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.

[supercat]

So entrapment is only okay when the cops do it?

Entrapment is only okay when the cops do it, and even then only in very narrow circumstances. On the other hand, unless there's something very near the start of the tape that doesn't match the transcript, this wasn't entrapment.

Someone who is pulled over has every right not to discuss their personal business with a cop unless the cop can articulate a clear and legitimate reason why he needs the information. Absent some probable cause not found in the transcript, it would appear the cops were wrong from the get-go.

[flada]

Sorry, I went back and read what you were replying to. My bad. Although entrapment still doesn't mean what most people think it means.

[philetus]

... The brat should have been arrested."

On what charges, exactly?


Section B. Article 67. Evading conversation (per"18 posted on 01/03/2007 2:21:52 PM PST by Ben Mugged")

[supercat]

The kid was technically within his rights, but he expressed them in such a rude, confrontational way...

How is "I don't wish to discuss my personal life with you officer" rude and confrontational? If he'd responded "None of your (bleep) business, jerk", I'd admit that was rude and confrontational. But how would you have suggested he more politely decline to answer the question.

[Skip Ripley]

That's BS...it's a DWI checkpoint. He could havbe asked him any number of alternate questions such as "Have you been drinking tonight?" or "Do you have any alcohol in your vehicle". He could have asked him to verify the information on his license. He didn't do that, he immediately escalated the situation and became coinfrontational himself. His interest wasn't in ascertaining the kid's sobriety, he wanted to play neighborhood bully.

The kid had every right to advise the cop that his destination was not his concern. The cop needs to learn that respect for authority is not synonymous withsubmission to authority.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

"the cops were very professional."
The cop was not professional! He's either a complete a$$hole or extremely stupid. The is the USA, and if you want to go somewhere, it's nobody's business but yours. "Show me your papers. Ve know you haf relatiffs in North Canton."
The cop's question was very confrontational, as he implied the denial of the "punk" kid's constitutional rights.

[Eaker]

Driving around late at night alone

Do I check with you or the cops when I work late or go in really early?

Send me the passage in the Constitution that give you and them the right.

[Unassuaged]

The kid sounds like a pre-'99 Freeper!

[ChildOfThe60s]

I find it appalling that we are even having a debate about this.

Beyond verifying that he was driving legally, i.e. licensed, unimpaired and with a safe vehicle, the police have no business, nor do they have a legal right to demand personal information from a private citizen. It is beyond the pale that he was threatened, bullied and had his personal property damaged in retaliation.

Anyone here see the similarities to the treatment colonists received at the hands of King George's troops? It wasn't taxes alone that ignited the revolution. The founding fathers were very clear regarding the right of citizens to travel unfettered and unharrassed.

[philetus]

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."


Cop: Where you headed tonight?
Kid:I don't wish to discuss my personal life with you officer.
Cop: Why is that?
Kid: It's none of your business
Cop:You're right about that. We'll stick to business. Please recite the alphabet backwards. I can legally ask you to do that at a DUI checkpoint.

How's that?

[McBuff]

I was refering to the two t variety only. . .one t's are different catagory. In the two t variety Brett Favre is the only exception.

a lot of hostility on this thread, I've been around since 97. . .never seen it like this ever. . .I just made a few comments in support of the police. .. generally most 19 year olds are a pain in the ass. . .but geez. ..the hostility is mind boggling. ..Hey, dude. . I don't know your friend Bret. .. and we will never ever meet for him to shit down my neck. . .but if he served our country my hat's off to em. . .on second thought. .I better keep my hat on, in case he has the urge to shit down my neck.

[supercat]

I guess they are afraid that fewer people would take them seriously if their spammed articles were from a more accurately labeled source, such as www.antitrafficenforcement.com

How about anti-police-state.com?

[CodeToad]

"it's also their "right" to give you dick police treatment."


Um, no, it is NOT! It is a crime and makes the cop a criminal.

[CodeToad]

" Evading conversation is interfering with the officers duty."

THAT'S a streeeeeeetch!

[supercat]

I absolutely respect cops, I just wish that there were fewer who enjoyed the power, and I despise any of them that would look for excuses to lock up a kid because he refused to tell them his personal business.

This country desperately needs to regain the division between peace officers and rev'nooers.

[philetus]

If you're not "on the JOB", you're a potential perp.

[Ditto]

Evading conversation is interfering with the officers duty.

The kid didn't "evade" conversation in the least. In fact, just the opposite. He politely told the cops it was none of their business where he was heading and he was right.

The brat should have been arrested.

The cops should have their wennies wacked for acting like storm troopers. They knew in 10 seconds the kid wasn't drinking yet because he didn't play their little game they decided to look for something else. That is a violation of amendment number 4!

Good on this kid.

[Ignatz]

Hmmm, I often drive around at night with a camcorder on. Especially as I approach a DUI checkpoint (which have to be announced). Could we have a little setup here?

Ding! We have a winnah!
DWI checkpoints are indeed a setup. Good call!

[Ignatz]

Looks like a snot-nosed punk being uncooperative with officers who are just trying to do their job. In fact, the snot-nosed punk was trying to provoke this whole situation with his little video cam already sent up. . .he's a punk. . a snot-nosed spoiled little punk that needs to go home to his mommie who probably bought him his piece o junk car.

Are you sure you didn't join this site by mistake on your way to DUmmieland?

[Ignatz]

Why would so many firebreathing CONSERVATIVES hate the pigs?

I don't hate police oficers. I respect the ones who perform their duty while respecting the rights of the citizens.