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Man Arrested for Refusing to Show Drivers License
NMerriam writes "Michael Righi was arrested in Ohio over the weekend after refusing to show his receipt when leaving Circuit City. When the manger and 'loss prevention' employee physically prevented the vehicle he was a passenger in from leaving the parking lot, he called the police, who arrived, searched his bag and found he hadn't stolen anything. The officer then asked for Michael's driver's license, which he declined to provide since he wasn't operating a motor vehicle. The officer then arrested him, and upon finding out Michael was legally right about not having to provide a license, went ahead and charged him with 'obstructing official business' anyways."
I guess he learned the difference between what they say the United States of America is about and what it really is about. Fortunately, more and more people are beginning to understand the reality of things instead of the flag waving we see in John Wayne movies.
Dear Douche,
You go to the store and refuse to show your receipt on the way out. Why does Circuit City check the receipt on the way out? Because people steal things! Why protest something that prevents people from just taking what you just spent your hard earned money on? What are you protesting exactly?
A police officer asks for your drivers license for the safety of everyone around you. Sure you look like a nice guy, but you could have an arrest warrant, be a felon escapee, or who knows. What's the problem with protecting the people around you by showing your drivers license? Let the real criminals refuse to show their license. Leave your petty little selfish conspiratorial crap at home.
I hope you do not get away with this asinine behavior.
(2) Now this sounds a lot more like a tort. I am unaware of the Ohio false imprisonment law, but generally it involves being held in a place against your will where a person, exercising reasonable care, could not escape or leave. I think both the police and the store owners might be liable on a false imprisonment charge... but damages would be comparatively low, because our plaintiff hasn't really suffered anything other than the indignity of having people falsely accuse him of stealing.
IAALS.
...is a dead cop.
Ugh. It was your sister's birthday, couldn't you drop the crusader bit for one lousy day?
I'm sorry, but this story just wreaks of petty selfishness. Don't let morality get in the way of being a good person.
Couldn't agree more. He gave the cops plenty of reasons to arrest him. One (and the most egregious, imho) was calling in a non-emergency on the 911 line. Were I the cop, and especially given the guy's attitude, I'd have arrested him on that almost immediately after arriving on the scene. I think a pretty good case could be made for arresting him on suspicion of shoplifting. His "civil rights" were in no way being violated by asking him to show a store the contents of his bag. It's private property and the store is within its rights to protect the property contained within to a reasonable extent. Asking to sift through a bag upon leaving is not unreasonable. And I'd guess that one could make the case that he obstructed justice as well. Bottom line is that the guy was simply being an ass hole. And I have no sympathy for ass holes.
The gentleman may have a point about having a right not to submit to store searches and a right not to have to produce his drivers license, but was there, oh I don't know, ANY OTHER WAY HE MIGHT HAVE MADE IT?! Does he really think that making these points in this way is worth the time and money that he will have to spend defending himself in court and the pain and humiliation he has caused and will cause to his family? For me the answer would be a resounding, "No." He will have made a point, all right, but at what cost?
I'll be interested to hear if he feels the same way after the hearing.
"As you mentioned, Mr. Righi's refusal to suck corporate cock is not probable cause."
Right, so apart from adding your own ham-handed 3rd grade level analysis ("suck corporate cock" very beneficial to the discussion...) what was the point of your post?
To jump on the "screw the police/corporations/anyone with power over me that I can't effect because I'm insignificant so I'll rant like a child" bandwagon?
Despite what you obviously think, no one gives a fuck about your Special Olympics level analysis of the situation.