Off duty police harassmant

Finally have settled down from the situation thought id share my story. Running through curbco last Wednesday I swing through my last addition that has only turned up one aluminum handle ever. I always ask myself why i waste me time on this one. Low and behold there is Libman mop handle poking out a can. get out grab it toss it in nice easy quick didnt even have to touch the can. Getting back in truck i hear a guy holler HEY YOU. I just holler yea and get in truck as most people just stare and I wave or they thank me for getting the eyesore out of their drive. Tired and wife is wanting me to hurry up and get home I dont hang around to see if they wanted to give me more scrap or not. Driving down the street i see a car flying up on my tail and than flips on cherries. Great. Knowing its not a cop for the town i was in as it is not against the law to pick scrap from the curb. Have friends on the dept and state police that confimed my questions years ago. So i pull over and he walks up to car not presenting himself just asks what am i doing. I say whats it look like?? picking up scrap. His response ya wanna make this real we can make this real, real quick. I laugh and ask him what do ya want. He asks for ID i give it to him as i have nothing to hide. So he goes to car sit there for five or so min finally he comes back gives me my license and tells me go find a different neibhorhood to scrap in said ok and il be back thru next week. He scowls at me and I ask his name and badge number he says it back to me as im writing it down. So im just annoyed by the whole situation. Thinking about it later i should have called 911 while i was sitting there as he did not present himself as a police officer. But ive always respected the police to do their job correctly and figured the whole situation wasnt worth being bothered over a 3 pound mop. BTW i made sure i honked as i drove by his house friday morning to go to the 3 garage sales down the street from him. sorry for the long rant just thought id share.

not much you can do about that it just comes with the teritory, if he had searched your vehicle or ticketed you it wouldve been completely issue. Police harassment is typical for what we do. It offends people that we make money off of their trash.

The police are just like politicians anymore. A bunch of a-holes with their own agenda. Sorry if anyone is offended by this, but its the truth.

Very well aware that its what we have to deal with. And i dont think anyone is an a-hole or anything along those lines, we all have our bad days. I have more assumptions about the situation but i did not know for sure so didnt say.

I never answer questions from police our any other authority figure and record all encounters just my 2%

Agreed never show an ID to any one out of uniform and Never answer any questions....What you say can and will be held against you,,,,Him being OFF DUTY was total BS doing that.. When then are off duty there no differant than Joe Smoe pushing buggies at the local Walmart ..

I cant believe you wasted your time on that guy, I would have told him off and took off and went about my business, lol. I hope it happens to me, so I can laugh at the person.

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Originally Posted by PAScrapPappy

Him being OFF DUTY was total BS doing that.. When then are off duty there no different than Joe Smoe pushing buggies at the local Walmart ..

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agreed, it was a total a-hole move that makes all cops look bad, if your going to do your job atleast do it properly, i respect the profession but only professionals, the problem is you give someone a badge and a gun and it goes to there head


these guys make a couple bucks over minimum wage and they think that theyre important, please

when a "policeman" gies me crap for no reasion I either ask for a supervisor or, most generally call the sherriff.

Haha...ya'll love this then.

Kid calls out cop for parking illegally while grabbing a soda..lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=4pSasFQIyH8


Sirscrapalot - Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. - Oscar Wilde

If you have his name and badge number and he stopped you in an area that it is ok to curb shop in, then I would be picking up a phone and making two calls. One to my lawyer since it sounds like you have a hell of a case for an illegal stop and illegally being detained. The second would be to his departments internal affairs department and ask if he reported being involved in an off duty incident and let him explain to them why he was doing enforcement out side of his jurisdiction. If that happens again call 911, say you are being followed by someone with a red light in his car and you believe that he is attempting to car jack you. Those cops are called "buffs". They dont know when to turn it off after the shift ends and are usually the ones that get into to trouble off duty.

I have the sneaking feeling that the OP stumbled into a 'operation' by accident & that the 'off duty officer' was actually doing a bit of 'grey area ' work.

I have had it happen before a few times.

After today, I am just sick and tired of people that try and tell you what you can or can not do even if you are in your complete right to do so.

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Originally Posted by PAScrapPappy

Agreed never show an ID to any one out of uniform and Never answer any questions....What you say can and will be held against you,,,,Him being OFF DUTY was total BS doing that.. When then are off duty there no differant than Joe Smoe pushing buggies at the local Walmart ..

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First of all, what you say to a police officer can NOT be used against you unless the officer has read you your rights. Once he reads you your rights then anything you say can and will be used against you. Second, a police officer is a police officer 24/7. If he sees anything out of the ordanary his oblegated to check it out. Taking something from somebodies yard is probable cuase for pulling you over and checking you out. None of us like it when we get bad mouth for doing what we do(scrappig) but you all are first to bad mouth a police officer for doing his job. If your not doing anything wrong then you have nothing to worrry about. End of rant.

Interesting story, I have no idea what I would do but I know that I would be sweating profusely and looking guilty cause that what happens the few times I was stopped in the last 35 years. Trouble is I never have anything to hide. Tends to get them suspicious though.

Its really one of the situations that you think of a 1000 things afterwards that you should have done. At the time i just wanted him to go away and mind his own business as i pretty much mind my own business when i scrap. When i make a mess i make sure it was cleaned up better than before i started. I do my best to be as quiet as i can as its usually after 10 when i am out scrapping. I am no expert on most laws pertaining cops but I was sure that they can pull you over anytime is they suspect you of doing something your not supposed to do. But i also have been was told by an officer that pulled me over for speeding once that the first so many feet of a persons property is public easement hence why its ok for an officer to sit in a private driveway and clock motorists. So that tells me if your trash can is at the curb its in the public easement. The most irritating part for me is someone that has no business in my business where i can and cant collect scrap. On the humorous side for the day i made sure to toot the horn 3 times last night as i passed by the road that is on the back side of his property. While I was hauling home the 3 truck loads of curbco goods.

I got no beef with police who do their jobs. I got beef with the ones who abuse their position. Watch the video I posted...Kid asked the cop why he parked illegally on a public side walk to go grab a soda. If I did what that cop did and parked my motorcycle like he did on a sidewalk I'm sure I'd have a ticket a the lest and impounded at the worst. Kid asked the cop for his badge number and name, dude just ignored him then tried to be a **** about it. 12 year old kid was being respectful no less.

Just cause you got the badge doesn't give you the right to break the law or the rules for your profession. I'm friendly with a few of the cops down here on my sandbar, and there are others that have that 'big man with a badge" syndrome. The majority of them tho are some good folks, but like the old saying goes..one bad apple spoils the bunch..or something like that.

Far as calling anyone out...I don't care if your a cop, doctor, McDonalds burger flipper, Albert Einstein, whatever..You act the douche bag, I'll call you out on it. Badge or no badge. You act an idiot your an idiot. I give respect till you give me reason to lose it. Cop, doctor, whatever.

If you don't act the fool I won't call you out as one. :)

Sirscrapalot - Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.- Abraham Lincoln

Everything a cop asks you during a stop us an attempt to escalate it to an arrest its their top priority that's how they generate income

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Originally Posted by happyscraper

First of all, what you say to a police officer can NOT be used against you unless the officer has read you your rights. Once he reads you your rights then anything you say can and will be used against you. Second, a police officer is a police officer 24/7. If he sees anything out of the ordanary his oblegated to check it out. Taking something from somebodies yard is probable cuase for pulling you over and checking you out. None of us like it when we get bad mouth for doing what we do(scrappig) but you all are first to bad mouth a police officer for doing his job. If your not doing anything wrong then you have nothing to worrry about. End of rant.

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I think you may be mistaken: "Please be advised that if you do answer questions before being arrested, your statements may be used as evidence during trial."

Source: Pre-Arrest Questioning

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Originally Posted by supaholaya

Everything a cop asks you during a stop us an attempt to escalate it to an arrest its their top priority that's how they generate income

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THIS.

Nothing against cops....I have had encounters with excellent ones and with absolutely corrupt ones. My wife's position provides crucial support to all public safety agencies, she deals with police all day long.

That said, PLEASE take the time to watch this video and heed its message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

I need the link for the video

The more I think of it, I think you should stop by his house and talk to the guy. Let him know what you do. I would stop honking the horn and grow up! If the guy is still a dic then report him...

Except when hes out of his jurisdiction. He has no right to stop anybody. All he can do in that situation is call the cops who actually have jurisdiction in that area. This is coming from someone whos wife is a cop.

If somebody is braking the law and a police officer that is off duty or out of thiere jurisdiction sees it they can hold that person until another officer is called. As a matter of fact anybody can do that, it's called a citizens arrest. So your telling me that if an off duty police officer sees somebody robbing a little old lady that police officer can't do anything about it except call 911. I also have had family members that where police officers and I thing your wrong on that one.

The grab and hold is only for felony type crime. Most cops live in their jurisdiction if they have a squad with lights at home. By the way I don't think you have to pullover AND stop for a red strobe. Just about anybody can get those.

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Originally Posted by happyscraper

If somebody is braking the law and a police officer that is off duty or out of thiere jurisdiction sees it they can hold that person until another officer is called. As a matter of fact anybody can do that, it's called a citizens arrest. So your telling me that if an off duty police officer sees somebody robbing a little old lady that police officer can't do anything about it except call 911. I also have had family members that where police officers and I thing your wrong on that one.

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Yes you are correct....but in the case of the topic that is being discussed the op removed something from the curb which according to him is not against the law in the area he was in. Also upon being stopped and detained the officer did not call the local agency and inform them that he was holding someone.
As far as citizen arrests go some places will hold you liable if the arrest is not warranted which means you could be open for a lawsuit by the person you stop and criminal charges from the local agency. Most city's have good samaritan laws which will not hold you liable if a mistake is made or if medical aid is rendered and causes further complications, but I would advise you to know if those are in place. The best advice is to call 911 and report as many details of what happened especially if a violent crime is committed, the criminal didn't care what he/she did to the victim what makes you think they are going to care about you.

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Originally Posted by Gangel

The grab and hold is only for felony type crime. Most cops live in their jurisdiction if they have a squad with lights at home. By the way I don't think you have to pullover AND stop for a red strobe. Just about anybody can get those.

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Not true as far as felony crime goes. Any crime, felony, misdemeanor,violation, which is observed the person can be stopped and detained until local authorities arrive.
Most people know what an unmarked police car looks like, but if you have a doubt call 911 tell them where you are and ask them to radio the car following you to confirm if it is legit.
Not all officers live where they work, and some places require that they don't so there is no integrity issues.

So if I see someone littter I can hold them? I'm still pretty sure it's felony only.

And at least around here unmarked has both strobes.

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Originally Posted by Gangel

So if I see someone littter I can hold them? I'm still pretty sure it's felony only.

And at least around here unmarked has both strobes.

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It sounded like you were speaking of what the police can hold someone for...my mistake.

Annnnnnnnmnd I don't trust the "my husband boyfriend sister brother dad mom uncle grandpa grandma" said they have to do it this way "cuz theys a cop"

The cops that beat Rodney King thought they were in the right.

Know what,you do not have to believe anything anyone says to you. Keep right on truckin the way you want to. I deal with argumentative people everyday who no matter how things are explained to them, they will always think they are right no matter how wrong they are. You sir seem to fit that category judging by most of your posts on this forum. I also will not be baited into a discussion of matters that happens almost 20 years ago.
Maybe you should live by what Mr. King stated when trying to stop the riots " cant we all just get along".
You now find yourself in a category with a few others here that have contributed nothing...my ignore list. Good day and good luck to you.

And this is what I don't get.... this is a discussion forum... and when people start to lose the discussion they take their toys and go home?

"Most people know what an unmarked police car looks like, but if you have a doubt call 911 tell them where you are and ask them to radio the car following you to confirm if it is legit.
Not all officers live where they work, and some places require that they don't so there is no integrity issues." - Brasscatcher

Full article at Scrap Metal Forum: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-l...#ixzz2T0nd48zf

I was just reading an article about what to do if you weren't sure the car trying to pull you over was legit or not, advice in the article from LE was to call 911 and ask them to contact the car and inform them your driving to a safe location to pull over. Was some other tips in there, I'll have to try and find it again. Who knew it'd come up again! ha!

I know some of the cops here on my sandbar don't live here on the sandbar. Most live over on the mainland, and thats just our local town(s) police. The deputies the majority live an hour from the sandbar..much much cheaper.

Sirscrapalot - Our attitude towards others determines their attitude towards us. - Earl Nightingale

They may live on the mainland but do they take the squads home? 99 percent of the time the squads don't leave the area they are"legal" in.

Some do yes, not all though. Some of the town police take theirs home to, and live outside of their area. Some of the deputies take theirs home to if they live on the mainland. Its not a every officer thing but some do.

Whatever floats their boat.

Sirscrapalot - Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive. - Elbert Hubbard