Trigger happy cop vs private investigator

5 minutes of HOLY SH*T. WATCH before commenting.


I have read up extensively on the law when it comes to traffic stops and police. Why? Because this is one of those areas that make my blood boil.

1. You do not have to answer questions or provide information under the 5th amendment.
2. You do not have to provide identification unless you are suspected of committing a crime.
3. You cannot be detained unless you are suspected of committing a crime (note the deputy held him there)
4. You can ask why you are being detained and the police officer must tell you.
5. Under the 4th amendment you are protected from illegal searches and seizures - the police raiding the man's car and giving him every citation under the book was a clear violation of his rights.
6. Unless you are suspected of committing a crime, you do not have to leave your vehicle - even if asked to do so. That is not a lawful order - something the Supreme Court has ruled on several times.
7. The Private Investigator asked the deputy calmed to remove his hand from his person. The deputy refused. This, would legally, as the law stands now, constitute assault.
8. The PI asked the deputy politely to holster his weapon, and to call his supervisor. He reassured the deputy that he is compliant, his hands will remain visible, and that he is not breaking the law - that he is working. The deputy takes the weapon off safe, cocks the hammer, puts his finger on the trigger, and aims the weapon at the PI's head for "reaching". The "reach" was a very slow and deliberate removal of the PI's ear piece from the VISIBLE ear. Not a "reach" that would warrant this response.

The man was innocent and not suspected of breaking any laws. He was calm, kept his hands visible at all times, moved and spoke slowly, and rolled his window all the way down (not required to do that).

The deputy had his weapon drawn, which is the LAST step before escalating to lethal force. Obviously BOTH deputies here had no regard or respect for the Private Investigator's life.

The male deputy admitted to being nervous and shaking. He kept the firearm trained on the PIs head, with his shaking finger on the trigger AFTER cocking the hammer.. Even after his SGT told him to step back and lower his weapon, he kept the weapon trained on the PIs head. The PI was working an active investigation at the time..

The female deputy wrote up several illegal citations and asked her supervisor to "please let me taser him!" She discussed what they could do to get him arrested.

I am 100% on the side of law enforcement, however in this case, both deputies are the reason innocent people get shot and killed. The judge in this case waived all charges against both deputies, but upheld the citation on the GOVERNMENT vehicle's tinted windows (even though they were legal and documented).

People say, "be corporative".

#1. The man was.
#2. When an order is illegal - you do not have to obey it. It's not being "uncooperative" it is standing up for your rights. This isn't Nazi Germany, and we do not have to obey every word a police officer says. However, police are not used to people, nor appreciate people, standing up for their rights. This is crap of the highest regard.
#3. I completely understand why some officers are jumpy and why they react the way they do. However, that does not justify this type of behavior - or why there are so many shootings and killings of innocent people (of all races)...