Posted on 06/26/2005 5:25:11 PM PDT by wagglebee
A traffic stop in Greer, S.C., this month is turning into a holy war of sorts, as a practicing Druid couple claim they were targeted by a Christian police officer who tried to convert them away from their pagan belief.
Debra and Tony Gainey say they were pulled over because they had a bumper sticker reading "It's A Druid Thing."
Tony Gainey was driving at the time of the stop June 10 and was taken into custody on charges of driving with a suspended license, operating a vehicle with an improper tag and failure to have proof of insurance.
"The reason they were stopped was the tag was improper on the vehicle," Greer police Lt. Cris Varner told WHNS-TV.
But Debra Gainey, a minister at the local Emerald Sanctuary Druidic Church, believes it was the druid sticker that prompted the traffic stop, as evinced by the conversation with officer Tony Stewart.
"[Stewart said], 'Did those bumper stickers come on the car or did you put them on?' and I said I put them on," Debra said.
She says the officer asked if she knew what they meant.
"So he started talking to me about God and Jesus Christ. ... I just felt like he was really getting into it, I had never expected to actually follow-up with a letter or anything."
According to Mrs. Gainey, the officer sent a card and letter to her home address days later.
"In this letter, he promises our problems will continue unless we listen to the words of the Baptists," she told the station. "We're feeling like those are threats."
"It's just kind of flabbergasting to be told that because it says Druid that we were singled out," she continued. "I don't think it's a matter of his religion or my religion, it's a matter of violation of our Constitution and trying to take that away our freedom that we are guaranteed."
The Gaineys have filed a civil-rights complaint, and the matter is now under investigation.
"The issue is the stop," police chief Dan Reynolds told the Greenville News. "Did they stop them because of the stickers? That's what we're trying to determine in our investigation. What was the reason for the stop?"
Was it?
charges of driving with a suspended license, operating a vehicle with an improper tag and failure to have proof of insurance.
Naw, I'll betcha that little blue and white Druid smarted off at the cop. Sometimes that's all it takes...
LOL!!
DJ MacWoW wrote:I think the improper tag was a good reason. Obviously these people don't.
From Post 16: Halfway home we were pulled over by the Greer Police. No reason was given for the stop and when I asked I was told there had been none. the Officers checked our ID’s and found nothing, they then checked the plate on the car. We were told that the plates were the wrong ones. They would not tell us whose they were, only that they belonged on a Chevy.
And just because that's the peoples story, you buy it?
I don't think that sending one letter can be construed as harassment. My dictionary defines harassment as:
"the act of tormenting by continued persistent attacks and criticism"
LMAO!
See my Post 44 and Post 16. They had insurance. Officer Hellfire only discovered the improper tag after making the stop. The only reason for the stop was the bumper sticker. And if you want to argue that Officer Hellfire knew the tag was improper before making the stop, then you have to believed that cops are routinely driving down the road calling in tags for absolutely no reason.
So this guy was driving on a suspended license, can't seem to get his insurance papers in the car (it's SO hard!) and his story is to be believed. You judge him an honest man. I think you're gullable and that we don't have enough info.
As opposed to Officer Hellfire who is preaching at his prisoners while they are in handcuffs and sends a nut case letter to them....yeahhh. If you think Officer Hellfire stopped the Gaineys because of the "improper tag," and it had nothing to do with the bumper sticker, then you have to believe that the cop is routinely running tags for cars on the highway for absolutely no reason. Is that what you believe?
How did he do that?
sends a nut case letter to them.
Do you know for certain that they said nothing to invite a letter? How do you know what was said?
Wonder why Mr Honests license was suspended.
Actually, the idiot cop even took the time to write a letter, so there's hard evidence.
And writing letters is illegal?
How do you know what these people said to the cop? Are you certain that they said nothing that invited a letter?
Harassment: General
Under the United States Code Title 18 Subsection 1514(c)1. Harassment is defined as "a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress in such a person and serves no legitimate purpose".
Modern Penal Code Definition
The Modern Penal Code section 250.4(MPC) defines harassment as a petty misdemeanor if with purpose is to harass another, he: 1) makes a phone call without a legitimate purpose; or 2) insults, taunts or challenges another in a manner likely to provoke violent or disorderly response; or 3) calls at inconvenient hours or in offensive language; or 4) subjects another to offensive touching; or 5) engages in any other course of alarming conduct serving no legitimate purpose of the actor.
IF so, explain why did Officer Hellfire run the tags (accepting his explination for arguments sake.)? Why? From Fox21.com:
According to Greer City Police Lt. Cris Varner, "The reason they were stopped was the tag was improper on the vehicle."
But Greer Police say they are investigating why the tag was run in the first place.
I think we know why the tag was run.
DJ wrote: Do you know for certain that they said nothing to invite a letter? How do you know what was said?
From the Fox Carolina website:
According to Debra, "He [Stewart] walked around me and goes and stands next to him and says did those bumper stickers come on the car or did you put them on and I said I put them on and he said do you know what they mean?...So he started talking to me about God and Jesus Christ…I just felt like he was really getting into it, I had never expected to actually follow-up with a letter or anything."
But Stewart did, a letter and card were sent to the Gainey residence days later. Debra says, "In this letter, he promises our problems will continue unless we listen to the words of the Baptist...We're feeling like those are threats."
And I'm betting that Officer Hellfire didn't get a written consent to write them, there is no tape, and even the letter won't reference an invation...and I don't (and I'll bet you don't either) beleive for a second that the letter and card were invited.
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