Police ossifer convicted of assault for roadside strip-search

[Perd Hapley]

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/crime/2015/09/15/illinois-trooper-guilty-of-assault-in-roadside-strip-search/72329520/

I thought some folks here would be glad to hear about a police officer being made to account.

[vaskidmark]

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/crime/2015/09/15/illinois-trooper-guilty-of-assault-in-roadside-strip-search/72329520/

I thought some folks here would be glad to hear about a police officer being made to account.

So I'm guessing he will be serving out some sort of job suspension?

Yes, it is notable that there is no mention of whether or not he has been terminated.

The troopers testified that they stopped....

What action has been taken against the other troopers for not at least trying to stop the prime idiot?  Or is that just not noteworthy enough to make the news?

stay safe.

[dogmush]

It's progress, but:

An Illinois state trooper has been found guilty of misdemeanor aggravated assault during a roadside search in East St. Louis.

I mean, I guess.  The only harm dude suffered was mooning passing motorists.  I just have to think if I misused my authority to pull pants off of someone the resulting crime would be a felony, and would have the word "sexual" somewhere in the name.

[MechAg94]

If he had gone to the cavity search, I would tend to argue for a felony, but misdemeanor is probably appropriate as there were no injuries. 

The story did say they claimed an informant told them this person had drugs.  I am really sick and tired of hearing police and prosecutors throw out that old line.  They shouldn't even be able to mention an informant as justification without providing all the information about who the informant is and how they acquired the information.  It seems to have turned into a "my dog ate my homework" type excuse. 

[vaskidmark]

It's progress, but:

I mean, I guess.  The only harm dude suffered was mooning passing motorists.  I just have to think if I misused my authority to pull pants off of someone the resulting crime would be a felony, and would have the word "sexual" somewhere in the name.

'Cept SCOTUS has ruled the public humiliation is egregious even if nobody sees your butt.  There are rules for where, when, and how strip searches are to be done.

If the cops hold us to strict adherence to all the rules, we rightly ought to hold them to strict adherence as well.

stay safe.

[roo_ster]

Remember, this was done all under the threat of violence. 

What sort of charges would Joe Citizen face were he and some buddies to open carry hoglegs and insist someone disrobe on the side of a road?  Those are the sorts of charges I expect Nudie Trooper to face.