NationStates Jolt Archive


Wearing "Police" shirt is impersonating an Officer...

Zilam
08-01-2009, 05:23
So sayeth Belleville, Illinois (down the road from me) police.

http://madisonrecord.com/news/216591-man-arrested-for-wearing-police-t-shirt-at-christmas-party-sues-belleville-officer

The city Belleville and a Belleville police officer are being sued by a man who claims he was wrongfully arrested and charged with falsely impersonating a police officer after wearing a T-shirt with the word "POLICE" written across the front and back.

Adam C. Weinstein, of Missouri, claims he was attending a pre-Christmas party on Dec. 23, 2006, at about 11:34 p.m. at Crehan's Bar in Belleville, according to the complaint filed Dec. 22 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

When Weinstein initially arrived at the party, he was wearing a green sweater with the black shirt bearing the word "POLICE" underneath the sweater. After getting hot at the bar, Weinstein removed his sweater, to reveal the "POLICE" shirt, the suit states.

Shortly afterwards, Weinstein claims he was told that some police officers wanted to talk to him outside.

Once he arrived outside, Weinstein was told to show officers his police identification, the suit states.

But Weinstein was a licensed Emergency Medical Technician and a licensed security officer, not a police officer, so he had no credentials, he claims.

Belleville police officer Jeff Vernatti placed Weinstein under arrest and placed handcuffs around his wrists, but "tightened them too tightly on Plaintiff," according to the complaint.

After Weinstein asked if it was illegal to wear a T-shirt with the word "POLICE" on it, Vernatti told him to "shut the f*** up, you're real f***ing stupid, you are a dumb-a** with no common sense, do you know how f***ing stupid you are?" the suit states.

Vernatti then twisted Weinstein's wrists and quickly walked him across the parking lot, Weinstein claims.

Vernatti shoved Weinstein against the police cruiser with such force that his belt buckle left an impression on his abdomen, then pushed Weinstein into the back seat of the car, according to the complaint.

When Weinstein asked Vernatti to loosen his handcuffs, Vernatti instead tightened them and added a second pair onto his wrists, the suit states.

After writing a non-traffic complaint, Vernatti let Weinstein go, first telling him how lucky he was not to be charged with a felony and to be placed in jail, Weinstein claims.

But before letting Weinstein leave, Vernatti ordered him to take off his shirt in the cold weather, according to the complaint.

All the while, other Belleville officers stood by and did nothing, the suit states.

Eventually, Belleville's prosecuting attorney dropped the case, the suit states.

Because of Vernatti's actions, Weinstein suffered extreme emotional distress, fright, nervousness, indignity, humiliation, insult, loss of relationship and comfort and was forced to incur medical costs, he claims.

Vernatti falsely arrested; falsely detained; illegally, violently and improperly handcuffed and wrongly charged Weinstein with impersonating officers, Weinstein claims.

He also used excessive force, publicly embarrassed, harassed, verbally abused, physically abused, cause grievous and severe injuries to Weinstein, violated Weinstein's protected civil rights and abused or misused their powers, according to the complaint.

.....More continued on the webpage

How can people be so ignorant? I wonder if they will go around arresting a child wearing a play sheriff's badge??? Cops have too much power, and not enough common sense.
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 05:31
Look, let's be fair about this.

They were a good band, and Sting would not be the artist he is today without them. To call him "&$%ing stupid" was over the top.

At worst, this kid deserves community service, perhaps picking up litter in fields of gold.
VirginiaCooper
08-01-2009, 05:32
I have a shirt that I got in Berlin that is green with big, bold faced letters reading POLIZEI on it. Does that count in America, or do I have to go to Germany to get arrested for it?
The_pantless_hero
08-01-2009, 05:37
At worst, this kid deserves community service, perhaps picking up litter in fields of gold.

For what, wearing a fucking shirt that costs $8 on Amazon? These cops must have a fucking aneurysm during Halloween.
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 05:38
I have a shirt that I got in Berlin that is green with big, bold faced letters reading POLIZEI on it. Does that count in America, or do I have to go to Germany to get arrested for it?

No, only if you wear a t-shirt for that rap group, GSG9.
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 05:40
For what, wearing a fucking shirt that costs $8 on Amazon? These cops must have a fucking aneurysm during Halloween.

Look, I don't make the law. Support Sting's early work, and how do you expect people to react?

Young people need to learn that you don't have to put on a red light.
The_pantless_hero
08-01-2009, 05:46
No, only if you wear a t-shirt for that rap group, GSG9.
Which reminds me of my commentary on the 4 presidents picture...
Neo Art
08-01-2009, 05:46
Look, I don't make the law. Support Sting's early work, and how do you expect people to react?

Young people need to learn that you don't have to put on a red light.

I can sympathize with this guy though. It's a rough situation, hope he's keeping a positive outlook. You know, when the world is running down, you gotta make the best of what's still around.
Poliwanacraca
08-01-2009, 05:49
I can sympathize with this guy though. It's a rough situation, hope he's keeping a positive outlook. You know, when the world is running down, you gotta make the best of what's still around.

Oh, yeah, well...de do do do de da da da. So THERE.
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 05:50
I can sympathize with this guy though. It's a rough situation, hope he's keeping a positive outlook. You know, when the world is running down, you gotta make the best of what's still around.

Dude, dude...we should get hold of Sting's publicist...see if he has enough of a sense of humor to file an Amicus brief, saying that this kid doesn't deserve to be punished for wearing an unlicensed "The Police" t-shirt..

When it hits the news, Gordon comes on TV and says "Just kidding, everybody, its fine, end third world debt."
Neo Art
08-01-2009, 05:51
So THERE.

don't be that way baby. I wouldn't talk down to you
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 05:53
You know what this reminds me of? The Officer Rivieri case, in where was it, back east somewhere.

Cop gets caught on video losing it on this kid, implying that somebody was going to kill the kid one day if he kept calling people "dude".
Neo Art
08-01-2009, 05:54
You know what this reminds me of? The Officer Rivieri case, in where was it, back east somewhere.

Cop gets caught on video losing it on this kid, implying that somebody was going to kill the kid one day if he kept calling people "dude".

if I recall, it was somewhere in Maryland.

And dude, back off. Don't stand so close to me.
Nova Magna Germania
08-01-2009, 05:55
I have a shirt that I got in Berlin that is green with big, bold faced letters reading POLIZEI on it. Does that count in America, or do I have to go to Germany to get arrested for it?

I dunno about that but Polizei sounds sexier than Police for sure.
SaintB
08-01-2009, 05:55
If I were local sheriff people would be losing jobs...
Neo Art
08-01-2009, 05:56
what's actually really funny is I've met sting. Been to his house, had dinner with the man (not in THAT WAY). He had a summer home in my neighborhood

He's actually really chill.
Wilgrove
08-01-2009, 05:58
Wow...this is beyond stupid.

Also Neo Art, you got a T'gram from me. Your secret admirer you big naughty lawyer you!

*giggles*

Wonders if that'll give Neo nightmares now. :D
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 05:58
if I recall, it was somewhere in Maryland.

And dude, back off. Don't stand so close to me.

But Jew...when we dance, angels will run and hide their wings. :(


If that belt buckle imprint is still on his...belt buckle area, I wonder if they'll settle.
Black Kids
08-01-2009, 06:00
You know what this reminds me of? The Officer Rivieri case, in where was it, back east somewhere.

Cop gets caught on video losing it on this kid, implying that somebody was going to kill the kid one day if he kept calling people "dude".

Kid: "Dude Chill!"
Cop: ":mp5:"
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 06:01
what's actually really funny is I've met sting. Been to his house, had dinner with the man (not in THAT WAY). He had a summer home in my neighborhood

He's actually really chill.

You really are a member of the ruling Jewish elite, aren't you?

Speaking of lawyers, I wonder what "loss of relationship" means...his chick bailed on him because he got rousted for wearing a Police T-shirt?

I shook Mel Brooks' had once.
Poliwanacraca
08-01-2009, 06:01
don't be that way baby. I wouldn't talk down to you

Man, I need to know more Police songs to play this game properly. I think you win.

(...which might just make you the King, and you know very well of what. ;) )
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 06:02
Kid: "Dude Chill!"
Cop: ":mp5:"

Ah, yes, the famous legal precedent, applied widely in use of force cases, Bill vs. Ted.

Before rendering lethal force against an assailant, an officer must either be in reasonable fear of his or life, acting to prevent loss of other human life, or have been addressed as "dude".
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 06:04
Man, I need to know more Police songs to play this game properly. I think you win.

(...which might just make you the King, and you know very well of what. ;) )

Neo Art cheated. He's a Jew. It means he's born knowing every Sting song, every line from The Jazz Singer, and he can understudy any role in Yentyl. He loves to do that.

And not Mandy Patinkin's part, either.
Poliwanacraca
08-01-2009, 06:09
Neo Art cheated. He's a Jew. It means he's born knowing every Sting song, every line from The Jazz Singer, and he can understudy any role in Yentyl. He loves to do that.

And not Mandy Patinkin's part, either.

....I would pay good money to see NA dramatically performing "The Way He Makes Me Feel."
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 06:14
....I would pay good money to see NA dramatically performing "The Way He Makes Me Feel."

Oh, hell yeah, that would be like seeing Christopher Walken's screen test for Han Solo...
Gauthier
08-01-2009, 06:19
The Cop from The Village People must be Number 1 on the Most Wanted List.
Baldwin for Christ
08-01-2009, 06:29
The Cop from The Village People must be Number 1 on the Most Wanted List.

"Your Honor, with respect to the diligence of Internal Affairs, they weren't there, me and my partner were.

And when that guy started squirting the massage oil everywhere..."