Question:
Civil Rights violation?
Jason R
2009-05-21 15:23:25 UTC
On 5/19/09 during regular business hours at a local bowling alley my brother, fiance, and myself were detained by deputies for approximately 30 minutes. The deputy drove through the parking lot and passed our vehicle as we exited the vehicle the deputy sped up and blocked our vehicle in. He asked for our id's and questioned us because we were "suspicious". What made us suspicious??? What is suspicious about 2 white males and 1 white female carry socks walking towards the enterance of a bowling alley during regular business hours. This parking lot is private property. We told him we were having a talk and we were here to bowl. He told us we were free to go but then asked if there was any alcohol in the vehicle and we answered yes. Keep in mind he didn't follow us in the parking lot.We had been there for almost 20 minutes. No crime took place on the states right of way and the parking lot was not posted as required by sc state law for them to patrol it unless they were dispatched there for a call. No one from the bowling alley called the police.They searched our person and the vehicle and threatened to charge us with open container. We do not feel that he had probable cause to stop us nor search us as we had not committed a crime. We did not feel free to leave at anytime without being arrested or tased. All of us are over the age of 21. In SC open container can only be charged on the states right of ways and not on private property. The Terry Frisk Law only allows for officers to perform a pat down of our exterior. These deputies ( 4 total ) searched our vehicle and our person pulling out my pockets, wallet, a single $100 bill, and a few cents in change. They searched my fiance's purse, person, and wallet. They conducted the same exact search on my brother and took his cell phone which they gave back to him. The Terry Frisk Law is for officer safety so that they can search for weapons. It was clearly obvious by our clothing that we were not concealing any weapons whatsoever. ( t-shirt and jeans ((not baggy clothing at all and flip flops))). They threatened to charge us but said since we were cooperating with them they would let us off with a verbal warning. Were our rights violated.
Five answers:
JB
2009-05-21 15:36:16 UTC
You keep referring to the Terry Frisk law, it is not a law only a court case decision. There are many other factors that allow an officer to search you other than the Terry Decision.



You also mention that they did not have probable cause to stop you, probable cause is needed to make a warrant-less arrest, not stop. In order to stop they only need reasonable suspicion.



You thought your actions were not suspicious, and by your thought process they probably were not. But you need to look at what the officers knew, and when they knew it, in order to determine if you were suspicious to them.



Young people waiting in a parking lot, when the business is open, and they are not going into the business is point one of suspicion. The time of day, the crime rate of the area, the number of calls in the past on that lot, are all just a few more things to consider. When you start adding them up, you can get a suspicious car stop. And while SC law does not permit traffic citations on private property without posting, it does not prohibit law enforcement from conducting a suspicious auto stop.



No, I do not believe your rights were violated. I do think you did the right thing and cooperated. If more people cooperated with suspicious car stops, less people would find themselves in custody.
anonymous
2009-05-21 15:36:20 UTC
Ask yourself this, "Is this the only thing these cops have to do is harass us?" Something tipped the cops off. They could have been looking for someone matching your description. What they were looking for could have nothing to do with bowling or booze. All in all this event cast you 20 minutes. Are you prepared to loose days and even weeks filing reports, testifying in court all to make a point that you feel your rights were violated? It was 20 minutes. Nobody got arrested, fined, and no property was taken from you. Get over it and move on with your life.
?
2016-11-08 15:18:21 UTC
comparable-intercourse marriage is a civil rights subject there is distinction between a criminal marriage and a non secular marriage. A criminal marriage is a criminal settlement between 2 human beings. to take action, you may desire to bypass interior the direction of the courtroom gadget, which from my wisdom has no longer something to do with a church/faith. criminal marriage performs no section in faith. the undertaking i assume is human beings think of gay marriage will rigidity church homes to allow gay marriage. No it won't! A church can refuse to marry everyone because of the fact they might do what they desire. yet their desires shouldn't dictate US coverage. Being gay is not greater of a call than having brown eyes. the two are organic and organic. The bible is a determination of fairy-thoughts written by employing adult adult males who did no longer comprehend how the international worked. it quite is used to administration human beings gay persons purely desire equivalent rights below the regulation. they are not attempting to alter non secular dogma. people who factor to the bible for data against gay marriage might desire to verify the e book a sprint greater heavily. they opt to %. and choose what to have self belief. it quite is rather unhappy. If some thing effects their existence in in some way, they say "We shouldn't take it actually." yet as quickly as some thing would not consequence their lives, yet many others, they're enthusiastic approximately it. Why do no longer the non secular combat for re-naming criminal marriage? because of the fact it quite is purely a non secular term, why can the government use it? And which faith claims carry of the observe? Christians? What approximately Muslims who get a criminal marriage? Or Mormons? isn't that incorrect too? you will by no skill hear an earthly reason against gay marriage. as quickly as the government used to observe 'marriage', it became secular. Separation of church and state, human beings don't get it
worstedcdogg
2009-05-21 15:47:35 UTC
if you had said "i don't consent to any searches what so ever" and he didn't have probable cause, he couldn't search you.
?
2009-05-21 15:48:38 UTC
Another case of the cops hassling people for no good reason.


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