Posted on 11/23/2005 6:52:38 AM PST by mom4kittys
Police trying to raise money with arrests, says driver
07:39 AM CST on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 Bob Greene / WWL-TV Reporter
Scott Aertker never imagined his drive home from work last Friday evening would go so wrong so fast, when he was arrested for what he called minor traffic violations that should have only resulted in a ticket.
WWL-TV
Scott Aertker claims police arrested him for minor traffic violations and added additional charges after he was transported to jail for booking.
Aertker has since become one of many New Orleans to have complained of unfair treatment by city police.
It was a typical Friday, as far Aertker was concerned. According to him, less than a mile from his warehouse district home, his drive became anything but typical.
"Upon approaching the light at Tchoupitoulas, I pulled along side an NOPD squad car. Made some eye contact with the officer, no big deal. Couple seconds later, (I) see the lights flash and was asked over the loud speaker to pull over,” Aertker said.
Aertker said he pulled over, was asked by officers to get out of the car and put his hands on it. At that point, he said he was immediately handcuffed and placed under arrest.
"I was told that I was doing 35 in a 30 and I was following too close,” Aertker said.
But, by the time he reached booking and was handed his papers -- charges of reckless driving and an improper lane change had been tacked onto his list of charges.
"I was on the tail of the vehicle. But to me, that isn't even the issue,” Aertker said. “That's a traffic citation, that isn't grounds for imprisonment for 15 plus hours or so. That's where I think the city is in the wrong."
But, NOPD Captain Marlon Defillo said, he doesn't believe the city or police department was in the wrong here.
"…Reckless operation, speeding, this individual obviously did something that was such gross negligence on his part, that it warranted a physical arrest,” Defillo said.
Aerkert said he wasn't alone in lockup, and that several people, including a Hammond man, were in jail for minor traffic violations.
"He was in there for no seatbelt. By the time he got there, his surprise on his papers was that he was resisting arrest, which was news to him,” Aerkert said.
WWL-TV
NOPD spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo denies claims that officers are arresting traffic violators in an effort to draw more money for the city.
Defillo said it is not unusual for someone to be arrested for such violations.
“I've arrested individuals for reckless operation before,” Defillo said.
Aerkert said he believed there was more to it.
"They're looking to somehow generate some type of income. And they're doing that by putting traffic violators in jail,” Aerkert said.
That’s a charge Defillo denies.
“The police department receives no funding from citations,” Defillo said.
However, another public body does receive those funds; courts use that money to pay lawyers to represent poor defendants.
In the meantime, Aerkert can only stand by, waiting to have his day in court.
Since his arrest, Aertker said he has tried to meet with the police chief to voice his concerns about the traffic division.
Cherchez les lawyers.
Leni
It's New Orleans. Always remember to tip the officer.
NOPD has apparently been out of control for quite a while. I can't imagine why anyone would be willing to live there.
If someone tried to arrest me for no seatbelt, I might be charged with resisting arrest, too. This is nuts. Call the police. No, wait, the police are the problem.
Lee County Mississippi?
Shop ahh tool us
The guy's a local. He doesn't know a shakedown when he sees one?
He's lucky he got off easy. Next time the cops will work him over while he resists arrest.
"I fought the law and the law won."""
He can have sensitivity sessions with Kurt Busch of Nascar fame.......
Chop'-ah-too-las.
I am cheating though. I lived there years ago. Same with Atachafalya. Chaf-fah-lie-ah.
Defillo is not being honest. The city police are essentially extorting money from innocent people on the street. Meanwhile real crime is taking place and nothing is being done to stop it (prosecuting the real criminals only eats up money). If Nagin doesn't crack down soon on the cops, recovery will be pushed back another 6 months.
I know! I thought Defillo was one of the few straight up NOPD guys and I can't believe the things he has been saying with a straight face to the media. He actually said said that those Cadillacs were not looted, that the officers patrolled in those cars. Yeah right--in Houston and various other places.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.