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by STLFF12 from St. Louis City

Last Post 176 days, 8 hours Ago


St. George PD Incident
Sep 11, 2007 | 5:32 PM
Category: News
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I can surely appreciate citizens being upset over what happened to the 20 year old and the Police Sgt. but what I don't understand is why would a 20 year old need a camera in his vehicle to begin with?  Is there a need for a 20 year old vigilante? News reports stated that the 20 year old had run in's with the police in the past. Not a good sign at 20 years old to already have multiple conflicts with police. What are you doing wrong. Commuter lots, usuaully for commuting, not sitting there for periods of time, that = suspiscious activity. And Im not defending the Sgt. as his behavior was not necessary, but having that camera in the kid's car made him feel as if he could be defiant to the officer and be a smart mouth. He's already pushing buttons by driving the way he was and then his manors to the officer. I believe if he would have just complied (a man) instead of being a 20 year old, the incident would not have unfolded the way it did.

 

Again, I do not endorse the behavior of the Police Sergeant.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 17
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AnnaOneAnnaTwo read my blog
Sep 11, 2007 | 6:31 PM

If you listen to the whole 12 minute tape, the kid was NOT defiant nor was his driving questionable. I think he held it together far better than I would have! He says he put the camera in the car because he has been unjustly accused before--and, I suspect, because kids this age are just SO techno-savvy. The only way he has a chance of fighting an unjust ticket or arrest is to produce a tape like this. I have a young son who has had a similar false accusation against him (he says). No way of telling who's right. And this cop made it clear that he was not above making charges up. Who wins in court in that case: the cop or the kid? Cop, slam dunk. Even though he's a lying liar!
AnnaOneAnnaTwo read my blog
Sep 11, 2007 | 6:32 PM

I should add: I am NOT the least bit anti-cop or anti-establishment at all. I am anti-abuse of power wherever it occurs.
LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Sep 11, 2007 | 10:52 PM

It is a no win situation for any person who is targeted by the police. I've known many, one of my kiddos included. I also know many wonderful police who truly are concerned with doing the right thing.

When I am pulled over, yes, it happened a few times. I am polite and say yes sir, no sir to show respect. My hands are on the steering wheel at 10 and 2, to show I'm not hostile.

I take no chances. Neither should anyone else.
Flaglady read my blog view my photos
Sep 12, 2007 | 8:00 AM

Listening to the radio this morning about this. I am not endorsing the police offier's behavior either. This 20 year old was out to provoke the police officer. Him and his buddy were on walkie talkies look for cops. In 2006 this same kid drove up to a sobriety check point and started in on the police. This boy isn't so innocent. It purposely was going to a commuter parking lot that has had break-ins and didn't want to answer why he was there.
Speedy62269 read my blog
Sep 12, 2007 | 8:35 AM

The entire point of this St. George cop issue is we as American citizens can go/park wherever we want on public taxpayer property. That entrance had one ingress/egress therefore cop could have just remained parked and not reacted so quickly. He could have called in the 10-28 of the car and verified driver and car are clear.

Whether the 20 yr old was "looking" for trouble is an irrelevant statement. Let's say that he was on his own sting trying to see which cop would snap at him while on hidden camera. Well, so what - the cops do that all the time. This cop created the mess and now will lose his job over it. St. George PD can cry all they want that the 20 yr old was looking for trouble and I am thankful he exposed it! Good job kid - get a lawyer and make some changes.
Fenix1
Sep 12, 2007 | 9:57 AM

Speedy,

The police have to be given some latitude. You say this is America and we can park wherever we want. So lets say a young man is parked in front of your residence at lets say 1:00 a.m. You have not seen this vehicle in your area before and find it "suspicious". You call the police they show up, make contact with the driver. Driver tells them he is waiting for a friend, and that he does not want to discuss his personal life with the officer. The officer then says, well he is parked legally and since it is not a crime to park on the street, have a good night.

The next day you go to your vehicle and find that it has been broken into. you know it was probabally the kid from earlier in the morning. So you would then call the police and tell them that they are worthless because one of the officers had contact with the suspect and did nothing! Happens all the time, the police never get a fair shake. (JMO)

You also say that obtaining the vehicles 28 info would clear the car and driver. This would clear the car only and tell you who the registered owner is. I don't know about you but I have driven many vehicles that are not registered to me. So the officer would have to contact the driver and obtain his info to determine if he was the owner of the vehicle. But since this is America and the driver had did nothing wrong he does not have to tell the officer who he is or show him ID Right? Just some things to think about before we start bad mouthing the police.
AnnaOneAnnaTwo read my blog
Sep 12, 2007 | 11:14 AM

Fenix1, I think the police have been given TOO much latitude and it's demonstrated in the video where this police sergeant claims he can make charges up ("nine things") because he "knows the law" better than this young man. There have to be checks and balances. If the police are doing their job correctly, they have nothing to fear from kids who try to provoke them or any citizen who has a video camera in his/her car.
kadas read my blog
Sep 12, 2007 | 12:30 PM

Bet you this was the same kid in school teachers use to groan when they found out he was in their class.
If you are looking for trouble you will find trouble or make your own. If the kid would have answered the questions nothing probably would have happened.
Fenix1
Sep 12, 2007 | 12:57 PM

AnnaOneAnnaTwo,

You need to do a ride along with a police department, because you have no idea how vile officers are treated on the streets daily. If they show one ounce of weakness to the punks on the street then he/she is through. You do not think he handled it correctly, tell me how you would have handled it?
Speedy62269 read my blog
Sep 12, 2007 | 1:13 PM

Fenix: It seems that you need to ride with a cop on a busy night. This officer had no business at his location - out of jurisdiction per St. George MO. Now, if that's inaccurate then I have no problem with any cop pulling anyone over. We have the right to ask why. It's absolutely none of their (cops) business where we are going - this is something called - freedom. Now, if we are acting suspicious as was this 10-37 then the cop was correct and should have ran the drivers info and been done.

End result: Officers gets fired, no charges on 20 yr old because he did nothing against the law, and St. George will settle out of court a financial payment for what I witnessed on this unedited tape - harrassment.
Exerciser999 read my blog
Sep 12, 2007 | 1:18 PM

Wow - are you related to this cop?

This wasn't handled properly at all. Notice that the cop is already illegally parked on a public street (yeah, driver had to swerve to the right) cop immediately goes to car and creates controversy. As the Police Chief of St. George MO stated, the 20 yr old did nothing wrong and was not disrespectful to the officer. You can confirm that yourself via googling or Fox 2. Nine violations? What the heck is that about? Officer mentioned no turn signal - well that was confirmed incorrect when you watch the video - kid had signal on to turn right. Every claim the officer is making is a lie, his demeanor is that of a disgruntled person, and incident wouldn't have happened if officer would have had more sensitivity training.

Within 30 days you'll see the true results.
Fenix1
Sep 12, 2007 | 1:47 PM

Speedy,

Depends where the first violation was noticed. If it was in St. George Venue then he can effect the stop where he (officer) feels that it is safe, even if it takes him out of his venue. And believe me I ride along everyday!
caninekopz read my blog
Sep 12, 2007 | 3:29 PM

Do you know that refusal to cooperate is a form of defiance?

Stcik with if Fenix
sarcasticdragon
Sep 12, 2007 | 3:40 PM

The cop was a jerk, no doubt.
But it takes one to know one.

That kid is NO babe in the wood. He has a history with defying authority.
connie3212 read my blog view my photos
Sep 12, 2007 | 3:48 PM

I am still trying to figure out why this kid has to go around looking for trouble with a camera instead of going out with girls and doing "normal" things now. Especially with gas prices these days....how dumb is it to drive around, look for cops just because he has had run-ins with them before. DUH!!! Everyone nowadays has run-ins with cops. I have been pulled over before, I don't have a camera in my car.
STLFF12 read my blog
Sep 12, 2007 | 3:56 PM

Yeah, he surely wasn't drawing attention to himself, after turning into the communter lot @ 2am, swirving when pulling into the lot, and then as soon as he passes the police car, proceedes to turn on loud music to attract the attention of the police officer. And he's got his expensive police radar detector and knows he was coming upon a police officer.

As with his other video involving the sobriety check point. I understand people's privacy, but just tell the officer, your going home, don't be a smart mouth as telling him about privacy rights.

And with that camera in his car, thats nothing but bait to get away with things and then cry when he gets caught.
AnnaOneAnnaTwo read my blog
Sep 12, 2007 | 4:33 PM

Fenix, you can't SERIOUSLY think this cop handled this correctly????
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STLFF12

Im a local Firefighter, who has grown up in St. Louis. I lived and worked in the city for a number of years. I love to do just about anything, especially helping others. I work hard, don't get paid the best, but I get food on the table. It's about helping the fellow person. And I fight for equality of the majority.

Member Since: 4/2/2007


 

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