Caught Detectives Going Through My Car - WTF ! ! !

[udbcrzy2]

This is really weird. A couple of days ago my door bell is ringing and I am asleep. I go downstairs and look outside and 2-guys
have my car door open and one is going through my glove box. I walked outside and asked them WTF. They said, 'they just wanted
to make sure they were at the correct address'. They were looking for my son (who does not live with me) so they could ask him
some questions.

I called 911 to report the break-in and asked them to come and take fingerprints, but they say it's not a crime. The supervisor
called me and he said it's not a crime. I don't think that's quite right. They said I could file a citizens complaint within
5-days, so I am. But, I really doubt that anything will happen to them.

Isn't there a law against this? The only shit they have on me is that I have had 2 traffic tickets in my entire life and I'm 50-years old.
I follow the law, I pay my taxes and then they pull this shit on me?

I think they should be investigated by some other agency, but who?

I'm in Missouri, no I mean Redneck Mizzouri

[terisan]

1. Might you call ACLU for advice? nt

[Jackpine Radical]

I think it actually depends on state law.

Different states have different laws about privacy in re: automobiles. Call a lawyer.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Nope, federal law is crystal clear on this point

The suggestion to call a laywer, however, is a very good one.

[wuvuj]

30. As far as I know...

...in most states if your vehicle is on private property...as in parked at a place of business...it can be searched with the permission of the business owner. Since most businesses are cozy with the cops...expect it?

[StinkRat]

33. that is messed up

that is messed up.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. Nothing cops do is a crime, don't you know that?

Bush too. Nothing he does is a crime.

[quiller4]

3. Do not let this go unchallenged

You gave no permission for a search. File a citizens complaint and call your local ACLU and get a recommendation for an attorney. Take action do not let this go unchallenged.

[udbcrzy2]

6. That's what I'm talkin bout

I don't want to let it go. They were 'CAUGHT' going through my car.
It's a good thing the door to my house was locked because I'll bet
that they would have came in my house.

I can't afford a lawyer. I'm an unemployed wal-mart worker.
But I have lots of time to make them MIZZOURI-able:)

[Fovea]

7. Dude.

You are in redneck Missouri, my old stomping grounds.
If you want to get justice for this outrage, you gotta find out where their deer stands are.

The rest is up to you.

One word on the power of the feds over rural mule fuck Missouri.

Skidmore.

[Euromutt]

22. Try the ACLU; they might take the case pro bono

American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri
454 Whittier Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63108
Intake Line: [phone]
http://www.aclu-em.org/legal/howtofileacomplaint/

You can phone them at the number above, or fill out their complaint form (http://www.aclu-em.org/downloads/ComplaintForm2007.pdf) and mail it to them.

Cops busting into people's cars without a warrant should be exactly the sort of they might handle.

[aranthus]

29. In that case call the state bar, ACLU and local legal aid foundation.

They may be able to point you in the direction of an attorney who will take your case pro bono, or possibly on a contingency fee basis. Also check to see if your town has an ombudsman or other office in which to make a complaint.

[dotymed]

34. I went to my truck last week

and the ash tray had been emptied! I guess "they" were looking for marijuana, idk. It freaked me out. I often butt my cigarette and smoke it after I go in some where. Again, I don't run around with anyone or (often) break laws. The previous week, I did go to TN. and "smoked" for the first time in years. That is why I posted on another post, what I learned in a political science course last week. We have no Constitutionally guaranteed "Right to Privacy", only what has been given to us by the SCOTUS.... :wtf:

[Hello_Kitty]

5. They had to go through your car to make sure they had the right address? WTF??

What, like knocking on the door and asking was too hard? Sounds like they were on a fishing expedition. I don't know what agency you could go to but definitely talk to the ACLU. You might also try reporting the incident to your local news station.

[Euromutt]

23. WTF is right; there's a reason we have license plates

If the needed to verify an address, they could have called dispatch and got them to run the plate through DMV records.

[robinlynne]

8. The ACLU published videos about our rights. One I remember is they have to

ask your permission to go in your car. If you open your car they have the right. if you refuse they CANNOT without a warrant.
same with your house. Once you let them in they can do whatever they want.
this sounds highly illegal to me. If however your car window was open, I don't know.
The ACLU video says if the police ask you to open your car you say: I do not give permission for a search. Then they cannot.

[udbcrzy2]

9. Car was closed & I'm asleep

No, I was in bed and the door bell woke me up. When I came down stairs, I looked out the window
and noticed they were in my closed up car. That's when I went out there and said WTF ! !

I actually caught them. I live in a rural area, quiet little street with houses spaced
about 1-2 acres apart. They thought nobody was home and they were being CRIMINALS

[groovedaddy]

32. If "you" let them in, they can do whatever they want? SCOTA rendered a decision a few years ago

where a wife called the cops on her husband, saying he was dealing coke. The cops came without a warrant. She let them in, against the husband's wishes. He wanted them to have a warrant before entering. The cops said all they needed was the wife's consent. WRONG. SCOTA ruled that BOTH owned the home and both needed to consent to a search without a warrant.

[Lasher]

10. Missouri has a Castle Doctrine law.

And it extends to one's vehicle. Might not be too smart of them to be helping themselves to the contents of peoples' glove compartments without permission.

[sinkingfeeling]

11. Did you get their names? What agency were they from? You will need that data to make a complaint.

[udbcrzy2]

13. They won't give me their names

They are protecting them, they will not give me the names.
I have one of the names, but the guy who was inside of my
car they won't give his name. So, I'll just have to refer
to him as 'Chuckie' (from the movie) just because that's who
he reminded me of.

Can you imagine if my house door would have been unlocked and
if they would have been in my house while I lay in bed butt naked?
I still cannot believe this crap.

[rd_kent]

18. If I saw someone breaking into my car

I would have called 911. If these jokers refused to show I.D. I would have gotten my gun and it would have been "on." I know it sounds wrong, but we have a right to protect ourselves and our property. Police who act outside the law are not acting in their official capacity and are criminals like any other respectable burglar, and need to be confronted as such.
As a side story, I had two "officers" come to my door one night "investigating" a crime that happened on the street. Before I opened the door, I asked for I.D., which they held up and showed me. I then asked them to wait just a minute while I called the police station and verified that they were "on duty". Then I stepped outside and everything went smoothly.

[rocktivity]

12. They rang your doorbell and proceeding to search your car?

You should have called the cops right away!

:evilgrin:
rocktivity

[Uben]

14. Was the car locked?

In some states they are allowed to search an unlocked car. That's why when you are pulled over and they ask you to get out, you take your keys and lock the door when you exit. They cannot search a locked vehicle without permission or a warrant.

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. I'm real surprised they did that -

people have been known to have gotten themselves shot breaking into cars in Missouri.

What if you'd come out shooting first, and asking questions later?

(I lived nearly a quarter of my life in central MO.)

[potisok]

16. Black harted SOB's

The justice system here in Missouri supports its police, warn your son and roll over and keep your mouth shut, it can get worse. Fighting the police state usually pisses them off and accomplishes nothing most of the time. Lock your doors (cars included) and enjoy life, they haven't started sending us to secret rendition sites yet, not really sure on that as they are secret.

:sarcasm:

Have fun and give them hell as it sounds as though they deserve it and are in the wrong.

A fellow Missourian.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. Castle Doctrine anyone?

[Echo In Light]

19. Something very odd about this. Keep us informed as to what happens

[csibona]

20. sounds like a civil suit - damages?

[Shagbark Hickory]

21. cops can do whatever they want and get away with it

including beating people senselessly.

[Wolf-Were]

24. Yes that is wrong

they needed a warrent to do that crap.

[fedupinhouston]

25. If your state has the same level of castle doctrine as Texas...

If you find them doing it again, I would suggest "politely" demanding they cease and desist while holding a shotgun on them.

I cannot speak for MS, but in TX, I would be free to kill them out of hand without having to worry about a murder charge. You are catching individuals in the act of a felony involving your property at night. Pretty cut and dried.

[harvey007]

26. Fake Cops?

Do you know for certain they were really legitimate law enforcement officers?

Did you get badge numbers, names, business cards?

Another reason to always document these kinds of events on videotape or film and get witnesses in the event you file a complaint or sue.

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/wireStory?id=5236713

[udbcrzy2]

27. Update - Got a letter of apology

Just to keep y'all updated on what happened. I finally received a letter of apology
from the sheriffs office. They actually admitted that they did something wrong. Can
you believe that? I am in shock.....

[gorfle]

28. That's good.

From your original posting, I frankly doubted they were real police officers.

Was your car locked? Did they break into it or did they just open the unlocked door?

[wuvuj]

31. They didn't likely break a law...

...they just apologized because they need some citizens to actually believe they still have some civil rights. If your car was parked on the street...they will have standing permission from the city to enter cars. Bet if you checked things out legally...you'd have no recourse.

They can do a sneak and peek entry of your house...they can snoop your email and online activities. Get into your car at a shopping mall.

They are camera shy and go thru peoples garbage...an altogether unwholesome group.

And...the techniques that are best used to protect your property and avoid crime also work...strangely enough...against cops. Wonder how that could be?

[DissedByBush]

37. So who's getting punished?

They can make this all go away with a letter?

They violated your rights!

Somebody needs to go down to make an example for other cops who don't think us proles have rights.

[bradwilliams]

35. agree

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[DissedByBush]

36. There are many ways they can go through your car while you're in it

They have a lot of tricks up their sleeve.

But in this case they need a warrant unless they saw something illegal in plain view in the car.

File a complaint now.

Talk to a lawyer. I'm sure one will be willing to sue the city for a cut of the settlement.

I assume these guys were cops?