Hey everyone,
I'd like to share a story and perhaps get a bit of advice.
Last night I was invited to a shindig a few blocks from my home. It was a college-ish party but nothing crazy - mostly just a big crowd eating, drinking, and talking. I'm a little old for this kind of thing but a friend of mine from overseas invited me and he'll be leaving the country soon so I went along to spend some time with him.
Around 1am a couple police officers showed up outside and appeared to be asking questions of the homeowner (I was well out of earshot). I suspect a noise complaint, but given the volume of the party I would find that really unusual. People started leaving and I, too, was planning on heading out shortly.
I was standing outside, on the property, drinking a beer and talking to two friends when an officer, from 10ft away or so, started shining flashlights at people's faces. I naturally put my hand up to block the light and kept talking to my friends. This officer walked up to me and said I had to leave. I said I planned to leave shortly but couldn't leave the property with open alcohol in my hand. He said I could just leave it and go and again I said I planned to leave shortly, I was just finishing my beer. At this point a second officer walked up behind me and grabbed the top of my cup. I did not let go, and neither of us played tug-a-war or anything like that, we were just strangely both holding onto the cup. I immediately said that I didn't consent to any search or seizure or my property. The cops asked me if I wanted to go to jail and I said, "no, of course not". Again, they said I had to leave and I said that I was at a private residence and asked if I was commiting a crime. One cop said, "yeah, resisting". They told me again to leave and I said again that I intended to leave very shortly (the cop was still holding onto my cup). At the moment I finished uttering that sentence the cop took the same arm that I was holding onto the beer with and put it behind my back (spilling the beer) and slapped cuffs on. The entire verbal exchange was 30 seconds or so to the point that I was arrested - very fast. One or two friends can confirm the above. It seems clear to me that they were making an example of me, and didn't like that I might question them for even a second. At the time they were telling me to leave (and only me) there were dozens of other people still on the property.
Here is the entertaining & scary part: I often use a small amount of styling product on my hair which is packaged in a jar large enough that it isn't reasonable to carry with anywhere. About a year ago I went to a wedding and wanted to look good and I learned that I could put a small amount in a small ziplock bag and keep it in my back pocket, that way I could reapply as needed. I've been carrying some on me like that ever since. Of course, the cops found this small bag of white cream product and my understanding is that it is being tested in a lab somewhere right now! After they found it they called in a third cop who arrived with a brown paper bag (like a lunch bag) full of bits of something. They dumped it out onto his hood and took out my bag to compare. This whole process has me freaked out because my item ended up in the cops pocket at two different times, then ended up next to this other stuff. What if they switched something, or residue from something else was transferred over?
During the arrest, search, relocation, and processing at the county jail, I must have said the following phrases about 50-60 times each: "I don't consent to a search", "I don't wish to issue a statement right now". The only bit of info they got from me was what they could gather from the driver's license that they took from my back pocket. I also made requests to fill out a medical request form at the jail, about 30 times over ~1.5hrs, and was always denied. There were actually posters on the walls there to inform prisoners that they could make such a request, and even the supervisor wouldn't give me one.
I posted bail and got out about 2 hours after the initial arrest.
Anyways, this is my first time being arrested and I have a hearing set for 1:30pm Monday. My bail form says the charges are "RESISTING/OBSTRUCTING PEACE OFFICER". I don't expect for there to be any drug charges, unless these guys are really corrupt. I'm a very calm and articulate person and feel that I can explain myself well to the judge. The only thing on my record, ever, is a speeding ticket. I'm a homeowner, business owner, college grad, eagle scout, and have lived and had good standing in the community for 10 years. I really don't have a clue what I'm supposed to be doing legally though, and I'm seeking out any advice I can get. Is this something where I need a lawyer? I live in IL, btw.
Thanks!
I'd like to share a story and perhaps get a bit of advice.
Last night I was invited to a shindig a few blocks from my home. It was a college-ish party but nothing crazy - mostly just a big crowd eating, drinking, and talking. I'm a little old for this kind of thing but a friend of mine from overseas invited me and he'll be leaving the country soon so I went along to spend some time with him.
Around 1am a couple police officers showed up outside and appeared to be asking questions of the homeowner (I was well out of earshot). I suspect a noise complaint, but given the volume of the party I would find that really unusual. People started leaving and I, too, was planning on heading out shortly.
I was standing outside, on the property, drinking a beer and talking to two friends when an officer, from 10ft away or so, started shining flashlights at people's faces. I naturally put my hand up to block the light and kept talking to my friends. This officer walked up to me and said I had to leave. I said I planned to leave shortly but couldn't leave the property with open alcohol in my hand. He said I could just leave it and go and again I said I planned to leave shortly, I was just finishing my beer. At this point a second officer walked up behind me and grabbed the top of my cup. I did not let go, and neither of us played tug-a-war or anything like that, we were just strangely both holding onto the cup. I immediately said that I didn't consent to any search or seizure or my property. The cops asked me if I wanted to go to jail and I said, "no, of course not". Again, they said I had to leave and I said that I was at a private residence and asked if I was commiting a crime. One cop said, "yeah, resisting". They told me again to leave and I said again that I intended to leave very shortly (the cop was still holding onto my cup). At the moment I finished uttering that sentence the cop took the same arm that I was holding onto the beer with and put it behind my back (spilling the beer) and slapped cuffs on. The entire verbal exchange was 30 seconds or so to the point that I was arrested - very fast. One or two friends can confirm the above. It seems clear to me that they were making an example of me, and didn't like that I might question them for even a second. At the time they were telling me to leave (and only me) there were dozens of other people still on the property.
Here is the entertaining & scary part: I often use a small amount of styling product on my hair which is packaged in a jar large enough that it isn't reasonable to carry with anywhere. About a year ago I went to a wedding and wanted to look good and I learned that I could put a small amount in a small ziplock bag and keep it in my back pocket, that way I could reapply as needed. I've been carrying some on me like that ever since. Of course, the cops found this small bag of white cream product and my understanding is that it is being tested in a lab somewhere right now! After they found it they called in a third cop who arrived with a brown paper bag (like a lunch bag) full of bits of something. They dumped it out onto his hood and took out my bag to compare. This whole process has me freaked out because my item ended up in the cops pocket at two different times, then ended up next to this other stuff. What if they switched something, or residue from something else was transferred over?
During the arrest, search, relocation, and processing at the county jail, I must have said the following phrases about 50-60 times each: "I don't consent to a search", "I don't wish to issue a statement right now". The only bit of info they got from me was what they could gather from the driver's license that they took from my back pocket. I also made requests to fill out a medical request form at the jail, about 30 times over ~1.5hrs, and was always denied. There were actually posters on the walls there to inform prisoners that they could make such a request, and even the supervisor wouldn't give me one.
I posted bail and got out about 2 hours after the initial arrest.
Anyways, this is my first time being arrested and I have a hearing set for 1:30pm Monday. My bail form says the charges are "RESISTING/OBSTRUCTING PEACE OFFICER". I don't expect for there to be any drug charges, unless these guys are really corrupt. I'm a very calm and articulate person and feel that I can explain myself well to the judge. The only thing on my record, ever, is a speeding ticket. I'm a homeowner, business owner, college grad, eagle scout, and have lived and had good standing in the community for 10 years. I really don't have a clue what I'm supposed to be doing legally though, and I'm seeking out any advice I can get. Is this something where I need a lawyer? I live in IL, btw.
Thanks!
