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.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Evading conversation is interfering with the officers duty.

Duty to arrest people in cars?

You don't have to answer any question a cop asks you. Ever.

[Diplomat]

Yea, I realize the young man is nineteen and old enough to serve in the military. However, in my slang you're a kid until you're legal to drink. I meant him or you no offense.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Sorry, but the kid began the exchange confrontationally for no reason whatsoever.

OK. Tell me what color underwear you are wearing right now.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Looks like a snot-nosed punk being uncooperative with officers who are just trying to do their job.

Their job is finding out where he is driving to?

BTW, Footbal is a game and Brett Favre is a puss....

[TexasTransplant]

You are welcome!

I just visited your home page and I could spend hours there BZ

I travel a lot in my business and have been through many of these checkpoints, DWI or Seat belt (I despise the Seat belt checks the most) but my favorite one was one I never went through (maybe dennisw will get this story)...

I was driving a Bluebird Bus full of very tired (& smelly) Soldiers on a Highway that I knew well we passed a sign that said "Slow for Drug Checkpoint 1 mile" then another sign "Slow for Drug Checkpoint 1/2 mile" just past the second sign was an exit. I know the exit well, it goes 1/2 mile to nowhere but to a locked Ranch Gate. (I know this because I travel that highway often and have a bladder the size of a teacup).
We all started laughing after we passed the exit because sure enough there was a Drug Checkpoint 1/2 mile, but it was on that dead end road... now that is the place for the Officer to ask "Where are you going?" and it was crowded down there.
For the next 60 miles someone just had to giggle and everyone would start laughing to tears again.

TT

[Cogadh na Sith]

I used to hate cops. Then I grew up, got some experience, got an education, and spent time overseas doing work much like their own.

Yeah, overseas where there is no Bill of Rights....

It's different here.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Then the officer has to explore other ways of determining if you are operating under the influence.

Anal probe?

[antceecee]

The "war" on drugs is a convenient excuse for violating citizen's constitutional rights.
The real "war" on drugs starts in our homes and neighborhoods... it's personal responsibility.
Good policework goes after the suppliers and does so without having to cast a net over every citizen to affect a proper arrest.

[Boiling point]

I totally see where this kid is coming from. First the cop just wants to talk and the next thing you know, he offers you a donut, then he asks you to do that weird dance with him down the yellow line. The next thing you know you're being invited into the back seat of his patrol car and then...

[HIDEK6]

What kind of country have we got when little smartasses think they have some right not to answer a policeman's questions?

I agree with the kid. Why does the cop want to know where the kid was going?

If it's a DUI checkpoint and the kid's not drunk, move on!

[TexasTransplant]

Sorry forgot to ping you, see post 665

TT

[supercat]

We all started laughing after we passed the exit because sure enough there was a Drug Checkpoint 1/2 mile, but it was on that dead end road... now that is the place for the Officer to ask "Where are you going?" and it was crowded down there.

I would argue that taking the exit does not constitute probable cause. If officers never searched cars or harassed motorists without probable cause, law-abiding citizens would have little legitimate reason to fear checkpoints. But given that even law-abiding citizens are not safe from the police, wanting to avoid them is entirely reasonable.

[HIDEK6]

the simple and easy way for cops to do a quick evaluation for drunkenness is to engage them in conversation

The kid wasn't refusing to converse, he just didn't want to share his plans with the police.

The cop could have said, "Of course. I understand. Could you recite the alphabet while I smell your breath?"

[DocRock]

"I just visited your home page..."

Be sure and check out the video I made after Hurricane Katrina titled "Constitutional Crisis". It directly relates to these simple abuses of our rights turning ugly when the government wants to grab power.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Wonder if they would want their kids to respond to [legitimate] authority in the same manner.

But the cops have no authority to ask you where you are going without any probable cause.

I want my kid to not talk to strangers or cops.....

[Cogadh na Sith]

Try keeping it together while getting out of your vehicle and approach a car with tinted windows, multiple passengers, and registered according to your data base a felon. Top it off by being in the middle of an urban setting that dwarfs Baghdad in the level of violence.

Call the Waaahmbulance.

[TexasTransplant]

>>>>"I would argue that taking the exit does not constitute probable cause"<<<<

Never said anything about probable cause, just said it was funny (maybe you just had to be there).
I too avoid checkpoints. A Radio Station here announces the times, locations and type of check every Friday at Five.

TT

[TexasTransplant]

I will watch all of them, Thanks Doc

TT

[Cogadh na Sith]

People have the right to remain silent, but they better be prepared to do so from a jail cell.

That's exactly what the 1st Ammendment says.

[Melas]

It's called freedom kid, look into it sometime.