new usage? the responsible

[Sylvia Swift]

i almost never see new usage stuff that i think would interest you guys,
but i was struck by the use of "the responsible" here, where i would have
expected  "the alleged assailant" or "the perp."

sylvia swift
madonna at socrates.berkeley.edu


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[portions snipped]
>>>CRIME ALERT -- Armed Robbery
>>>October 19, 1999
>>>General Campus Community

>>>
>>>On Sunday, October 17, 1999 at about 3:00 am, an armed robbery occurred on
>>>the pathway at the northwest corner of Haviland Hall.
>>>
>>>The victim left a computer lab in Etcheverry Hall and walked down the
>>>pathway from the North Gate towards Haviland Hall.  When he reached the
>>>northwest side of Haviland Hall, he noticed he was being followed by
>>>another man.  The responsible asked the victim if he smoked and the victim
>>>offered him a cigarette.  The responsible then asked if he could have
>>>another cigarette.  As the victim reached for another cigarette, the
>>>responsible pulled a knife from his waistband, placed the point at the
>>>victim's chest, and demanded his wallet.  After taking the victim's wallet,
>>>the responsible then told the victim to run.  The victim ran a short
>>>distance away and turned to see in which direction the responsible fled,
>>>but he could no longer see him.  The victim was not injured.
>>>
>>>The responsible is described as appearing Latino. He is in his late 20's,
>>>6'0" tall, weighing about 250 pounds.  He had a light complexion with a
>>>dark goatee.  He was wearing a green, long-sleeved, hooded sweatshirt with
>>>the word "GAP" written on the front with the hood partially covering his
>>>face. He also wore large square-framed sunglasses.  The victim described
>>>the responsible as resembling a homeless person.
>>>
>>>An Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) version of this alert is available
>>>for download and posting at:
>>>http://public-safety.berkeley.edu/police/ca101999.html
>>>