They Put The Latex Gloves On To Violate Your Body And Rights
Disgusting violation of the rights of two Texas women that seems to me to be a fishing expedition on the part of the officers to find some crime committed...or maybe an attempt to commit one and get away with it, if the women's allegation about a missing bottle of prescribed hydrocodone is true.
The officer claims he smelled marijuana. Unlikely, considering none was found, but a ploy police use to get around that Constitution thingie and the prohibition against searches without probable cause -- reasonable suspicion you've committed a crime.
Frank Heinz and Ken Kalthoff write at NBCNews.com of how the women were given a roadside cavity search in full view of the public, sans probable cause, and how -- eeeuw, gross! -- the trooper cavity searching them didn't change her glove between searches:
On July 13, while driving along State Highway 161, Angel Dobbs and her niece Ashley Dobbs were stopped for littering by Trooper David Ferrell. In the dashcam video released by the women and their attorney, Ferrell can be heard telling the women they would both be cited for littering for throwing cigarette butts out of the car.Farrell then returned to his cruiser and, in the video, can be heard calling female Trooper Kelley Helleson to the scene to search both women whom he said were acting weird.
While waiting for Helleson to arrive, Farrell asked Angel Dobbs to step out of the vehicle and began questioning her about marijuana use. In the video, the trooper is heard telling Dobbs he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle while asking her several times how much pot was in the car.
Farrell: How much marijuana is in that car? And don't lie to me.
Angel Dobbs: I don't smoke marijuana.
Farrell: OK, how much marijuana is in that car? That's my question.
Dobbs: I swear to God, I don't smoke marijuana.
Farrell: I'm not asking you if you smoke it.
Dobbs: I don't think there is any marijuana in that car.
Farrell: OK, when was the last time somebody smoked marijuana in that car?
Dobbs: I honestly don't know. It's my boyfriend's car. So, I just borrowed it.
Farrell: There's an odor of marijuana coming from the car and that's why I've got to talk to you further about it. Um, and the more upfront you are the better it's going to go for you. So, you're telling me there's no marijuana in that car?
Dobbs: To the best of my knowledge, no there is not.
Farrell: Is there anything hidden on your person?
Dobbs: On my person?
Farrell: On your person, in your shoes, in your underwear?
Dobbs: No. I feel like I'm being treated like a criminal right now. What's going on?
Farrell: I've got a female Trooper up the road, she's going to come down here and we're just going to check a little bit more.After Helleson arrived, she can be seen in the dashcam video putting on blue latex gloves to conduct a search of both women. According to the lawsuit, when Angel Dobbs asked about the gloves, Helleson "told her not to worry about that."
Here's a video of the search -- notice that the trooper never puts new gloves on to search the vagina and butt of the other girl:
via ifeminists
Disgusting. I saw this last night and was going to send it to you, glad you saw it.
These "state troopers" went above and beyond their station and committed assault. I hope they get the whole book, and not just part of it, thrown at them. They need to go to jail. For quite some time. The had absolutely NO right to even touch these women. Body cavity searches? Oh HELLS no.
Flynne at December 20, 2012 5:14 AM
You're right in that "I smelled marijuana" is now the Constitutional free pass. Don't expect courts to do anything about it. Best hope is probably state legislatures -- a state law that defines the odor of marijuana as, in and of itself, not constituting probable cause.
Cousin Dave at December 20, 2012 7:30 AM
How about "I have a latex allergy" or if you don't want to perjure yourself "I have a latex sensitivity" when they do this...or at TSA checkpoints. hmm
Patrick at December 20, 2012 7:34 AM
This is disgusting. Even if they had an ounce of grass, you can hide that between your buttcheeks or in your underwear without it being outwardly visible. This was nothing but harrassment and intimidation.
Eric at December 20, 2012 7:59 AM
You seem to think that the latex gloves are for hygienic reasons. They are not; the gloves are used to protect the officer. Nothing else.
If they were doing it correctly, and hygienically, they would have used 4 sets of gloves. But they are not.
Mike43 at December 20, 2012 7:59 AM
When LEO asks you a question such as these, the correct answer is I'm not going to answer that question without my legal consul present. Yes, I am requesting legal representation at this time.
That should put an immediate stop to the questioning. You do have a right to not self-incriminate, you have a right to shut up.
I R A Darth Aggie at December 20, 2012 8:32 AM
You'll be pleased to know that per the Daily Mail, the officer was suspended with pay.
Imagine that, a paid vacation for something that would put anyone but a TSA agent in prison.
I think these women are going to be well compensated by the taxpayers, and deservedly so. I'm not at all confident that officer friendly will get what she deserves.
MarkD at December 20, 2012 11:12 AM
Cops will argue that the women consented to the searches
lujlp at December 20, 2012 11:17 AM
You're right in that "I smelled marijuana" is now the Constitutional free pass. Don't expect courts to do anything about it. Best hope is probably state legislatures -- a state law that defines the odor of marijuana as, in and of itself, not constituting probable cause.
Meanwhile, up here in Washington, where the mere smell of marijuana is not longer probable cause . . .
neener neener neener.
Steve Daniels at December 20, 2012 2:23 PM
The gloves are for protection.
Just not yours.
Unix-Jedi at December 20, 2012 2:43 PM
Power corrupts. And the corrupt always seek out power to enable greater corruption.
Its fishing, its abuse, its a violation of their rights.
And people still ask me why I hate cops.
Robert at December 21, 2012 1:35 AM
This is what happens when perverts and creeps get jobs on the police department. And the more power police have, the more perverts and creeps will want to become cops.
Does anyone think that was the first time Officer Helleson did something like that? These cops have no more respect for the rights and dignity of other people than they would for stray animals. They're not morally qualified to hold positions of authority.
Ken R at December 21, 2012 11:15 AM
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