So, the NYPD is now launching manhunts for fare evasion! Well, not really. Rhamar Perkins was in custody of the NYPD and somehow managed to flee the precinct. He was held for the theft of $2.75, but since he ran away after being in custody, he will now be in a lot more trouble.
Was it smart of him to escape from custody? Absolutely not. This act takes a very simple charge and makes it much more complicated. Also, given the racial disparities in the justice system, we can expect that the judge may impose a harsh sentence. It’s unlikely that there will be much sympathy or leniency in this case, regardless of his circumstances.
Should he have been able to escape, and should the NYPD have launched a manhunt for him? Probably not. It’s unlikely he was going to publicly announce that he escaped. Maybe they should have taken the loss and moved on. But the system often feels the need to respond with maximum force, especially when it involves a relatively small offense like fare evasion.
I think the NYPD should share some of the blame for allowing him to escape, charge him for the fare evasion, and move forward. He shouldn’t have escaped, but had they not allowed that to happen, the whole manhunt and situation could have been avoided. You can’t put all the blame on him, but the system often tries to.
Next came the massive manhunt—helicopters and all. They didn’t even find him; he turned himself in hours later. You have to give a person some credit in that case. The whole situation is pretty ridiculous, but at the end of the day, Rhamar will probably lose his freedom, and taxpayers will foot the bill for the manhunt and his extended stay in custody. So, who really loses here?
Just a life long New Yorker sharing the journey through my lens. Please take note of a post’s date. The views I express here are subject to change and evolving as I grow and learn.
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