Missouri: Woman Handcuffed for Waiting to Stop in Lit Area

Hello, Our gov and states give ordinary people in uniform too much power.They have to be held accountable for their continuing abuse of authority.That poor girl did nothing wrong.I bet she has a different perception of the police now.The people who continue to say only criminals need to be afraid of cops are WRONG.Those cops and all abusive cops should be jailed as a lesson to the rest of them.There are not as many "good"cops as people might think.When a bad cop commits a crime and the "good" cops look the other way,they are no longer"good" cops.I believe cops call it being an accessory.The people who love to claim that "cops are heros who put their lives on the line everyday" disgust me.If they ever become the victim of or witness to police brutality,they will change their tune.I witnessed a cop clubbing a handcuffed kid who was arrested for underage drinking.I yelled at the cop to stop-he did,and came over and knocked me unconscious with the same flashlight.He LIED in court and got away with it.What a "hero"! I don`t trust any of them.Out of 100,000 cops,7 a year will die.Out of 100,000 construction workers,22 a year will die.So you tell me who is putting their lives on the line more.I work with live electricity and I don`t expect everybody to treat me like I am better than them.Also,I don`t go around arresting people because I don`t like the way they looked at me and proceed to escalate the situation like so many cops do.Do a search for police brutality videos.If it doesn`t sicken you,you are part of the problem.Every brutal thug pig who clubs someone while they are handcuffed should be clubbed by their victim while THEY are handcuffed.How much longer are we going to allow our country to grow more and more like a police state?Statistically,people have more to fear from the police then any other organized group.Read how many people die in police custody every year.Isn`t it amazing how the police are never wrong?I guess all those victims would have just dropped dead at home had they not have been in police custody.Yeah-right.

If I was this female I would have a good lawyer right now. This town needs to stop and talk to the police up there and tell them to get their act together. I have driven through several states and it was my understanding this was procedure.

All its going to take; a woman sees red lights, she stops in a darken area and then gets raped! I would sue the cops in that state for their failure to communicate with the public. Instead those cops are confusing the needed protocol to help keep their citizens safe.

The trouble with stories like these is that no one ever sees the follow-up. The police have dropped the Failure to Yield charge, and "don't fault her for what she did."

The Springfield News-Leader has the follow-up story, dated June 7, 2008, written by Wes Johnson.

Unfortunately, she has no case. They did not arrest her. They did exercise a bit of poor judgment though.

She might have a case.

They did stop her. But did they ask to search her car? Was there reasonable cause to search her? She was pulled over for speeding, not drug trafficking or kidnapping.

It seems that what she did was reasonable, but not what they did.

We are losing our rights a little at a time.

I could see them doing what they did if she sped up and didn't stop in a well lit area, but come on boys. Common sence can go a long way.

This irks me big time. BIG TIME.

I am so damned sick of our police deceiving us. Sick of criminals turned snitches. Sick of social miscreants that never got laid in high school becoming police officers. This has to stop. Cops MUST ALWAYS be in uniform and in WELL MARKED vechicles. When they are they are a deterrent. When they are that they can server when needed. What of your kid *NEEDS* a cop and there's one in that pickup truck but nobody knows it? DUH! F****ING DUH! People!!!!!

Cops undercover? This is *by definition* acting until *after* a crime has been committed. What idiot thinks this is a good idea?

I tell my wife and daughters to do exactly what this woman did. Call me too. Call 911.

We have multiple cop impersonator problems.

In one case people that have no business being a cop get to be one, with full support of the federal and local governments to act like criminals and/or paramilitary.

In the second case some loopy weirdo taking advantage of what the first kind of cops have set up.

Take 'em to the mat Vanessa and let The Vine know what we can do to help? As far as I'm concerned you were kidnapped against your will and the cop should do life.

I think your a little over the top here Tbone.

She wasn't "kidnapped", they didn't take her anywhere, and the cops should not do "life" Come ON!

Here I am as pissed of about this as you, and you have me defending the a**holes!

They were wrong ....... and thanks to the thenewspaper.com and a little help from The Vine, the world knows about them, and hopefully they will conduct themselves in a more respectful manner when they make future traffic stops.

It does sound like she followed the advice that's commonly given anytime another cop-impersonator hits the streets. And I've always wondered how that advice translates into reality. I also heard-when in doubt, drive to a cop shop.

I'm not unsympathetic to real cops who have real dangerous jobs either.

This was also discussed at length the night it happened over here......The cops did drop the charge of "Failure to yield charge" after a couple of days.

It's all about money, many of you saved me a lot of typing, but one thing I must add is the amount of income towns and cities rake in off of individuals living their everyday lives. All my life growing up I had respect towards police and for a long time wanted to become a state trooper, after getting my license and being pulled over for bull@!$%# excuses after about the 10th time I realized how much money cities make off tickets, I have many examples but one prime example that sickens me the most is when I worked as a courier and had to drive through the town of Bedford NY in westchester county. The first day I drove through there I counted 3 cops with 3 seperate vehicles pulled over along my route, a whole 30 minutes through the town, I thought o just another enda the month qouta town. But every single day I drove through there I would see at least one person pulled over if not 5 or 6, eventually I got pulled over stating I was doing "3 miles over the 35 speed limit and could've gotten a civilian injured or even killed" keep in mind this road was in the middle of the woods with not even a shoulder, when I simply reached into my glove compartment for the reg. n insurance he saw a knife I always had for whatever, he toldme to hand it to him so I did, next he toldme to step out of the vehicle and put my hands behind my back, I said what is this for, he toldme ta jus shutup and sit in the baka the patrol unit, he came up to my window and said whatd u doin with this for, i said sir im on a strict time scheduel I need to call my supervisor and advise him where Im at, he jus walked away waiting for another cruiser to pull up, next I see 3 officers ripping apart everything in my car from engine to trunk and left it that way, they bring me to the station and impound my car, fingerprint me and photo me, finally one cop says it's 1/4 inch over the legal limit, it's an illegal weapon. nearly 3 anda half hours later im released never once being able to call my supervisor no matter how much i demanded, i had to walk nearly 2 miles to the auto shop where my car was, they wanted $180 dollars that day or a $50 storage fee for everyday after that, not to mention the $175 ticket the cops issued me. My boss understood and actually drove up to spot me the money. About a month later was my hearing and offered me a "deal" pay $200 with court costs or $250 to pay and dismiss, to not show on my record. Everyone understand the morals of this story? There are none, it all comes back to money, just because "they can" there is no higher up than cops nor is anyone overwatching them, its pathetic. By the way that court room and every other court room I've been in for traffic court I pleaded not guilty making me wait to the very end in trial, I took note to all the people who just paid the fines and left and on average every where I've been the judge rakes in between $3000 and $5000 dollars tax free in 1 hearing, many cities have 2 to 3 hearings in one day and even sometimes 2 court rooms, do the math with the money for himself, the city officials and officers straight into their pockets, and when your making a deal of paying more not to have it on your record your putting more money in their pockets because those ticket fines go unaccounted for not having to be in the records, meaning that money can literally be "pocketed" and no one would even know about it since there is no record of where it came from, where else do you think city bonuses come from if not from tickets that were "accounted for" on file.

How many times does it take for someone in authority to get caught
doing something they shouldn't? I think it all comes down to training.
In the past few years, I have gotten a mistrust for people in authority
because of things I've seen on tv news. It's not only the Police officer
I am suspicious of but school teachers, priests, scoutmasters and
politicians. There are cameras and witnesses everywhere.
In this day and age, if you do something shady, you will eventually
be caught.

Dear friends:
I find myself not reading lengthy comments because they 'are' too long.
Sermons are for Church.

I think that if a person of authority is caught overbounding the rules
of conduct or their office, their punishment should be made public
at least to their peers (workmates).

This really scares me.

I live in Greene County, MO. Am I next? Am I going to be the next victim of excessive force? I shouldn't have to worry about things like this. It's ridiculous.

Some of you have spoken well about the situation, others haven't. I would consider the incident another small step toward a police state, assisted by the Federal government. Nationwide, not just in Colorado where I live, the police have TAKEN our rights and liberties and we have allowed them to do so. The police can in fact stop anyone, at any time and for any reason. The police can subject you to illegal search of person and vehicle, all under color of law and without recourse by the victim. I not only read Newsvine but many other sites for news. I firmly believe that the police have a policy: shot first, make excuses later. For example; the recent shooting of four black men in a car, more than fifty times and the cops said they feared for their lives. No weapons were found. A police officer in Denver, Colorado shot a disabled man laying in bed. The officers excuse: the soda can in the man's hand looked like a gun and the officer feared for his life. The list goes on and on. I was once told by a police officer that he wasn't on the street to protect the citizens but to enforce the law as he saw fit. Look around you, see just how many of your rights have been taken away. But above all, never trust a cop to be there for your protection.

I wonder what would have happened had she not gone to a publicly lit area.....

I've always said that the Police are just the largest, armed, organized gang around. I have a friend that is a Sherrif's Deputy for Orange County, California. He let me in on a little insider secret. The Orange County Sherrif's department, and every other one he's ever had contact with, have ONE SINGLE GOAL in mind. ONE STOP, ONE ARREST! In other words, they WANT to make an ARREST everytime they stop a vehicle. That also means that every cop on that force is looking for reasons to arrest you from the moment they target you. This Gustapo/Nazi type of law enforcement has to come to an end.

To add to my comment above, I have been stopped on more than one occasion by these "authorities". They do exactly that, they try to find some reason to arrest you...treating you and talking to you like your a criminal the entire time. One time an officer asked if he could search my vehicle. I told him that he MAY NOT search my vehicle, unless he could produce a search warrant. So, guess what he did...he put me in handcuffs, made me sit on the curb so that every car passing could see me sitting there in cuffs and then stated that he was going to impound my vehicle for my refusal to allow him to search it. As part of the "impounding process" he had to "inventory" (illegally searched) the contents inside my vehicle. He "inventoried" my truck and the tow truck came and took my truck away to impound. He then took the cuffs off me and stated that I was free to go.
I asked him, how was I supposed to get home? I only had the one vehicle and he just towed away my truck and cab service was non-existant. He then stated that was "not his problem". He got in his car and left me stranded on the side of the road, holding all the contents of my truck that I didn't want going to the impound lot.
I was later told by my lawyer that they illegally impounded my truck and that I could get back the $300 it cost for me to get it out. 2 1/2 years later, I'm still waiting for my refund. If the Police have the authority and power to do this to average hard working citizens, I ask you, who's there to protect us from them?

I personally know of a case where the police killed a young man and said he committed suicide. The KBI (Kansas Bureau of Investigation) investigated, but nothing was done. I personally knew this man for over 30 years. He would have never killed himself or caused harm to himself. No, granted, he was an upstanding citizen, but so what. Did he deserve to die and have it covered up? The reason this man was killed is because he escaped from the jail house twice. He wouldn't tell them how he was getting out and they beat him. I don't think they meant to kill him, but they did. They went to a funeral of another friend to tell this man's grandmother that he had a heart attack and died in the jail. Then the official word came down that he hung himself with the waistband of his jeans. This is a man that was supposed to be on suicide watch. His lawyer didn't even know he was put on suicide watch. In that type of cell, the whole room is on camera, how did they not see him trying to hang himself? Because he didn't. I saw Polaroid pics of his body. He had massive bruising on his back. He had bruises on the heels of his feet, like he had been dragged. And he only had one single line around his neck. If he had hung himself with his waistband, there should have been multiple lines. The Sheriff in charge is the same man that worked a a Troy Kansas jail in the 70's where a young black man, 6'6" hung himself with his shoestring. This man was only being held on a speeding ticket. Why would he kill himself? This is why I don't trust cops for any reason. 9 out of 10 of them are dirty.

I nearly always side with LE, but not this time unless there is something we the general public dont know. Women have been told repeatedly by MSHP, GCSO and others via the media to do what she did due to the rash of imposters. Then she is arrested or handcuffed for it?!?! I cant even imagine how horrifying this was to a young woman following the advice of LE and probably her parents. Why would you be cuffed for a minor traffic violation, the officer surely didnt fear for his safety since she stopped in a lighted area of a C-store? I do not think this was good community relations at all and it may have damaged a young girls' emotional state for some time. I think Sheriff Jack and the officer need to have a discussion with her and her family and try to make it right, if that is even possible.

The post about rejecting an officer candidate because his IQ was too high (live on the vine now) pretty much sums it up.

The police have a tough job and in large measure are not generally supported well by the public or the press. Having said that much of their bad press is created by lapses in judgement such as the one described herein. These young fellows are out on patrol for hour after boring hour and if you are unfortunate enough to break the law on their watch, you become their lawful prey. Most of them are learning how to be police officers, their young inexperienced and not as sure of themselves as they seem. Sometimes, because of an overactive imagination or fear a situation like this will occur. The police shows don't help matters by showing the most emotion filled moments in an officers life. This exploitation of the role of law enforcement in the name of entertainment does neither the law breaker nor the law enforcer any real service. The young officers I come into contact with take their role much to seriously. The small town patrol officers seem as though they belong to some para military unit, ready to do battle and confront people, who by and large are not accustom and ill prepared for such treatment. I believe it is time for more "Sheriff Andy" in our officers and less "Officer Barny Fiffe".

Over the 4th of July, myself, my best friend and her son went camping at Nickel Branch in Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. We were getting ready to go to bed when a man from an adjacent tent came over to our site and was saying off the wall comments and would not leave. It was very obvious he was on some type of drugs. I went over to the neighbor in the camp site and asked them to call the local authorities to have him removed. Very shortly after that, the authorities showed up. They started harassing and pushing around my friends son who was 18. I went over to the police officer in attempt to let him know that I was the one who had them called. I put my hand up to his shoulder gently and said "Sir". The next thing I knew I was thrown to the ground with my face shoved in gravel and jumped on by two officers. Mind you, I am 5'1" and weigh 115 lbs. They then drug me over to a ditch and then came back and interrogated the boy and arrested him. I kept asking why I was being arrested, I don't understand but was put in the truck. The entire time, I was telling them how they were hurting me and that my chin was cut and had two huge knots on my head from being thrown down. I was taken to the police station where I was jerked out of the vehicle again telling them they were hurting me. I asked to be able to call my family and they laughed and handed me the phone. I dialed but only to get a busy signal.. Again, they laughed. After leaving the station, I asked to be taken to the hospital to be evaluated. They shackled me and while in the room, said I had drugs on me and pulled my top over to search inside my breasts. I explained that I don't do drugs but they continued and found nothing. At this point I got really scared thinking they might plant something on me. I refused treatment while there due to not trusting them and the treatment I was being given. They told me it was time to go and jerked me up causing great pain to my wrists. Unable to walk with the shackles attached to the cuffs, I fell to the ground. Again, they said I was resisting arrest. They put their knee in my back with great force causing pain. I then started cussing saying if you don't get off of me I am going to knock your head off. I know, this shouldn't have been said but at this point I was so angry and scared of these men. This is when I was given the terroristic threatening 3rd. They said to get up and I kept saying I couldn't. Can you with both your hands and your feet tied? They also called me white trash. I am 40 years old and have a great job and make good money. I own rental property and am a respectable person. They then drug me out dragging my knees and feet. I honestly was so afraid that they weren't taking me to jail that they were going to take me to some dead end road and kill me. These men were viscious and brutal people. Once we got to the jail, he through me in a corner and knocked my head into the concrete wall again, making the already large "eggs" throb more. When discharged from jail, my family immediately took me to the hospital where I could be further evaluated. I had a cat scan of the head and xrays of both arms. I only came out with a concussion and severe bruising. Is this type of force necessary? Can they just make up any type of charge they wish? I called them for help and in turn was treated like I had committed a crime. It has opened my eyes to this brutal force used by the people appointed to protect us.

As a former officer I understand the risk we take, but honestly, that many deputies and all with drawn weapons, we are becoming a country ran by Nazi Squads. Too little training, gun happy cops, and by the way folks, very easy to pass Psych exams, all you do is say what is morally and legally acceptable and you can pass with flying colors, put cadets on a lie detector, then see how well they pass! I had an experience today, I got a check, looked legit, water marks, real law firm in Dallas, took it to a check cashing place, told the manger I thought it might not be good, but didn't want to try to cash it, and told her if it was bad I would report to the police, post office and FBI that it was a forgery.
She called PD, three officers showed up, one officer yanked my arm behind my back, cuffed me very hard and accused me of being a scumbag, con artist and informed me that they knew how to deal with crooks like me! that is word for word. After being humiliated in public, cuffed, and questioned, they determined I didn't try to cash the check, but it would be up to the Detective if they wanted to prosecute me for having a forged check on my person, so tell me all you cops and lawyers and DA's and judges., what should I have done?? I was honest, up front , willing to cooperate with the PD and I get treated like a War criminal in Nazi Germany? guess I should have been a liar and done the crime, that way I get charged for something real not BS fabricated charges by cops, and one was a lifer I know he pulled me over 17 yrs ago in Englewood, he should be retired like a rabid dog!

I agree with all of you, as an ex small town cop, there behavior and lack of training is inexcusable, today I was a " victim" of a large town police force, long story short, was honest, did the right thing and am now facing possible charges. Let me put it to all of you, in NM Roswell, the ban on public smoking was passed and heavily enforced, I asked a little old man who I knew was a decorated WW2 vet who fought and was wounded fighting the Nazi's. I asked hin what was he thought on the ban, he looked at me, with very sad, yet angry eyes of a warrior who still remembers the sacrifice and loss of that war,, two words he said.." sieg hiel" My family has served and fought proudly in almost every war except the War of 1812, I missed out on Desert Storm, I voulnteered as an ex Tanker. Right , wrong or indifferent I am a soldier, and would fight if my country called on me, all politics aside. But when a person is doing the right thing, abiding the laws, and gets " persecuted" maybe it is time for Americans to get off their asses, quit whining and take back a few of our freedoms slowly eroding away, how numb have we gotten since Dr King? or Ghandi? Malcom X? This is a wakeup call America, do we need to get hit in the head with a brick before we get it?

God bless America, and God Bless our troops, and God bless all of you who are voicing your opinion

PFC Scott D Drumm formerly of the 210th NYARNG and US Army