The Baltimore police have been under investigation for numerous outrageous acts over the last several months. That's too bad because, as I think was already said, it taints all of the dedicated hard work of the honest LEOs that make up the other 99.9% of most police departments.
Couple Arrested For Asking For Directions
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ebd10
Member
So, you've been to Detroit?
I agree, there needs to be some method for dealing with these kinds of idiots. As long as this type of behavior is tolerated, it will continue to expand. I foresee the day when citizens will have to pay Mordida to American LEO's.
JohnBT
Member
"Margaret Burns, spokeswoman for the State’s Attorney’s Office, said her office declined to prosecute the couple based on the arresting documents. “There are thousand of cases like this being thrown out every month,” Burns said. “In the month of February, we threw out 902 cases; in March, we threw out over 1,200 cases — that means 70 cases a day.”
Burns said “nuisance arrests” waste city resources that could be better used to fight violent crime. “Somewhere within the Police Department there is a policy or directive to increase the number of arrests, or crime has gone up,” she said. “The officer spent hours on this case; it’s a waste of her time.”"
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Couple arrested for trespassing hire attorney, plan to sue the city
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Stephen Janis, The Examiner
May 18, 2006 7:00 AM (7 hrs ago)
BALTIMORE - The Virginia couple arrested Saturday for trespassing after getting lost trying to find Interstate 95 have retained an attorney and plan to sue the city.
“In view of what’s happened, it’s a given,” said Dale Anstine, an attorney in York, Pa., who is representing the family. “I personally know these people; they are good kids. I think the conduct of this police officer is beyond outrageous.”
Llara Brook, 20, and her boyfriend, Josh Kelly, 22, traveled from Chantilly, Va., to Baltimore to see an Orioles game Saturday. The couple stopped in the 800 block of Bridgeview Drive in Cherry Hill to ask a Baltimore Housing Police Officer, Natalie Preston, for directions. Brook said the officer was blunt: “You found your way in. You can find your way out.”
After writing a citation for failure to obey a stop sign — a ticket Kelly disputes — the officer told them to leave. Confused, the couple drove about “40 feet” and stopped.
“We still didn’t know how to get out,” Kelly said.
But Preston pulled up behind them and arrested Kelly and Brook for “trespassing,” according to the ticket.
Anstine said he was currently “gathering information about the incident” and expected to file a lawsuit in “two or three months.”
Matt Jablow, a spokesman for the police department, said the incident is “under investigation.”
The police report contradicts the couple’s story, stating that Kelly was “argumentative” and refused to give the officer’s pen back after signing the citation for failure to stop.
Margaret Burns, spokeswoman for the State’s Attorney’s Office, said her office declined to prosecute the couple based on the arresting documents. “There are thousand of cases like this being thrown out every month,” Burns said. “In the month of February, we threw out 902 cases; in March, we threw out over 1,200 cases — that means 70 cases a day.”
Burns said “nuisance arrests” waste city resources that could be better used to fight violent crime. “Somewhere within the Police Department there is a policy or directive to increase the number of arrests, or crime has gone up,” she said. “The officer spent hours on this case; it’s a waste of her time.”
Jablow said there is no policy to increase arrests. “Crime is down significantly this month,” he said.
Meredith Curtis, spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the case is part of a larger trend. “This is the latest, most egregious example of what has been demonstrated to be a pattern of illegal arrests,” she said.
Curtis said that even though the charges were dropped, the couple will have a permanent record that can be expunged only if they agree not to sue. “It’s ridiculous and also unconstitutional.”
[email protected]
Examiner
Burns said “nuisance arrests” waste city resources that could be better used to fight violent crime. “Somewhere within the Police Department there is a policy or directive to increase the number of arrests, or crime has gone up,” she said. “The officer spent hours on this case; it’s a waste of her time.”"
_________________________
Couple arrested for trespassing hire attorney, plan to sue the city
PDF | Email
Stephen Janis, The Examiner
May 18, 2006 7:00 AM (7 hrs ago)
BALTIMORE - The Virginia couple arrested Saturday for trespassing after getting lost trying to find Interstate 95 have retained an attorney and plan to sue the city.
“In view of what’s happened, it’s a given,” said Dale Anstine, an attorney in York, Pa., who is representing the family. “I personally know these people; they are good kids. I think the conduct of this police officer is beyond outrageous.”
Llara Brook, 20, and her boyfriend, Josh Kelly, 22, traveled from Chantilly, Va., to Baltimore to see an Orioles game Saturday. The couple stopped in the 800 block of Bridgeview Drive in Cherry Hill to ask a Baltimore Housing Police Officer, Natalie Preston, for directions. Brook said the officer was blunt: “You found your way in. You can find your way out.”
After writing a citation for failure to obey a stop sign — a ticket Kelly disputes — the officer told them to leave. Confused, the couple drove about “40 feet” and stopped.
“We still didn’t know how to get out,” Kelly said.
But Preston pulled up behind them and arrested Kelly and Brook for “trespassing,” according to the ticket.
Anstine said he was currently “gathering information about the incident” and expected to file a lawsuit in “two or three months.”
Matt Jablow, a spokesman for the police department, said the incident is “under investigation.”
The police report contradicts the couple’s story, stating that Kelly was “argumentative” and refused to give the officer’s pen back after signing the citation for failure to stop.
Margaret Burns, spokeswoman for the State’s Attorney’s Office, said her office declined to prosecute the couple based on the arresting documents. “There are thousand of cases like this being thrown out every month,” Burns said. “In the month of February, we threw out 902 cases; in March, we threw out over 1,200 cases — that means 70 cases a day.”
Burns said “nuisance arrests” waste city resources that could be better used to fight violent crime. “Somewhere within the Police Department there is a policy or directive to increase the number of arrests, or crime has gone up,” she said. “The officer spent hours on this case; it’s a waste of her time.”
Jablow said there is no policy to increase arrests. “Crime is down significantly this month,” he said.
Meredith Curtis, spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the case is part of a larger trend. “This is the latest, most egregious example of what has been demonstrated to be a pattern of illegal arrests,” she said.
Curtis said that even though the charges were dropped, the couple will have a permanent record that can be expunged only if they agree not to sue. “It’s ridiculous and also unconstitutional.”
[email protected]
Examiner
BozemanMT
Member
Welcome to the Police State.
The closest estimate I could find for the amount of sworn personel in the Baltimore PD is "more than 3000". So lets be generous and say its 4000. Assuming that 99.9% of all cops are good that leaves 0.1% (1/1000) that are bad, that leaves Baltimore with about 4 bad cops, maybe three and half.
and they are damn busy.
and they are damn busy.
Daniel T
Member
And there's the blackmail.
bigdaddyb
Member
Sad but true....
Only two kinds of cops make the news.
Bad Cops and Dead Cops
We only hear when they screw up or when one is killed in the line of duty. We never hear about the things the the rest of them do day-in and day-out.
The media never shows up when our cops get commendations for saving lives, protecting property, etc.
Hopefully, those few who taint the reputation of the rest will be found out and quickly given the opportunity to pursue a different line of work.
The Baltimore situation is unacceptable. Fortunately, it's not the norm, at least not around these parts.
Only two kinds of cops make the news.
Bad Cops and Dead Cops
We only hear when they screw up or when one is killed in the line of duty. We never hear about the things the the rest of them do day-in and day-out.
The media never shows up when our cops get commendations for saving lives, protecting property, etc.
Hopefully, those few who taint the reputation of the rest will be found out and quickly given the opportunity to pursue a different line of work.
The Baltimore situation is unacceptable. Fortunately, it's not the norm, at least not around these parts.
Bubbles
Member
Having grown up in Maryland, and gone to school in Baltimore, all I can say is...
I'm not surprised in the least.
I'm not surprised in the least.
pcf
Member
So they were arrested for trespassing? We don't have both sides of the story but stealing a Police Officer's pen doesnt equal trespassing.
About Female Police Officers......once upon a time a very nice and pretty female Officer talked a very drunk (and very proficient at line training) young PCF into a pair of handcuffs. Saving 6 or so, very angry male San Diego Police Officers from the beating of there lives.
Manedwolf
member
It would not surprise me at all if that was the case, unfortunately. There was a suburb of the Tampa area called Temple Terrace, where people were regularly pulled over for DWB, (Driving While Black) in the mostly-white suburbs...it had become something of a local annoyed-humor sort of thing that it occured to aquaintences so frequently.
scooterthegreat
Member
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I'm still confused. Although I wasn't there to see these folks, I think there is a big difference between kids "hanging out" and people approaching a LEO asking for assistance.
Thefabulousfink
Member
Here's a thought, mabey Kelly was "argumentative" because a police officer rudely refused the simple task of providing directions. I know that might make me slightly "argumentative"
molonlabe
Member
My vote is for a new slogan., This one sort of catches my eye.
Come to Baltimore
Catch crabs
Come to Baltimore
Catch crabs
"Curtis said that even though the charges were dropped, the couple will have a permanent record that can be expunged only if they agree not to sue. “It’s ridiculous and also unconstitutional.”"
Is utter nonsense. I'd add expungement (if that's a word) to the list of things that I'd sue for in my lawsuit.
ArmedBear, you want solutions. How about good judgement among the LEO crowd AND a system of accountability with increasing peanlties for LEO's. Unpaid leave NOT being the worst of the penalties. Also, some if not all police departments have a citizen's review board. A little letter writing from all of the citizens to the board will quickly highlight a problem officer or division. Not that the board has any clout...
Is utter nonsense. I'd add expungement (if that's a word) to the list of things that I'd sue for in my lawsuit.
ArmedBear, you want solutions. How about good judgement among the LEO crowd AND a system of accountability with increasing peanlties for LEO's. Unpaid leave NOT being the worst of the penalties. Also, some if not all police departments have a citizen's review board. A little letter writing from all of the citizens to the board will quickly highlight a problem officer or division. Not that the board has any clout...
JohnBT
Member
"So has anybody ever figured out why they call it Charm City?"
Well it used to be nice and full of great folks. I did K-thru-7 in Balmer, but we moved away in '62 (to Montgomery County MD :banghead: ).
John
Well it used to be nice and full of great folks. I did K-thru-7 in Balmer, but we moved away in '62 (to Montgomery County MD :banghead: ).
John
Devonai
Member
And your "line" training consists of what, exactly? I'd love to know which style is so effective that it eliminates being "very drunk" as an impediment to skill.
As to the case itself, I would have to agree with those who suspect there is more to the story.
Warren
Member
Wow.
How about making such behavior a capital offense?
If the bad behavior is proven the officer is executed by firing squad, in public, the very next day.
Of course that would have to be part of the contract they sign in order to join the force.
Or maybe I'm being a bit harsh.
How about making such behavior a capital offense?
If the bad behavior is proven the officer is executed by firing squad, in public, the very next day.
Of course that would have to be part of the contract they sign in order to join the force.
Or maybe I'm being a bit harsh.
Aguila Blanca
Member
I'm not even a card-carrying Libertarian and it doesn't seem to require much thought at all.ArmedBear said:
Either the Constitution applies ... or it does not. Absent an officially (and legally) declared curfew affecting ALL citizens, there can by definition be no such thing as "trespassing" in/on a public street. And if there is a curfew, the charge would be violation of curfew, not trespassing on a public street.
This is wrong, wrong, wrong.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
From bits and pieces I've read here, there and yonder over the last few years, it would seem that Baltimore is indeed a place where such behavior could happen. There's also a nearby county where the Sheriff's office's deputies aren't noted for courtesy, as well, although I don't recall which county. Anyhow, lots of local citizen complaints.
Art
Art
"My guess is that the officer was white and the couple black"
My first thought was exactly the opposite. People on this board are chomping at the bit to find a case of white against black racism. The second article says that the police officer was a Baltimore Housing Police Officer. In other words, they were in the projects. My first thought is that the police see some white kids with a nice car driving through the projects and the first thing they think is that they are there looking to score some dope.
I have been pulled over several times in the same senario. Late at night, wrong part of town, white guy on a crotch rocket motorcycle. However, my girlfriend lived in the neighborhood (First generation American, Parents don't speak English to tie this into all the other threads).
My first thought was exactly the opposite. People on this board are chomping at the bit to find a case of white against black racism. The second article says that the police officer was a Baltimore Housing Police Officer. In other words, they were in the projects. My first thought is that the police see some white kids with a nice car driving through the projects and the first thing they think is that they are there looking to score some dope.
I have been pulled over several times in the same senario. Late at night, wrong part of town, white guy on a crotch rocket motorcycle. However, my girlfriend lived in the neighborhood (First generation American, Parents don't speak English to tie this into all the other threads).
ApexinM3
Member
Art,
It is PG county. I, too, live in MD & the behavior descibed would not surprise me. However, I do agree with whomever it was earler that posted it has to do with O'Malley & his drive for the Governors mansion .
This state sucks-I can't wait to move somewhere relevant...like NH or NC.
It is PG county. I, too, live in MD & the behavior descibed would not surprise me. However, I do agree with whomever it was earler that posted it has to do with O'Malley & his drive for the Governors mansion
.This state sucks-I can't wait to move somewhere relevant...like NH or NC.
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