CopTalk

Feel free to ignore this test file - We need to put it up to make sure all podcast links are updating properly. Do not mind the mess as we work to get our almost 20 year plus podcast back up and running for future episodes answering your questions.

Feel free to submit your questions here:

https://www.coptalk.info/askacop to ask your questions

In the News

Cameras and the Police - More coming in the next show....

NY Protests

In The News:

http://www.azcentral.com/video/1150177012001

Phoenix Az brothel poses as church

http://www.contracostatimes.com/weird-news/ci_18884594

Courts--Man sues white castle over booth size

http://www.contracostatimes.com/weird-news/ci_18883879

burglar tries to claim reward money

http://policelink.monster.com/news/articles/155535-off-duty-cop-dressed-as-clown-kills-teen-robber

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/jail-inmate-lack-of-porn-violates-u-s-constitution-1.223893

http://policelink.monster.com/news/articles/155485-didnt-expect-to-lose-finger-says-man-who-shot-off-wart

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/12/man-who-exposed-himself-t_n_958955.html#s359950&title=Daphne_Melin

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/15/gumby-theif-boss-joe-clokey-robbery-video_n_963507.html

Gumby Robbery

NJ police chief: Double-parking wife not above law

The Associated Press

Posted: 09/29/2011 10:14:13 AM PDT

LODI, N.J.—A New Jersey police chief says no one is above the law—not even his wife.

Lodi (LOH'-deye) Police Chief Vincent Caruso ordered an officer to ticket his wife after she double parked while dropping off their 5-year-old son at school.

Caruso told The Record newspaper ( http://bit.ly/pksv9y) he didn't want her to get any special treatment because of who she is. The chief paid the $54 ticket. It's not the first time for Paula Caruso. The chief ordered another officer to ticket her two years ago after she forgot to move their vehicle for street cleaning. The chief told the newspaper he loves his wife and she's very busy driving their four sons around. His wife couldn't be reached for comment Thursday. The Carusos' phone number is unlisted.

Associated Press Posted: 10/03/2011 08:27:37 AM PDT Updated: 10/03/2011 08:29:33 AM PDT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- An Oakland officer's city-issued video camera shows the shooting death of an armed suspect during a struggle with police. The Police Department won't release details on what is depicted in the video of the Sept. 25 incident. The San Francisco Chronicle says the city of Oakland paid $540,000 for 350 wearable cameras last year from Vievu of Seattle. The cameras are worn on the chest of officers. Investigators say two officers pulled over a car and the passenger, who had a gun and drugs, fled on foot. One of the officers caught the suspect and shot him during a struggle. The name of the suspect and the officers has been withheld.

A pair of Alabama conservation enforcement officers think they've come up with the perfect way for avid hunters to honor their loved ones for eternity. Officers Thad Holmes and Clem Parnell have launched Holy Smoke LLC, a company that will, for a price, load cremated human ash into shotgun shells, and rifle and pistol cartridges.

It's the perfect life celebration for someone who loves the outdoors or shooting sports, Parnell says.

"This isn't a joke. It's a job that we take very seriously," he said. "This is a reverent business. We take the utmost care in what we do and show the greatest respect for the remains."

The company, launched in July, shipped out its first two orders on Sept. 16 - one from Florida and one from Kentucky - Holmes says. It has established www.myholysmoke.com to promote the service and traffic on it has been growing , Holmes says.

For $850, one pound of ash will be loaded into 250 shotgun shells. The ash is mixed in the cups that hold the shot, not the powder. The same amount of ash will fill the bullets of 100 standard caliber center-fire rifle rounds or 250 pistol rounds. For the rifle and pistol ammunition, the ash is put into the tips of hollow-point bullets with the cavity sealed with wax. Any remaining ash is shipped back to the customer, along with the loaded ammunition.

"Some people have been concerned that a small amount of ash will remain in the animal that is shot with the ammunition, Holmes said.

In the News

Cameras and the Police - More coming in the next show....

NY Protests

In The News:

http://www.azcentral.com/video/1150177012001

Phoenix Az brothel poses as church

http://www.contracostatimes.com/weird-news/ci_18884594

Courts--Man sues white castle over booth size

http://www.contracostatimes.com/weird-news/ci_18883879

burglar tries to claim reward money

http://policelink.monster.com/news/articles/155535-off-duty-cop-dressed-as-clown-kills-teen-robber

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/jail-inmate-lack-of-porn-violates-u-s-constitution-1.223893

http://policelink.monster.com/news/articles/155485-didnt-expect-to-lose-finger-says-man-who-shot-off-wart

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/12/man-who-exposed-himself-t_n_958955.html#s359950&title=Daphne_Melin

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/15/gumby-theif-boss-joe-clokey-robbery-video_n_963507.html

Gumby Robbery

NJ police chief: Double-parking wife not above law

The Associated Press

Posted: 09/29/2011 10:14:13 AM PDT

LODI, N.J.—A New Jersey police chief says no one is above the law—not even his wife.

Lodi (LOH'-deye) Police Chief Vincent Caruso ordered an officer to ticket his wife after she double parked while dropping off their 5-year-old son at school.

Caruso told The Record newspaper ( http://bit.ly/pksv9y) he didn't want her to get any special treatment because of who she is. The chief paid the $54 ticket. It's not the first time for Paula Caruso. The chief ordered another officer to ticket her two years ago after she forgot to move their vehicle for street cleaning. The chief told the newspaper he loves his wife and she's very busy driving their four sons around. His wife couldn't be reached for comment Thursday. The Carusos' phone number is unlisted.

Associated Press Posted: 10/03/2011 08:27:37 AM PDT Updated: 10/03/2011 08:29:33 AM PDT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- An Oakland officer's city-issued video camera shows the shooting death of an armed suspect during a struggle with police. The Police Department won't release details on what is depicted in the video of the Sept. 25 incident. The San Francisco Chronicle says the city of Oakland paid $540,000 for 350 wearable cameras last year from Vievu of Seattle. The cameras are worn on the chest of officers. Investigators say two officers pulled over a car and the passenger, who had a gun and drugs, fled on foot. One of the officers caught the suspect and shot him during a struggle. The name of the suspect and the officers has been withheld.

A pair of Alabama conservation enforcement officers think they've come up with the perfect way for avid hunters to honor their loved ones for eternity. Officers Thad Holmes and Clem Parnell have launched Holy Smoke LLC, a company that will, for a price, load cremated human ash into shotgun shells, and rifle and pistol cartridges.

It's the perfect life celebration for someone who loves the outdoors or shooting sports, Parnell says.

"This isn't a joke. It's a job that we take very seriously," he said. "This is a reverent business. We take the utmost care in what we do and show the greatest respect for the remains."

The company, launched in July, shipped out its first two orders on Sept. 16 - one from Florida and one from Kentucky - Holmes says. It has established www.myholysmoke.com to promote the service and traffic on it has been growing , Holmes says.

For $850, one pound of ash will be loaded into 250 shotgun shells. The ash is mixed in the cups that hold the shot, not the powder. The same amount of ash will fill the bullets of 100 standard caliber center-fire rifle rounds or 250 pistol rounds. For the rifle and pistol ammunition, the ash is put into the tips of hollow-point bullets with the cavity sealed with wax. Any remaining ash is shipped back to the customer, along with the loaded ammunition.

"Some people have been concerned that a small amount of ash will remain in the animal that is shot wi...

Ask a Cop?

If the police break down your door, do they have to pay for it?

Can a cop browse my phone if I am arrested?

If you are pulled over by a police officer, what is the minimum required level of compliance?

Do passengers need to provide ID? Can they search your car? Do you need to answer their questions?

How can you verify the identity of someone who claims to be a police officer?

In closing:

Website www.coptalk.info

Stitcher.com

Subscribe and give us a review on itunes

Ask a cop section? Please ask your questions…

Email Subscription – Sign Up on the site

Thanks for your support over the past 10 years and thanks for continuing to follow our site

STAY SAFE!

Please send in your questions: http://www.coptalk.info/ask-a-cop-ask-us-a-question/

Ask a Cop? How long can a cop follow me?: Thanks Sarah

In colorado, how long can a cop follow you before turning on his lights if he says that your a danger to other people...should't he pull you over right away?

Ask a Cop? How Do You Handle Police Misconduct?

Do off-duty police officers have the same authority as working officers?

Is it legal for people to take a photo or record video of suspicious activity and send it to the police?

If you pull over someone and they start video taping you - how do you handle that?

NEWS:

Most California's parolees return to prison within two years

By Phillip Reese [email protected]

Published: Friday, Jun. 3, 2011 - 9:46 am Last Modified: Friday, Jun. 3, 2011 - 10:34 am

Five years ago, the state paroled 69,000 prisoners - a normal year. Within two years, about 36,000 were back in prison, according to the latest data from the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. About two thirds of parolees released to the Sacramento region were back in prison within two years. Car thieves were the most likely parolees to come back to prison quickly statewide; murderers were the least likely. This chart shows the number of prisoners paroled during 2006, along with percentage who came back to prison one or two years later.

Murder Case Dropped Against Immigrant After Botched Translation of Rights

REYNOLDSBURG, OH – An aggravated murder case against an illegal immigrant in Ohio has been dropped because a judge ruled that a Spanish interpreter botched reading the man his rights during a police interview.

“His statements were the cornerstone of our case,” Wodarcyk told the newspaper. “We were left with insufficient evidence to go forward and have any reasonable chance of succeeding at trial.”

Assistant prosecutor Mark Wodarcyk said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to go to trial after Franklin County Common Pleas Judge John Bessey ruled last month to suppress the statements that Antonio M. Martinez-Nunez made during phone interviews with Reynoldsburg police, The Columbus Dispatch reports. Martinez-Nunez, 31, had been charged with nine counts, including aggravated murder and abuse of a corpse in the death of Armondo Casillas Castanedo, whose body was found in a parked car in the Columbus suburb of Reynoldsburg in August 2009. Police think Castanedo, a 36-year-old illegal immigrant, was killed a few days earlier in a feud over drug territory. An autopsy determined that he was asphyxiated.

Supreme Court orders California to release prisoners

By Michael Doyle [email protected] Published: Monday, May. 23, 2011 - 7:47 am

WASHINGTON - A closely divided Supreme Court on Monday cited "serious constitutional violations" in California's overcrowded prisons and ordered the state to abide by aggressive plans to fix the problem. In a decision closely watched by other states, the court by a 5-4 margin concluded the prison overcrowding violated constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Pointedly, the court rejected California's bid for more time and leeway.

APNewsBreak: High-risk Calif parolees unsupervised

By DON THOMPSON Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif.

California improperly paroled more than 450 dangerous criminals without supervision last year as part of a program designed to reduce prison crowding and cost, the California prison system's independent inspector general said Wednesday in a report. A faulty computerized risk-assessment program predicted the offenders could be released under the state's non-revocable parole law that took effect in January 2010. The inspector general found that about 1,500 offenders were improperly left unsupervised, including 450 who "carry a high risk for violence." The offenders otherwise would have been released under traditional parole, which requires them to report in regularly and follow specific rules.

Ask a Cop? Worst Part about being a Cop?: Thanks Matt

I listen to your show regularly and really enjoy the wealth of knowledge that your team offers. Keep up the good work! I've worked my way through almost all of your episodes, and haven't heard this question come up yet: For each of you, what are your most and least favorite things about being an LEO? Also, I know you guys are exposed to a wide variety of threats as LEO's; what are some things you guys do to stay sharp on the job? Do you have mental/physical daily routines, or weekly ones? How do you guys stay up on new case law, which could affect how you perform your duties? Do your departments offer opportunities for continuing education or is that something that you pursue on your own?

13 Things a Burglar won't tell you......

URL : http://www.coptalk.info/2010/02/21/13-things-your-burglar-wont-tell-you/

1.  Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9.. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)

8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

4. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6.

Ask a Cop? False information: Thanks Nicolette

My son was born in February of this year. His father & I have been together since before I got pregnant & are still together now. But there is a guy, that I have never had sex with, going around telling everyone that he is my son's father. Can I or is there a way I can sue him for spreading false information like that?

Ask a Cop? What were your first days as a cop like? Thanks: Jesse

I am trying to get hired - I have studied all the books and tests and materials. I have done a few ride alongs at the department I would like to work with but the one thing they never teach you is what the first days, week, or years are like after you are hired. What issues did you have during your first few days, weeks and years? Eye Opening? Depressing? How does it affect your personal life?

Internet Crime:

Tracking you via your phone and your photos? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vARzvWxwY

GPS Location Data

PopSci Article - Hacking the Cloud - The worries of Cloud computing

Older CopTalk Article - http://www.coptalk.info/2011/02/21/two-great-ways-to-increase-your-online-safety/

Clicking on Email Links

Bot Nets

Facebook Security Issues

Online Apps

Non Secure Wi-Fi Connections - Fire Sheep

FBI Disrupts BotNet http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/april/botnet_041411/botnet_041411

If you’re worried about your online security, here are 6 tips on how to be a little more web-savvy, keeping those Internet predators at bay:

1. Sign your credit and debit cards as soon as you receive them.

2. When paying by card in any shop or store, make sure your card is always in view.

3. Destroy any physical correspondence that includes your name, address, Social Security details or account numbers; and don’t let mail sit in your mailbox for too long.

4. Save your ATM receipts or destroy them.

5. Clear browsing data, including cookies and temporary files, after making an online purchase.

6. And of course, never save or write down your passwords, keep your antivirus software up to date and only shop online at trusted sites.

Remember to protect your personal reputation online and avoid identity theft at all times

75 Million Scam emails are sent daily claiming over 200 victims

73% of Americans have experienced some form of cyber crime - 65% globally

66% of the worlds hackers are American

10.5 are from the UK

7.5 are Nigerian

Brazil is the worst hit with 83% of the population has suffered from Internet crime

78% of American feel that cyber crime will not be brought to justice and only 2% expect to escape cyber crime in their lifetime.

Average Internet crime costs the victim 128 bucks

Most Common Crimes: Computer Viruses, Online Scams, Phishing, Social Network Hacking, Online Debit and CC Fraud, Sexual Predation

Average Financial loss per fraud complaint, Debit CC Fraud = 223, Auction Fraud: 610, non delivery of items: 800, computer fraud: 1000, Nigerian Letter fraud: 1650

The 5 most popular passwords: 123456, password, 12345678, lifehack, qwerty

33% use the same pass for every site they visit - 22% never use the same password twice

Password length affects hacking time: 3 digit length = if you use upper and lower case and 52 letter or digits = 1.41 seconds where as a 12 digit with the same use = 123.946 millennia

23 minutes = time to crack a 6 digit pass if it only consists of A-Z characters

3 Hours = time to crack 6 digit pass if it consists of A-Z and 0-9

1 Week = time to crack a 6 digit pass if it consists of A-Z, 0-9 and a mix of upper and lower case

83% of people do not use a separate email address for online purchases

69% of people so not back up anything regularly

62% of people no not change passwords frequently or use complex passwords

In closing:

Website www.coptalk.info

Stitcher.com

Ask a Cop? Kidnap: Thanks Vince

What should you do if someone at gunpoint wants you to get in their car? First I'd like to say that I really do like your show and do appreciate all you do to keep us safe. Sometimes it's hard to follow you, because amist all the joking, things get lost in the process. I assume this is how you handle stress because I cannot even imagine what it would be like to be a cop, especially since so many look down on cops, which I consider unfortunate. I guess that is why I always tell cops when I see them just how much their appreciated.

My other question is what is the legal length of a knife that one can have in their pocket?

Ask a Cop? Police Job: Thanks Josh

I smoked pot for about ten months, took unperscribed lortab (less than 5 times), and did zanex once. I am 16 and been sober for almost four months. Will I be able to become a cop in alabama when I turn 19.

Ask a Cop? Sealed Record: Thanks Chris

Love the podcast. My question is this. If you have a sealed record would that prevent you from applying and becoming a cop. Something happened when I was 17 and it went into a youthful offender sealed record and I am 34 now and work for the federal government under DHS. My dream is to still become a cop and any help would be greatly appreciated. I was never arrested but while in court I pled guilty and the judge placed it in a sealed record. Also would that show up if you applied for a position as police officer. It was a stupid thing I did as a kid and have been a model citizen since.

Ask a Cop? Stalking: Thanks Mariah

I think I am being stalked. This guy is from a differen't country, he is 20 years old. We are currently friends right now, but he calls me sweetie and gives me a LOT of compliments. I am 14. He started off by calling me and leaving me voice messages, and then I texted him because I got freaked out. He apologized and told me he would back off and didn't mean to sound "stalkerish". I love talking to people around the world because I find it interesting. I guess my questions are: How can you tell if someone is a predator? Do you think this guy is a predator? And what actions should I take if he is? He just makes me feel important and we share a lot in common....

Ask a Cop? No Knock Warrants: Thanks Tony

What are some of the reasons a no knock warrent can be issued ? i.e.... to many people come across a homes thresh hold in an hour ? or to much traffic in and out of a home ? or how many calls to the police have to be made about a certain address about to much traffic or suspicious activity going on there?

NEWS:

Apps for phones for unlocking / starting cars

Obituary burglaries shock communities, law enforcement

Next week - Internet Crime and Safety

Social Engineering

In closing:

Website www.coptalk.info

Stitcher.com

Subscribe and give us a review on itunes

Ask a cop section? Please ask your questions…

Email Subscription – Sign Up on the site

Thanks for your support over the past 10 years and thanks for continuing to follow our site

STAY SAFE!

Please send in your questions: http://www.coptalk.info/ask-a-cop-ask-us-a-question/

Ask a Cop? Stolen Property

From: Felicia

A month ago my apartment was broken into and my ps3, xbox 360 and all the games were stolen. I recently walked past my neighbors window and saw all of my stolen things. What can I do?

Our Reply:

If it was an easily identifiable item than could be seen through a window (like a dog, purple laptop, unique purse etc) you'd have better luck having the police check on it. But all PS3's, xbox 360's and games are identical so it how do you know they are yours? If you had distinguishing marks on the xbox and other items such as initials or drivers license #' engraved on the game, or knowing the serial numbers, then you might be able to persuade an officer to ask your neighbor about the items. If you saw the exact items that were stolen, same games, same color PS3, and a police report was filed on the burglary, then a cop might contact the neighbor to see if they could check for the serial number or identifying information and to ask where they got the items. Without identifying information, there's nothing to confirm it is your property and your probably out of luck. Without identifying information, most cops wont even bother to get involved. There would be no way to determine whose property it really is and it would just be your word against the neighbors.

Another reminder why people should engrave their initials, names, drivers license number, any kind of identifying information onto their property. You can do it with an engraver, screwdriver, knife, just about anything with a point. Also with the technology today and everyone having cell phones with video and cameras, you can take videos or  photos of the property including the serial numbers, that way you have proof it is yours.

Ask a Cop? Domestic Violence

From: Withheld

Friend of mine has a history if domestic violence with her husband of 4 yrs. She has 3 children and he has been arrested twice for domestic violence against her. He attended domestic violence classes and parenting and she dropped charges because she noticed significant change within him and she is a committed christian. Recently he struck her in the face and made her bleed for the first time. She wants him to leave the home but he refuses ad begs to stay because he admits he needs mental help and doesn't want to lose his wife and three kids...............

Our Reply:

Bottom line is "arrested twice and he recently struck her in the face making her bleed". Domestic violence only gets worse. As long as she tries to protect him it will get worse. She can try to get a restraining order against him based on the prior domestic violence and her fear of current escalating domestic violence. With a restraining order the police would make him leave and he will be arrested for returning or contacting her in any way. The police cant just make him leave if he lives there, he'd either have to be arrested for hitting her and/or a restraining order put in place.

I know it's tough for a woman to put a husband in jail, and the fear of living alone and having to take care of a family by herself, but she really needs to realize the danger she is putting herself and the children in. The violence WILL get worse, and if the kids see or hear the fighting and hitting, they will grow up feeling that's a normal relationship and either grow up to be a batterer or end up in a relationship being battered, it's a vicious repeating cycle. I'm sure he grew up in a home where domestic violence was present. You cant help someone who doesn't want help. Someone that resorts to physical violence when angered is a dangerous person. He's been in jail twice, and counseling, for most people that would be a wake up call. If he's hitting her again, especially striking her in the face, he needs to go back to jail. He wasn't being a "good guy" for taking parenting and domestic violence classes, those are court ordered and part of probation.

Ask a Cop?,

Reader Questions:

Texting and not paying attention....

Oakland, CA - Criminals following home shoppers and being robbed in the privacy of their home.

How do we determine you are speeding?

Ask a Cop? Working Radar at night…

Subject: Running Radar

Is it legal for the police to run radar on a 4 lane highway (2 lanes north & 2 lanes south) after dark without having any lights of any kind on? I have seen the local city police and sheriff doing this in northern West Virginia.

Our Reply:

George,

You asked a simple question (thank you) and it can be answered in 3 words… "yes it’s legal".

Just as with motorist who don’t slow down at night – neither does traffic enforcement and it’s probably safe to say those officers sitting in the dark working radar have probably gotten a lot of intoxicated drivers off the highway just from working traffic enforcement. Those officers you see are more than likely using laser devices which are much more accurate than traditional radar units. The number of lanes on a highway running in either direction is not a factor. The lasers are extremely accurate and have a very long range. Our advice? Stay within 10 mph of the posted speed limit and that will usually keep you out of traffic court!

Stay safe – and thanks for your question

Jim Lambert

Coptalk

Ask A Cop? The dreaded wall….

I was just wondering if there is a better technique to getting over the six foot wall? I got over all three , but missed my time by three seconds. How can I speed my time up so that i get over all three walls in under 15 seconds. i have been running, is there anything else. please help if possible.

practice practice…. running is one thing

practice on the wall just as much as you run.

My bet is you’ll see improvement in a weeks time!

Ask a Cop? – In a place after dark…

Subject: In a place that is closed after dark

Myself and three of my friends were sitting on a boat dock when a police officer pulled up and asked us what we were doing and we were just sitting there they searched us and nothing was found but he said that he was not sure if he was going to cite us. Then he drove away can we still be fined.

Our Reply:

When a group of people  are sitting, standing or loitering in an area that is closed or otherwise not a common public area, it draws a cops attention and they usually will stop to see what you are doing. I don’t know the circumstances but something made the cop decide to contact you and search you. If nothing illegal was found, the only thing I can think of that you could be cited for would be curfew (if you are under 18 and were out late at night) or trespassing if it was private property. If he left without having you sign a citation, I don’t see how he can decide to cite you later. If someone receives a citation, they have to sign it and be given a copy showing the violation and the court date. Sounds like he was trying to scare you into leaving.

Ask a Cop? – Possession

Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:05 PM

To: [email protected]

Subject: Possession

I have somewhat of a strange question I guess.  Well I lent my brother awhile ago my ATV and trailer to use.  Well time went on I moved really didn’t have a place to put it so wasn’t worried about it.  Well now he is trying to sell them.  Friend of mine found a flyer at local hardware store.  I have all titles and registrations I live in Michigan.  What should I do.  I don’t really want him to get arrested I guess but I do want my stuff back before it is sold to a third party and gone forever.  What can I do.  He changed his number so don’t know how to reach him.  I know where he lives and when I go there no-one answers the door.

Matthew

First thing I’d do is leave a note on your brother’s door telling him to call you regarding the property. If you get no response, I’d call the local police department and ask for a "Civil S...