While on a cross country trip last August, a friend and I were stopped by a Utah State Patrol in Millard County Utah for having tinted windows. When the cop ran my license, a warrant for my arrest came up in another state for missing a court date I didn't even know I had. He cuffed me and then searched my vehicle, where he found drug paraphernalia and a large amount of cash from some art I'd sold the day I left home (see pic below). As soon as the state trooper found the cash, he got all excited and started making calls, squealing, "I got major cash! I got major cash!" Soon, five more law enforcement vehicles showed up and an extensive search of my car was conducted there on the side of I-15 north of Fillmore. Even though nothing more was found, they arrested my friend, too, and hauled us both off to the "county" jail in Fillmore, while impounding my car and dog. They searched my car again at the impound lot, and again found nothing. Anxious to find an excuse to "seize" my money, they had a special team come in the next day and search my car a third time--this time removing the dash completely and doing more than $4,000 worth of damage. Again, they found nothing. They wanted my money, but how could they get it? Now, this country doesn't yet allow cops to take your stuff for simply possessing drug paraphernalia, and it isn't yet illegal to carry cash--in any amount. So what to do? Lie. That's what my arresting officer did--on the stand, under oath--to justify before the law the seizing of my property and the trashing of my car. He testilied that I confessed I was on my way to buy illegal drugs with the money, and so they took it. However, I said nothing of the sort, and I can prove it from the recording of my interrogation. The theft of my money, and the perjury used to do it, are by no means isolated incidents. And it shouldn't be surprising that this kind of outrage is occurring all over the country on a daily basis. Even a ten-year-old could tell you why it's a bad idea to give the guys with the guns a financial incentive to make arrests. Sadly, the predictable result is just one of the many pernicious consequences of our country's absurd "war" on some drug users. So, sorry, Utah taxpayers, but you are going to have to foot the bill for another lawsuit against your law enforcement outlaws. But look at it this way: it will be money well spent. For if it is true that respect for the rule of law is the cornerstone of a free people, then those entrusted with enforcing that law must remain above reproach if we are to remain free; what that state trooper ends up costing the taxpayers of Utah can be considered a payment toward freedom itself.
Poor baby. What was the court date that you didn't even know you had for? If the poll is any example of your logical powers, throw yourself on the floor of the courtroom and beg for mercy.
The court date was for several years ago, why? What does that matter? It's ok for cops to commit perjury against civilians if they miss a court date in, like, February, or something? It sounds like you think this rogue cop did nothing wrong. Maybe you are a cop, yourself. If so, I feel sorry for the honest citizens of Utah to have such predators among them operating under the color of law.
I thought the people in Utah were suppossed to have "integrity and outstanding moral character" with the mormon influence. Is there not any way you can sue in the civil courts for the unwarranted damage of your car. Is there an appeals court to try to get your money back?
Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm curious why you're posting about this here. There's noting to gain from it. Did you just want to vent?
Yes, I have been looking into that. I initially hired an attorney named Ron Yengich to represent me but the whole experience has wiped me out financially, and I wasn't able to pay him his upfront fee of $8,000 cash. Today, in fact, I am missing a court date in Utah that I was hoping Yengich would appear at for me, but, instead, he will be withdrawing from my case. That means there will be another warrant issued for my arrest (and, if I am stopped by the police here in DC, if they are like the Utah police, they will see the warrant, use it as an excuse to throw me in jail and search my property, and keep any money they happen to find). According to Utah law, they are supposed to release seized funds for "hardship", which includes being unable to pay for legal defense of the asset forfeiture motion. I've requested such, but have gotten no response--neither from the Fourth District Court of Utah nor from the Utah State Patrol. Today, I'm calling an attorney in Utah named Robert Sykes who works on contingency and who specializes in police misconduct cases. If he'll take the case, I plan to seek redress to the maximum extent possible.
I was shocked at the lack of integrity shown by the Utah authorities during my forced stay there. For example, the initial charge against me and my friend was "possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine" even though there was no methamphetamine to distribute. After a few days in jail, they changed it to "conspiracy to distribute", even though they had none of the elements required to even charge that. Nevertheless, conspiracy is a lesser charge than possession with intent, so that was good. But in the official documents anyone (like my parents) can go online and see, I am still listed as being charged with the second degree felony despite numerous requests it be changed. In fact, after the second or third request, when I would request they change it, suddenly, the thirty-dollar-per-collect-call-only pay phone I relied on (they kept my smartphone) would mysteriously stop working.
Patrick is a retired police officer, or so he claims on other threads, so technically he didn't lie to you. Ironic eh?? I’m sure what he meant to say was, not any more. 　 　 Have a friend who went through the same thing in Utah. Carrying cash, him and his girlfriend at the time were coming back from Vegas and did well, drove through Salt Lake to visit friends, almost to Arizona they were pulled over. leaving a camp sight where they had just ate a couple sandwiches their friends in Salt Lake had prepared for them. They searched the car several times and he was completely up front about everything. Where they had been, where they were going, about the cash, etc... 　 　 Finally they arrested them both and took them in, impounded the car, took the money as evidence. He didn't even realize he was charged with narcotics charges until he went to his plea hearing, at which time he secured a lawyer. The girlfriend was released, but the car the money etc.. was all kept. Seems they tested the sandwich bags they had in the ice chest, and said they had traces of crack cocaine. More than one bag made it worse. When it was all done and said he pleaded guilty to possession or be charged as a dealer, did 10 months and has never been back to Utah since. 　 　 Best he could figure his only crime was having long hair and according to the officer on the scene when asked about the purpose of the search and seizure, him and his girlfriend might not come around there looking like a couple hippies if they don't want to be hassled. 　 　 Sounds like you got off lucky, considering what they could have done to you. 　 And you are correct, money breeds corruption. Look at where we are as a nation because of it.
I want to vent, yes, but, also, people should be up in arms over what's happening in our law enforcement community because of this insane "war" against some drug users. Our government spends billions of dollars per year paying people to take these drugs and billions more preventing people from taking those drugs, the main difference between them being these have corporate backing, and those don't. The result: ruined lives, destroyed families, the wholesale corruption of our law enforcement community, and let's not even talk about the devastating impact of our drug laws on the suffering people of Mexico.
