Reporter doesn't like questioning

Washington Post ^ | 3/24/03 | Courtlan Milloy

[Tspud1]

Something Suspicious Is in the Air

By Courtland Milloy Monday, March 24, 2003; Page B01

The sign above the highway leading into the nation's capital advised motorists to "Report Suspicious Activity" and gave an 800 number for the Office of Homeland Security. As a reporter, I figured this was right up my alley and set out yesterday to report on things that struck me as suspicious.

For instance, near the Jefferson Memorial, I saw a five-foot-tall metal box that was hooked up to an electrical outlet and equipped with a high-tech antenna and chrome-dome receptor. What was it?

I asked a couple of National Park Service workers and some Cherry Blossom Festival organizers whose tent was set up next to the thing if they knew. Little did I know that my inquiry would become a suspicious activity in itself.

"We hear you've been asking curious questions," U.S. Park Police officer Michael Ramirez said as he and fellow officer Karl Spilde approached me from behind a blossomless cherry tree. "Why are you doing that?"

Both officers carried 9mm semiautomatic pistols, Mace and batons. Perhaps because I had just left the Jefferson Memorial, where I'd read a few lines about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and "all men are created equal," I felt bold enough to pose a question of my own: "Why are you asking me that?"

[aruanan]

I don't have a Washington Post account so I will not be reading the rest of this article.

You don't need a WP account to read the rest of the article.

[Henrietta]

"When you learn from the article that he was deliberately baiting the police -- then the police WERE right to have an articulable suspicion that something was up."

I don't agree that asking a cop why he wants to see your I.D. is "baiting" a cop. You have the right to ask why and expect an answer. Asking questions is not "articulable suspicion" that you have committed a crime.

[zip]

That can't be legal, can it?

I'm sorry you just came out of your coma that you were in from 9/10 but you really should try to catch up with history. I sure hope the officers respond in this correct manner every time some leftist idiot tries to be cute and antagonize the law enforcement officials.

[aruanan]

I'll probably get flamed for standing up for our rights to be left alone, but it wouldn't be the first time...asbestos panties on!

Nope. You're right. The cops were wrong.

[Jhoffa_]

That's bullshit.

Regardless, all I see on FR anymore is a Godlike worship of the Police and arrogant statement's about how you aren't a patriot if you don't believe "the world changed" on 9/11.

That's the BS, right there. This fallacy that FEDGOV can provide perfect security if we just continue to surrender liberties to them.

It's F'ing ridiculous and it's not going to work. Look at Israel for crying out loud. Are they safe?

[Henrietta]

Agree with your post.

Good reading on this thread
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/875477/posts
for everyone here. The post is entitled, "The Foreign Menace & Civil Liberties."

Let's not forget what our freedoms mean.

Hetty

[TigersEye]

That still wouldn't be just cause to detain him. Being uncooperative is not a crime.

You don't have to commit a crime to be detained. For that matter you don't have to commit a crime to be arrested either, the police just have to have sufficient cause to believe you've committed a crime and then it's up to the courts. But he was't arrested and he wasn't charged. He was simply detained and that has been done since time immemorial for a variety of reasons. If his civil rights were trampled on he can file suit. Bet he doesn't.

[FrdmLvr]

Right on.

[Jhoffa_]

It's a further insult that this same reporter could quite probably pack a nuke right across either of our borders.

But, taking pictures would get him an interview by the browshirts.

I swear, if Clinton was in charge now FR would be a very, very different place. Everyones tagline would include the words "police state" at least twice.

[Henrietta]

"That's bullshit. I'm usually accused of being a cop basher."

Really? What happened?

[zip]

I'll probably get flamed for standing up for our rights to be left alone, but it wouldn't be the first time...asbestos panties on!

You're right, you should get flamed. This has absolutely nothing to do with being left alone. You are not even trying to understand what is going on. This race card playing, agitating, conservative- hating reporter was setting this up the whole time. He made the confrontation occur singlehandedly. I pray the law enforcement officers respond in this manner every time.

[aruanan]

When you learn from the article that he was deliberately baiting the police -- then the police WERE right to have an articulable suspicion that something was up. Call it a false report of a crime.

Wrong. He wasn't baiting anyone. He was asking questions he, and everyone else, should ask. You sound like the majority of people who inhabit every police state on the face of the planet, who, in fact, help to make those police states possible. "Oh, gee! Yessir. Here are my papers! And if I could bend over any farther, I would 'cause I know you're doing it all for my own good!"

[Henrietta]

You're right that you don't have to have committed a crime to be detained, but the article states that he was "detained" for an hour and a half. This is not a detention (per the Supreme Court's definition, a detention is limited to about a half hour, and the stop here went 'way beyond this; I'll try to get a cite for the case) but an illegal arrest.

Just because he does not file suit doesn't mean what the cops did was legal.

[Timesink]

And then journalists sit around all day wondering why the public ranks them dead last on the list of Least Trustworthy Professions, behind even used car dealers, politicians and trial lawyers.

[TigersEye]

Regardless, all I see on FR anymore is a Godlike worship of the Police and arrogant statement's about how you aren't a patriot if you don't believe "the world changed" on 9/11.

Well you can't say you've seen that from me, for one, and I can't agree that the number of FReepers who think the police can do no wrong has grown more than a small amount. The JBT types have been with us all along. This story just doesn't work as a "my god, it's a police state" story. I'm also not one to think that "everything's changed since 9/11". Horse puckey to that! The world has always been unstable and dangerous. However this story begs the question, if three ME types are seen photographing a resevoir or a nuclear power plant and a policeman stops them and asks them what they are doing do they have the right to say "Nunya bidness. See ya!"?

[Henrietta]

"I swear, if Clinton was in charge now FR would be a very, very different place. Everyones tagline would include the words "police state" at least twice."

Yeah, but since Bush is in charge, we'll all just wait until the DemonRats are running things to protest the nascent police state. But by then it will be too late, won't it?

I'd love to see what Hillary!'s administration would do with all the power we've given the government. She'd make the Bush administration look like pussycats. (Disclaimer: I voted for Bush, so please don't give me crap about being a leftist Bush hater. I happen to like Bush...oh, wait, that came out all wrong... [grin])

[ez]

"I imagine it was his belligerent, uncooperative attitude coupled with suspicious behaviour that gave them just cause."

That still wouldn't be just cause to detain him. Being uncooperative is not a crime.

Oops, you ignored the "acting suspicious" part...

[zip]

Who cares what the cops think? They aren't supposed to detain people unless they have a reasonable and articulable suspicion that the person in question is about to commit a crime.

You win the "Dumbest statement of the day". Are you so retarded that you don't understand that there are terrorists who would love to kill every American just to see the blood? There is nothing wrong with stopping an attack on our people. You are one weird duck.

[Henrietta]

"You're right, you should get flamed."

Yes, God forbid you should actually have to think and debate! Just flame and try to shut people up, it's a lot easier than thinking!

Sheesh!

[TigersEye]

Really? What happened?

Thanks for outing yourself as a one dimensional thinker. Go hide behind your ad hominem attack now.