On Beloit pastor convicted of obstructing after trial

Posted on May 2 at 12:17 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

I am the spouse of Pastor Fogderud. I want to thank JozeMozes for your sticking up for my husband. My husband has contributed to the Stateline area as a listening ear for those in need. My husband has great respect for the police, he has worked with many in the past and also was a police chaplain for 11 years.
What happened in Janesville was an unfortunate misunderstanding. My husband in trying to assist a gentlemen and tend to his needs as a Diabetic has paid a heavy price. Dave is a very friendly outgoing individual to every age group with teenage grandchildren and is used to speaking to youth. He had no evil intent, was in a tiny two passenger Toyota pick up with bucket seats, filled with furniture in the back when he spoke to the teenagers. My husband was told after going through the drive through to go around to the the other side to wait for his fish sandwiches. He saw the boys skateboarding. He called to them, they walked away. The truck was parked in front of plate glass windows. There were no bushes tall enough or thick enough to hide in, I took pictures. Janesville has had a rash of predators in the past few years. I believe Dave got caught in the aftermath of this. Janesville police are very vigilant, I am sure that influenced the officer in the manner in which he stopped my husband. They are highly trained, very automatic in their responses which can be a benefit and yet a detriment. My husband did not vilify the police, he merely complained that he felt that they were overly agreesive, He has a right to do that. When stopped he did not know that anyone called in a 911 call. He did identify himself to the 1st officer as Pastor Dave taking someone to detox....the officer did not ask for his driver's license. Dave thought it was a traffic stop. The other 2 officers arrived at the scene a few minutes after the stop...they never saw the initial contact. I know my husband, I have taught abuse issues in a school district as a nurse in the past, I know what to look for, know human nature. I also know that teenagers do not always tell the whole truth. Ask any teacher or principal in the school system.
I do not understand why people do not look at the whole picture, but would rather believe the worst.
I am concerned that in this age of fear, of Nancy Grace and other TV watch dogs, that we now assume guilt. Those on the jury would have difficulty relating to what my husband has done for the past 35 years and the sacrifices that he has made. Perhaps he did not act wisely, as he is very naive, but that does not make him a criminal.