NYPD Douchebaggery

Anybody have any unpleasant run-ins with Brooklyn's finest lately? I've been hearing some kind of scary stories about the 78th the last few weeks. I guess I got it wrong when I thought they were supposed to protect and serve law abiding citizens of Park Slope, not arrest them for no cause.

Do you have a story to tell, or is this just troll bait?

I heard they were going after people who post cryptic messages on Brooklynian.

One of them said he didn't like my new sweater the other day.

Not really my story but somebody I know very well and no, i'm not trolling, just alarmed. The gist of the situation is that a friend was arrested last week by a detective at the 78th, kept in custody for a long and traumatic two days, and then charged with a felony that he is completely innocent of, all on the word of one person, which even the smallest amount of research by the police would have shown to be a) lying and b) easily disproven. My friend has lost 15 pounds, is very shaken up, and frightened about how this could happen to him, a longtime resident with a family who's never been arrested, is white, well-educated with advantages that so many others don't have. The police detective called and asked him to answer questions about some complaint and he did. Within a couple of minutes, he was under arrest, not allowed to see his lawyer and in cells with blood still on the ground. He was never given any opportunity to provide evidence that would clear him; just arrested. Does that kind of thing really happen here?

I'm sure he was assigned/hired a lawyer for arraignment. If so, this is something your friend should talk to a lawyer about.

And yes, this kind of thing that happens here, if by "kind of thing," you mean people are held for 2 days before seeing a judge and accused of crimes they claim never happened. If you assert your right to a lawyer, that stops the interrogation (maybe), but does not guarantee immediate release. You have to wait for a judge for that... which can take upwards of 2 days (usually at worst). Everything you listed regarding the process is, unfortunately, not uncommon.

Your friend should be talking with a lawyer.

By "this kind of thing" I mean don't you need SOME evidence to get arrested? More than the word of a person who has an ax to grind. I mean can't anybody just accuse anybody of anything in that case? And don't the police actually investigate AT ALL before making an arrest? and, yes, he now has an attorney.

Yes, police need what's called "probable cause" to believe a crime has occurred in order to arrest. They can't just arrest for no reason. That said, the legal standard is incredibly low for what constitutes "probable cause" and there is virtually no repercussions for violating. Thus, a non-verified single witness complaint causing an arrest is, unfortunately, not surprising.

I'm not a lawyer (at least not for another 3 months) and this is not legal advice. Sorry, had to say that.

Wait..white people are getting arrested????

bkgirl wrote: By "this kind of thing" I mean don't you need SOME evidence to get arrested? More than the word of a person who has an ax to grind. I mean can't anybody just accuse anybody of anything in that case? And don't the police actually investigate AT ALL before making an arrest? and, yes, he now has an attorney.

It depends, actually. You'd think this would be the case, yes, unless your friend is accused of something like spousal abuse, child abuse or some kind of sexual assault.

For some reason, in those instances, normal "laws" don't apply, and a person can be arrested without any real sort of evidence beyond the accusation of someone else (who can remain anonymous).

none of those in this case. nothing violent or sexual.

Subject: Re: NYPD Douchebaggery

bkgirl wrote: Anybody have any unpleasant run-ins with Brooklyn's finest lately? I've been hearing some kind of scary stories about the 78th the last few weeks. I guess I got it wrong when I thought they were supposed to protect and serve law abiding citizens of Park Slope, not arrest them for no cause.

I think you mean you've been hearing ONE scary story, unless you have others you wish to share.

sheesh. i also heard about a guy taking his kid to school who sent the kid through with his metrocard and then swiped the kids school metrocard for himself and he GOT INTERROGATED BY THE POLICE, told to send his 7-year-old on his own so he could accompany them to the station. does that qualify as another?

bkgirl wrote: sheesh. i also heard about a guy taking his kid to school who sent the kid through with his metrocard and then swiped the kids school metrocard for himself and he GOT INTERROGATED BY THE POLICE, told to send his 7-year-old on his own so he could accompany them to the station. does that qualify as another?

Definitely.... I'm sure that is exactly what happened. There is no chance of one of both of your stories are one sides and grossly inaccurate.

I say we riot. I actually punched a cop on the subway platform this morning. He was giving me the stink eye and I don't put up with that sort of shit. So, I decked him, he staggered back and I astutely slipped away via a Manhattan bound F train just as the doors were closing. Then I did like 7 chin ups, smoked a cigarette, and seriously groped an average looking dude in a cheap suit.

Seriously, that's exactly how it happened.

Drunken Revival wrote: [quote=bkgirl]sheesh. i also heard about a guy taking his kid to school who sent the kid through with his metrocard and then swiped the kids school metrocard for himself and he GOT INTERROGATED BY THE POLICE, told to send his 7-year-old on his own so he could accompany them to the station. does that qualify as another?

Definitely.... I'm sure that is exactly what happened. There is no chance of one of both of your stories are one sides and grossly inaccurate.

I say we riot. I actually punched a cop on the subway platform this morning. He was giving me the stink eye and I don't put up with that sort of shit. So, I decked him, he staggered back and I astutely slipped away via a Manhattan bound F train just as the doors were closing. Then I did like 7 chin ups, smoked a cigarette, and seriously groped an average looking dude in a cheap suit.
Seriously, that's exactly how it happened.

Shut up!
my suit was expensive.

Cops bank on most civilians' sense of decency and civility when it comes to "answering a few innocent questions". Cops don't have to give you warning that you're being looked at for a crime.

Nothing good comes from voluntarily going down to a precint to answer a few questions. At the least, show up w/ an experienced criminal atty present.

BoogieKnight wrote: Cops bank on most civilians' sense of decency and civility when it comes to "answering a few innocent questions". Cops don't have to give you warning that you're being looked at for a crime.

Nothing good comes from voluntarily going down to a precint to answer a few questions. At the least, show up w/ an experienced criminal atty present.

A few hundred bucks doesn't hurt either.