Police Defend Arrest Over Loud Cell Phone Call

The Washingto Post ^ | 9/28/04 Go Figure | By Lyndsey Layton

[freebilly]

Sakinah Aaron was walking into the bus area at the Wheaton Metro station several weeks ago, talking loudly on her Motorola cell phone. A little too loudly for Officer George Saoutis of the Metro Transit Police.

The police officer told Aaron, who is five months pregnant, to lower her voice. She told the officer he had no right to tell her how to speak into her cell phone.

Their verbal dispute quickly escalated, and Saoutis grabbed Aaron by the arm and pushed her to the ground. He handcuffed the 23-year-old woman, called for backup and took her to a cell where she was held for three hours before being released to her aunt. She was charged with two misdemeanors: "disorderly manner that disturbed the public peace" and resisting arrest.

[5Madman2]

Concur

[PBRSTREETGANG]

John Edwards I guess?

Good guess.

[CaptainK]

Thank you for that morning diversion..

[unixfox]

When a cop asks you to do something, you do it.

You would make a good little serf.

[tm22721]

Rudeness is not a crime.

When most of the populace starts showing (and getting away with) a general disrespect for an officer of the law then we are in trouble.

BUMP

[monday]

"Exactly. When a cop asks you to do something, you do it. The consequences of non-compliance can be a bitch."

When police are given absolute authority to do whatever they want you live in a police state. You no longer have rights and the constitution is meaningless. Rule of law is replaced by rule of man. Freedom and justice become meaningless concepts.

I think she was being rude and annoying, but being rude and annoying isn't a crime. The police officer should be fired and charged with false arrest.

[monday]

"Nevermind the fact that being pregnant does not make it allowable for a woman to be a loudmouth."

Being a loudmouth isn't a crime. Anyone can be a loudmouth, pregnant or not. Next you will say stupidity is a crime. In case you are wondering, it isn't.

[Weirdad]

I agree with you that despite its non-criminality in most cases, a protean rudeness in a culture is a major problem (e.g. and i.e., France!), and generalized courtesy is very important for the most functional societies.

[Weirdad]

You've got great quotes on your profile page.

[monday]

"The loudmouth was obviously playing hookey from Commonsense School the day they taught the lesson on not sassing large, uniformed men who wear a badge and carry firearms"

The cop needs to learn what a crime is and what isn't. It isn't his job to monitor the manners of ordinary citizens. Whats next, fashion police? Attitude police? Thought police?

Just because someone is rude doesn't give anyone the right to beat them up. I suspect this lady will win a large settlement because the city knows that if she goes to court she is going to win.

[r9etb]

Like I said = NO CRIME! That is true fascism!~

Disturbing the peace. Case closed.

As for it being "fascism," not at all. That's just a convenient word by which you are expressing your dismay. It is not, however, evidence that you have given the matter any thought. Quite the opposite, in fact.

[Old Professer]

Sometimes you scare me.

[asgardshill]

The cop needs to learn what a crime is and what isn't.

Looks to me like he already "learned". Disturbing the peace and fighting with the police IS a crime.

It isn't his job to monitor the manners of ordinary citizens.

It IS his job to arrest ordinary citizens if necessary if they break the law. And she broke the law.

[asgardshill]

"any other guy who pushed his pregnant wife to the ground FOR ANY REASON would be thrown in jail, lose his house, car, child custody, etc...."

I would add "Any woman who intentionally places her unborn child in danger due to fighting with the police should be thrown in jail, lose custody of her child, etc."

No more calls; we have a winner (who has identified the only relevant issue).

The only relevant issues are Mom's callous carelessness in exposing her unborn child to such danger, as well as her breaking the law.

[monday]

"It IS his job to arrest ordinary citizens if necessary if they break the law. And she broke the law."

Defending oneself from false arrest isn't breaking the law. The police officer who falsely arrested her is the one who broke the law.

Prohibition against false imprisonment is in the constitution as is the first amendment for freedom of speech. Nowhere is it mentioned in the constitution that one must not annoy people.

[monday]

"You've got great quotes on your profile page."

Thanks:^)

[asgardshill]

Defending oneself from false arrest isn't breaking the law. The police officer who falsely arrested her is the one who broke the law.

No one was falsely arrested. Disturbing the peace is a crime. And you don't get to decide whether the officer "falsely" arrested anyone or not - that's up to the courts and a jury.

[monday]

"The only relevant issues are Mom's callous carelessness in exposing her unborn child to such danger"

I see. So police are to be considered dangerous and must be avoided if one doesn't want to be beaten? hmmmm..... I had always thought police were to protect citizens, not beat them up if they are annoying or looked at the officer wrong.

[monday]

"No one was falsely arrested.........And you don't get to decide whether the officer "falsely" arrested anyone or not - that's up to the courts and a jury."

Hey no fair. If you get to have an opinion, then I should be able to have an opinion too. I guess allowing people who disagree with you to have an opinion is more than you "obey my authoritaaaa" types can handle huh?

[Legion04]

Talk about cops that want to abuse their power trip!!