drive their cars there to hassel pregnant women or maim doctors or destroy the property "because of their beliefs".

I think people who are really pro-life and aren't drinking the koolaid understand that this kind of behavior makes their whole message smell like a sewer.

Pro-lifers drinking the koolaid are listening to the voices inside their heads that justify their hatred of those who demand a life based on freedom of choice. So they have to not view "clinics" as "clinics" because then that changes everything for them.

Just like viewing blacks as property and not real people made slavery possible. The only way a pro-lifer can kill or be violently destructive in good concience is to lose their moral compass and/or mind.

[rpannier]

35. I will agree

99% of pro-lifers are not nut jobs. They honestly believe in what they say and they'd never endanger another person like that.

But, to throw out the idea that it could have been someone in the pro-choice movement who ran their car into the building because they weren't doing abortions is just ridiculous.

[Tigress DEM]

46. Yeah, the inability to conceptualize the difference in mindset shows

in the person's post.

As a pro-choice person who worries occassionally about being pushed off the deep end by the growing insanity around me these days, I know my mindset would not go anywhere near a clinic of any type. People healing others and helping women to make very difficult decisions are not MY enemies.

People who lie through their teeth daily. People who drag my country through the bloody mud of an unjust war and then act as if my questioning it is the problem...

Yeah, sometimes I wonder when I will wind up quitting my job and become a full time protester just to appease my guilt for not doing more. That is my idea of crazy since there are people who rely on me to bring home money to support the family.


I wonder if that pro-life person was aiming at the idea that anyone who would drive a car into a building is a nut job and therefore COULD be any flavor nut job?

[Triana]

7. Another member of the American Taliban terrorists...

...why isn't George going after THESE terrorists?

[AX10]

10. This is an act of terrorism.

[IChing]

11. WELL VOTE IT UP N/T

[bluestateguy]

12. Well Dick DeVos just lost another voter

cuz this guy is going to jail.

[StaggerLee]

20. Yep!

n/t

[knitter4democracy]

42. Thank goodness.

I'm already sick of the DeVos signs on my street. I'm thinking of making a huge Granholm sign.

[Lindacooks]

15. Gee. How 'pro life' of him.

NOT.

:sarcasm:

[PurityOfEssence]

16. Violent and incorrect: tradition itself

The beat goes on.

Hatred and stupidity trudge on hand-in-hand; their only kindred spirit is violence.

[ck4829]

17. A RW Terrorist who can't even get his targets right

What an idiot.

:dunce:

The Path to 9/11

[izzybeans]

18. Too stupid to build a car bomb, I suppose. If he was a muslim we would

be charged with terrorism

[meegbear]

21. TERRORISM!!

Oh wait, he thought he was going to destroy an abortion clinic.

PATRIOT!! :sarcasm:

[robinlynne]

30. arson/ attempted mass murder sounds more like it....

[onenote]

32. the problem with charging him with attempted murder

is that he rammed the building at 4:30 am when it presumably was empty. That's probably why he was charged with second degree arson. Personally, I wish there was a way to charge him with an even more serious offense, but if he gets locked up for 10 years, that would be okay.

[IChing]

33. The guy that burned down my condo got 1 year probation

He was under parole and had a loaded shotgun when they arrested him.

[libhill]

34. Probably,

jus' a good ol' boy, just ah havin' some fun, didn't mean no harm no ways. Not like them libral commnists and them Arab Eyeraqeyes what done did 911. Man has a right to pack a shootin' iron, ain't no call to throw the book at the boy an' take his weapon away, just fer burnin' down some buildin'.

[IChing]

36. No his dad and brother were cops

The arsonist sold crack and the judge that sentenced him was republican.

[libhill]

37. That figures -

good ol' boy club at work.

[Anakin Skywalker]

39. He Was Just Doing His Godly Duty!

Probably a PhD candidate from Boob Jones University.

[leesa]

40. I certainly hope DHS will be responding. Are they done arresting

journalists for photographing New Orleans?

[tanyev]

41. He just pissed off a lot of women in that area.

It can take weeks to get an appointment with a busy OB/GYN.


Guess we should shut 'em all down! Wimmenfolk don't need no doctors! Let 'em get pregnant and chaw on some rawhide when the baby pops out!



:grr:

[libhill]

48. Durn tootin'

Wimmin tain't got no call to act like they's got control over their own bodies, or have a right to health care. Keep them gals barfoot n' pregnant, at the stove ah cookin'. Tain't that in the Bible somewheres?

[knitter4democracy]

43. How is this not a car bombing?

I mean, isn't this awfully similar to the news out of Iraq and the Middle East? Someone rams a car into a building or fence near a building and makes it explode?

Wouldn't that make him a terrorist? Or would he just be an insurgent?

[MountainLaurel]

49. Excellent point.

If I decided to ram my Sentra into Dick Cheney's house on my way home from the dog park, I'd been in Gitmo so fast the earth would start rotating in the other direction.

[NMMNG]

44. When will this be put to a stop?

When will it no longer be acceptable for people to commit heinous acts on account of their "deeply held beliefs"?

[pitohui]

45. a terrorist, try him as such

women are people too, try the SOB for the terror he caused to PREGNANT women, christ, how do they sleep?

if they can't get him on terrorizing the women, crap, get him for terrorizing the gee-dee unborn fetuses

can you tell i'm only a little bitter?

[Megahurtz]

50. So are they going to charge HIM under Terrorist Law

just like they did those Animal Rights Activists?:eyes:

[Cerridwen]

51. 2/28/06 - High Court Overturns Injunction that Curbed Clinic Violence

www.now.org/nnt/summer-2006/scheidler.html

A legal fight that spanned 20 years ended on Feb. 28, 2006, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in NOW v. Scheidler that a federal racketeering law could not be used against those who organized violence aimed at closing women's health clinics.

<snip>

Not surprisingly, shortly after the Court reversed NOW's injunction, Operation Rescue (now called Operation Save America) announced their first clinic assault in many years—a week-long blitz in July, targeted at the lone remaining clinic in Mississippi. And, of course, NOW will be there.

Well, get ready for it. It's about to come back into "style" again.