My stepson was arrested, jailed, and had to post bond for...

[Subdivisions]

"Causing damage to a vehicle".

No he didn't vandalise anyone's property. He was t-boned in the rear passenger side quarter panel by someone pulling out of a parking lot onto the road my stepson was driving on. It has yet to be determined if he ran a red light. He was questioned about whether or not he was drinking or on drugs and he implored the cops to give him a breathalizer test, which they deferred. He was woozy following the impact and went to lay in the adjacent parking lot to await the arrival of police and was initially charged with evading arrest.

So, basically, he's been jailed and charged with damage done to HIS OWN VEHICLE! It's HIS car that is damaged by someone driving a big pickup truck and was pulling out of a parking lot yet HE is the one in jail for "causing damage" to his own vehicle. The truck was not damaged.

Since when does someone get arrested for the damage done to a car in a thing as common as a traffic accident?


Edited: Grammar.

[ingac70]

1. I'd find out...

the associations of the person that hit him. This is fishy.

[michreject]

20. Yep.

It's fishy alright.

[eShirl]

2. does he have any anti- R or pro- D bumper stickers on his vehicle?

[Indenturedebtor]

3. Everyone is a criminal to the cops nowadays

We've criminalised so many things that they know that everyone has done something wrong... they just have to pick a charge that will stick. That's how the state makes it's money and sends messages to the rest of us to be afraid.

At least you should be able to fight this pretty easily. Unfortunately it will be expensive and will take a lot of time that you wont be reimbursed for.

I'm very sorry to hear that the jackboots stumbled into your life :(

[Subdivisions]

5. Recently, in Melissa, TX, outside Dallas, a man was arrested and

taken to the police station for three hours because he...wait for it...failed to signal a left turn.

When hell was raised about it, the sheriff replied that his deputies "have the authority to arrest people on many offenses and my officer was within his rights and department policies."

[Indenturedebtor]

6. Well that's what they brought him in for. They're still trying to find other things to charge him

with. They'll get their man don't you worry. And the world will be safer for it!

[Gman]

4. Where did this happen?

Aren't you in the Dallas area?

[Subdivisions]

10. Cleburne, TX. They drive around in these para-military-looking

police cruisers and wear black uniforms. They've always been assholes as far back as I can remember.



Intimidating, huh?

[LiberalFighter]

12. Except for the silver or white part it looks like a vehicle the federales would use in Mexico

And we all know the problems with federales in Mexico.

[Subdivisions]

15. Our city police cars look more like this from Hurst, TX:

And here is the new Texas DPS cruiser:

[librechik]

7. Since when? Aren't you in Texas?

just sayin--this sort of shit is what's know as justice thereabouts.

Sorry to hear about this.. Make sure he gets a good lawyer who can stay awake!

[skooooo]

8. Get a lawyer.

[U4ikLefty]

9. With today's police tactics, he was lucky they didn't taze him.

...and if they did, there would be many DUer's here to defend the cops.

[High Plains]

11. And they would call it "excited delirium" when they killed him.

[Mythsaje]

14. Unfortunately true...

Some of the convoluted "explanations" of their behavior make me want to vomit.

Not all cops are bad, but no one should EVER stand in defense of those who are.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

13. That's outrageous. nt

[TrogL]

16. Find out who the pickup truck driver is

Betcha he's a "big man in town" who won't be charged with anything.

[bobbert]

17. I got arrested for resisting arrest once a long time ago...

It didn't make any sense since I wasn't being arrested for anything, and the cops will be smart to drop the charges and you'll get your bond back, which will probably happen once their supervisor reads the report. Was this a small city in a rural area? Usually they don't have much better to do. No jury would ever find him guilty so just be thankful you and/or your stepson have the money to post bond.

[Nay]

18. Hire a good lawyer TODAY. TODAY. I cannot emphasize that

enough. Even if you think you can't afford it. Have your stepson write down everything he remembers; you ask him questions to prod his memory. His lawyer will need that. If possible, go to the scene, take pictures of the area, and have him sit/lie down where he was lying down when waiting for the cops.
Good news -- the fact that they did not test him for alcohol or drugs was a major error on their part, and your lawyer will jump on that. I think the cops know they don't have a leg to stand on as far as hassling this kid, and will be quite afraid of a decent lawyer. Get one now.

[Cleita]

19. Get your car insurance involved.

They usually have pretty good lawyers and will get to the bottom of whom was actually at fault.