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Rustynaerduwell

(782 posts)
Sat Jan 17, 2026, 11:26 AM Jan 17

This may be a dumb question, but it's sincere and I'd like an answer. If I can have my neighbor arrested for punching me

in the face, and it's on video, why can't Renee Nicole Good's wife make a criminal complaint? Aren't many arrests the result of a citizen's complaint that a crime has been committed? When exactly can "do you want to press charges?" get asked of the victim?

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This may be a dumb question, but it's sincere and I'd like an answer. If I can have my neighbor arrested for punching me (Original Post) Rustynaerduwell Jan 17 OP
This message was self-deleted by its author Mosby Jan 17 #1
It is a good question - she can file a criminal complaint but remember walkingman Jan 17 #2
Generally, the police and other enforcement agencies decide whom to arrest unblock Jan 17 #3
Your neighbor should become a trump supporter Turbineguy Jan 17 #4

Response to Rustynaerduwell (Original post)

walkingman

(10,491 posts)
2. It is a good question - she can file a criminal complaint but remember
Sat Jan 17, 2026, 11:44 AM
Jan 17

the ICE agent is a Federal agent and that means it is up to the DOJ if charges are prosecuted. The Trump administration DOJ is basically just a arm of the POTUS. They have purged most of the prosecutors that base their decisions on law/order and have replaced them with loyalists. Even if they can find one the courts are likewise mostly loyalists even all the way to SCOTUS.

America is back to its origin - white supremacy.

unblock

(56,072 posts)
3. Generally, the police and other enforcement agencies decide whom to arrest
Sat Jan 17, 2026, 11:44 AM
Jan 17

and prosecutors decide whom to indict (subject to grand jury approval).

You can't directly have your neighbor arrested. All you can do is call the police make a formal statement. This alerts them to a possible crime and provides some initial testimony. Based on that, they *may* arrest your neighbor and a prosecutor *may* pursue the case.

But generally. It's not in the control of the victim or the witnesses.

In this case, they have plenty of evidence and are well aware of the case already. The decision to arrest, indict, and prosecute is more complicated than in the average shooting given that the killer is a federal agent and the fbi is involved and interfering with any state or local investigation and it has national attention and political implication and so on.

I certainly hope he will be charged at some point, but I expect they will make sure they have a very solid case before they act on it.

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