Police Arrest Alabama Pastor for ( No Joke) Watering Flowers

We both know what he's getting at.
He wants this man arrested even after the fact and we both know why........

 

I know what you’re getting at, maybe that’s the case, but some people are just cop boot lickers who appreciate authoritarianism…until it happens to them.

 

Jerry Fallwell Jr, that aside, there was no crime.

 

No crime was committed.

 

"The person we were obstructing and harassing is a criminal for obstructing our investigation!"

Racist, anti-American bullies. They should all be held personally liable.

 

Probable cause and reasonable suspicion don't require a crime.

 

This kind of thing actually happens a lot. And not just to black people. Ironically I had just watched the following video last night before I ever poked my head into this thread.



Audit the Audit does a fairly good job of rating both sides of the interaction in their video's and explaining the various laws that is relevant to the video's. Unfortunately the above video is in Arkansas while the OP is in Alabama. So different laws apply. But still a good watch and has "some" similarities. Its worth watching.

 

Actually, no, you do not have a legal obligation to answer ANY questions. Some states do require certain basic information, some don't. But beyond that, you don't have to answer a damn question. There are several Amendments that are applicable. 1st Amendment is about speech, including the right to NOT speak. 4th Amendment is about privacy. And 5th Amendment is about not incriminating yourself.

That said, trespassing cases are a bit trickier and is dependent on the trespassing statute. Which has not been cited in this thread to the best of my knowledge...though I haven't read the whole thread as of yet. The statute cited in this thread would not apply as it is in regards to places that are considered public access. Which includes stores that are privately owned. It does not apply to private property, even if the property he was on was not his own, its still considered private property as the general public does not have access to it.

 

Sucks. Someone called the police because a guy was watering flowers, and the caller knew he was not the owner. Police has to respond (its their job). The question is if the police would have demanded ID from a white guy. The pastor refused to show ID either because he wasn't carrying one, or he felt he had done nothing wrong and didn't need to show it and because he felt he was being treated like a criminal because he is black. Not sure what the cops could have done differently, other than call the owner of the house to verify the story.

 

If there is no crime, why is there suspicion, let alone probable cause.

 

A 911 call is considered as sufficient probable cause and suspicion to conduct an investigation.

 

If you have material information to a crime, you're legally obligated to share it with law enforcement if requested. Refusing to do so is obstruction of justice.

 

Because sometimes things look suspicious and cops are legally obligated to investigate.

 

Suspicious of gardening. ???

Sounds like a crime wave to me. !!

 

3rd time, suspicious of no crime is not a valid reason.

 

Trespassing is something cops are required to respond to. He was watering plants, so maybe that should have defused the situation, but the pastor could have defused it by showing ID

 

Um, yeah, it's an absolutely valid reason...lol. Reasonable suspicion is a real thing.

 

Yeah, watering a garden looks suspicious.

 

The cops were responding to a call. They couldn't just ignore it.

 

Well they could have looked at the house and seen there was no break in too.

 

No, you're not. The only ones that have the legal authority to compel testimony are judges.

 

No break in, yet.

 

I can think of a person who is under suspicion that hasn't been arrested.

 

Not sure why the cops didn't call the owner to verify the pastors story.

 

The procedure followed was flawed, that I agree. We all have the right to remain silent.