Poster on Baptist Board in the news

What was the 'probable cause' for the stop, in the first place at 75 mi. (or an hour's drive) away from (and running parallel to, and not away from) the US/Mexico Border - a rental car??

Ed

 

If the dog smelled something, why wasn't Mr. Anderson charged with something?

This is unacceptable behavior from police officers. It is unconstitutional. It could be you next time.

 

tasers are evil tools for incompetant officers

In the bad old days the officer would have dragged him out of his car, cuffed him, and searched it. Since 1964 civil rights act police forces and federal agencies are hiring runts who can't intimidate anyone and so they are instructed to use a taser and not try any physical force. I didn't this was the case with the Border Patrol.

I can close my eyes and imagine Anderson's big mouth inviting the officer to take a cheap shot at him. Heard it, myself, many a time.

 

Why did they need probable cause? I have no problem with random checkpoints 300 (500, 600) miles away from the border if they want to try and find some illegal immigrants, or drunk drivers, or drug smugglers, or whatever. Stop people randomly, check them out, if everything is cool send them on their way. Where's the problem?

Everyone loves to blame law enforcement for not dealing with crime, but when they actually do something about it then it's a problem and a violation of your rights. Cry me a river....

 

Because they didn't find anything. If 100 pounds of pot was in the car the day before, the dogs will fire on that.

I'd be happy for it to be me next time. I won't end up beaten, however, because I'll comply with law enforcements wishes. I'll be back in my vehicle and on my way because I will act like a law abiding citizen, instead of somone that has something to hide.

 

In most jurisdictions if a person is arrested on a felony the prosecutor
files the charges. No one watches "Law And Order?" <G>. With misdemeanors people get un-arrested all the time. No big deal.

 

The guy was obviously not an illegal alien for goodness sake. The search was illegal.

What's to stop the police from making a search of your home without probable cause? Yes, they have done that too.

When law enforcement deals with crime, that's a good thing. But no crime had been committed in this case. I would like to think that a citizen of this country has the constitutional right to refuse an illegal search and even protest it.

 

My father died (of cancer) while an active policeman. Your answer was his answer. At the scene you can do nothing. Later you can spend all the money you want trying to get even. In general, it is good to be polite to folks with a taser in their hand - especially the ones with side arms.

Have fun if you are a deaf/mute and you hands are cuffed :-( It is the main reason for having the fact you have a handicap on your Driver's License and on your wrist, dog-tag, ear-tag, or whatever.

 

The dog alerting on the car is probable cause for searching the car. Charges would not be filed for there was not actually something found.

This will not happen to me because I would comply with law enforcement instructions.

Upon approaching a vehicle the demeanor of the driver and the vehicle occupants have a bearing on the outcome. There have been many times I have not issued a citation simply because the driver was cooperative and a warning was sufficient. If you are "hot-headed" or suspicious in your actions that will cause me to ask more question and possibly take more action.

It appears in this situation that if Mr Anderson had simply complied, he would have been on his way in short order. We do not know Mr Anderson's demeanor nor the exchanges between him and the officers.

If you feel violated or intimadited by an officer, ask for a supervisor or cooperate and seek legal advice later. Contrary to comments made in this thread most officers are not going about seeking to harm people. There are unfortunately some bad officers who violate the rules. No different then the few Pastors who violate the trust of members of a congregation.

 

The search was NOT illegal. All cars are stopped at these check points not just those that look like illegal aliens (that would be illegal). Anytime a dog alerts, the search is justified.

If you did not have anything to hid why would you not cooperate?

 

FTR, I would have complied as well. But with the illegal alien problem, the drug war and now Christians being targeted by homeland security as possible terriorists, I am feeling my rights slipping away.

Why was the dog even used in this case? Once the officer saw that Mr. Anderson was alone and was not an illegal, why did he pursue it any further?

 

They were not just looking for illegal aliens, but for illegal drug traffic. A drug sniffing dog is often used to check vehicles (as well as luggage at an airport). Drug smugglers come in all shapes sizes.

 

Didn't you read the report by HS? It was posted in another thread.

It won't be long before you will not be able to preach against h*mose*uality in your church without the threat of being arrested.

 

The dog hit on the trunk.. a person could have been in the trunk for all the officers knew.. They were not sure Anderson was alone.

The dog was trained for drugs and humans.

What we have is an attention loving pastor.. (Those of us that have had exchanges with him know his lack of integrity.. and attention grabs).. who no doubt is using this to get more attention.

 

I'm not sure where you got that the dog hit on the trunk, but HERE is an article in the Yuma Sun.

After reading the above article, it sounds like Mr. Anderson was not cooperating, refusing to answer questions. I still question whether or not the dog actually hit on anything. The scary thing to me is that the 4th amendment is suspended or rendered moot when it comes to the Border Patrol. They have been given the authority to override the 4th amendment, which is a big concern of mine regarding the protection of our constitutional rights.

 

Has anyone posting on this thread even bothered to so much as read the Bill of Rights to the US Constitution?

Effectively, on this thread I have seen an implication that he must have been hiding something, and that he should not have refused to answer any questions, and that unreasonable search is reasonable.

Do I consider Steven Anderson a jerk? I definitely do, but what does that have to do with our Constitution? If it doesn't apply to a jerk, how long before someone gets to decide you or I are jerks, because we are theologically conservative, therefore it doesn't apply to others of us, as well?

Oh, Wait a minute! I almost forgot!

That already has been decided, hasn't it? Or have all here completely forgotten about WGCB radio, Bob Jones University and Goldsboro Christian Schools some 30-40 years ago? :tear:

I was in total disagreement with the policy of these said entities. But once again, what does that have to do with anything??

Ed