As usual, there is a lot of noise emanating from the Simpsons' house, particularly as it is dinnertime and the Simpsons are rather noisy eaters. However, on this evening people have heard some raised voices coming from the house, and a 911 call originating from the Simpson house was disconnected before the caller could say anything. Further, there was another 911 call from a neighbour who reported that as they rode their bike past the house they saw what appeared to be an adult with his hands wrapped around Bart's neck and shaking him violently.

In response to the 911 call the police dispatch their best, brightest and most senior officer: Chief Wiggum. When Chief Wiggum arrives in the neighbourhood for some reason he can't recall exactly which house belongs to the Simpsons. He sees Ned Flanders out working in his yard and calls out "Hey, Ned." However, Ned is listening to his iPod and doesn't hear Chief Wiggum, so Chief Wiggum then approaches Ned, taps him on the shoulder and motions for him to take his earphones off, which he does. "Hey, Ned, it's the funniest thing, but even though I've been to the Simpsons' house hundreds of times in the past 25 years, I can't seem to remember where it is. Can you tell me?". Surprisingly, Ned has recently turned a page in his life and is now full of contempt for authority, and simply says "I do know where the Simpsons live, but I'm not telling you. Now get off my property!"

As he walks away Chief Wiggum realizes the Simpsons live right next door. He goes and knocks on their door and Homer answers. "Hey Homer, we got a call about some kind of disturbance here, do you mind if I come in and check things out, to make sure everything is okay?" "Not without a warrant", Homer replies. As Homer begins closing the door Chief Wiggum pushes it open, forcing his way into the Simpson house.

As he enters the house Chief Wiggum's first concern is to determine what, if anything, has happened. He first wants to talk to Homer further, but Marge, Lisa and Maggie are making a lot of noise. He tells Marge and Lisa to sit on the couch in the living room and stay there and be quiet until he finishes talking to Homer - and he says he wants to talk to them afterward. So Marge and Lisa quietly sit on the couch as he says. Chief Wiggum speaks with Homer in the kitchen for about 10 minutes before returning to speak with Lisa and Marge. He asks Lisa and Marge for their version of events; they confirm what Homer told him, which is that Bart had been misbehaving and Homer had indeed grabbed Bart around the neck as is standard practice in the Simpson household. Chief Wiggum concludes that Homer was using somewhat more force than was necessary, so he committed an assault (a hybrid offence). He also believes that Homer understands the seriousness of the situation and he won't do it again.

In the meantime, while all of this was happening, Ned Flanders was further flouting authority in the most peculiar way, by removing all of his clothes and dancing around naked while doing indecent things on his front lawn (thereby possibly committing an indecent act in a public place, a hybrid offence under the Criminal Code). One of the neighbours, in spite of his shock at this, ran over to Ned, threw a blanket on him and then wrestled him to the ground. He held Ned there as he phoned the police and reported what had happened.

1. QUESTION:It is unclear from the facts what action Chief Wiggum took after concluding that Homer had committed an assault. Do you think Chief Wiggum had prima facie authority to arrest Homer? Do you think he should have arrested him?

2. QUESTION:Did the neighbour have authority to do what he did to Ned Flanders?

3. QUESTION:Did Chief Wiggum have legal authority to enter the Simpson house in these circumstances?