Montgomery County D.A. Risa Ferman is asking a question that’s probably on a lot of people’s minds.
What in God’s name was Reginald McNeill doing back on the street?
McNeill was the guy you saw sauntering back into custody in handcuffs in Abington, along the way offering an apology to his victim.
He had a lot to apologize for.
Police say the lifetime con assaulted and then abducted a 20-year-old woman as she walked to her car in the parking lot of the restaurant where she worked after she finished her shift around 1 a.m.
McNeill is alleged to have sprayed her with pepper mace and threatened her with a knife before jamming her into her car and taking off.
In this instance, the victim fought back. The 20-year-old managed to break free, even after McNeill slapped handcuffs on her. Police say they believe she could have been raped and murdered if she had not fought back.
But the even bigger question is why McNeill, with a history of violent offenses, was out on the street in the first place. He was charged back in June with a break-in at the Union League in Philadelphia. But that charge was dropped and McNeill was allowed to go free on bail.
He now likely will return to jail, where he spent three decades of his life.
He apparently didn’t learn his lesson.
And it seems we still have not learned our lesson in dealing with violent criminals, and the revolving door that too often stands for our justice system.
What in God’s name was Reginald McNeill doing back on the street?
McNeill was the guy you saw sauntering back into custody in handcuffs in Abington, along the way offering an apology to his victim.
He had a lot to apologize for.
Police say the lifetime con assaulted and then abducted a 20-year-old woman as she walked to her car in the parking lot of the restaurant where she worked after she finished her shift around 1 a.m.
McNeill is alleged to have sprayed her with pepper mace and threatened her with a knife before jamming her into her car and taking off.
In this instance, the victim fought back. The 20-year-old managed to break free, even after McNeill slapped handcuffs on her. Police say they believe she could have been raped and murdered if she had not fought back.
But the even bigger question is why McNeill, with a history of violent offenses, was out on the street in the first place. He was charged back in June with a break-in at the Union League in Philadelphia. But that charge was dropped and McNeill was allowed to go free on bail.
He now likely will return to jail, where he spent three decades of his life.
He apparently didn’t learn his lesson.
And it seems we still have not learned our lesson in dealing with violent criminals, and the revolving door that too often stands for our justice system.
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