Combat Vet Illegally Detained and Shaken Down for the “Crime” of Chewing Tobacco

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Minneapolis, MN — A video uploaded to YouTube this week illustrates what life in a police state looks like.

An anonymous man, who tells us that he’s a combat veteran, was simply walking down the street when he was stopped by Minneapolis police officer Aimee Colegrove.

The man had committed no crime, was not suspected of any crime, and was doing nothing illegal when officer Colegrove detained him.

Officer Colegrove mistakenly thought that the veteran’s act of spitting was an attempt to hide his face from the officer. However, he was simply trying to avoid spitting his chewing tobacco into the wind. Even if the man was trying to hide his face from officer Colegrove, he was still not committing a crime.

In no way would walking down a public sidewalk be considered reasonable suspicion for a stop as outlined in Terry v. Ohio.

The man walking down the street knew that he wasn’t involved in criminal activity and therefore refused to submit to this unlawful interrogation and detainment.

When the cop repeatedly asks for ID, the man repeatedly refuses.

“If you don’t want to give me your ID there is obviously some reason,” says the police officer, as if to imply that knowing your rights is a criminal act.

The man keeps refusing and keeps asking for a supervisor. When the supervisor finally shows up, the man, who had committed no crime is then handcuffed and his ID is forcefully checked by these two officers; but not before they turn off his camera.

In Minnesota, there is no statute that specifically deals with when police can ask for ID and when you have to give it.

According to the ACLU of Minnesota, “Unless suspected of a crime, law enforcement can’t lawfully require you to identify yourself or produce identification. However refusal could lead to your arrest even if it’s unjustified,” as was the case in this incident.

One thing that could have prevented this entire incident, however, would have been the magic question. “Am I being detained, am I free to go?” Our veteran does not ask this until he has engaged in a conversation with the officer and by this time it appeared to be too late.

Had he asked these questions upon initial contact, this entire scenario could have played out much differently.

This man was shaken down for no reason. He was detained, harassed, and his life placed in potential danger by armed agents of the state, and he had done nothing wrong.

This is what a police state looks like.

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