11/17/2009 4:25:00 PM Letter: Is Cottonwood becoming a police state?
Editor:
Last week I was driving around like I always do with my dogs. I’m sure a few of you have seen me. I have the full size Chevy truck with the canvas canopy top to keep the sun off my dogs.
I always cut through 2nd Street by the Boys & Girls Club. This time as I turn heading to Main Street I see Cottonwood’s Finest with his lights on. He pulls me over on Main Street.
He tells me that someone complained about me driving down 2nd Street.
He goes on to tell me if I keep driving down the street he will arrest me. For a couple days I stop driving down town.
After a couple days I start to fume inside. Me not having broken any laws being told I’d get arrested for driving down a public street. So if I was riding around again if I wanted to drive down the street I would.
Last night (11/11/09) at about 6 or 7 p.m. the cop who pulled me over and another cop show up at my door. By the way, I don’t live in the city limits. He tells me he has a paper or something that tells me I have to appear in front of the judge because I was riding down 2nd Street again. I tell him I need to get my glasses to read what he has so I went in the house to get my glasses. We were talking outside my house. When I come out with the glasses he tells me him and his friend have a call they need to answer and he will be back. Of course, they never came back.
Today I went to the Police Station on 6th St. I talked with a sergeant. He, of course, does his best to defend the one who stopped me. I asked him if there were any papers he knows that were to be served on me. He said he would check. After awhile he comes back and says nothing turned up. Then he goes on to say maybe they are in the squad car of the one who showed up at my house last night.
I guess they don’t keep records at the Cottonwood Police Dept.
For the record, if I am down town and want to cut through 2nd Street, I will do so until a judge tells me I don’t have a legal right to drive down a public road. When that day comes, I will file a suit with the ACLU.
This is nothing like the country I was born in almost 60 years ago.
Charles Peet
Cottonwood
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, November 27, 2009
Article comment by:
Chuck
Got a paper to appear in court on 12/17 at 1:30. This should be interesting. The Cop in his report said I said I wouldn't drive down 2nd street that is lie one. Then he said I could drive down 2nd street. That is lie two he said if I kept going down 2nd street i'd be arrested.
What it gets down to with me is the city and the country to the point that you can be told what streets you can drive down and what streets you can't even if your not bothering anyone. Seems the whole country is going down the tubes
Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009
Article comment by:
Seen it firsthand
Unfortunately the nature of police work attracts the type of person who only wants the power that comes with the job. These people are an embarrassment to the uniform and only harm the reputation of good officers who truly want to help. We have a lot of good officers in the valley who deserve respect. Unfortunately there are several who should not be officers and it seems Charles has uncovered another one.
Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009
Article comment by:
life long local
When you say 'cut through 2nd Street by the Boys & Girls Club.' do you mean the actual 2nd street or the parking area by the B&G club and the old ball field? Just for clarity.
I can't imagine an issue with public Street use, unless there are facts that we don't know, but 'cutting' through a parking lot or driveway can be a problem.
Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009
Article comment by:
Mountain Jack
Police officers used to look like peace officers. Now they look like commandos. Loss of individual rights is more and more a problem in this country.
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
Like to know what LE has to say
Maybe we should all start driving down 2nd street! Flood the street with traffic. Just kidding of course! Actually maybe the police should be given a chance to respond. Maybe there is something we should all be aware of?
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
Dumbest thing I ever heard of
I think beyond a doubt this is the dumbest thing I ever heard of.
I have lived 65 years and had no children by choice but have owned and loved many animals. I have two very spoiled dogs and enjoy them to the fulness. Animals are creatures of habit. They enjoy their time with their keeper.
I do not know where 2nd Street is nor do I know about the girl and boys club. I will be out today looking for it though. I will make sure to stay away from it.
I stay away from the schools also. The high school kids have ruined the shoping for all of us cause of the free time they have to go into the stores and act like a bunch of wild animals without any quidance. One trip to Fry's did me in with all the unruly kids in there. This should not be aloud.
It is my understanding as long as a city or state except federal funding for their roads anyone can drive on them as long as they obey the laws. I think this is harassment by the Cottonwood police dept. or the one policman over stepping his grounds.
As long as a person is not a sex offender why shouldn't he be allowed to ride on the streets of his chioce.
I think someone needs to do something about for sure.
