In January 2022, former Arizona Corrections Director was arrested after a 3½-hour standoff with police at his home in Tempe.
Today’s quiz is based on police reporting about that standoff. Below is a list of sentences from the report. (Note that this is NOT the complete report.)
One sentence needs to be rewritten to meet the requirements for an effective report. Which one is it? The answer is below.
- Ryan’s hand wound was caused by a pellet from a beanbag that police fired at Ryan.
- Ryan had a blood-alcohol level of 0.105, above the 0.08 legal standard for intoxication.
- Ryan’s wife, Kathleen Ryan, told police Charles Ryan had consumed “half of a large bottle of tequila” on the day of the standoff.
- While being given clear and concise commands, Ryan seemed extremely dazed and confused and appeared to not know what was going on.
- Ryan’s wife asked him, ‘Did you just shoot yourself?’ Ryan stood in front of the bathroom mirror and did not respond.
- Police confiscated 16 pistols and shotguns in the home.
ANSWER
This sentence is an opinion, but police reports need to stick to facts: While being given clear and concise commands, Ryan seemed extremely dazed and confused and appeared to not know what was going on.
There are many reasons why someone might not respond to police commands: hearing problems, anxiety, distractions. What specifically did the officer see and hear that indicated that Ryan was “dazed and confused”? Were his pupils dilated? His eyes out of focus? Closed? Did he mumble something? Keep asking for the questions to be repeated?
Here’s something from the report that does indicate that Ryan was “dazed and confused”: “Ryan’s wife asked him, ‘Did you just shoot yourself?’ Ryan stood in front of the bathroom mirror and did not respond.” That’s good writing!
How did you do?
