Police Arrest Alabama Pastor for ( No Joke) Watering Flowers

Look there was no evidence of any crime. The home was not broken into to. He had no stolen goods. The person gave a very reasonable explanation for why he was there. He told them his name, where he lived and what he was doing there. Watch the body cam footage when they first saw him he was watering plants and had a hose in his hand. The neighbor who called the cops identified him as a neighbor and friend of the person who lives there and even confirmed the neighbor was out of town so it was reasonable for him to be there. The pastor totally complied with the law.

Maybe if there was evidence of a crime being committed you would have a fair argument but yeah if there is no evidence of any crime and the person told you their name, address and gave a reasonable explanation for why they are there you should let them go. If the cops came by while I was watering my neighbors plants I would expect them to let me go.

 

It really should be a law that if you say you’re innocent then the cops should have to apologize and go away immediately. The city should also have to give you a million bucks for harassment.

 

Look at post #22.

 

You forgot the /S.

 

Jennings wasn't on HIS property and the cops had good reason to confirm his identity.

 

Still is private property and I don't think watering flowers is a good reason. Perhaps if they drove up and saw him like fidgeting with teh door handle or something.

 

I think that will be the crux of the lawsuit. Your interpretation is a public place is anywhere that is not your personal property. I think others are arguing that public place mean government own land like roads and sidewalks. I have no legal background so I will leave it up to the experts to decide.

BTW based on the Alabama code from your wiki link:

"may demand of him his name, address and an explanation of his actions."

He gave the officers all that information. It is not against the law to not carry your wallet or ID when you are not operating a vehicle.

 

at least he wasn't armed with a rosary

 

you don't have to show ID here, but I would, it's just the polite thing to do and makes things easier for everyone

that said, once that neighbor that reported it, realized who he was and told them, that should have been the end of it

at that point you have confirmed identity, you can then go back and charge them later after talking to the homeowner if need be

 

They over charged him and the prosecutors knew it. That’s why charges were dropped. They did their job and confirmed he was not trespassing so they should have let him go and never taken him to jail.

 

I don't think he had his ID. His wife brought it by near the end of the video. There is no law that says you have to carry ID at all times. You need ID when operating a vehicle but when I am at home doing yard work like gardening or watering plants I leave my wallet at home. He is required by Alabama law to give his name, address and explanation when on public property. Pastor Jennings provided all of that information even when he was not required to do so on private property.

 

unless he drove the suv there, but still until he left the property not much they could do and if she brought his id, then it should have been good

"That’s when someone called the police on him, claiming an unfamiliar SUV was parked outside the neighbor’s house"

 

I understand it's not required to show ID on private property, but why wouldn't you, if you have some on you?

The article said he parked his SUV in from of the property, so I'm going to assume (and hope) he had his drivers license on him.

If you are not doing anything illegal, I don't see the point in not responding to simple police requests, legally required or not...

We've all seen what happens if you don't...

 

I would to, but I have not lived my 60 years with cops pulling me over, store clerks following me around, neighbors calling on me, and basically having to prove my innocence over and over and over and over and over and smile nicely each and every time. Its got to get old and the more 'polite' you are, the less of a problem it seems to be to the guys interfering with your life because somebody gets a little more nervous about people with higher melanin levels.

Maybe that politeness and solicitous nature ends up seeming like part of the problem in this dynamic, rather than part of the solution.

 

Just because you claim to be a pastor doesn’t mean you are one. Just because you’re a pastor doesn’t mean you’re telling the truth.

being uncooperative doesn’t help. Once the complainant obliges that the person is legit, the investigation is mostly over.

 

I agree, I have seen white people refuse to give ID, just watching them makes me tense, imagine what it does for cops

legally, they may be right... but why be like that

same with cops that are confrontational for no reason... why be like that

 

You should watch the 20 minute body cam video I linked way back in my first post. The SUV belongs to the neighbor. Pastor Jennings told the police that the moment they arrived. The police ran the plates and confirmed it belonged to Roy his neighbor and friend.

Near the end of the video when the pastor's wife shows up she brings his ID. I can only assume it was either in their home or she had it. I don't know about you guys but when I am out doing yard work I put on my gardening clothes and leave my wallet at home.

The Pastor in my opinion was cooperative. He gave the police his name, occupation, DOB, address and even told them where he worked. Well beyond the required amount of information. The police confirmed his identity with a neighbor. Do you think they trusted her story or also asked her for ID too?

 

ah, thanks, have not watched the video yet, agree, then he did not need to have ID if did not drive there, but like I said, even if was his SUV, they could not do anything until he left

I also said once the neighbor confirmed his identity, that should be the end of it, no disagreement here

 

Started watching it... Not saying the police are in the right here for the final result of arrest, but the pastor, in my opinion, was not cooperative or respectful. Didn't deserve to be arrested, and the officers will be in trouble for that, but this guy started out angry in the first 1:45 I've watched...

I'll watch the rest later, but I'm on the police side so far...

 

My thought exactly...

 

Watch the whole thing. I agree he may have been disrespectful but that is not against the law. He knew his rights and the police did not. He gave them all of the required information. His name, where he lived and what he was doing there. He even gives a reason for why he is distrusting of police based on an experience his son had so I will not judge he temperament without knowing the man. All I can judge on is did he break the law and doing anything that he could be arrested for. So far I see no reason based on the legal analysis I have heard.

This is America and if we start arresting everyone that is rude we are going to need a lot more prisons.

 

OK, i've watched the first 11 minutes, which I think is the gist...

Police behaved very well, until the guy yelled 1015, which I assume means arrest... You can hear the pastor giving the cops grief the entire time leading to that and the cop blew a minor gasket.

I find the pastors behavior in the first 4 minutes terrible... A reasonable person would have caused this to go away very quickly. He mentioned racial profiling at the 3 minute mark, and repeated that later on, which is not what happened, so he had some issues going into the encounter.

Once the neighbor identified him, he should have been released, and the police will suffer minor consequences for that... I cannot see anybody losing a job over this.

 

This is an excellent example of the police making assumptions before getting to the actual facts.

 

Did you click on the link for the Alabama statue? Of course not.

2006 Alabama Code - Section 15-5-30 — Authority of peace officer to stop and question.
A sheriff or other officer acting as sheriff, his deputy or any constable, acting within their respective counties, any marshal, deputy marshal or policeman of any incorporated city or town within the limits of the county or any highway patrolman or state trooper may stop any person abroad in a public place whom he reasonably suspects is committing, has committed or is about to commit a felony or other public offense and may demand of him his name, address and an explanation of his actions.
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It says "public", plain as day.

 

And what does that have to do with the OP?