Crimebusters stymied
Charter says silence demanded by federal law

By Roger Bell
The Daily Herald Staff Writer
Published/Last Modified on Monday, November 9, 2009 9:10 AM EST

ROANOKE RAPIDS — A 74-year-old Charter Communications customer had his wallet stolen, allegedly by another customer, in the parking lot around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday evening, according to Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton.

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Police have not released the name of the victim, and Charter claims even though they know the name of the suspect, federal law prohibits them from telling the police.

According to Hinton, the victim was getting something out of his car.

Somehow during this, the gentleman’s wallet fell to the parking lot and he began searching for it. The suspect came out of the Charter office at 1025 Jackson St. and offered to help locate the wallet.

The victim says the supposed Samaritan located the wallet, picked it up and took it. The alleged thief then got into a blue-colored Ford Focus driven by an unidentified female. The victim called out to the woman, whose window was down, and shouted the man had taken his wallet. The driver allegedly responded by punching the gas and speeding off north on Jackson Street.

Officers responded to the call and went inside to get the name of the suspect from Charter employees, but they refused to give it. “One of the Charter employees stated they knew who the man was,” Hinton said. “But they refused to identify him.” Responding officers attempted to get the information from Charter supervisors and managers, but not only would they not reveal the name, they would not say why they would not provide the information.

“They did not justify it,” Hinton said. The chief says employees did not even suggest policy prohibited them from identifying a customer to police.

“If we could have just gotten a name we could have worked with that but the Charter employees were very uncooperative.” Charter’s side only complicates the matter further.

Charter Communications Government Relations Director Jim Corrin says the employees and managers at the office were only doing their jobs. According to Corrin, keeping such information from law enforcement, or from anyone else, goes well beyond policy.

“It’s not a Charter policy,” Corrin says. “It’s federal law. Federal privacy law prohibits us from providing any customer information. We don’t provide it because we like to stay in compliance with federal law.” Corrin says the law applies to everyone in the communications industry, not just to Charter. “Privacy law prohibits any cable operator from providing personally identifiable information — customer name, customer address, customer telephone number, etc.” Charter is still eager to assist in the investigation, says Corrin. “We are prepared to work with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department in any way we can short of breaking federal privacy law.” While local law enforcement and federal law are at loggerheads, the only person apparently getting away is the alleged criminal.

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Comments

mike wrote on Nov 24, 2009 6:57 PM:

" This does absolutely nothing except tell people that want to muggers, purse snatchers, robbers or whatever....do it in the charter parking lot. Even if they know you, they won't give up your Identity.
I think it has more to do with the person who knew the name of the criminals is one of those "I see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" that don't snitch attitude that has allowed crime to get so out of control.
Once that person had finished their business inside the store, and moved outside and committed a crime. They were no longer under the privacy law, and the people withholding the information should be arrested for obstructing justice. They should remain in jail until they give up names. "

MC wrote on Nov 19, 2009 12:26 PM:

" So, If a charter customer were to walk into the Charter office and rob the place then, by federal law, thay could not assist the police by giving them the name of the thief. "

Unbelievable wrote on Nov 17, 2009 6:57 PM:

" What if the man would of gotten hurt by the thief would that of been a Privacy issue also??? "

Can not believe this happened wrote on Nov 16, 2009 6:31 PM:

" Why can't the employee just call the crime Hotline and give the information..then no one will know who gave up this important information to catch this thief..if someone doesn't tell Charter may be next in his list to steel from since they can't tell on him!!!!!! "

Crystal J. wrote on Nov 15, 2009 11:10 PM:

" This is so unbelieveable...the governments own policy keeps this person from getting the justice he deserves. If God dont get back into this world...Lord help us all!!! "

Mimi wrote on Nov 11, 2009 10:00 PM:

" Pray tell, just what law prevents Charter from assisting in resolving this! "

karma wrote on Nov 10, 2009 8:29 AM:

" I have an idea!! How about someone go take one of the employees purse, cash, credit cards, hey just take her car. And all of us is going to be in the parking lot, "witness". But when we see it happening we just walk away! Leaving whoever clueless, and sad in the face!! "

mr. wow wrote on Nov 9, 2009 4:17 PM:

" Wow! Charter not only likes robbing its customers blind, they let others do it right in from of them as well. I guess criminal minds think alike. Way to go Charter! "

crime buster wrote on Nov 9, 2009 2:16 PM:

" Get a warrant! "

Watch Doggie wrote on Nov 9, 2009 11:30 AM:

" Thats Bolony,Federal Law is supposed to protect innocent consumers from Identity theft, and not to protect Criminals. Charter is carrying the law to its furthest stretch, in an attempt to avoid going to Court or get involved.I would like for someone to site this Federal Statute for me.A Crime commited in someones presence Supersedes any Privacy issues. This was in a Public setting, where there was no "Reasonable Expectation of Privacy."If the Police are fortunate enough to make this case, without Charters assistance,they should Subpoena the Charter Employees to Court anyway, and let them sit there until they Rot!Does this mean that if two people who just both happen to be customers of Charters, come inside their place of business, and one pulls out a gun and shoots and kills the other one in front of the employees,that the employees cannot identify the shooter because of privacy laws? What if a Customer comes into the Charter Office and commits a violent crime against a Charter employee? are they going to protect his Identity then? If not, then what is the difference between a Charter employee and an innocent third party who just happens to be a Charter Customer? Bolony!RRPD, they are just Jerking you around. "

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