On August 9th, 2023, a Florida deputy ran a records check on a black Infiniti Q50 stopped at a traffic light. The return came back stolen, purchased days earlier with a fraudulent cashier's check for $8,500. >> Hands. Hands. >> Get out. >> But y'all, y'all let the people in the pocket shoot up. Y'all don't do nothing around here, but y'all can take me to jail for a car. >> We pulled sticks and she just stopped and everybody looked at each other. I went, "Take her [ __ ] down." I know you want to stick. I I just don't want you to get hit by that crazy. We'll both get it. Just don't stick the wrong cars, please. All right, let's go, boys. >> Here we go. >> Hey, hands. Hands hands. Put it in park. >> Put it in park. >> Hey, get out. We're fine. Get it. Get out. Lay on your back window. Back window. >> Get out. >> Can I get my phone? >> Yes. >> What's wrong? >> Turn around this car. Turn around this car. Yep. >> Anybody else in this car? >> Nobody in this car. >> What is going on? >> Why? Why? >> Wait. I'll tell you in just a second. Okay. >> What's going on? >> Come here. Come here. >> Turn around. >> What are we doing? >> Cars. I don't even know what's going on. >> Cars are showing stolen right now. >> Oh, he said the car going. You will not put them too tight. >> Nope. I ain't going to get them too tight on you. >> Okay. >> All right. Come over here. >> Okay. >> A car. That ain't got nothing to do with me. >> And that's my purse in my phone. That's right there. >> Why am I being put in a police car, sir? >> Cuz you're in a stolen vehicle. >> And a stolen Do you think I know that I'm in a stolen vehicle? >> Right. And we're going to figure all that out. Sweet. >> Can I have my >> I will get all that stuff. I'm right there. >> Oh, let me get my sticks. >> If you don't know what's going on, it is what it is. >> Oh, okay. Right. He said for real. I just car >> here. Come. I'mma set you in the back of this car. He'll turn the air conditioner on for you. >> Oh, I'mma be I'm clasophobic. You'll let me just stand on the thing. >> I'm just clasophobic with being in there. You can >> This is a backseat passenger. She said she just got picked up. >> Yeah, I just got picked up. >> But uh >> can you let me stand outside? I just >> Would you rather sit inside in the AC? >> How about if I roll the window down? >> I'm okay. >> You got anything on you? Uh-uh. >> Knives, needles, guns. >> I have a purse. I do have a gun, a registered gun. >> Okay. But that's in your purse in the car. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Just have a seat. >> You'll take the out of my hand. >> Um, yes. >> And you say 311. We have three security. We don't need anybody else to go through. >> I'm sorry. >> Say the car her car been reported stolen. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yeah, it's important. What? What kind of What does your purse look like? >> It's a um It's a brown purse. It has a black head. Which one is it? Coach in the back. The coach in the back. >> Never mind. Hey, she's There's a Hey, um there's a zero in it. There's a zero in it. >> And what? In her purse. >> In her purse. >> My license and everything in here >> is in the purse. Okay. >> It's on safety and everything. Like I said, they just picked me up from my house. Woo. >> Um, can you stay 10 12 with her for a second? She's saying she's claustrophobic. Doesn't Let me talk to um T cuz I'll go interview everybody with him. Bro, we we pulled sticks and she just stopped and everybody looked at each other and went, "Take her [ __ ] down. Let's go." >> All right. >> Did you see how it went down? >> Huh? >> Did you see how I went down or No. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> We pulled sticks. >> All right. Hold on. Can you direct traffic so I can talk to him? >> So, we're sitting here. Yeah. >> We see the car coming. We let one clear. Me and Kitchen pull sticks and she locks them up. >> The brakes. >> Yeah. >> And then she just stops and and she's not moving. We look at each other and I'm like, "Well, let's do it now." >> Yeah. >> And so I I went to I went running like half the tires to the windshield. I just challenged them all at the window. They all put up their hands and we took them out and everybody was secure. >> I just want to driver first. >> It was just awkward. It was like >> Yeah. I mean >> like it was supposed to be plump and then it was just and we were like, "Okay, let's take them down ourselves. Hey, you know I like your car. >> Oh boy. Hello in charge. >> Why do you want to know? >> Because like this is scary. That's why I want to know. >> I'm not trying to scare you. >> I know you said I want to know. How how can I get reported for a stolen car that's in my name, sir? >> Report for a stolen car that's in your name? >> They said that they that y'all got that the car stolen, right? That's why y'all pulled that pulled me over. Just >> You tell me. >> No, that's what I'm trying to understand. >> First of all, what's what's your name? My name is Taiisha. >> Okay. Um, >> somebody just sold me that car. I got I purchased the car out of Tampa. >> So >> Uh-huh. >> real quick. >> Uh-huh. >> You got a lot to see. Okay. >> Wait, wait, wait, wait. Why you reading me that I'm under arrest? >> Well, you're detained right now. You're sitting in the back of a cop car and handcuff. >> I know. Can someone Is y'all going to talk to me so I can know what's going on? But you going to read me my right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> All right. The Constitution requires I inform you that you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used in court as evidence against you. You're entitled to talk to an attorney now and have it present now or at any time during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you without cost. Do you desire to consult an attorney first or have one during this interview? >> Okay. Um, if at any time hereafter you wish to remain silent or have an attorney present, all questions will be stopped. Has anyone at any time threatened, coerced, or promised you anything in order to induce you to make a statement now? >> No. >> Okay. Do you understand these rights? >> Okay. Do you wish to talk to me at this time? >> Yes, I do. >> Okay. What is going on? >> So, listen. Up until when y'all just threw the barricades out, y'all just scared the heck out of us. We didn't know what was going on whatsoever. >> Okay, >> if you look at me, I can show you. I just dropped my kids off in the park. I'm a parent. Mr. Ian said that cuz I said, "Could you tell me what's going on?" >> So, the vehicle is stolen, >> but it's not. That's what I want to tell you. The car, the car. That's why I want you to get my phone. I just purchased the car on Sunday >> on Sunday. >> Tag is on the car. >> It's Wednesday night. >> It's the seventh. It was the seventh. Was it Sunday? The 7th? The 6th. The sixth. It made me feel like the car dealership doing a scam. >> How can I Sunday the 6? >> Yeah. So on Sunday, >> if you can get my phone, I can show you everything. That car is not stolen. How can somebody do that? I'm a parent. I went >> Where did you buy it from? >> Tampa. Tampa, Florida. The paper tag is on the car register in my name. If you guys go get my phone. >> What was the name of the dealership? Buccaneer. >> Buccaneer. >> Yeah. B U C. It's like um Puerto Rico or something. B U C A N E R O. >> Okay. Okay. >> Buccaneer Auto Sales. And this was on Sunday. If you get my phone, I can show you text. >> So, how much how much did you pay for it? >> 8,500. I gave Yes, I paid for the cashier's check >> today. He called me and he said that something came up with the check and that could I bring the money. I told him, "Yeah, I was trying to make it today, but today is the my kids dad been dead 11 11 years late today." >> So the the dealership had an issue with the check >> and they said, "Can I called you to see if you could just bring cash instead?" >> Cash or zel or something. I told them, "Yeah." And then now y'all send it to the cost, >> but that car not sto >> Okay. >> I have a agreement with those people. Did you get a title to it or anything like that? >> What they said was that he didn't even give me he I got the paper. I think I got like a receipt or something in there, but he didn't give me a title. He said that you know when you fill out for a car that you going to get the hard tag and the title. He said it's going to come in the mail together. >> Normally the hard tag does come in the mail. >> But yeah, that's what he said. And this if you look at the tag on the car, you >> you paid you paid for it, right? Like you didn't >> I paid for it. >> You didn't take out like a loan or anything like that for with the cashier check. He was like the cashier's check. He said, "The cashier's check is showing that um it's canceled." And I was like, "How can a cashier check cancel?" And then he was like, "Oh, um it's fitious." I said, "You can't make I can't make no cashier's check." And so I said, "I will bring you the cash." >> Okay. >> If he would have said he want his car back, sir, I got eight kids. I can't I can't I got eight kids. I'm a regular person. I ain't no person that's going to be stealing no car. >> Okay. So why why why do you think they would have called and and tried to make a report? >> Nasty. Like cuz I That's why I want to show you my text message to show our communication. Can you get what I'm saying? >> Sure, I got you. So, your phone's in the car, >> Mr. Ian. When he got me, I had it. So, I don't know if he dropped it on the ground. >> Let me check with him. And what does your phone look like? >> It's a um it's a it's a iPhone 11. And it got a silver glittery diamond. >> Silver glittery diamond iPhone 11. Give me one second. Okay. >> Ask them. They'll tell you that I just bought that phone. >> Okay. All right. >> Let me grab this jacket. >> Hello. >> Hello. >> How are you? >> Okay. >> You have a bear. Okay, >> my my arm my hand. >> So, give me give me a few minutes. Let me see if I can't get you out of here. Okay. >> Um, just just real quick. All right. You're in the back of a car. You're in handcuffs. Um, the Constitution requires I inform you that you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used in court as evidence against you. You're entitled to talk to an attorney now and have him present now or at any time during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you without cost. Do you desire to consult with attorney first or have one during this interview? >> So, am I under arrest? >> No. You're detained right now. >> Why am I >> You were in the back of a stolen vehicle. >> I didn't know nothing. I don't know nothing about cargo stolen. >> Okay. >> Do you desire to consult with an attorney now? >> But how can I consult with an attorney? I don't even have my phone. >> So if you answer yes, then I just stop asking you questions. >> And am I going to come out of this hand? >> Why would I need I can't make you promises. >> I I don't listen. I don't you are not a suspect at this point, right? Okay. If you turn out to be one later, >> I'm not a suspect. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Do you desire to consult with an attorney now? No. >> Okay. >> Okay. You understand these rights? >> Yes. >> Do you wish to speak with me at this time? >> Okay. Who is the lady that was driving the car? I >> don't know. Okay. >> Yeah. Well, you wanted to know if you knew Sure. Who is she to you? >> That's my brother. >> Okay. Like sister-in-law kind of. Okay. How long have you known her? >> Sure. For car. >> Okay. >> Oh, you were going shopping? >> Yeah, I was trying. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I got you. Okay. >> My car. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, give me just a second. We should be able to get you out here pretty shortly. Okay. >> My hand. the left one or the right one >> because I just I >> give me one second >> probably. Yeah. >> She's she's saying right now she paid for it with like a cashier check >> and I guess the dealership contacted her and said like the track it was fraud joint or something like that. So I'm assuming that's where the obtaining by fraud came in. I just don't have a way to contact Tampa PD. >> Yeah, I'll I'll try, but I might interview the last person and then I'll try calling them. All right, come on, sweetie. Let me get get you out of there. >> All right. It's already smoking. >> You need a fire department. >> Let me call the fire department for you. >> No, not my >> actually happened to talk to Tampa PD. >> No. >> Okay. Um, so you originally said that you went down to Tampa to Buck Buccaneeros, right? Auto sales. Okay. You paid for with a cash check, right? >> From from your own bank. >> From the bank. From what bank? >> Navy Federal. >> Navy Federal. You a member of Navy Federal? >> Yes, I am. You want Y'all just went through the car. You had to go through my ID. I didn't go look through my purse. >> I did not go through Well, I think they looked through to see if it was contraband or anything, but I didn't. >> Do you want to see my card? My Navy Federal card. You see it? >> Give me one second. Um, so I guess you paid for it with the Navy Federal Cash check. Okay. >> All right. So apparently [clears throat] what happened um is that trick is fraudulent. >> How you tell me? >> I don't know. >> You have no idea. >> No. What's wrong? >> So you're telling me to the best of your knowledge and abilities. That was 100%. >> I don't even know that you can make no cashier check, sir. >> You done ran my name. You ain't see why I done went to jail for no def frauding. I ain't never made no I done petty theft. I done drove my license suspended. I done had possession of marijuana before. And I have a battery. them all my kids right there. If you see that shirt, it say happy birthday. I'mma ask you an honest question. Do you really think I'mma drive my kids in a stolen car, sir? >> And then it's like y'all put me in handcuffs. You saying you call Tampa cuz Tampa know what me and the people talked about? That's not that's not that's not that's not right. >> Okay. >> I'm not going. >> Do you have any other questions for me or >> can I talk to my kids? My mom who got my phone >> the grandma. >> So what I'm being charged cuz obviously >> let me grant that motor vehicle. >> What's the bond? Um, at least a,000 I think. I'm not sure. >> So, $200. I >> I'll tell. Yeah. Whatever. Whatever 10% is. >> So, so what we go with my with my tag and all that. >> Well, the vehicle is going to get towed. >> I don't give a [ __ ] about that car. I don't give a [ __ ] about that car. I don't give a [ __ ] about it. >> You don't? >> Why would I? >> I don't know. I thought it was your car. >> It was my car, but if I talk to somebody, they say, "Yeah, you could bring the money, then you report the car stolen." That car was not stolen. >> No, it wasn't stolen. It was obtained by fraud. >> But y'all saying it's stolen? Which one is fraud or stolen? >> Yeah. If you obtain something by fraud, it's it's not obtained in an authentic and genuine manner. >> So, how come they didn't just tell me, "Hey, we don't want the money. Bring the car back." >> I'm sorry. >> Why? They didn't say, "We don't want the money. Bring the car back." >> I'm sure they probably want both because they're out 8,500 and they're out that car. >> How they going to get both? It's either you get your car, you get your money. >> They don't have either is what I'm telling you. And when I set up a time to come meet with them was today. >> Listen, we wasting time on me and you going back and forth your mind made up. I prove my point to the judge. >> Hop out for a minute. Okay. >> Can't wait to fight this [ __ ] >> Y'all see that my wrist? They cut my wrist. >> He's going to do it for you. Which one? This one. >> Y'all want me to be nice? Y'all been nasty with me the whole time. Ain't no nice y'all. Y'all do y'all just do y'all get me to the jail? Y'all ain't being respectful. Y'all tried to [ __ ] blow us up in the car, >> bro. But y'all, but y'all let the people in the pocket shoot up. Y'all don't do nothing around here, but y'all can take me to jail for a car. >> Okay. >> Is that better? >> This one right here, the one that's the worst. They had all three northbound lanes blocked off. All right, let's see. The felony stop was constitutionally clean. A stolen vehicle hit in a law enforcement database is textbook reasonable articulable suspicion under Terry versus Ohio. Spike strips coordinated approach. Weapons drawn all proportionate to what the officers knew. Every occupant was lawfully ordered out. Marilyn versus Wilson settled that in 1997 officers may remove all passengers from a stopped vehicle without individualized suspicion. No one in that car had grounds to refuse that order. The driver was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car. That is when the fifth amendment clock starts. Handcuffed inside a locked unit facing a felony investigation that is custody under Burkimer versus McCarti. Miranda was required before any questioning. The deputy ran Miranda before asking a single substantive question. rights were read clearly. The subject confirmed she understood and nothing in the footage suggests coercion. The waiver was valid. A second Miranda went to the backseat passenger separately before her interview. She was detained, cuffed, inside a marked unit. Same custody standard, same advisement requirement. The officer ran both correctly. The central legal issue is not whether the car was stolen. It is whether she knew it was. Florida statutes section 82.014 014 defines grand theft as knowingly obtaining another's property with intent to deprive. That word knowingly carries the prosecution's entire burden. She bought the car Sunday the 6th, paid with a Navy federal cashier's check. The dealership called her days later before the arrest to say the check was bad. She agreed to bring cash. She had a payment meeting scheduled with the dealership for that exact day. That sequence cuts against criminal intent. A person who submits a check she knows is fraudulent does not schedule a payment meeting. She does not drive the car openly with her children inside. She does not call the dealership back. Taiisha did all three. She challenged the officer directly, "Which one is it, fraud or stolen?" He answered accurately, "Fraud satisfies the theft statute when knowing intent is present." But he also said on camera, "The dealership may have scammed her." That observation goes straight to the intent element. If the check was fraudulent through a third party, her culpability under section 812 disappears. Florida's communications fraud statute. Section 817.034 carries the same knowing intent requirement. Same defense, same problem for the state attorney. Either way, the charge filed was thirdderee grand theft motor vehicle up to 5 years state prison, 5 years probation, $5,000 fine. Under Florida's criminal punishment code, a firsttime felony offender at level three scores below the minimum prison threshold. Probation is presumptive. She voluntarily disclosed her prior record. Petty theft, suspended license, marijuana, battery, none are prior felonies. They do not push her score sheet into mandatory prison range. They may affect plea negotiations, but they do not close the non-prison track. The most realistic outcome is pre-trial diversion, a reduced plea, or dismissal if the fraudulent check traces to a third party. Whether the state attorney files at all depends on what the financial investigation turns up. This footage alone cannot answer that. The deputy receives a B. Stop was clean. Miranda ran twice without error and the fraud versus theft framing was handled honestly. The deduction telling the passenger she was not a suspect at this point. Custody under Burkimer is objective not defined by what the officer calls it. Taisha receives a B+. Her account stayed consistent from first contact through the formal interview. She disclosed a registered firearm immediately which removed an escalation point. The deduction, she waved Miranda, talked at length, then volunteered her prior record. None of that was required. First lesson handcuffed in a patrol car with questions coming is custodial interrogation. Silence costs nothing and cannot be used against the person who invokes it. Talking, even when innocent, creates a record. That record belongs to the prosecutor. Second, the difference between a criminal and a fraud victim in a case like this is whether she knew the check was bad before she handed it over. That single fact is the defense. It is worth understanding before a transaction, not after handcuffs go on. Third, the backseat passenger answered briefly, accurately, without speculation. Her interview ended in minutes. Brevity when innocent is not deception. It is the practical exercise of a constitutional right. 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