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.

[HiTech RedNeck]

...until he wins a nice lawsuit.

[Brett Darrow]

"Something tells me this kid and others like him are going to preserve the rights we treasure in the good ole' USA!!!"


"Thank you for exercising your rights -- we all need to do more of that (and document it!) in a calm and reasoned way."


Thank you guys. It's difficult to get others my age invoved in protecting our rights. I think it has to do with us growing up with the way it has been.

I can't tell you how many people (my age) I know have givin me trouble for this video. They tell me how stupid it is to not go along with what the cops want. These are the same kids that don't see a problem with the police looking through their stuff when they get stopped. I think this has to do with the way the police now make it seem like we don't have rights. They scare these kids with arrest/tickets and when they don't know any better they just follow orders.

With every similar incident to this one that I've had with the police, I've studied more and more the constutition, case law, and state and local law. It's become a hobby and possibly a career path. I've never been a big fan of lawyers, but have recently considered doing just that to fight for citiens rights.

This is probably why this video looks like a set-up. I know what I can and can't do. I pride myself in knowing the laws and my rights better than most police officers. It makes it really easy for me to make these police look the way they do without even trying. I think it really throws them off guard beacuse they're not used to it and they really don't expect it from a kid (which is what most police would think of me since I've only been in college 1.5 years).

I gurantee I was the only one that night to refuse anwsering the officer personal question. That's why he reacted the way he did. We need to get them used to hearing "NO". The more they hear it, the less it will bother them (I hope). Unfortunitly the only way to get them to realize how they act isn't right, is to sue. Maybe if they had a complaint system that actually worked, they would have less lawsuits from people like me who really just want the police to act within their powers instead of their egos.

[DocRock]

forgotten my FRiend,

Thanks for the reply.

[Brett Darrow]

"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."

That's true. I am just a kid. I even refer to myself as a kid.

[dennisw]

What a shock. You want to become a punk lawyer making more anarchy in our legal system. Punk lawyers are right now down in Gitmo going to bat for terrorists and bleating about their "rights". Terrorists who shot at US soldiers

[Brett Darrow]

"Crime doesn't pay.... Traffic violators do!"

I want a bumper sticker that says that!

[PhilipFreneau]

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

You are not serious, right?

[Brett Darrow]

"You're a no good punk. Next time tell the police where you are going. Your smart ass BS would have gotten you a good smack a few decades back. That smack might have woken you up

Your spoiled brat routine will continue until ....... "

I'm not a punk at all. I can be the nicest person you ever met and normally I am. When I get stopped in the middle of the night for no reason and they want to know where I'm going, I'm not going to be very happy about it. I'm not going to yell about it so they can arrest me for being disorderly, but I will express my displeasure within the law. They don't like what the constitution allows me to do? They shouldn't be a cops.

[Brett Darrow]

"Is the police department doing any investigation of your incident? Do you know whether or not the police followed procedures in how they handled their interaction with you? Do they have any written procedures, at drunk driver checkpoints? Is there any political buzz back and forth in your community over this matter.
I salute you for dropping in. I for one beleive the police have a duty to follow the law, along with the rest of us. Best."

I'm unsure if they are doing their own investigation. I'm sure they have gotten the video though as it's gone all around the net. It's got a 1/4 million views now.

I'd assume they have to have written procedures and they are supposed to have a briefing of how the checkpoint should be conducted before they go out. I don't think it was within their procedures since the supervisor said, "I'm sure that wasn't the only reason" when I told him why I was detained. The video shows it was though.

No political buzz yet, but I'm sure every officer in the area knows about it by now. This is why I'm probably going to do the news story on the local news stations. The citizens should see what is happening with their police and I'm sure a lot will be able to relate to my situation. The reporters are VERY interested in doing the story.

[Brett Darrow]

"How do we know you're the REAL Bret Darrow, and not a troll?"

Here is a pic of my driver's license.
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/598/dsc00016um5.jpg

Is that enough proof?

[MrClose]

A great example of why this country is in the trouble that it is in can be found ... throughout this thread!

There are people who believe that a cop can do no wrong Even though they read in their newspapers everyday about cops doing and being busted for drugs, lying in court, Trafficking, Driving under the influence etc. etc .. EXACTLY the same kind of crimes that "Every Day People" commit!

The difference is: Cops are SUPPOSED to represent the highest standards of the society that they protect.

This video is a prime example of what I knew many many lifetimes ago .. "Giving complete trust and complete control to Any group of people, without question, whether they are police or politician... is a recipe for disaster.

I don't say all the above for no reason. I have experienced these problems.

After serving what I called "My Public" for over ten years as a police officer, I violated "My Publics" trust and spent five years in a Florida Correctional Institution.

I wont tell you good people why or what sent me to prison, I will only tell you that "I Thought" that I was above or that "I was" the law.

MC

[DocRock]

"Is that enough proof?"

Bookmark for future naysayers...

Nice job Brett!

[Richard-SIA]

Yawol, Seig Heil!

So much for this being a "conservative" forum.

Stalin would be proud of you.

[Richard-SIA]

Something tells me the kid is our hope for the future, stands up for his rights and smart enough to record the cops playing their intimidation games!

I salute him.

[rednesss]

Probably not for some of the Kool-Aid drinkers\cop worshippers in this thread. Rights are so 20 years ago, duh.

[Richard-SIA]

Ah, you haven't lived until your vehicle has been impounded for no legitimate reason, your personal property stolen, and fictitious charges filed against you!

It's almost as inspiring as being beaten after protesting being pulled over without any cause.

"To protect and serve" has been replaced with Profile, Harass, and Intimidate for Revenue Collection!

And then cops claim to not know why they aren't respected.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The brat should have been arrested.

On what grounds? Suspicion of being impertinent or rude?!

I'm 100% with the kid here.

[Richard-SIA]

....fair play?

Apparently NOT, as several departments removed the patrol vehicle cameras due to their capturing the officers bad behavior too often.

I KNOW this is why my county does not have cameras in the Sheriff Dept. vehicles.
I think our Highway patrol may have cameras in theirs, if they ever pull me over I will ask.

[investigateworld]

You do realize "justice" depends on how big your family's bank account is?

Overall: Recognition that you are a citizen, not a subject: A+

Tactical Error: Never let the enemy know you are taping
or having a record made: F- (too many cops will plant dope and gun in your vehicle which is good for ten years in most states)

For future shopping list use: Best buy a thin soled pair of shoes, 'cause you are going to be walking on eggs from now on.

Bottom line, pick your friends very carefully, some idiot facing prison time could set you up and make a deal.

Personal question: Lot of Irish in your ancestry?
You can decline to answer ;^)

[Richard-SIA]

Unless it's changed recently most L.E. takes an oath, which includes the phrase "to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States".

So every time they trash some one's rights they betray their oath, and should be fired, or considered to have resigned in disgrace.