Out Ta Get Me

The ‘man’ has tried to keep me down, so I’ve been laying low the last few weeks after a run-in with the law. Sometimes, I can be a creature of habit, and the cops in Maple Grove, MN decided to make an example of my meandering ways. What crime did I commit? Taking a walk, after dark …without papers.

Most nights I take a walk from my hotel over to the Town Centre mall, The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes. It’s an outdoor mall, and I usually walk to Border’s at the opposite end from my hotel and back. The rent-a-cops at the mall have never bothered me, but watch out when it comes to the real po-po. On the way back, I always cut through the well-lit parking lot of a Hampton Inn and walk the curb in front of the office building next to my hotel (there is not a sidewalk here). I took the same route I’ve taken every night for the past six months, but on this occasion a police car pulled up behind me on the curb and turned on his flashers.

Now, I had a pretty good idea at that time why he was pulling me over, but keep in mind that I had not (at least knowingly) done a single thing illegal for the entire night (and that’s difficult for anyone to do in this day and age). So, the question that immediately popped into my head is, what right does he have to stop and detain me? Remember, I am unabashedly libertarian, and I strongly believe adhering to all of our constitutional rights is essential to our liberty in this country.

Time: 9:30 pm (10/9/08). The officer got out of his car, and I asked him what he wanted. He asked why I had been in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn. I explained that I was walking back to my hotel, and I didn’t want to walk in the street. He asked me where I am staying, and I pointed next door to where I was standing. He asked me where I had been. I explained that I was returning from Border’s (I had actually gone in for a late evening macchiato). Up to this point, I had been polite with his questions, since I can tolerate a minor inconvenience – even if I feel he is violating my constitutional rights. The cop then asked for my name, and I gave him my first name only (cordiality was gone with the wind now). He took out his notebook and wrote my name, and then he asked for my last name. I gave him my last name, and then I asked why he needed my name. He asked me where I am from. That is the toughest question for me, so I answered truthfully: I am from Illinois, but I live in St. Louis (I will never be from Missouri). He asked to see my ID (Gestapo alert). I told him I didn’t have it on me, since I was only carrying my room key. I showed him my room key-card that is clearly from my hotel. He asked why I was in Minnesota, and I explained my profession and my employer. He then asked how long I am staying here, so I explained I’ve been here six months and have absolutely no idea how much longer I will be here.

During his questioning, another police car showed up behind the first one, and the new cop turned on his emergency flashers. The first officer continued his questioning and wanted my address in St. Louis. At this point, I was really annoyed (apparently all crime in Maple Grove has been solved), but I considered the alternative to not cooperating. I really wasn’t in the mood to getting tasered, since I just wanted to get back to my room and go to bed. I advised my address, and then he asked for my hotel room number. That’s where I hit the brakes, and I told him I was not giving him my room number under any circumstances. He explained there have been numerous vehicle break-ins at the hotels in the area (which is the reason I assumed he was stopping me). I explained I was aware of the break-ins, because a few people from my company have been victims. He acknowledged that I was aware of the break-ins, but I thought they probably occurred much later in the night (early morning).

He told me to wait on the curb and he would get back to me. He turned and met with the second officer, who had been standing back this entire time. The first officer got in his squad car, and I guess he had SCMODS (Blues Brothers, anyone?). The second officer just hung outside the first squad car, but then a third police car showed up from the other direction and turned on his flashers. The, very young, cop got out and nodded at me and walked to the first police car. The new cop asked me what was going on, and I told him I had no idea since I was just walking back to my hotel. The three of them talked for a few minutes, and then the third cop walked back to the front of his car and stood there. He then took a stance to be prepared if I were to run away (at what point did I become a flight risk?).

I stood there like an idiot on the curb for another fifteen minutes surrounded by three police cars, with their cherries rolling. Oh yeah, I was wearing a hoodie sweatshirt and a Cardinals hat, if that means anything. Several cars passed and stared at me; who only knows what they were thinking, but I’m just glad nobody I work with passed. The second cop finished talking with the first one, and then he got in his car and left. One down, with two to go.

The first cop came back to me and thanked me for cooperating. He told me they were stepping up patrols because of the break-ins, but I didn’t see how that meant it was okay to stop me for taking a walk. He made no mention of any recent break-ins, and I had not heard of any for a couple months. He talked with me for a few more minutes about the need to keep an eye on people, and then he let me go. I just turned and walked away without saying a word. I arrived back in my room at 10:20 pm. Fifty minutes of being detained without any probable cause. The Fourth Amendment just rolled over in its grave …again.

I suppose I should consider myself lucky, seeing as this guy ended up in cuffs for not providing an ID in his own home …to building inspectors.

I’ve gone for a walk almost every night since then around the same time, but I have not been stopped again. Yes, I’m annoyed at being stopped, but more than anything, I’m upset about the ridiculousness of the situation. There was no valid reason to stop me, and once I gave a legitimate explanation what I was doing then he should have moved along.

Do you really think the police should be able stop and detain anyone without cause? Since when is it necessary to have an ID to take a walk? What do you think he accomplished (other than pissing me off) by detaining me for nearly an hour?