Although I agree with East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert's warning to MSU students, "Student kidnapping should be warning" (SN 1/12), I find his comments are potentially damaging to the defense of the suspect.

As I understand U.S. law, suspects are innocent until proven guilty. Wibert demonstrated his ignorance of this code by stating "the suspect will go back to jail."

Although I am in no way defending the alleged actions of the suspect, it is apparent that Wibert's approach to enforcing the law is that an individual is guilty until proven innocent.

Perhaps a better warning for MSU students would be to watch out for the East Lansing Police Department and always walk in groups so you have witnesses to the numerous abuses carried out by the police.

Kevin Lappe
Spanish and economics sophomore