see what's happening to our Constitutional rights...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUzd7G875Hc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwnd%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ephp%3Ffa%3DPAGE%2Eview%26pageId%3D95300&feature=player_embedded
That is unreal. I sent a link to a bunch of friends.
I am not defending the Border Patrol or the DPS.
But, I have a question. Why would a person with apparently nothing to hide, not roll the dark tinted window down so the BP could see inside better, and why would that person refuse to answer what were probably simple questions?
The 4th amendment states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
A key word there is unreasonable. Maybe it's just me, but on the occasions when I have encountered such checkpoints in southern NM, (or any other traffic stop anywhere else) I roll down my dark tinted side windows automatically, no matter the weather. I know the officer outside can not see what I'm doing inside. This is especially so at night, and I believe the Pastor said it was night. At night I also turn on my interior lights to aid their vision. I want them to see that I am not a threat to them. I also don't find the usual questions objectionable or unreasonable. I remain polite and relaxed and so do the officers, and I'm soon on my way. On a couple of occasions I have cursed after I'm driving down the road again. It's true that some officers can be a$$holes who like to intimidate and throw their weight around, but it is unproductive to antagonize them. By remaining civil I was free to drive on with a story to relate later on.
Like I said, maybe it's just me.
I agree to a point Don. I talk at check points but that's where the cooperation ends. I do roll down the window to talk of course.
We don't have Boarder Patrol here thank God. That's always been a bad Department. Our checkpoints are DUI and I don't drink enough to ever worry about them. I think it's funny that half the country jumped on the bandwagon and demanded, the two BP Officers who shot an unarmed suspect in the back and then tried to cover it up, be released from jail...but become outraged at the same people demanding to search your car...something's wrong with that thinking d*
There is a golden rule....never consent to a search of any kind! Never cooperate and never volunteer information.
Now...there are some problems with his story and that deeply concerns me. You should always be able to believe what a preacher tells you.
First, refusing a search is not a crime. They can physically restrain you while doing a search, but no crime for an arrest. What were the charges? He did something to be arrested.
Second, probable suspicion does allow a search...however if you refuse and the vehicle is stopped, they have to obtain a search warrant before proceeding. That accounts for the wait.
Third, repeated Tasings are not normal/ When you are tased, your on a leash. All the officer needs do is hit the trigger again. How many times did he say he was tased...3.
There are a lot of holes in that story.
I have to say I have had a run-in with the AZ DPS and it was not fun. I worked a summer in college there with ACMNP (A Christian Ministry in the National Parks). One day I took a group of friends from work to Flagstaff to buy groceries and go see a movie. There were six of us (I was driving my mom's minivan for the summer) and because we were technically in a national "forest" coming out of the Grand Canyon, I had to have my headlights on. My main reason for the trip was to buy a new headlight because one of mine had gone out. Now remember, it is broad daylight, maybe three o'clock in the afternoon. We stopped at Valle at an Exxon station to get a pop and then got back in and pulled out, and I was sure to turn on my headlights again as there were signs everywhere saying I had to. As soon as I pulled out (safely and legally), an AZ highway patrol pulled out behind me. He pulled me over almost immediately. The windows were already rolled down as the van didn't have AC and it was hot. He came up and asked us how much we'd had to drink and what we were drinking. I showed him my bottle of cream soda, and my Navajo friend riding shotgun grinned and showed him his Diet Dr. Pepper, while our four friends in the back giggled and showed him their cans of pop. He wanted to know why I was in AZ with out of state plates. I told him that I was in college and was working for the summer in the canyon with ACMNP (explaining what that was, of course.) Then he tells me I am violating the law because I don't have AZ plates and have been in the state for more than 16 days and don't have an AZ tag and license, and then he starts telling me he's going to ticket me because i have a headlight out. I'd already told him I was on my way to Wal-mart in Flagstaff to get a new one and that we were all co-workers and were going to a movie. Then he starts telling me that the window tinting on my vehicle is illegal. He is still accusing us of drinking, even though I explained to him that none of us drank and that half of them were too young to even. He made me and the Navajo guy get out of the car and then he actually frisked me and wanted my friend to take a breathalyzer. He kept us there for nearly an hour, threatening to arrest us and to impound my vehicle. I corrected him and told him that as long as I was a student and working a summer job in the state that I was not required by AZ state law to change my liscense or tags. He got on the phone with someone while I'm standing there with my hands on the hood of the van scared out of my wits, and after quite a while, he finally comes back, writes me a warning for the headlight, and let me go. We were so late we missed the movie, and I got stopped again in Flagstaff before I could get into the Wal-mart parking lot for the headlight out, and though that officer was nicer, he still wrote me a second warning about the light even though I showed him the one I'd just gotten and explained yet again that I was on my way to replace it right then. Needless to say, while my friends were shopping, I was out in the parking lot replacing the headlight!!!!
Now the first HP was way off base, and he was basically saying since we were a mixed group of different races that we couldn't really be up to any good. He acted like I was making up the part about who I was working with in the canyon, though I offered him our pastor's number so that he could call him and verify our story... I was afraid I was going to have to call him to come bail us out of jail for having a burned out headlight! He threatened me over and over again, and I knew that I was no match for him because he was armed, huge, and had a badge. My Navajo friend was scared to death because he kept treating him like, "What are you doing off the rez?" He looked like a beaten dog, even though he'd done absolutely nothing wrong... big ol' guy was practically cowering in front of this officer, and I was so shaken that I hardly knew what to do, so I stood there with my hands on the hood like he told me and didn't move. Had a huge distaste for AZ DPS ever since. I double checked on everything he accused me of later, and none of it held water. The guy patted me down, for Pete's sake. I mean, I never even got sent to the principal's office in school... I've never tasted alcohol or used drugs, I've never run a red light or caused an accident. I was there teaching Sunday school and leading Bible studies for employees of the national park... such a threat to the security of the state! >:(
Homegrown, I'm sorry to hear of your bad experiences. There are ignoramus cops all over, I have run into a few myself. However I really do not believe that is typical, at least not from my personal experiences, which have been numerous.
Quote from: peternap on April 21, 2009, 01:52:36 AM
....I talk at check points but that's where the cooperation ends. I do roll down the window to talk of course..... ...Our checkpoints are DUI and I don't drink enough to ever worry about them.
That's the way I look at those things. We have many DUI/DWI checkpoints here too and considering the fact that they always come up with some drunks I'm fine with them. I believe that if I have nothing to hide I have nothing to fear at checkpoints. The officers have to ask a question or two to gauge your responses.
All we have on this video is the video. I found nothing else online except a plethora of web mentions that all point to this video. I believe the guy was out to "make the news" for whatever reason and he gpt caught on the wrong end of the stick.
As for him being a baptist pastor, that is irrelevant. When a car is stopped at a checkpoint the officers have no idea of who is inside. They are either stopping all cars or random cars according to a prearranged system.
And even if the officers knew he was a pastor, so what? Priests have been pedophiles, firefighters have been arsonists, judges have demanded bribes, the librarian could be a serial killer... There is no profession or group of people that does not have its black sheep.
This pastor has a reputation for doing things like this.
Quote from: StinkerBell on April 21, 2009, 10:40:30 AM
This pastor has a reputation for doing things like this.
Ah! Run a YouTube search on his name. There are other interesting, off the wall hits. I think he has an agenda; no idea of this one worked out the way he envisioned.
I'm in the process for the CHP right now and I just have to say that they are VERY thorough!
They have you fill out a questionairre that asks you every question imaginable that could be negative: Any drug usage, accidents, hit and runs, stealing from employers, employers who won't hire you back, vandalism, fraud, fights, drinking.
Then they have you fill out a 30 page background statement. Including 7 year rental and work history with contact numbers of people resided with, co-workers, landlords, supervisors. They ask the drug questions again. They ask about your finances and education.
Then they have two separate forms that they can compare for deceit and on top of that a background investigator will compare these two forms along with an audio tape from when you were interviewed by a QAP board. He will then ask you questions with a voice stress analyzer to see if you are hiding anything.
Then you have to take a psychological test and meet with a psychologists to ensure that you are a stable person.
Deep breath.
Then you have to go through a 6 month training academy.
I can't say that I hate the police or the organization because they push an honest agenda. It's just a few individuals who really mess things up.
Ever heard of the Stanford Prison Experiment? You might be able to find it on youtube. It basically went astray because one of the prison guards had just watched cool hand luke before the job started...