Stumble It!
DA: Doug Burns Case to be Dismissed!!
Looks like we have a victory, Folks!
I just got off the phone with Asst. DA Morley Pitt, and he has confirmed what Vivian reported early this am: Doug Burns’ case is to be dismissed this morning!!
Queried on why, Mr. Pitt states, “We have conducted further investigation and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute the case against Mr. Burns.”
Provided the dismissal goes smoothly, what an excellent testiment to the Power of the Community. THANK YOU all for your passionate advocacy here.
Our best wishes to Doug and his family!!
ROCK ON!!! God bless you for what you do, shedding light on things like this.
Posted by: Manny Hernandez | May 30th, 2007 at 9:26 amThis is great news! Thanks for fighting the good fight.
Posted by: Khurt Williams | May 30th, 2007 at 10:09 amThat is great news!!! I really would like to know how many voice mails they got. Amy-thank you for providing the info for us to call so that we could help Doug out.
Dave
Posted by: Dave | May 30th, 2007 at 10:17 amThank you very much Amy for your hard work on this case and keeping us posted. This is definately a victory for diabetics everywhere!
Posted by: Andy Bell | May 30th, 2007 at 10:18 amCongrat’s Doug! I’m sorry you had to go through all of this nonsense. Let’s hope that the police learn something from it. Thanks Amy for keeping us well-informed.
Posted by: Anne | May 30th, 2007 at 10:20 amExcellent. Thanks Amy for getting the ball rolling on this.
I get the impression that the press has not been giving us the full story (from both the DA’s and Doug’s point of view). But it’s good that it’s being dismissed.
Posted by: Bernard Farrell | May 30th, 2007 at 10:29 amThank you for the update, and for the excellent news!
Posted by: Drea | May 30th, 2007 at 10:54 amAbout time! It’s funny to think that people like us actually might have made a difference not only for Doug, but also Type 1 diabetics everywhere.
While I know there will still be major ignorance in the world, if even one diabetic can be saved due to this, there is hope.
Amy, you rock for bringing this to our attention, and following through. Big congrats to everyone who called, and also to everyone who posted their thoughts and comments here. I hope the DA checked out Amy’s site.
Doug, I am *so* sorry you had to go through that. All of us were truly horrified and terrified it may happen to us. Perhaps your ordeal may save a hypo Type 1 teen from being arrested and hauled off to jail for “being drunk” in public.
We need to protect people when they’re most vulnerable, not deny them help.
Posted by: Sarah | May 30th, 2007 at 11:27 amHIP HIP HOORAY! Good for Doug (and the rest of us)!
Posted by: Tesney | May 30th, 2007 at 11:27 amAwesome! Calling was on my “to do” list today, but I’m happy that it’s no longer necessary. Thanks to everyone who did.
Posted by: carol | May 30th, 2007 at 11:34 amI left messages for both of them last night. Awesome that this working out the way it is. Terrible that this happened this way to start with - best to Doug and his family!
Posted by: Nicole | May 30th, 2007 at 11:43 amStick it to the man!
Posted by: Red Spar | May 30th, 2007 at 12:20 pmGood work everyone!
Hello Everyone, I am the attorney who helped convince the D.A. to dismiss these absurd charges. I must say I am quite impressed with all of you and your community and how much your vocal support helped us. Thank you Amy and everyone else. I learned quite a bit about the important health and safety issues your community lives with every day. We are business lawyers not criminal lawyers, but we were so impressed by Doug, his pro bono work with children with diabetes and your community, and also troubled by the manner in which law enforcement handled this (until today, that is), that we offered to take Doug’s case pro bono. And now we’re seeing an amazing community in action and it’s been a great experience.
Thank you for all the support — it was a tremendous help.
Micah Jacobs
Posted by: Micah Jacobs | May 30th, 2007 at 4:01 pmhttp://www.jacobsferraro.com
YAY!
Insufficient evidence? Should have been “no case to answer” to my mind but at least it’s gone now. It must be a great weight off Mr. Burns’ mind.
Posted by: Simon | May 30th, 2007 at 6:03 pmYayyyyyy!! No wonder they didn’t return my call
They probably dismissed the case as soon as Amy put them **ON NOTICE** 
Posted by: Allie Beatty | May 30th, 2007 at 7:04 pmWay to make it happen, Amy!
YAY!! What great news to wake up to!
I love the way this story came out and instantly got Doug such amazing support. I’m fairly new to the blogging community but have loved seeing how people get together for support when someone needs it. You’re all so darned wonderful!
Doug, as much as this whole thing would’ve totally sucked for you… I’m kinda glad it helped to bring hypo issues out in the open a little. Sorry you had to go through all that, but again you’ve been a great example and probably led the way for others who may go through a similar situation. Thank you for dealing with all the fuss in such a great manner! And thank you for all you do daily, you’re truly a great example as a fit & able diabetic. Someone to look up to and someone to learn from.
Micah - Thanks for your part in this, what a ride it must’ve been, and a learning curve too by the sounds of it!
Once again, YAY!!!!!
Posted by: M | May 30th, 2007 at 8:03 pmMicah,
Thanks for posting your comments, and for doing pro bono work for Doug (and basically the rest of us, indirectly). As you can tell, we were all pretty much furious and dumb-founded by the whole situation. I am glad that Doug can get back to his life now, and that the DA realized his mistake before dragging Doug along any further.
Best wishes,
Posted by: Anne | May 30th, 2007 at 9:27 pmAnne
I am new to the diabetes community and I am impressed by what an informed and active community it is!
Thank you, Doug, for bearing this burden with such grace. Micah, I second the notion that you represented all of us.
Now, if only the police department would issue a public apology and tell us they learned something from this episode …
Posted by: Lauren | May 31st, 2007 at 7:27 pmThank you very much….Allie, Andy, Amy
, Anne, Bernard, Carol, Dave, Drea, Khurt, Lauren, Manny, BM- Big Micah, Nicole, Red Spar, Sarah, Simon, and Vivian too! Thank you for the support, the encouragement, the compliments, and the understanding. One of you stated so correctly that this brings light to the low BS issue that we all have to deal with. All of us with T-1 know the hardship it can create but it’s people like you who, instead of complaining, step up and over the hardships that face us. This so strongly encourages other people not just with T-1 but with other adversities as well. Your perseverance shines like a light to people who sometimes can’t express their difficulties. Honestly it was all the support from people like you and the little kids that let Micah and I stand up to the incredible rubbish that was being slung at me and at p/w/T1. It was an honor to do so. Will keep you posted on the details as they come out.
If you’re coming to the CWD conference in Orlando or DESA in Colorado, please stop by and say “hi”.
Posted by: Doug Burns | June 4th, 2007 at 2:03 pmThank you again so very much
Doug
Type 1 vs Type 2 - just a note for those type 1’s who think type 2’s don’t also sometimes suffer from hypoglycemia - depending on the medication, us type 2’s can also go hypo - and yes, it does the same thing to us. And quite a few type 2’s do eventually end up on glucose, so it’s not really an exclusive club. Granted, there are newer medications for type 2’s that lessen or eliminate the frequency/likelihood of going hypo, but when it happens, we get the same sweats, rapid breathing, disorientation, etc. that type 1’s get. Getting the public educated about diabetes is the real issue here! Doug, congratulations! Maybe the momentum gained here can become something even greater and help people to recognize diabetes for what it is - a malfunction of the body that manifests itself in the way we metabolize glucose and that can can cause life threatening conditions, no matter what your type.
Posted by: Richard | March 1st, 2008 at 12:09 am