You don't answer questions. >> I don't answer questions. >> Okay, that's fantastic. I appreciate it. Have a good day. All right. >> We just got a call about someone out here that was following people around. So, I'm just out here to see what's going on. >> Oh, okay. All right. Okay. >> Okay, I know you you're doing that cuz you're not getting out. >> I don't answer questions. >> Okay, you don't answer questions. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I mean that's fine. I'm not going to make you. Again, you're not in trouble. >> Well, well, you can't. >> Well, yeah, I know. No, that's a given. >> You match the description. >> I match the description? >> Really? >> Yeah, long white beard. >> Long white beard? >> Yeah, white male, white hair. >> A citizen sitting in his truck at a public trail parking area was approached by officers investigating a complaint that someone had been following people. Officers claimed that he matched the description provided by a caller and began asking investigative questions. The encounter quickly centered on whether the complaint justified continued suspicion and whether he was required to answer. What followed became a test of the Fourth Amendment and the right to remain silent. >> How's it going? Good? >> I'm fine. >> Okay, I mean you're shaking a lot. >> Yeah, I'm so excited I'm finally getting into record cops. >> Okay, fair enough. >> [laughter] >> Um >> Could you state your name and badge number for the record, please? >> Yeah, sure. It's Lou Becker, 1393. >> Okay, thank you. >> You're not I mean you're not in trouble or anything. I don't know. We just got a call about someone out here that was following people around. So, I'm just out here to see what's going on. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> Okay, I know you're you're doing that cuz you're not getting out. >> I don't answer questions. >> Okay, you don't answer questions. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I mean that's fine. I'm not going to make you. Again, you're not in trouble. >> Well, well, you can't. >> Well, yeah, I know. No, that's a given. You're not in trouble or anything. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on cuz people are concerned, you know. You don't answer questions. >> I don't answer questions. >> Okay, that's fantastic. I appreciate it. Have a good day. All right. >> Sure. >> Yep. How you sir? >> I'm fine. >> My name is Corporal Hammond. My badge number is 959. >> Oh, thank you for your professionalism. >> Thank you. Um, I got a camera, too. It's been recording audio visually. So, how you doing today, sir? >> I'm well enough. >> Did he tell you why we were out here? >> Said that you were looking for somebody that there was following people. >> Yeah, that's what the original call came in. Said that you fit the description. Yeah, you match the description. >> I match the description? Really? >> Yeah, long white beard. >> Long white beard? >> Yeah, white male, white hair. So. Um. He's going to call back the lady right now and get a little more information uh and then we'll probably just be on our way. Okay? Do you live around here? >> I don't answer questions. >> Don't answer any you don't answer any questions? Okay. >> I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. >> Well. You have to be charged with something. >> No. >> I mean, you don't have to talk to >> My right is my right. I exercise it when I want, not when you say I can. >> Well, you don't have to talk to me if you don't want to. >> I Well, I don't mind talking to you. I just said I don't answer questions. >> Well, normally when you talk you have to respond back with an answer or a question. >> I'm talking to you right now. I'm not answering your question. >> How you doing today? >> I'm fine. >> That was a question and answer. >> Yeah. I choose what questions I answer. >> I got you. I got you. It is a nice day out today. >> It is. >> You want me to come here and walk around or >> That's a question I will answer for you. I've been sitting in my truck the whole time I've been here. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. I haven't been out walking around at all. I come here to smoke a cigar every once in a while. >> Ten-four. I've never been here before. Is this a horse spot where people ride their horses? >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean, you got the horse trailers there. Yeah, look, couple of people have been here riding horses and have left. >> And there's walking paths, too, or >> I'm sorry, what? >> There's walking paths as well? >> Oh, all the trails here, I mean, you can either walk, bike, or ride a horse except for the Cody Gene trail, which goes through those pines up there. That's That's hikers only. >> Okay. Can't bring horses up there. >> No, or bikes. But everything on this side it's it's open for >> Okay. >> whatever use. >> We're just waiting. I ran your tag to see if you're valid. Once that comes back, we'll leave. Um >> Do you run all the rest of these people's tags? >> No, we got a call here for you, so. >> For me? >> Yeah, we're trying to figure it out. Yeah. >> Oh. >> Yeah, we got a call for service and nothing to do with you following people. >> Ah. >> only one in the parking lot, and the description matches what you you appear as, so. We're not going to run everyone's tags. Not everyone's following people. >> Ah. Neither was I. I was sitting in my truck the whole time I've been here. >> I don't know one way or the other. >> Well, of course you don't. >> [clears throat] >> Just out of curiosity, >> Yes, sir. >> am I being detained? >> No, you can go. >> Okay. >> Yeah. No, like I said, I mean, I I don't know one way or the other. You're not >> Yeah. >> You're not in trouble for anything right now. We just got a call and nothing to do with you. You following people, so. >> A man matching my description following people. >> Yeah, there's nobody else here matching your description. >> Well, they could be out there somewhere. >> Well, that's a pretty good description. >> Yeah, not not many people. >> Well, if somebody's going to call up and give you that kind of a description, I'm going to tell you that person was lying. >> Okay, yeah. I can't say who's lying. >> Well, >> That's why I'm not here. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on. Yeah, obviously you don't want to answer questions, so I'm not going to figure out accurately what's going on, but it's all right. But yeah, I mean, I don't know what's true. I don't know if it's true or not, but I guess just don't follow people, all right? I uh Just um That's it. >> Okay. >> trouble. You're good to go. >> Yeah. >> People are I don't know. You're saying you're not. I I don't know the truth. Maybe you are. People are concerned by it, so just, you know Try to maybe stay farther back. I don't know. Don't give them that impression, all right? >> So, what we're going to do is we'll just document that we talked to you, okay? >> Yeah. >> Um and then he'll take a picture of you. And then we'll put that in the report, and we'll be on our way. Sound good? >> Whatever you want to do, man. >> Thank you. >> I mean, you're the uh police officer here. >> You're good to go, sir. All right. Have a good day. >> Mhm. >> Take care. Nice talking to you. All right. >> All right, we're back, sir. >> Uh-huh. I can see that. >> You guys could listen to if you want to while we're here. >> Sure. >> So, um like I told you about this suspicious person following people on on the trails. Apparently, there was a guy with gray hair neatly dressed following like women around the trails when they're walking their dogs. Um and uh It's not you. All right. >> Yeah. Sounds good. >> I was wondering since you were here and you know filming or whatnot, have you seen anybody that had gray hair? >> Actually, no. >> By the end of the encounter, officers acknowledged they had approached the wrong person. The citizen repeatedly declined to answer investigative questions while officers confirmed he was neither under arrest nor being detained. The encounter highlighted Fourth Amendment limits on police investigations and the Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. It ended without charges, detention, or evidence linking the citizen to the original complaint.