Quote: (09-29-2013 09:03 PM)wiscanada Wrote:
I had this discussion the other day where the other person was "nothing to hide, I'm not breaking any laws, why be worried" and I said "you're making the assumption you know all of the laws". It of course did not sink in.
A huge problem is even many cops don't know the laws. Or even if they do, still impede on your rights because they know either you don't know them, or don't have the money to fight the charges anyways.
Are cops held accountable at all for charging people with crimes if they are not guilty? A cop can charge you with pretty much anything he wants, then it falls on you to prove him wrong. It really is not innocent until proven guilty in this country.
My best friend was charged with trumped up assault with a deadly weapon charge, and quite a few other charges, that the cops knew were bullshit. However, he was feuding with the son of a councilmen, who was also a very prominent businessman in this small mountain town. Long story short my friend and him fought, then a dozen or so of the kids friends run out from the apartment and beat the crap out of my two friends, kicking them on the ground, broke one of their orbital bones, etc.
Said kid then punches in my friends car window, and when the cops show up charged my friend for assault with a deadly weapon because the kid said he ran him over. Obvious bullshit since only the kids knuckles bleeding. Not to mention in the police report it even said a girl was driving, not my friend.
Arrest my buddies, charge no one else for stomping two guys into the street and breaking one of their orbital bones. Kicking them in the head while they are already down.
Friend goes to court several times with a few felonies held over his head. He already had a felony for selling dimebags when he was 18. They tell him if he fights and loses, he's going to prison for a long time with a drug and a violent felony on his record. However, if he accepts a public fighting and illegal lane change charge (police report says he wasn't even driving) they will drop the other charges. Of course he accepts the deal, how could he not? 20 year old kid looking and a long prison stretch if he loses.
Just before this happened the same kid threw a brick through my buddies window and covered our friends three year old daughter in glass. Cops come, find the kid, detain him after he swings on them, and then release him to his friends with no charges.