I pose a question to you......

[bullet]

You’re alone diving in your car. It is a dark night, bright flashing lights appear behind you. A police officer? Do you proceed to a more lighted area before pulling over?

This questioned was posed recently to a group of ladies at their monthly Reds Hats Society luncheon. To a woman, we all said “yes.” Now the rest of the story. Since this is a passed down story, some of the facts may have gotten misunderstood, but I’ll do my best to relate because I think someone should speak out.

It is Super Bowl Sunday evening 2008. A lady (50+ years young) is leaving a “non-drinking” party heading for home on Maryland route 244 when the flashing lights appeared in her rear view mirror. The lights were the blue and red flashing lights, and also incorporated those new flashing bright strobes. The lady could not actually see the vehicle under the lights. She motioned to the person behind her that she intended to proceed to a better lighted area down the road a bit. She did just that.

The Maryland State Trooper that was following her, approached her with his weapon ready. He told her that she was being taped and was going to jail. He had her get out the car and on the ground, handcuffed her, and even searched her. Twice! He found some little pull tab tool that seemed to upset him because really didn’t know what it was. When he was down searching her, he roughly pulled her up by her coat lapels.

This woman was profoundly confused and upset. She finally was able to ascertain what she had done wrong and he told her she had run the stop sign. She emphatically denies this. Towards the end of the incident the police officer had back-up present to assist him with this unassuming middle aged woman. He asked her if she could call someone to come pick up her car because she was going to jail. She told him no, she was a widow and lived alone. At which time he unhand-cuffed her and allowed her to go “merrily” along her way without even a citation.

The lady did get a lawyer to seek some sort of retribution for being treated so disrespectfully. Unfortunately she found out there is no law that says a person in this a similar situation may proceed to a better area regardless if they are in fear of their safety. Additionally, she was so flustered that evening that she did not even know the officer’s name, just that he was not a young man. The case was thrown out. Because of this incident, she no longer goes out at night for fear of meeting up with another of “Maryland’s finest.”

Until I heard this story, I had a lot of respect for the Maryland police and the locals too. I want to believe they want to do a good job. But this incident really concerns me. How can we feel safe when we hear of things like this? I’m a retired military person and we were always expected to conduct ourselves to a higher standard. I firmly believe that the police should practice that policy as well. This poor woman and all citizens deserve an apology. I still think

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Provide a link to some news article or the story is

[kom526]

Cops are the first ones to tell you that if you are concerned that you should proceed to a well lit area when you are lit up at night.

[GWguy]

I believe the "correct" way to continue to a safer area is to call 911 on your cell and inform them that you are being requested to pull over, but you are unsure of the area, don't know if the car behind is really a cop, bad area, etc......

[Kittykat33]

I was pulled over at night before, by myself down 210. I put my flashers on and pulled into the Dash In ( which was like a few miles down the road ). They police officer was fine with me doing that.

[Sharon (Premo)]

Originally Posted by GWguy

I believe the "correct" way to continue to a safer area is to call 911 on your cell and inform them that you are being requested to pull over, but you are unsure of the area, don't know if the car behind is really a cop, bad area, etc......

That way dispatch will know if an officer is in the area or not, and whether one needs to be sent to arrest a phony cop.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by kom526

Cops are the first ones to tell you that if you are concerned that you should proceed to a well lit area when you are lit up at night.

...and kids are told that in drivers ed and I'm pretty sure it is in the Maryland drivers handbook.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by bullet

Until I heard this story, I had a lot of respect for the Maryland police and the locals too.

If this story is true, then the cop is a bad one. But don't paint all cops with the same brush based on one incident.

[sockgirl77 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by aps45819

Provide a link to some news article or the story is

Thank you.

[bullet]

I have a pretty warm fuzzy regarding the truth to this story. And it is quite possible that some of the facts may be a bit misconstrued. My goal in posting this story is to let folks know that there can be a few bad apples out there. I really don't want to slam the police force as a whole, just let them know that people are paying attention to their actions. I, like many, assume it okay to travel to a safer place in this type of situation. It would be nice to hear from the horse's mouth (a Maryland State Trooper) that it is okay to do so.