Missouri: Police Roadblock Harassment Caught on Tape.

TheNewspaper.com ^ | 12/30/2006 | Brett Darrow

[The KG9 Kid]

Missouri: Police Roadblock Harassment Caught on Tape
St. Louis County, Missouri threaten to arrest a teenager for refusing to discuss his personal travel plans.

A teenager harassed by police in St. Louis, Missouri caught the incident on tape. Brett Darrow, 19, had his video camera rolling last month as he drove his 1997 Maxima, minding his own business. He approached a drunk driving roadblock where he was stopped, detained and threatened with arrest when he declined to enter a conversation with a police officer about his personal travel habits. Now Darrow is considering filing suit against St. Louis County Police.

"I'm scared to drive for fear of being stopped at another checkpoint and arrested while doing nothing illegal," Darrow told TheNewspaper. "We're now guilty until we prove ourselves innocent to these checkpoint officers."

On that late November night, videotape confirms that Darrow had been ordered out of his vehicle after telling a policeman, "I don't wish to discuss my personal life with you, officer." Another officer attempted to move Darrow's car until he realized, "I can't drive stick!" The officer took the opportunity to undertake a thorough search of the interior without probable cause. He found nothing.

When Darrow asked why he was being detained, an officer explained, "If you don't stop running your mouth, we're going to find a reason to lock you up tonight."

The threats ended when Darrow informed officers that they were being recorded. After speaking to a supervisor Darrow was finally released.

"These roadblocks have gotten out of hand," Darrow told TheNewspaper. "If we don't do something about them now, it'll be too late."

A full video of the incident is available here. A transcript is provided below as the audio is at times very faint.

[-YYZ-]

I think you're right. The reality is, when deal with cops, I do speak to them respectfully. But that's out of fear, not so much respect. I'm polite as a matter of course when dealing with any stranger. This kid wasn't very cooperative, but he was polite, and within his rights. The only thing unusual about this story is that the exchange was caught on tape.

Maybe if we all stopped "going along to get along" we'd have a lot less of this BS, but that's human nature. It took them a long time to get us to the point of just accepting it.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

BWAAAHAHA! You're a jerk, and your arguments have been ripped to shreds by many posters. You seem to have a very perverse understanding of the freedoms that have made America great. I fart in your general direction! :)

[-YYZ-]

I see now I jumped into this thread way late. Oh, well...

[monkfan]

Brett: Why am I being detained officer? (directed toward Officer #4)
Officer #4: You better stop runnin your mouth or the other officer will find a reason to lock you up tonight.

Ahh. Because we all know there is no such thing as innocent people, only people who have not been properly investigated.

[j_tull]

It none of your business.

[j_tull]

and what kind of cop can't drive a stick??

Most of 'em I'd guess.

[j_tull]

Most people sheep would instantly tell the officer where they were headed...

[DocRock]

"Many years ago..."

The year was 1988, I was traveling north on I-95 in south Florida. I was driving a four door Delta-88 with tinted, (but legal), windows, out of state tags and a big CB antenna. In Palm Beach County, I heard on the CB that a "county mounty" was about a half mile behind me, so I was in the left, slow lane, obeying all traffic rules when a large four wheel drive truck with a lift kit zoomed up behind me and got on my bumper. I reached up to my rear view and adjusted his bright headlights out of my eyes and thought to myself..."you can hit me, pass me or go around me, but I'm not speeding because there is a Sheriff behind me". This truck tailgated my bumper for about 10 minutes and finally, he dropped back... to let the Sheriff get between us and he turned on his lights. I pulled to the shoulder as did the Sheriff, the four wheel drive and an unmarked Mustang GT pursuit chase car. Six officers descended upon my car and the Sheriff was the only one in uniform. The others were obviously cops with the badge hanging around their necks. The two that got out of the truck had a K-9. The Sheriff asked for my license, registration and proof of insurance. I handed them over and asked what I had done wrong. He said, "You were weaving", and I responded, "No I wasn't, I knew you were back there and didn't break any laws. You guys in the truck couldn't even get me to speed. You pulled me over because I fit your profile for a drug mule and that is a violation of my Constitutional rights. I am not breaking any laws and I have a right to look the way I look."

Them: "We're just waging a war on drugs and if you don't have anything to hide, then let us take look around in your vehicle."

Me: "I don't care about your war on drugs, I care about my individual rights guaranteed to me by the United States Constitution and you are violating them."

Them: "Well, what are you doing down here in south Florida?"

Me: "The last time I checked, I do not have to have a passport and visa to cross county and state lines and I do not have to answer personal questions. I see three choices for you. Arrest me, let me go, write me a ticket. Am I under arrest?"

Them: "What are you hiding? Why are you scared to let us look in your vehicle?"

Me: "The only thing I'm scared of is that you will violate my rights. I visited a cemetery in Normandy where thousands of young men died in one day for my rights and if I let you violate them, it will tell them, their families and their friends that they died for nothing. Do it legal. Wake up a judge, get a warrant and don't violate my rights."

I could go on as they kept me there for over two hours while they tore my vehicle apart... just because I refused to let my rights be violated. However, it did keep me out of jury duty about 2 years ago. I was on the jury pool for a dirty cop that had violated civil rights and lied about it to the grand jury... through the mail, (mail fraud). I almost felt sorry for the guy. He was looking at 45 years.

FReegards,
DocRock

[McBuff]

Exactly right dave...its called common sense which seems to be lacking on this thread.

Cops are not the problem in America, sure there are bad cops. . .but overall cops do a great job and just as we should support our troops, we should support the men and women of law enforcement.

[TChad]

There's an authoritarian streak in a lot of cops. Its why they become cops.

It is certainly why some of them became cops, I've met a few. There are also plenty of gay ephebophiles who became priests to gain sexual access to boys, plenty of nutty psychologists who got into the profession to figure themselves out, plenty of reporters who only took the job to lie for liberalism, and so on.

The question is, do leaders in these fields publicly acknowledge that their professions attract particular types of bad apples, and institute policies to eliminate them? Or do they just accept the consequences as inevitable?

[dennisw]

The key here is you don't care about any war on drugs and are a phony rebel. It's of no concern to you that in 1988 police were busting heroin and coke shipments on I-95. And using profiling to do it. Your "rights" are more important than people being poisoned by drugs

I'm kinda glad they tore your car apart looking for drugs. Today you could take a video camera and sue them like this punk

[DocRock]

"we should support the men and women of law enforcement."

In my post 628, I hope that I didn't mislead anyone. I do support our men and women in law enforcement. I knew Officer Williams which was the subject of national news when he was gunned down in Lakeland, Florida. I am friendly with all my local LEO and even donated to his trust fund for his family. However, this doesn't give LEO the right to violate the Constitution, nor do I support those LEO that do. I never filed a complaint against those that tore up my car, but I did keep the warning ticket for "weaving" as a reminder that freedom can be lost if not defended... even on the personal level at a traffic stop.

[DocRock]

" Your "rights" are more important than people being poisoned by drugs"

Make no mistake about it. My rights are more important than those being poisoned by drugs. They are making a choice to destroy themselves, while I am making a choice to preserve freedom by not laying my head on the chopping block of "feeling good" about letting my rights disappear. Those are rights many have fought and died for and it is an insult to them to let them disappear.

"I'm kinda glad they tore your car apart looking for drugs. Today you could take a video camera and sue them like this punk"

That says volumes about you. I have other issues with drug dealers that you have no clue about. I have family members that have destroyed their lives with drugs. I also could have sued the officers involved with my rights being violated. I'm not sue happy. I simply preached freedom to these officers for the short time I had with them. I could see the honest change in some of their faces as they felt shame for what they were doing. Hopefully, some of my words made a difference to these officers later in life when questionable tactics where an option.

[dennisw]

Make no mistake about it. My rights are more important than those being poisoned by drugs. They are making a choice to destroy themselves, while I am making a choice to preserve freedom by not laying my head on the chopping block of "feeling good" about letting my rights disappear.

Thank you kindly. That's all I need to know about you

[NittanyLion]

Make no mistake about it. My rights are more important than those being poisoned by drugs. They are making a choice to destroy themselves, while I am making a choice to preserve freedom by not laying my head on the chopping block of "feeling good" about letting my rights disappear. Those are rights many have fought and died for and it is an insult to them to let them disappear.

Well stated.

[rbmillerjr]

"I fart in your general direction!"

The strength of your argument compels me to change my view and comply with your view. I shall forever be dhimmi to your beliefs.

[DocRock]

Out of curiosity, what is a "phony rebel" which you label me with in your previous post?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

It's about time you recognized freedom!

[AZRightWinger]

There is a reason the officer needs (not wants) to engage the driver in conversation. The need is derived from identifying impaired drivers. The need is derived from law. Evading conversation is interfering with the officers duty.

Your point here would be a valid one, if the officers conducted a field sobriety test upon forcing him to exit the car...THEY DIDN'T!!! I usually side with law enforcement on just about every negative cop story...NOT THIS TIME!!! The officers did nothing but harrass this young man when they forced him to exit his car. Ben Mugged, O Wise One...Why wasn't a field sobriety test issued to the young man, if, according to your logic; the need was to identify a driver impaired by use of alcohol? Riddle me this, BATMAN!!

[Brett Darrow]

Hi everyone. I'm Brett Darrow, the driver, and one who filmed this.

I thought I'd address a few things.

The camera is ALWAYS rolling while I drive my car at night now and most of the time during the day. The reason for this is because I've had my rights trampled numerous times even while kissing a$$. I've also had officers just make up reasons to stop me (straight up lie about what I did) because I was young, it was late, and they were looking to search a car without probable cause. I've tried asserting my rights, but have been threaten with arrest (like I was here) and told it would be the officers' word vs. mine. IMO the camera is the only way to get any court (or anyone for that matter) to believe you over the [sarcasm] all so trust worry police officers out on the street now. [/sarcasm]

I just don't want people to think I went out looking for this checkpoint to start trouble. This one was about 2 miles from my house. I travel this road frequently and I really didn't expect to come across it.

And to the people who say I should just make up a reason... Why? Lying to a police officer is a crime. We should NEVER have to lie or commit a crime so we don't have to assert our rights because we're afraid of punishment from the police. You can say all you want about how the officer didn't really want to know where I was going. That doesn't change anything. If I can follow the law, he should be able to do the same. He knew I wasn't intoxicated and if he thought I was, what better way to show it than give me a field sobriety test.

I'd also like to know how I could have said I didn't want to tell the officer where I was going in a nicer way. I didn't even expect him to ask such a question.

I know there will be haters, but I think those people are just ignorant of what's happening around us.

I will never kiss a$$ or act like the cops are God (and I shouldn't have to) at a unconstitutional (unfortunately legal) checkpoint which I'm stopped while not doing one thing wrong. I'm not a criminal and I don't expect to be treated like one while doing my normal legal activities out in public. With the hundred of driving laws, if they can't find one I've violated, leave me the Fcuk alone!