George Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer who was acquitted in the fatal shooting of unarmed African-American teen Trayvon Martin earlier this year, is once again a free man after arrest on criminal charges.
Zimmerman was released from jail last Tuesday pending arraignment on the latest charges against him: Aggravated assault, battery and criminal mischief.
Zimmerman was released on the condition that he wear an electronic monitor, keep his distance from guns and stay from the girlfriend who accused him of trying to choke her and then a week later pointing a shotgun at her.
Judge Frederic Schott ordered Zimmerman to stay away from girlfriend Samantha Scheibe’s house, wear a monitoring device and refrain from contact with her.
Based on Zimmerman’s past and allegations made by Scheibe, the judge was right to forbid him from possessing guns or ammunition or traveling outside Florida.
If there is ever anyone who should be kept away from guns it would be Zimmerman.
Scheibe told investigators that she had asked Zimmerman to leave the residence following an argument. She said Zimmerman grew agitated and turned violent.
Schiebe said Zimmerman broke a table, started smashing and throwing things and, at one point, pointed a long-barreled shotgun at her and aimed it at her for about a minute.
Since he was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Martin, Zimmerman has had repeated encounters with law enforcement officials in Florida and elsewhere including traffic stops and a more serious encounter in September when police in Lake Mary, Fla., investigated a domestic dispute between Zimmerman and his estranged wife, Shellie Zimmerman. Zimmerman was not charged.
There were also allegations that after Zimmerman moved out; he left a bullet-riddled target tacked to a wall in the home owned by the parents of his now-ex-wife.
Zimmerman’s repeated encounters reveal a troubled personality who should at the very least be kept away from guns.
(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)
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