Hassled By Local Police While Walking - Your Thoughts?

[recycled sixtie]

Hey slow and rusty I am sorry to hear of your predicament with the police. I think with the school shootings in the US in the past that the police are highly sensitive to anybody being near a school. I would not take it personally but of course it is easy to do so.

Cheers, Guy

[jonnyporsche]

bad most of them look just like everyone else. So stop being a jerk and just say "No sir, I live right over there and we're just hanging out" and maybe "Thanks for putting your life on the line to protect our children".

Maybe if you were driving a 928 you wouldn't be bothered by the police. Post a photo of you two and we'll decide if you look suspect or not.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by aigel

In your neighborhood or on the main road to the store to grab a cup of java? How far? Mid-morning wearing regular clothes? Are there sidewalks to get to the next strip mall? Maybe things have changed. Even in CA shopping mall entries lack sidewalks, leave alone bike lanes.

G

OP was in his neighborhood a few blocks from his house.

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by aigel

Not cool at all.

That said, people (calling police) and cops may be freaked out with recent school shootings being reported.

Also non Texans or non-Southeners need to understand that NOBODY walks in TX. There are hardly any sidewalks. It is all geared towards cars. Walking makes you immediately suspicious as someone that broke down, can't afford a car or is out on foot because they are up to something. You may be safe if you are obviously exercising, but even that usually takes place inside on a treadmill.

G

Inlaws and many trips to Tx. That's right - nobody walks anywhere. I haven't seen many cyclists there either. Most neighborhoods don't have any sidewalks. Walkers are suspect.
Re. calling police - a few months ago I was working in the front yard. I noticed an unfamiliar guy walking up and down the street looking at houses. We've had some break-ins. I called it in and the Sheriff showed up in about 5 minutes. Turned out he was working on a roof down the street and he was surveying the neighborhood for additional work and placing business cards on front doors. In our town you need a permit to do this and he was informed. The Sheriff called me back and explained what happened.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by tabs

What is this "Subject" stuff.....SUSPECTS...

"had to be" BS, nothing is "had tooo beee." That is an absolute...situations are fluid and you have decisions to make.

It is an interrogation technique Ted

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Cop was a dick and needs some training or fired because he's on the short list for shooting someone because "I though he had a..." and he's bad at his job.

I get the call was made. The moment, maybe 5 seconds at the very most, the cop saw who he was dealing with, 50s well dressed articulate, polite gentlemen, minorities or not, he should have thanked you and wished you a good evening.

Child molesters can't be well dressed?

via GIPHY

Originally Posted by pavulon

Recently read a statement naming the police as the largest gang in the U.S. . I'll admit that it's had me thinking ever since.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I don’t know what the citizens of your friend’s native country expect of their LEOs. Here, that’s about normal. if he is used to citizens getting more respect from LEO he won’t be comfortable here. As non-whites you could have been shot and killed for your actions, so you got off easy.

You never fail to disappoint

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

So this has been bugging me all day and not sure if I am being overly sensitive?

This morning at 8am my oldest friend from middle school (we've been friends for 35 years) visited me for the first time here in Houston, he was flying in from Germany.

He's never seen a Bayou so we walked a few blocks from my house and I was explaining to him how they manage storm water and how they crested their banks during Hurricane Harvey. I live in a nice quiet neighborhood that is very safe.

On our short walk back to my house I saw a police car following us very slowly and I didn't pay any attention to it until it pulled into a driveway in front of us blocking our path and the sidewalk followed by the officer jumping out.

The officer then approaches me and asks "if I was walking by the school and crossed the Bayou bridge"?

I responded that we walked to the Bayou's edge but never crossed the bridge or never came close to the school (about 1/2 mile away).

The officer then said that they received a report of two suspicious men walking by the school, I firmed up and said we never walked by the school, to which he responded "why would someone call and lie to the police department?". He then asked if I actually lived in the neighborhood, to which I said "yes for the past decade" and I pointed to my house which was about 100-ft away.

It was tense for a few minutes and then then the officer got into his car and drove off, but he actually called for back up and within seconds two other cop cars came cruising down the street.

It was surreal and bizarre. I was left thinking if the officer was just doing his job and following up on the supposed call or was this a clear case of harassment and profiling (seeing that my friend and I are both minorities), taking into consideration we are both almost 50 year old men that were well dressed and walking slowing and talking (enjoying the morning). The way the officer handled it was also unprofessional.

Ironically, after my neighborhood flooded I donated \ contributed much of my personal time to help the municipality as I am a Texas registered professional engineer with many years of storm water management and hydraulic modelling. My friend said he is never coming back to the US after this morning.

So what says you guys?

I bet if you donated to the policeman's union they'd leave you alone.

[wayner]

Bonehead move of the week:


...this week I was visiting a town I once lived in. I walked all around town visiting familiar spots, but then for an article I’m writing I walked up the my old school and took a picture of the classroom from outside

The. I suddenly realized how in this day and age that innocent action could lead to me being taken down

-it didn’t occur to me until that moment that school was in ( I was thinking it was closed)

There actually would have been a day when the natural conclusion would have been that I was just retracing steps in life. It’s too bad there is so much bad out there to worry about

[The Synergizer]

Who knows how you were dressed? Who knows what you look like? Do you have tattoos everywhere, what's your hairstyle?

You can tell me you're own opinion of those questions, but that's like the student who grades himself and gives himself an "A".

I was always hassled by the cops when I was younger. So what.

And, the world is far more crazy today then it was back then.

Part of the problem in the world today is hyper sensitivity...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by aigel

Not cool at all.

That said, people (calling police) and cops may be freaked out with recent school shootings being reported.

Also non Texans or non-Southeners need to understand that NOBODY walks in TX. There are hardly any sidewalks. It is all geared towards cars. Walking makes you immediately suspicious as someone that broke down, can't afford a car or is out on foot because they are up to something. You may be safe if you are obviously exercising, but even that usually takes place inside on a treadmill.

G

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly where S&R lives, but I live very near the bayou as well, and there's tons of walking around here. This is about the most walk-centric part of Houston. And the weather this time of year is the best time for it, so lots of folks are taking advantage.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by aigel

In your neighborhood or on the main road to the store to grab a cup of java? How far? Mid-morning wearing regular clothes? Are there sidewalks to get to the next strip mall? Maybe things have changed. Even in CA shopping mall entries lack sidewalks, leave alone bike lanes.

G

Yeah, at least near my part of the bayou, lots of sidewalks. THe bayou is lined with sidewalks and running and biking trails. Not really a bunch of strip malls in my area, but tons of folks are out walking their dogs, walking with friends, walking to yoga, walking to the store (there are a couple of grocery stores, including a whole foods with an outdoor seating area.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by aigel

In your neighborhood or on the main road to the store to grab a cup of java? How far? Mid-morning wearing regular clothes? Are there sidewalks to get to the next strip mall? Maybe things have changed. Even in CA shopping mall entries lack sidewalks, leave alone bike lanes.

G

I remember when I learned to ride a bike. I rode it every day, I loved that bike. i rode it to school, to friends house, sometimes I just rode for something to do. That was all before they had bike paths.
It's a shame that things have changed so much that walking or riding a bike is no longer possible without a designated path to walk or ride on. j/k

Serial, when did it become a "cop's job" to hassle people who haven't done anything?

Reminds me of a time when I was hassled for no reason whatsoever, except that "the cop was just doing his job".
My expectation is that if a cop is told to do something that is wrong, he should refuse. Silly friggin me.

This was posted about 12 years ago:

I got pulled over in Arizona for doing 74 in a 75 mph zone. The highway patrolman was hiding in the center divider on the 10 just west of the 60 (but I knew he was there, I've seen them there many times).
I had the cruise control set for 1 mph under the speed limit and still got pulled over. He was nice enough to let me off with a written warning THAT I HAD TO SIGN! It was either that or a ticket, I signed.
That was after he searched my car and gave me a lecture, for what I never figured out. I had to bite my toungue so hard i nearly bit right through it.
Freaking Arizona highway nazis ...

After being asked about it, I provided more detail:

I was cruising along at 74 mph, with one eye on the road and one eye on him in the mirror. He followed me for about 2 miles, (I was laughing to myself because I thought he couldn't get me). He hit the lights. I said something about his mother, and then looked for a place to move over. As soon as I saw an opening I moved to the right lane, and then onto the shoulder.
That SOB gave me a written warning for following too close and making a lane change without signalling which was total BS, There was no one in front of me and I did signal before moving over, but not for the prescribed time according to Adolf. I guess we have to signal for 3 seconds before executing a lane change? In So. Cal. that is a good way to ensure the other cars have time to cut you off and close the gap.
When he told me what he was warning me for, I started to argue that I would not have moved over at all if he didn't have the damn lights on, and that I didn't carry a stop watch to time my signalling. (I reminded him that he couldn't have pulled me over for that because even if it was true, it wouldn't have happened until AFTER he hit the lights).
That's when he asked me if I wanted to sign a warning or a ticket.

I've been told that the 4th amendment does not necessarily apply to motor vehicles on a public highway.
Like it or not, they have a right to search a vehicle if they have reasonable suspicion of a crime being committed, or if they suspect the vehicle of being unsafe or operated in an unsafe manner. Basically you let them search, or they tow it for some BS charge and search it anyway. How hard would it be for this SOB to accuse me of something just to search the car? Not very hard.
I didn't have anything in the car that I wouldn't have in church, so why not let the (a-hole) search?

Now here's the funny part: Before this happened I liked cops and stood up for them. I have friends who are cops. I regularly attend a small bible study group at a sheriff's house and I think he's a darned good person and I'm proud to call him a friend. I think most of em are pretty good people. But after being treated that way by this a-hole, I almost changed my mind. I figured that things like this only happened in the deep south by good ole boys or in movies.
I got over it tho.

PS, I was on my way back from a funeral in New Mexico. On that entire trip there and back, I probably never exceeded the posted limit by more than 5 or 6 mph.
I've found that on long trips it isn't worth it to speed, I always cruise near the speed limit and try not to stop for anything except for gas and food.
So not only was this clown hassling me for something I didn't do, he was also hassling one of the best behaved drivers on that road. Even if he was just following orders from his a-hole boss he still should have been man enough to refuse.

From time to time, they line up on the center divider on that section of road and take turns pulling over the next car they see no matter what. It's a contest to see who can give the most tickets. I've seen up to 4 of at one time taking turns.

I was telling someone about it once and he thought I was exaggerating. I showed him on google maps where they cops hide, and sure enough right there on the picture in google maps, was a cop car in the center divider on I-10, just east of Quartszite, right where I got pulled over.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I live in TX.

Everyone in my community walks.

A lot.

Must of been a typo, he probably meant to say nobody in California walks

So... the Constitution of the United States is now a big joke? (Not directed at you but those who poo poo'ed the 14th amendment.)

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

I firmed up

It was tense for a few minutes and then then the officer got into his car and drove off, but he actually called for back up and within seconds two other cop cars came cruising down the street.

It was surreal and bizarre.

I've read too many police reports to count. There are a couple of gaps here and one point that never works out well.

"I firmed up" (whatever that means) can only work against you. Regardless of who you are, if you bow up against the man it gets returned and most of the time escalates.

What happened after the other units responded? Something clearly gave the officer the belief that he needed back up, possibly you "firming up". But how did that diffuse after they responded and what transpired while they were present? More facts would be helpful to opine on whether you should be upset.

The office first approaching you doesn't bother me. The remainder may or may not depending on what occurred.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I remember when I learned to ride a bike. I rode it every day, I loved that bike. i rode it to school, to friends house, sometimes I just rode for something to do. That was all before they had bike paths.
It's a shame that things have changed so much that walking or riding a bike is no longer possible without a designated path to walk or ride on. j/k

Serial, when did it become a "cop's job" to hassle people who haven't done anything?

Reminds me of a time when I was hassled for no reason whatsoever, except that "the cop was just doing his job".
My expectation is that if a cop is told to do something that is wrong, he should refuse. Silly friggin me.

This was posted about 12 years ago:



After being asked about it, I provided more detail:



From time to time, they line up on the center divider on that section of road and take turns pulling over the next car they see no matter what. It's a contest to see who can give the most tickets. I've seen up to 4 of at one time taking turns.

I was telling someone about it once and he thought I was exaggerating. I showed him on google maps where they cops hide, and sure enough right there on the picture in google maps, was a cop car in the center divider on I-10, just east of Quartszite, right where I got pulled over.

LEO friend of mine told me some years back, “if I want to go fishing it’s never a problem. The reality is the motor vehicle law books are so big that if I pull you over for nothing I can always find something to write you up for to justify pulling you over”

At least he puts in some effort, not like the lazy ones who just flat out lie and claim you weren’t wearing your seatbelt, even though you were, and write you up for it anyway.

[LWJ]

You were profiled.

I / we / you don't know if there was a call in prior. Was the cop doing his job poorly or just being an ass.

I apologize that you had to endure this injustice. It is odd. While we all have our limitations and filters, there are some words / concepts that just doesn't fly in my house. Racism is one of these.

Here is my wish for a better tomorrow.

[speeder]

I was thinking about this thread today and a police ride-along I did a few years back w the LAPD in my neighborhood. I rode w two different sargeants in the course of a shift, nothing much happened so mostly we just shot the bull.

One was a white guy, originally from Minnesota like me, (we are seriously like the whitest people on earth, for better or worse), and the other was a hispanic gentleman who grew up in east L.A. They were two of the kindest, most decent human beings I've ever spent a few hours with.

We talked about crime and criminology, (I studied it in college, as did both of them), the neighborhood, L.A. and many other things, including profiling. As we drove, the Latino cop pointed out a young guy w the typical juvenile delinquent/gang member wardrobe, pants hanging low, etc. He said to me, "that guy might be carrying a gun or he might be just going to the store for some milk. It's hard to tell these days. And if I stopped him and questioned him and he was clean, he'd probably be really offended. We need a reason beyond clothing style to detain someone."

On another note, I remember once on Melrose in the middle of the day there were some cops arresting two guys outside the gallery where my GF was working. I talked to one of them, a plain clothes guy and asked him what was up after it calmed down. It turns out that he was driving down the street in his undercover car and he saw these two guys and "they just looked dirty" to him so he circled around and jammed them up on a hunch. It turned out that he was right, they were wanted for some serious crime(s). So sometimes, a police officer's instinct can pay off. But these guys, "looked dirty." They were white, fwiw but they could have been anything.

The problem I see is cops w no street smarts and no spidey sense whatsoever jamming up middle-aged guys dressed like tax payers. Especially if they are minorities, for chrissakes.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

OP was in his neighborhood a few blocks from his house.

^Yeah. This.
That might be legitimate cause to be left alone.
One might think.

Unless of course 50year old OP was flashing Blues and Reds while walking sideways gangsta style flashing a piece.
Cops calling backup is usually not necessary unless other factors are involved.
And that is where I'll quit making Snap Judgment Podcast | Snap Judgment...

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by The Synergizer

Who knows how you were dressed? Who knows what you look like? Do you have tattoos everywhere, what's your hairstyle?

You can tell me you're own opinion of those questions, but that's like the student who grades himself and gives himself an "A".

I was always hassled by the cops when I was younger. So what.

And, the world is far more crazy today then it was back then.

Part of the problem in the world today is hyper sensitivity...

It is easy to get one's feathers ruffled. People need context so they can move on, and not have unresolved feelings that can resurface.

Even ''So what?'' is context that says I have moved on. But I bet you learned a few things in the meantime.

[MMARSH]

So, a couple things come to my mind when I read the original post. It sounds like to me, that this exchange took place in less then 5 minutes. He didn't ask for your ID, you weren't placed in the back of a car or sat on the curb. He asked you a couple of questions and you were free to go. Maybe he was rude or just a little curt, but I would say that is hardly being "hassled".

The fact that 2 other cars showed up for " back up" during this admittedly short exchange tells me they might have already been in the area.......maybe because there was an actual call and they dispatched more then one car to check your again admittedly safe neighborhood. Maybe your neighborhood is safe because of the quick response when your curious neighbors call...Do you regularly walk thru your neighborhood, do you know your neighbors, do they know you? They surely don't recognize your visiting friend. Did you see or hear the officer on the radio or just see the other cars drive by...if you saw him on the radio, maybe he was advising the other units in the area that he had already checked you guys out and you were good to go. You just don't know....

What exactly is well dressed? Khaki's and dress shoes, a freshly pressed jogging suit or jeans. A denim shirt...?

Also curious what is the makeup of your neighborhood? Are you an enigma in the area or are there plenty of minorities in the neighborhood. The reason I ask is I've personally been accused of stopping a black person just because they were black. That's funny for two reasons. One, it was a all black neighborhood, everybody was black and two, I'm black. So I need more info before I would say you were "hassled" because you were a minority.

Regardless, I imagine it was more then a little embarrassing to be stopped in your own neighborhood while walking with your friend. I'm sorry that happened.

[vash]

I am so surprised he didn’t ask for ID. It’s what they do.