Think You Had A Bad Day? Abilene Hero Behind Bars.

SlowwHand · April 29, 2003, 09:11

ABILENE, Texas, 8:02 a.m. CDT April 29, 2003 - From jail, Chris Leija, 22, says he wants everyone to remember him for the good he did and not the bad in his past.

At 3 a.m. Sunday morning, an Abilene apartment building erupted in flames.
"I just thought, 'Let me see if I can do anything to help,'" Leija said.

He ran straight into the fire and returned with a child. Emergency crews couldn't stop him.

"I turned back and I heard the police officers and firefighters telling me, 'Don't go back, come back.' But I had to get two more kids that I left in there."

And he did. The story was broadcast nationwide, but among those watching was a sheriff's deputy who knew Leija was a wanted man. He was on four-years probation for a burglary last year and he failed to meet his parole officer last month.

"I learned my mistakes for what I did and that ain't me," Leija said. "I just want the community to look at me as a good person for what I did." The sheriff's lieutenant responsible for his arrest says Leija is still a hero, but he needs to be more responsible in his personal life.

Arrian · April 29, 2003, 09:13

That's a *****, isn't it? I heard about that on NPR on the way to work this morning.

-Arrian

SlowwHand · April 29, 2003, 09:21

I was really curious who, if any, had heard this.
I know, he was supposed to meet for appointment.
Still, handcuffing and taking to jail...seems a little unappreciative, all things considered.

Inverse Icarus · April 29, 2003, 09:23

you cant go around beanding the laws though, even where it seems justified.

SlowwHand · April 29, 2003, 09:35

I'm just saying
1) the guy had a bad day, and also
2) that other options were available besides handcuffing and taking into custody.

And SOME people call ME ultra-conservative?

Inverse Icarus · April 29, 2003, 09:37

it says he missed his parole last month, it's not like saving the kids made him miss it.

rah · April 29, 2003, 09:45

I'm sure they'll cut him some slack if he agrees to stick to the program in the future.

Inverse Icarus · April 29, 2003, 09:48

what did he do anyway? he could be a child rapist for all you know, and wanted to save the fresh ones.

chequita guevara · April 29, 2003, 09:51

Yeah, the parole officer isn't going to want to be seen as the guy who sent a hero to prison.

rah · April 29, 2003, 09:53

Quote:

Originally posted by UberKruX
what did he do anyway? he could be a child rapist for all you know, and wanted to save the fresh ones.

Yeah, he saved them just so he could molest them in front of all the fire men and police. His original charge was burglary. A bit of a stretch to child molester.

RAH

SlowwHand · April 29, 2003, 09:57

Quote:

Originally posted by UberKruX
what did he do anyway? he could be a child rapist for all you know, and wanted to save the fresh ones.

Burglary, like the article said.

Agathon · April 29, 2003, 09:59

Quote:

Originally posted by UberKruX
what did he do anyway? he could be a child rapist for all you know, and wanted to save the fresh ones.

That's about the worst thing I've ever heard anyone say on this forum.

Demerzel · April 29, 2003, 09:59

heheh ubercrux wins the stupidest statement of the week award.

bit of a dilemma for the authorities, yes he's a hero but he did break his probation. handcuffing does seem a little OTT tho'.

Agathon · April 29, 2003, 10:01

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowwHand

Burglary, like the article said.

Here's a true funny. A newspaper once printed this retraction:

"We would like to correct a mistake in Tuesday's Court pages of the ****. Mr *** ***** of ******* was in fact convicted of burglary, not buggery as previously stated."

Man, that poor guy....

SlowwHand · April 29, 2003, 10:47

I was born in Abilene.

Abilene. Abilene.
Prettiest town, that I've ever seen.
People there don't treat you mean,
in Abilene, my Abilene.

Abilene, even though they bust heroes

, is much more "Texas" than Dallas.

TCO · April 29, 2003, 12:02

The guy is probably just kind of a wild spirit.

Japher · April 29, 2003, 12:09

Quote:

heheh ubercrux wins the stupidest statement of the week award.

the week ain't over... yet

Inverse Icarus · April 29, 2003, 13:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Demerzel
heheh ubercrux wins the stupidest statement of the week award.

i have so many of those trophies, that now i just get certificates

Winston · April 29, 2003, 16:08

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I was born in Abilene.

Abilene. Abilene.
Prettiest town, that I've ever seen.
People there don't treat you mean,
in Abilene, my Abilene.

Abilene, even though they bust heroes

, is much more "Texas" than Dallas.

A guy from Abilene walked from Fort Worth to Istanbul in the 1930's - backwards!

Only in Abilene, eh?

SlowwHand · April 29, 2003, 16:15

Not bad. 70 years later and a Dane is talking about him.

DinoDoc · April 29, 2003, 19:45

Quote:

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Yeah, the parole officer isn't going to want to be seen as the guy who sent a hero to prison.

And that means that he should get a slap on the wrist for not following the conditions of his parole?

Berzerker · April 29, 2003, 20:38

Burglary is nothing to sneeze at, but if he did his time and they arrested him for a parole violation, then they do have a problem with common sense. But that's the nature of the beast - by the book doesn't always work. Parole should be done away with, and most parole violations are over ridiculous things like missing appointments, etc...

Berzerker · April 29, 2003, 20:42

Dinodoc -

Quote:

And that means that he should get a slap on the wrist for not following the conditions of his parole?

With all due respect, yes, the purpose of parole is to keep track of a criminal to see that they've changed their ways. What better proof does anyone need to see this guy has turned over a new leaf?

HolyWarrior · April 30, 2003, 01:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Agathon

Here's a true funny. A newspaper once printed this retraction:

"We would like to correct a mistake in Tuesday's Court pages of the ****. Mr *** ***** of ******* was in fact convicted of burglary, not buggery as previously stated."

Man, that poor guy....

That has to be the worst typo ever...

DinoDoc · April 30, 2003, 01:09

Quote:

Originally posted by Berzerker
What better proof does anyone need to see this guy has turned over a new leaf?

How does the fact that he was violating the law prove that he is turning over a new leaf?

The Mad Monk · April 30, 2003, 01:15

Doc...what can I say? Let's give the guy a break.

Gatekeeper · April 30, 2003, 03:04

That'll teach him not to run into burning buildings to save the lives of children!

Gatekeeper

Nubclear · April 30, 2003, 04:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Berzerker
Burglary is nothing to sneeze at, but if he did his time and they arrested him for a parole violation, then they do have a problem with common sense. But that's the nature of the beast - by the book doesn't always work. Parole should be done away with, and most parole violations are over ridiculous things like missing appointments, etc...

Yeah. We need to get out of the "letter of the law" mode and go into "spirit of the law".

Whether it be a Canadian on a saleboat who accidently got into the US border, or a burgler who saved 3 lives............

Straybow · May 1, 2003, 04:57

"No good deed goes unpunished."

I think that was Twain or GBS Or Wilde

Anyhoo, Texas parole boards are notoriously strict. This guy is going back to prison.

Berzerker · May 1, 2003, 05:02

Dinodoc -

Quote:

How does the fact that he was violating the law prove that he is turning over a new leaf?

Geez, Dino, we were talking about a guy who violated a law at one stage of his life, then risked his own life to save others while on probation. I'd say the second act might be the proof we need that he has reformed. But now it appears he may have set the fire so he could play the hero. That's the latest scuttlebutt anyways, he's now an arson suspect.