Thursday, May 7, 2009

Harassment

At 8:48 AM I was followed and then pulled over by Huntsville Police Car #1819 - Officer Bowles. I ask why are you pulling me over considering he tailed me for 6 blocks and I stopped at all the stop signs and obeyed the traffic laws. He said there have been a lot of burglaries by people on bikes. I said I find that hard to believe and this seemed to be more like harassment. I called Internal Affairs to complain @ 256 427 7012.

I see cops all over the place so it seems to me our little cult here will now be the target of much more police harassment. I know some people who live in constant fear and will welcome this type law and order. I for one see this place becoming more and more like a police state.

FYI: to pull someone over or stop them you need probable cause,which they can make up. So riding a bike is now a crime.

So now I have to worry about cops hassling me on my bike along with all the other shit.

If I drove a car this would not have happened!!!!

If you are pulled over call 256 427 7012 and file a complaint I did.

15 comments:

clintpatty said...

That sucks. I wish they'd redistribute some of those police to Meridian St and write tickets to everyone going 60mph. And to those that harass cyclists or get dangerously close. I had an office ask me before if I'd seen a shirtless guy in overalls on a blue bicycle because he had just robbed someone. So yeah yours sounds like harassment. But it does happen. I just don't know about home burglary and putting 50" plasmas in your messenger bad and all.

Bello Velo said...

Thanks man, I fear we are going to be the target of all this "Safety" I was told last week that a man was pulled over and told to wear a helmet. He was way over 16.

I think your suggestion is a good idea. I think these fat asses should be on foot patrol too. Far more effective than driving around.

That's what I get for following the rules of the road:)

Unknown said...

I read the police blotter almost everyday and have never read of an incident where someone was robbed or burglarized by a suspect on a bicycle.

THE OFFICER'S CLAIM IS COMPLETE BULLSHIT!!!

Anonymous said...

It is complete bullshit we are now being targeted by the police as well as over caffeinated, under sexed rage a holic motorists.

Feel Safer?

Leela the Kid said...

what a bunch of bull. sorry to here this happened to you. harassing people from a position of power, inventing probable cause, and providing misinformation (telling adults to 'put on a helmet') instead of providing real assistance (like clint's suggestions for intervening with unsafe drivers) all work to keep people in a state of fear, discourage bike riding, and make us all worse off.

the milkman said...

I can't believe this has happened, ohh wait, maybe I can. Just over a year ago, officers Little and Moore out of North Precinct (literally bounded from 5 points by Oakwood Ave.) resigned in disgrace after getting caught red-handed planting drug evidence in peoples cars. Cars which they pulled over without good reason.
Let's ask sexy Rexy at the next council meeting if this recent harassment means a throw back to the good ol' days.
I'm working on a spoke card now that will have "citizen cyclist" rights on it as well as rules of the road. But until that is complete understand this everyone: The police or any other government agency needs a warrant for search and seizure or any violation to a citizens right to privacy. This is guaranteed by the 4th Amendment, Sec. 5. of the Alabama Constitution. Unless there is probable cause, which the Al. Supreme Court defines as, "a reasonable ground for suspicion, supported by facts sufficiently strong to warrant a cautious person of an accused person's guilt." I think any idiot can see that this was not in any way the case here. The police cannot get away with believing that anyone cycling legally is suspect for probable cause to a robbery. WTF!!!
The police need a warrant to back up the claim of probable cause anyway. This is also recognized by Al.law (Appeals, Brown v. State, 1964 and City of Bessimer v. Eidge, 1909). The appellant court has stated, "It is often better that crimes go unpunished than citizens have their privacy invaded and their books and papers exposed or destroyed by improper search."
What all this also means is that you are BY NO MEANS OBLIGATED AND CANNOT BE FORCED to provide identification or open personal property for inspection by any government agency or local authority without a warrant. DO NOT GIVE THESE ASSHOLES YOUR ID!!! They will never leave you alone. If you find yourself in trouble and you KNOW your in the right, act calmly and call me immediately. Just tell the officer you are calling council, which is your right to do. I have a contact (which I will not publish here) who can help. Especially for this type of stuff happening in 5 points. Consequently, I am not publishing my number either, but go through the "right" channels with "good" people, and I will offer my services.
Sorry for the length.
You have to know your rights against this type of harassment.
"They've done it before, they'll do it again."
All that crazy shit. PEACE

ash said...

Robert is awesome. I'm looking forward to the spoke cards-that's a fantastic idea!

Anonymous said...

As you all know, I have been in school for 5 years now and am graduating in with a degree Criminal Psychology. I go to online school with police who are furthering their education for the most part.

I was in a discussion with a Sargent from Florida and explained to him how I would never be a cop in Huntsville. He was appalled, until I explained why.

I brought some very specific contradictions up to him between the "law" in Huntsville and the "law" we are learning. He was outraged that we have a city full of police who have little more than a high school education and a military background. He was also outraged over the incidents that happened on our group rides and is sympathetic for cyclists.

I specifically asked him about Huntsville's recruiting policies and he said they sounded much more different that he ever heard. I have been through training with the police..aced all of the entrance exams. Why I never got in? Well I used common sense and compassion.

I do comment the efforts of the police in getting the guy who hit me a ticket. But believe me, when speaking with some of these guys, I was appalled by their lack of dialect, professionalism and lack of experience. I know it is hard being an officer, you are caught between bureaucracy and the media and everyone already hates you, but here, it seems as we have a few bad apples...well perhaps 2 out of 3. I see both sides here, but Huntsville even for me is an exception to all of the rules...part of the reason I am NOT going to be a cop...if I was I would try to change things from within...but with all those good ole boys running around...I dont think a yank can teach em good.

jim spaz

ponyheart said...

actually, i got pulled over by the police in madison on sunday for no reason, driving a truck not riding a bike. the "officer" looked in the truck and saw a power drill from previously installing my aunts screen doors and began asking all kind of questions. in the end, nothing came of it except being annoyed for no reason and i was pretty irritated by the bullshit coming out of his mouth. i was pissed but im over it. i suspect being a cop sucks because as it was said, everyone hates you, whether youre a criminal or not. its hard to always fight the good fight but it is their job i think.

and maybe another reason you wont be a cop here is that they require you to wear shoes and pass a drug test > : )

ponyheart said...

sarcasm doesnt translate over the internet;i was just playing around there

Bello Velo said...

You maybe right about it sucking for a cop, but that is their choice and they have a gun and a gang mentality. In reality cops enforce laws of the state and for the most part do not prevent crimes.

There are other states which cops do not suck as bad and they do community outreach, foot patrols etc...

I think here they have to justify their budget and you do this by instilling fear. This way our new mayor and old police chief can justify there already bloated law and order budget. Maybe this is in preparedness to Huntsville beautiful landmark the Jail.

I wonder is this the freedom that all those young people are dying for in these wars?

Sorry my empathy stops with the police, I know it is a flaw and one I am ok living with.

As far as the drug testing they obviously do not test for steroids.

Or maybe they have decided to get names of cyclists and keep a close eye on these hooligan trouble makers. Sounds paranoid I know but it is possible.

Bello Velo said...

Councilmen Showers is trying to get a citizens review board for the police. Considering my taxes pay these lovely humanoids I think this should be supported. Currently you call internals affairs and the police handle it if they so choose.

Anonymous said...

Funny thing about the "drug test" get this, the last time I took the exam, they explained it to me this way, in a nutshell:

"Its okay if you have done cocaine,crack, heroin, crystal meth but we will absolutely not accept any applications by anyone who has smoked more than 3 marijuana joints and have take 1 or more hits of acid."

Not an exact quote, but I remember shitting myself when the old goober was explaining it. Also the class had 70 people in it. 60 of the 70 were the cookie cutter southern man, goatee, Alabama cap, fat, ya know...I felt like i was just better than all of them, with my high IQ, excellent work ethic and good looks and all. Too bad my LSD intake exceeds um...(use your imagination) . boo hoo.

Hey and there is nothing wrong with a "barefoot flatfoot"...

...who's trippin balls.

jim

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