So, what is this car? It is a private
vehicle. Okay, why does it look like a
patrol car? Cuz it used to be one. Okay.
That's not a crime.
I I understand it's not a crime, but it
is a crime to have a light bar with
certain colors. That's why I had to turn
your overhead lights on.
yeah, there's there's no red and blues,
but they were pulled out of the the push
bar, too. I'm sorry, what? They were
pulled out of the push bar, too. Okay.
And then
So, who did you buy the car from? Why
does it still have like the cage and
everything in the back? A disabled
veteran was pulled over simply for
driving a former patrol car that had
been legally converted into a private
vehicle under Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1,
1968. Officers must have reasonable
suspicion of a crime to justify a stop.
The driver had removed all prohibited
emergency lights, making it clear no
violation had occurred. The officer,
however, fixated on why the car still
had features like a cage and light bar,
despite the veteran explaining that he
worked as a security contractor and Uber
driver. When the officer questioned
where the car was purchased, the veteran
humorously pointed out that the police
department even left crayons in the
vehicle. Instead of acknowledging the
lack of any criminal activity, the
officer continued fishing for a reason
to detain him. So, who did you buy the
car from? Why does it still have like
the cage and everything in the back? Cuz
I do security and I've got a dog.
Okay.
And
I I drive Uber as well and the college
kids get a kick out of it. The doors
open from the inside, though.
Okay.
And so, what's your purpose in having a
light bar on the top?
I do security as well. I'm waiting on
amber lights.
I I'm a freelance contractor. Who do you
get Who do you get security from? I'm a
freelance contractor at whoever
hires you out or I don't know.
Yep.
That's exactly how I do it. Okay. So,
So, whoever Whoever you bought the car
for left everything in there or did you
equip this car with it all? No, it came
like that from Oberlin Police. From
where? Oberlin Police in Ohio. Oberlin
Police in Ohio?
Yep. They even left some crayons in
here. You want some crayons? I'm sorry?
They left some crayons. You want some
crayons? I got
There's no reason for you to be a smart
ass with me, sir. I I've been trying to
get rid of them.
I'm I'm serious. You want some crayons?
You got kids?
I I can even show you them show them to
you. I got tons of them.
How do you spell it?
Uh O B E R L I N
So, they left the
uh the
MDBR and everything in it? Yep.
Yeah, they did.
They left some registration and
insurance as well? Uh for what crime?
Well, this is a traffic stop. I mean, I
have to record everything on my day
sheet and the reason we're stopping you
is to make sure that you didn't have
lights. But therefore, it's an
investigative stop for that purpose. So,
you do have to show me your driver's
license For what crime? and
registration. For what crime?
For having the light bar. Is that a
crime?
Once I found that it's not the red and
blue lights, it's not a crime, but we
still have a traffic stop.
lawfully, I know my rights. Okay. I do
not have to present ID if there's no
crime committed.
I am doing an investigation to
investigate the color of your lights.
there are not blue lights. You saw that.
Okay, you have to provide that you have
insurance and registration.
for the vehicle on the roadway. If there
has been a crime committed, I have to
provide this. So, please call Please
call your supervisor. Please call your
supervisor now.
What's your name and badge number?
Psychon 074. Thank you.
What's your name and badge number,
ma'am? I'll give you a business card for
that one, sir. Okay.
That's uh that's not how the law states
it, but
I'll take your business card.
It's Officer Dworak, badge 184, as you
can see on my name tag. Thank you.
As well as I'll give you I'll provide
you Yeah, I appreciate that.
card as well. I appreciate that.
To operate a motor vehicle on the
roadway, you have to have insurance. Oh,
I I I understand that, but there's this
this is over something that's not a
crime, as you've already seen. So, now
without the light bar on, I don't know
if it's red or blue. You You already saw
it's not red and blue. Therefore, no
crime
I stopped No crime has been committed.
for that to determine that it is not.
And you've determined that it is not, so
no crime has been committed.
When the officer demanded
identification, the veteran stood firm.
Under Hiibel 56th Judicial District
Court, 542 U.S. 177, 2004, a person is
only required to provide ID if an
officer has reasonable suspicion of a
crime. Since the officer had already
admitted there were no illegal blue and
red lights on the vehicle, there was no
crime and the veteran was within his
rights to refuse. Despite this, the
officer attempted to justify the stop by
mentioning vehicle registration and
insurance requirements, but those had
nothing to do with the original reason
for the stop. The veteran repeatedly
requested a supervisor, exposing the
officer's lack of lawful authority to
demand ID without articulating a crime.
How you doing? How you doing? Good. How
are you? I'm just wondering if you could
roll your window down for me. Yeah, uh
so
hear you very well
from here. Is there any way you could
roll your window down for me? Uh I'm not
comfortable with that. Okay. For my
safety, I I prefer it up.
Okay. I just might not be able to hear
you very clearly. Yeah, so
you can see up there, there's no other
lights in there other than the four. I
would have stopped anyways. Turn on the
lights.
I know my rights. No crime has been
committed. I'm not providing my ID.
I will only provide an ID if if
reasonable articulable suspicion that a
crime has been committed can be stated.
And your officer does not want to do
that.
So, it's harassment. I am a disabled
veteran. I I know my rights. I know the
law. I know the Constitution.
And it's officers like that that I
withdrew my support from you guys. And I
get there There's good ones out there.
I'm friends with a few of them myself.
But that's not that's not okay. You
know, there's no crime committed. I
should have already been released.
Will you release
I appreciate that. You have a good
night.
else I can do for you tonight? There is
not. I I just I hope that your officers
get some better better training because
that's not okay. It's a It's a violation
of my rights. It's It's ultimately a
violation of the law.
And I I'm not okay with that. I I swore
an oath to the Constitution. It's an
insult to me.
Okay.
Call your supervisor. You have a good
night, ma'am. Frustrated by the
veteran's knowledge of the law, the
officer had no choice but to let him go.
Under Rodriguez versus United States,
575 U.S. 348, 2015, an officer cannot
prolong a stop beyond the time necessary
to address the initial reason for
detention. Since there was no crime, the
stop should have ended immediately. The
veteran made it clear that he respected
good officers, but withdrew his support
for law enforcement that disregards
constitutional rights. As the supervisor
arrived, the veteran stated his case one
final time. No crime, no ID, and no
reason for the stop. In the end, the
officers had to walk away, completely
owned by a man who knew his rights
better than they did. Like and subscribe
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