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.

[TalonDJ]

Hmmm, I often drive around at night with a camcorder on. Especially as I approach a DUI checkpoint (which have to be announced). Could we have a little setup here?

So? He did it calmly and without endangering anyone or hindering the cops in their duty (finding drunks). Hence he was well within his rights to check up on police behavior and find where it was over the line. And thus a free people maintains its checks and balances. If he had acted deliberately suspicious or cause a full blown incident I would feel differently.

[The KG9 Kid]

"Hmmm, I often drive around at night with a camcorder on. Especially as I approach a DUI checkpoint (which have to be announced). Could we have a little setup here?"

Why yes, I hope we could indeed have a little setup here.

What's the matter with that? Police are placing CCD video cameras all over the place and announcing the notion that it's for your own good and "if you're not doing anything illegal you've got nothing to worry about, citizen".

Oh wait, isn't turnabout fair play?

[Kirkwood]

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

"Officer #1: Where you headed tonight?
Brett: I don't wish to discuss my personal life with you officer.
Officer #1: Alright, come on up here."

What is confrontational? If you choose to have the police trample over your rights, that is your choice, but this guy did absolutely nothing wrong or confrontational.

[relictele]

Play friendly, and you will be surprised how easy life can be!

Exactly! The hell with the 4th Amendment - as long as we smile it's all OK as they review our papers!

[Sandreckoner]

"There is a reason for that. Why would I, a firebreathing conservative with a love of guns and freedom, who served 4 yrs in the Marine Corps infantry and who hates criminals and who despises drug users and dregs (even if they may have the right to use drugs), why would I detest the pigs with all my soul? Why would there be so many of us?"

I don't know. Why do so many people hate conservatives? Why do so many people hate gun-lovers? Why do so many people hate the military? Why do so many people hate Americans?

There's a massive, massive double-standard going on here.

[McBuff]

Looks like a snot-nosed punk being uncooperative with officers who are just trying to do their job. In fact, the snot-nosed punk was trying to provoke this whole situation with his little video cam already sent up. . .he's a punk. . a snot-nosed spoiled little punk that needs to go home to his mommie who probably bought him his piece o junk car.

Hey, Brett, don't worry. . .mommie will pay for your new clutch. and another thing, . .the only Brett I know who is not a punk is wearing green and gold #4.

[The KG9 Kid]

"... There's an authoritarian streak in a lot of cops. Its why they become cops."

Ooh ooh! I said that once on FR and you should have seen the cop-lovers go into a tizzy.

... Never mind that I have acquaintances who are cops that certainly have 'short man' syndrome.

[Sandreckoner]

"There's an authoritarian streak in a lot of cops. Its why they become cops."

Yeah, and lots of people also join the military because they're uneducated and want to hurt people.

[darkangel82]

You didn't read the article, did you?

[GoldCountryRedneck]

In my county, the week-end (mostly) checkpoints are more about revenue generation than "protecting the public".

It's a real cash cow...

[RobRoy]

I had no problem with what the cops did on the Rodney king video, but these cops should be imprisoned for kidnapping.

This is absolutely infuriating.

One interesting point: I think the kid set up the cops here. He knew there was a checkpoint, he had the video, and he did EXACTLY waht they tell you to do on the ACLU video a lot of us have seen.

That said, it looks like they NEEDED to be set up.

This is absolutely incredible!

[bigbob]

I admire this kids ability to keep his cool. He showed just how easy those in positions of authority can cross the line. Not saying it happens all the time, but multiply this little experience a few time when you hear about racism and profiling....

[RayStacy]

Why would so many firebreathing CONSERVATIVES hate the pigs? That is the question. As a conservative, I am predisposed to love many things, and I do. Why the exception? Why would we hate pigs if not for the horrible treatment you always see us describing?

[Wormwood]

Something tells me that kid will have a lot of problems growing up.

Something tells me this kid would be just fine in a free society.

So yes, he's going to have problems in this one.

[bk1000]

'Evading conversation is interfering with the officers duty."

What about our right to remain silent?

[Sandreckoner]

"What is confrontational? If you choose to have the police trample over your rights, that is your choice, but this guy did absolutely nothing wrong or confrontational."

What is confrontational is obvious. I haven't spoken to whether or not it's within the kid's rights to refuse to say where he's going. It certainly is. On the flip side, I find nothing "right-trampling" about revealing my destination to a police officer. I realize they have a job to do, and I'll give them some latitude. Until they take an attitude or action against me that crosses the line, I'll give them that.

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.

[RobRoy]

>>I'll take a shot at this: A free one?<<

Apparently not - unless you have videotape.

[blau993]

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

I'd say it's a free country. How about you? The boy had done nothing wrong, and where he was going had nothing to do with the ostensible reason for stopping him.

[Ben Mugged]

On what charges, exactly?

Intefering with a police officer in the conduct of his duties.