Motorcyclist Busted So Police Can Peruse His Video Footage for Any Illegal Activity

One of the charges leveled against police in recent years is that they seem to be slow to adjust to a world in which their actions are often caught on camera. The good result of that is the exposure of misconduct that has long been common but went unrevealed in the past. The downside is that, even with cameras trained on them, many cops still haven't reined in their behavior. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff James Westbrook splits that difference. He is obviously becoming accustomed to the proliferation of cameras around him — and he sees that as an opportunity for more misconduct. Carlos Miller has the exchange between Westbrook and motorcyclist Chris Moore at Photography is Not a Crime:

MOORE: "Was I doing something wrong? What am I being pulled over for?"

WESTBROOK: "The whole group of you guys."

MOORE: "No. I was not, individually. How can you pull me over?"

WESTBROOK: "The reason you're being pulled over is because I'm gonna take your camera and we're gonna use it as evidence of the crimes that have been committed by other bikers."

MOORE: "I have not committed any crimes, and you cannot take my personal property from me, sir."

WESTBOOK: "That's fine. Need to see your license and registration."

Ultimately, Westbrook decided to arrest Moore for driving with an obstructed license plate — a charge pretty clearly fabricated on the spot. The deputy also loses his cool, angrily slamming the door on his own cruiser after shoving Moore into the car as the man is questioning the bullshit charge and asking about the disposition of his bike. Moore spent eight hours in jail.

WFAA reports that the arrest is under review:

"We are looking into the conduct," said department spokeswoman Carmen Castro. "There has been no official investigation brought forward, but we are looking to determine if his conduct was appropriate for the situation at hand."

Oh, and we know all about the interaction because it was captured on that helmet camera the deputy was so hot to confiscate.

Comments

[Res Publica Americana]

"We are looking into the conduct," said department spokeswoman Carmen Castro. "There has been no official investigation brought forward, but we are looking to determine if his conduct was appropriate for the situation at hand."

Can't you just cut the bullshit and say it? "We don't give a shit. Nothing's going to happen. Move along."

[Hugh Akston]

Them panties: Take 'em off.

[Spencer]

I saw this on the news last night and it was worse than what was just printed here. She was like a lamb to the slaughter with the interview.

[Gojira]

Dallas baby!!!

I've actually never had any problems with DPD. The highway patrol is way worse IME.

[Gojira]

And before anyone corrects me yes, I'm aware the cop in question was with the shire reeve's office, and not DPD.

[Res Publica Americana]

When's open carry going to be legalized in Texas? Isn't it about time? What the hell are you doing at home, posting on a website, when you should be out legalizing open carry???

[T]

It is, for rifles and shotguns. Who cares if you can't carry a handgun openly? Go big or go home.

[Res Publica Americana]

ATF, pal. Otherwise, I'd be carrying a Tommy, just to fuck with the local progressives.

[Gojira]

Hey, I signed the flarking online petition, I did my bit for king and country.

[Proprietist]

I agree, Dallas's police department is generally way better and less abusive than, say, Richardson's - which has so many cops per capita it is basically a police state. They think it's a great idea to pull over HOV violators at the height of morning rush hour instead of using video enforcement. Thus blocking off the highway for everyone coming into Dallas from the northern suburbs as there is nowhere to "pull over" to.

I think in general the Dallas cops usually have bigger things do deal with than small traffic violations and minor delinquency. I almost never see cops on Dallas highways.

[Mad Scientist]

Department policy requires our officers to harass and intimidate the public, even trumping up false charges when necessary. These procedures were duly followed by officer Westbrook, so fuck you, that's why.

[Res Publica Americana]

And STOP RESISTING.

[juris imprudent]

"Because I've got this badge and this gun and the love of Jesus in my pretty blue eyes".

[The Hammer]

Dunphy: We need more information before exonerating the cop and giving him his medal.

[Loki]

That's just your anti-cop bigotry showing. Also, you're an ignorant moron for even attempting to make a joke about the great and powerful Dunphy.

[The Fatman]

Good times that. Oh and...Dunphy should die in a fire with his progeny to improve all of mankind.

[Pip]

Polar bear flees its zoo pen in Duluth, escaping the flood.

"Even though it's a large white object, it's pretty nerve racking," police spokesman Jim Hansen said of the chase for Berlin [the polar bear]. Zoo officials said she was tranquilized by the zoo's vet and placed in quarantine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....ml?hpid=z4

Thank god a cop didn't get to the bear first. And please, remember this story every time the cops tell you they had no choice but to kill the dog, wolf, twin fawn, etc.

[GILMORE]

"The reason you're being pulled over is because I'm gonna take your camera"

Well, honesty is the best policy.

Westbrook decided to arrest Moore for driving with an obstructed license plate

Hands down the most bullshit, ticket-quota meeting invention of all time. I got one of these slapped on me... while the car was PARKED. $150 ticket. incomprehensible Thanks, NYC traffic cops!

[Res Publica Americana]

"Thanks, NYC traffic cops!"

I was expecting it to be Chicago, or DC, or NY. Predictably, I wasn't disappointed.

[Rick O'Shay]

There's one town in Texas that loves to pull people over and then say, "looks like your license plate is expired." I've even had this twice in the same day in different vehicles.

[R C Dean]

There's one town in Texas that loves to pull people over and then say, "looks like your license plate is expired."

Which is extra funny, because in Texas, your license plate has no expiration date or tag on it.

Your registration sticker is on the windshield.

[Rick O'Shay]

Exactly.

[DoubleIPA]

Cop should be fired, but we know that wont happen or someone will say that's too severe. We tollerate way to much from our local gestopo's.

[R C Dean]

We are looking into the conduct.

Well, yeah. How do you expect them to choose between a promotion and a commendation without doing a little digging first?

[R C Dean]

We are looking into the conduct.

Well, yeah. How do you expect them to choose between a promotion and a commendation without doing a little digging first?

[Free Society]

Nothing gets my blood boiling better than unlawful cops and unjust laws.

[John]

I love it. These fuckheads are fighting a losing battle. Remember there are upsides to everything being filmed.

[RPR2]

roid ragin'

[Fluffy]

Well, he shouldn't have been a tough guy.

He should have just been reasonable and polite and did what the cop asked and written a complaint letter later.

[John]

Yes because clearly the proper response was to physically assault the cop. And he was reasonable. It was the cop who was unreasonable here. That being said, if he had shot the cop, he would have been wrong.

[Chris Mallory]

The cop was armed and clearly not in a rational state of mind. I would vote "Not Guilty" if the guy had shot the cop.

[JSebastian]

Of course he would not be guilty, that would be self defense against a highwayman. All these thugs should be shot. It would be a good deterrent.

[Lost_In_Translation]

My sarc meter just broke. Thanks Fluffy, 🙁

[Mr. FIFY]

Bets on whether Obama calls the biker to apologize for the conduct of the cops?

[sage]

If Obama had a statist badge-licking Douchebag cop for a son it would look like this guy.

[sloopyinca]

Is it commonplace to arrest someone for a minor traffic infraction like an obstructed plate? This sheriff's office and city in general better hope so or this guy's gonna get a sweet payday on Due Process and Equal Protection violations.

Of course, it'll come out of the taxpayers' pockets instead of the cop's, but I'm still hoping it is a seven-figure award.

[JSebastian]

Unsatisfactory in the whole. Any penalty needs to be borne by the INDIVIDUAL who committed the crime. It is unacceptable to hide behind qualified immunity and other such legal fictions that are designed merely to provide unaccountability for the actions of an individual. Of course when individuals do not have personal consequences for their crimes against other persons, they tend to commit those crimes.

So, personal consequences must be applied in order for the behavior to change. Its very simple. Its basic psychology.

[Loki]

So the cop clearly knew there was a camera rolling and he still acted like a jack-booted thug? He's either the dumbest motherfucker on the planet, or he's figured out that nothing will happen to him and just doesn't give a shit anymore.

Either way he shouldn't be allowed to wear a badge and carry a gun anymore, but of course we all know that won't happen.

[R C Dean]

Ultimately, Westbrook decided to arrest Moore for driving with an obstructed license plate ? a charge pretty clearly fabricated on the spot.

I hope he got a good, clear shot of the allegedly obstructed plate.

[sage]

How tf is that an arrestable offense? Besides fuck you that's how?

[Brendan]

The shitty thing is that a lot of states (NV for example) treat all traffic offenses as misdemanors.

The law will usually specify that a citation be issued, but then gives a huge escape clause about the cop feeling it necessary or whatever.

http://leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS.....484ASec720

NRS 484A.730 When peace officer has option to give citation or take person before magistrate. Whenever any person is halted by a peace officer for any violation of chapters 484A to 484E, inclusive, of NRS and is not required to be taken before a magistrate, the person may, in the discretion of the peace officer, either be given a traffic citation, or be taken without unnecessary delay before the proper magistrate. The person must be taken before the magistrate in any of the following cases:

1. When the person does not furnish satisfactory evidence of identity or when the peace officer has reasonable and probable grounds to believe the person will disregard a written promise to appear in court;

2. When the person is charged with a violation of NRS 484D.580 relating to the refusal of a driver of a vehicle to submit the vehicle to an inspection and test;

3. When the person is charged with a violation of NRS 484D.675 relating to the failure or refusal of a driver of a vehicle to submit the vehicle and load to a weighing or to remove excess weight therefrom; or

(4 removed due to word count limit)

[sage]

Lame. Power abused.

[Espantapajaros]

Equal parts asshole and idiot.

And he's fat, too.

[august]

Everyone should have a dashcam in their car to protect yourself from abuse like this. You can get an awesome one at freedomcam dot net.

[JSebastian]

These cops should be shot, for their aggression. This is literally highway robbery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, theft, and assault. All crimes that we all have the right to use deadly force to prevent ourselves becoming victims to.

After enough cops have been killed as a direct consequence of their own illegal and aggressive behaviors, the rest will fall into line and behave like civilized people.

[TomD]

"Video was confiscated and turned over the gang unit as evidence."

How appropriate, actually.