This past Friday, I was driving by an elementary school where police are known to sit and monitor the road. I noticed two patrol cars sitting driver window to driver window in the parking lot, but didn't pay them any special attention. As I continued on my way to an anniversary date, I noticed one of the patrol cars coming up behind me. I thought, "Great. Hope I don't get pulled. I'm not sure if my registration is up to date." but continued as if he was not behind me. When I attempted to make a left turn on my way, he flipped lights/sirens and instead of turning, I continued on that road to find an appropriate place to pull over. Pulled off into a gravel pit on the road side and turned off my vehicle. Two officers stepped out and approached my vehicle on both sides, which I noted as very odd for a regular traffic stop. The officer at my window informed me that I had a tail light out, which I was aware of. He asked for my I.D. and registration, which I furnished. When I was handling my wallet, he noticed a sticker that resembled a police badge on the front and asked what it represented. I told him I used to build the light/siren systems for their police department but I had been laid off after our contract with the police department ended. He abruptly mentioned, "I see you've been popped for MJ before." I answered, "Yes sir. It was a misdemeanor possession a couple of years ago that was dismissed in court." He asked his partner, who was at my passenger window what he saw in the vehicle. The second officer said he saw a pile of blunt guts in my car. The first officer asked me to step out of the vehicle, which I agreed to do and exited my vehicle.
At this point, I'm smiling in disbelief that these officers intended to take it there over a dismissed past offense. The officer walked me to the rear of my vehicle and this is what transpired from there.
Note : The officers were both very young. No older than 24 each.
The first officer pats my clothing down, making a joke about making sure there wasn't a bazooka in my pocket.
He asks, "When was the last time someone smoked marijuana in your vehicle?"
I looked up at the sky, not saying anything.
He abruptly says, "Just tell me this. How much we talkin' man? A nickel bag? Half oz? Or a QP?"
I gave him a confused look and said, "In reference to what, sir?"
He says, "The marijuana in your vehicle."
I said, "We're talking about nothing sir."
He walks up to the driver door of my vehicle, looking as much as possible from the outside.
Although I was nervous to take it here, I said, with resolve, "Officer, I want to make it clear that I do not consent to any search."
He says, "I understand sir. Do you feel that I've manipulated you in any way?"
I told him no, even though I felt that his questions and uninvited pat search were unwarranted and manipulative.
He continued toward my car and I repeated myself, saying, "Officer, I do not consent to a search."
He said, "I know that sir"
I said, "Well why are you looking through my vehicle if you understand that you have no consent to do so?"
He said, "Because I can."
I immediately responded, "On what ground sir?"
He motioned to his partner, who grabbed me by the arm and walked me back to the back seat of his vehicle and shut the door. It was like I could feel the animosity of every person who had ever been violated by LEO. I had actually gotten past the stigmas attached to police during my work installing their systems. I met a lot of good people who were just trying to put food on their tables. This was the second time I had seen two officers trying to ruin the life of someone(myself) who has never committed a violent or repeated offense, never been a part of any violence in relation to marijuana, for the sake of their job... putting people away translates to a number on their record. This is the heaviest that the perversion of our legal system has ever sat on my shoulders. Being treated like I'm expected to sell myself out when questioned or lose my composure when my rights are violated. They were counting on it. I didn't give it to them. These men were breaking the law under the pretense of "Justice".
After about ten minutes of watching them rummage through my vehicle, the second officer approached the window of his vehicle and asked me for my car keys. I asked him why he needed them and he said he wanted to get in my trunk. I told him it was open. That the keyhole also served as a pop button. When he walked away, I asserted once more,
"Excuse me sir! I have told you repeatedly that I do not consent to a search of my property and I feel that you and your partner are violating my rights as a citizen."
He responded, "Yes I understand that you don't consent. We'll tell you about it later." and walked back to my car to continue doing his dirt.
All I could think was, "Great. Theyre going to either find a bud from months ago that fell under the seats, or try to plant something in my vehicle. I fucking hope they try to pull a sac of schwag out of my car. I'll laugh in their fucking faces." I couldn't believe this was happening one week after starting a new job. A few weeks before starting a new school term on financial aid. These pigs stood to ruin every productive endeavor I've built up over the past year to meet their rank quota.
I watched their hands, hoping that I would see it if they attempted to plant and "find" something in my car.
I found pleasure in seeing beads of sweat dripping from both of their noses.
The first officer walked back toward me and popped the trunk of his squad car. He walked to the trunk and opened it. At this point, I'm looking back and forth to monitor the actions of both officers, one still looking through my property, the other rummaging through his own trunk. He pulled out a tiny 2"x3" manilla evidence envelope before walking up and opening my door.
When I exited the back of his vehicle, he held up the envelope, which was either empty or already contained MJ shake in it for this type of situation, and said "We found this in your vehicle. It's very old, dry shake, so I'm not going to charge you with anything. Everything we found was on the passenger side of the vehicle, so it may not have even been yours."
I'm shaking my head, half-smirking, only making brief eye contact with the men out of disgust for their rape of my rights and their attempt to justify themselves by lying to me to make me feel as though I owed them gratitude for not arresting me. Every time I attempted to express what I was feeling about the situation, I had to stop myself and simply say "I'm really trying hard to be respectful sir."
I told him that no matter what his search was based on, whether a pile of tobacco(NOT WEED), or a previously dismissed possession charge, that he had no right to look through my things without a warrant. Especially when I was expressly invoking my 4th amendment rights. I also told him that I really loved and missed my job building emergency systems for their department and that I had met a lot of good cops... a backhanded way of saying that he and his partner were shitheads.
He kissed my ass, telling me about his respect for my knowledge of the vehicles, pulled my now bent and wrinkled license and registration from his belt, and realized he hadn't even run my information in the first place. He ran it and told me I was free to go.
He had no name badge or badge number on his uniform. The other officer did though. I know they were police.
I got back in my vehicle, lit a cigarette, and messaged the owner of my former employer about what had just happened. The officers sat behind me for a couple minutes before pulling off. I noted their patrol car number.
I don't know what to do here. I want to do everything I can within legal parameters to pursue these men and their department for what happened to me. It's not the first time I've been unfairly targeted, but it is the first time I've invoked my rights as a citizen, thanks to everything I've learned here on IC, as well as my involvement in founding a NORML chapter for my city. I wanted to know if there is anyone here with similar experiences, and what my options are. I called the non-emergency number for the police and attempted to find info on these officers, but I was given nothing. I didn't make an official complaint but told the woman on the phone that I would be in contact with my attorney on Monday.
Does anyone know what I could do, based on the laws in North Carolina? I guess they didn't do anything of any damage to me, but they did break a lot of rules under the assumption that I'm every dumbass out here that doesn't know his/her rights.
I'd really like to put these fucks in the unemployment line, where I stood after their department took a cheaper contract for the service of their vehicles.
Thanks for any feedback/advice and thanks for your time if you give this a read. I know it's a bit lengthy.
I'm still free. Cheers.
At this point, I'm smiling in disbelief that these officers intended to take it there over a dismissed past offense. The officer walked me to the rear of my vehicle and this is what transpired from there.
Note : The officers were both very young. No older than 24 each.
The first officer pats my clothing down, making a joke about making sure there wasn't a bazooka in my pocket.
He asks, "When was the last time someone smoked marijuana in your vehicle?"
I looked up at the sky, not saying anything.
He abruptly says, "Just tell me this. How much we talkin' man? A nickel bag? Half oz? Or a QP?"
I gave him a confused look and said, "In reference to what, sir?"
He says, "The marijuana in your vehicle."
I said, "We're talking about nothing sir."
He walks up to the driver door of my vehicle, looking as much as possible from the outside.
Although I was nervous to take it here, I said, with resolve, "Officer, I want to make it clear that I do not consent to any search."
He says, "I understand sir. Do you feel that I've manipulated you in any way?"
I told him no, even though I felt that his questions and uninvited pat search were unwarranted and manipulative.
He continued toward my car and I repeated myself, saying, "Officer, I do not consent to a search."
He said, "I know that sir"
I said, "Well why are you looking through my vehicle if you understand that you have no consent to do so?"
He said, "Because I can."
I immediately responded, "On what ground sir?"
He motioned to his partner, who grabbed me by the arm and walked me back to the back seat of his vehicle and shut the door. It was like I could feel the animosity of every person who had ever been violated by LEO. I had actually gotten past the stigmas attached to police during my work installing their systems. I met a lot of good people who were just trying to put food on their tables. This was the second time I had seen two officers trying to ruin the life of someone(myself) who has never committed a violent or repeated offense, never been a part of any violence in relation to marijuana, for the sake of their job... putting people away translates to a number on their record. This is the heaviest that the perversion of our legal system has ever sat on my shoulders. Being treated like I'm expected to sell myself out when questioned or lose my composure when my rights are violated. They were counting on it. I didn't give it to them. These men were breaking the law under the pretense of "Justice".
After about ten minutes of watching them rummage through my vehicle, the second officer approached the window of his vehicle and asked me for my car keys. I asked him why he needed them and he said he wanted to get in my trunk. I told him it was open. That the keyhole also served as a pop button. When he walked away, I asserted once more,
"Excuse me sir! I have told you repeatedly that I do not consent to a search of my property and I feel that you and your partner are violating my rights as a citizen."
He responded, "Yes I understand that you don't consent. We'll tell you about it later." and walked back to my car to continue doing his dirt.
All I could think was, "Great. Theyre going to either find a bud from months ago that fell under the seats, or try to plant something in my vehicle. I fucking hope they try to pull a sac of schwag out of my car. I'll laugh in their fucking faces." I couldn't believe this was happening one week after starting a new job. A few weeks before starting a new school term on financial aid. These pigs stood to ruin every productive endeavor I've built up over the past year to meet their rank quota.
I watched their hands, hoping that I would see it if they attempted to plant and "find" something in my car.
I found pleasure in seeing beads of sweat dripping from both of their noses.
The first officer walked back toward me and popped the trunk of his squad car. He walked to the trunk and opened it. At this point, I'm looking back and forth to monitor the actions of both officers, one still looking through my property, the other rummaging through his own trunk. He pulled out a tiny 2"x3" manilla evidence envelope before walking up and opening my door.
When I exited the back of his vehicle, he held up the envelope, which was either empty or already contained MJ shake in it for this type of situation, and said "We found this in your vehicle. It's very old, dry shake, so I'm not going to charge you with anything. Everything we found was on the passenger side of the vehicle, so it may not have even been yours."
I'm shaking my head, half-smirking, only making brief eye contact with the men out of disgust for their rape of my rights and their attempt to justify themselves by lying to me to make me feel as though I owed them gratitude for not arresting me. Every time I attempted to express what I was feeling about the situation, I had to stop myself and simply say "I'm really trying hard to be respectful sir."
I told him that no matter what his search was based on, whether a pile of tobacco(NOT WEED), or a previously dismissed possession charge, that he had no right to look through my things without a warrant. Especially when I was expressly invoking my 4th amendment rights. I also told him that I really loved and missed my job building emergency systems for their department and that I had met a lot of good cops... a backhanded way of saying that he and his partner were shitheads.
He kissed my ass, telling me about his respect for my knowledge of the vehicles, pulled my now bent and wrinkled license and registration from his belt, and realized he hadn't even run my information in the first place. He ran it and told me I was free to go.
He had no name badge or badge number on his uniform. The other officer did though. I know they were police.
I got back in my vehicle, lit a cigarette, and messaged the owner of my former employer about what had just happened. The officers sat behind me for a couple minutes before pulling off. I noted their patrol car number.
I don't know what to do here. I want to do everything I can within legal parameters to pursue these men and their department for what happened to me. It's not the first time I've been unfairly targeted, but it is the first time I've invoked my rights as a citizen, thanks to everything I've learned here on IC, as well as my involvement in founding a NORML chapter for my city. I wanted to know if there is anyone here with similar experiences, and what my options are. I called the non-emergency number for the police and attempted to find info on these officers, but I was given nothing. I didn't make an official complaint but told the woman on the phone that I would be in contact with my attorney on Monday.
Does anyone know what I could do, based on the laws in North Carolina? I guess they didn't do anything of any damage to me, but they did break a lot of rules under the assumption that I'm every dumbass out here that doesn't know his/her rights.
I'd really like to put these fucks in the unemployment line, where I stood after their department took a cheaper contract for the service of their vehicles.
Thanks for any feedback/advice and thanks for your time if you give this a read. I know it's a bit lengthy.
I'm still free. Cheers.
