Flatbush Life: The Vanishing Husband and the 71st Precinct

Fox 5's John Deutzman investigative report on the arrest of a young husband for a "quality of life" crime -- riding a bike on the sidewalk-- and his subsequent jailing when he could not provide i.d. (He had left his wallet at home, and in order to receive a summons, you must have valid I.D. His cell phone was dead. He had trouble reaching his wife or family by phone; the police wouldn't help him make the necessary notification.) His frantic young wife, family, and friends were told they could not report an adult as a missing person in NYC--ever. When they were visited by NYPD from the the 71st precinct -- where he had been held-- ) no one recognized that this was the guy that had been arrested and had been held in their station. Officers from the Prospect Park station called the 71st precinct finally established that he had been arrested and was not dead. He was finally released after appearing before a judge and returned home to his relieved wife and family. Lesson #1: Your wallet/I.D. - don't leave home without it.

The News report here:
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/investigative/090520_The_Vanishing_Husband_and_the_NYPD

Fox Five Reporter John Deutzman's blog here -
http://community2.myfoxny.com/_The-Vanishing-Husband/blog/284458/6475.html