Almost Got Arrested While in My FR-S

[Texas BRZ]

Long story short... I was getting bored and depressed, and decided to take a random spin in the FR-S around the city earlier this evening (my wife and kids are overseas due to my wife's grandfather passing away, so I don't have much to look forward to these days, except work and going to the track ).

And so I was just cruising around on a slow Sunday evening, and pulled into a strip of area full of stores / shops / restaurants (some were closed for the day)... I was continuing to observe around the area, much like a tourist... All of a sudden a cop zooms past right in front of my view like he's chasing somebody... I glanced to see what in the world he was going after, but then I decided to not worry about it, and just made a U-turn in the parking lot area, and I simply continued about my journey of observing around all the shops and stores which I had never noticed in the previous times I had visited the same area.

All of a sudden... A cop (the same cop that initially zoomed in front of me?) started following me very aggressively... I noticed him immediately, but I did not want to panic because that would only attract extra attention towards me... And there was never a time where I was speeding, I kept my speed at >10 miles in the parking lot. I took a right to try to get out of his way since maybe there would be chance that he wasn't really after me... But as I took a right, that's when he turned on his lights, and it was doomsday for me...

He got out of his police SUV and approached me with extreme caution... I looked back and greeted him very nicely, "Hi, how are you?"... He then asked for my I.D. and I happily provided it to him.

After reviewing my information and asking me multiple questions, he asked me to step out of my FR-S... Before he proceeded to ask anything further of me, I offered if he'd like to search my car... And he said that he actually would like to do that. I said, "Sure, no worries... I really don't have anything to hide." He proceeded to search my car thoroughly for about 10 minutes. Around that time or before, a second officer pulled up... He asked to search me, and I said "Sure." And then somewhere along that time, several more police vehicles (5+, maybe?) surrounded my area all around the parking lot.

After the first officer was done searching my car, he approached me and filled me in on what was exactly going on. He notified me that there was a robbery in one of these businesses within a 30 second window from the moment they spotted me driving through the parking lot. I told them that I had absolutely no reason to steal from anybody... I was only getting bored on a Sunday evening, and that I just felt like driving my sports car around in the area... No harm intended to anybody... I even told him that I wasn't speeding and was minding my own business.

They made me stay put and face a certain direction, etc... All the officers were waiting for any updates from the department / other officers, I suppose? Soon after, the second officer asked me to put my hands behind my back and was proceeding to arrest me... Then, the first officer told the second officer to hold off, and not handcuff me... And started to approach me, and said that I matched the exact description of the thief. I was at a loss of words, and requested them to please view any surveillance video for the business that was robbed... I requested them to please do their research before arresting me like this. I told them that I was NOT who they were looking for... And that they simply had the WRONG guy.

After several more minutes went by... He gave me my I.D. back and told me that I could go. I told him to please do call me at the contact I provided him with if they needed any additional info from me. I took my I.D. and sat in my car... I waited 5 solid minutes to calm myself down from this entire incident. At the same time, I also wanted to let it be known to the officers that I was a legit person and not in a hurry to leave the scene after they released me... And then I drove off peacefully after I let some more time go by as I was seated in my car.

I was trying to be as understanding and cooperative with the police, and let them know that I understood completely in that they were only doing their job... And also telling them repeatedly that it wasn't me who was the bad guy.

Why me? I guess wrong place, wrong time... Unfortunately.

If this seems to be an off-topic matter... Please feel free to relocate, Moderators.

Thank you everyone for hearing me out on my small story for the day.

Texas FR-S

[Lee358]

wow sounds like they were being pretty rude... they searched you and your car you had nothing they had no reason to put handcuffs on you.

[track_warrior]

Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time. Sucks man, glad everything worked out though. I cruise around as well when i am bored it could happen to anybody.

[Synack]

Where on earth did this happen?

Seems like this is what all the cops are doing since I never see them patrolling or gunning people for speeding tickets.

[Sc0ob_do0D]

Damn, dude. I was scared FOR you as I read this. Sucks that it happened but glad they finally let you go.

On a side note, I hope things get better for you and that you get to see your family again soon. Hang in there.

[deucethemoose]

I wouldn't have given them the right to search without a warrant. Innocent or not. You're liable for any and all damage caused by them rummaging around inside your brand new car.


The magic words are: "Officer, are you detaining me? Or am I free to go?"

[whaap]

Shit happens. I want to complement you for keeping your composure and handling the matter in the very best way possible. You did good.

[Tanuki]

the vehicle demographic probably matches a lot of the people who would be dumb enough to commit a robbery.

[Lonewolf]

That sounded pretty nerve-racking...

The "you match the description of the perp" line doesn't mean much...the initial descriptions of perpetrators are usually incredibly vague and general (Male, 5'6 to 5"10, wearing jeans...gee that sounds like half the people in the neighborhood)

Just for anyone who doesn't know, op consented to several things he was well within his right to refuse:

1) Search of the vehicle (besides things in plain view)

2) Search of your person (besides a quick pat down of outer clothing to make sure you weren't armed)

3) Staying at the scene for more than 20 or so minutes after you have identified yourself and had your car inspected. This could go beyond what is allowed during a "terry stop." An officer must either take you into custody or allow you to leave after a reasonable amount of time once you have been identified and questioned.

[yormaX]

TL;DR - It was all a misunderstanding, OP did no wrong. The police got the "Wrong" guy. No citation was issued, and OP was at the wrong place and the wrong time.

[master345]

Bummer. I would have NOT allowed a vehicle search. It's equivalent to allowing the cops to search your house. If they don't have a warrant, they can't search, unless you allow them to. If they had found ANYTHING in your vehicle that was contraband, even if it had been left there by parking attendants, dealer staff, ANYTHING, you would have been toast. Let's say the dealer's clean up guy had left a bit of grass in there. Explain that to the judge. Allowing cops to search without a warrant is almost never a good idea. In the case you just described, the cops are not your friends. They're looking for a bust, and they will bust you if they can.

[QFry]

meanwhile the guys driving the POS 80's van got away with the loot...

[jimmillion]

Originally Posted by Synack

Where on earth did this happen?

Seems like this is what all the cops are doing since I never see them patrolling or gunning people for speeding tickets.

Thank god for that, haha.


I'm glad the one officer understood the situation enough to see that you weren't who they were looking for.
And I think you probably handled the situation better then anyone else could have on the spot...heck you even give him your contact information.

[Mitch]

Wrong place, wrong time. My dad and a friend got surrounded by FBI when dumping fish guts from a small bridge after a particularly good fishing trip. Apparently a serial killer had dumped a victim's body off of a bridge in that county recently. Completely terrifying experience being surrounded by drawn weapons, but they cleared everything up in a matter of minutes. So it happens sometimes, but just know that it's because something bad has happened and they'd rather inconvenience a couple of people than play it too conservatively and have someone eldse get hurt because they let a criminal get away without at least checking them out.