A Tampa, FL man returned from a concert to find that his expensive business truck completely ransacked – by police.
They had no warrant and did so without his presence, simply leaving him a note, which read:
“Sir, your car was checked by TPD K-9. The vehicle was searched for marijuana due to a strong odor coming from the passenger side of the vehicle. Any questions call Cpl Fanning”
“You think if anyone is going to break into your vehicle in Ybor, the last person you think, it’s going to be the cops,” stated owner Matthew Heller.
Police actually ripped out wires and trashed the electronics in his truck, which he used as a display model for his business. They found no marijuana.
The local police dept claims they had a right to perform this search, but attorney Bryant Camareno disagrees:
“It’s an illegal search,” Camareno stated. “Usually if it’s some kind of unoccupied vehicle there has to be some level of exigent circumstance to justify searching a vehicle without a search warrant. Exigent could mean if there is a dead body inside, if there is a screaming child locked in the car, a dog but if the car is unoccupied there is no exigency to justify the search.”
The headline on this is deceptive. The law did not change. It is still illegal to do what they did. And as I recall the police have to have probable cause to get a warrant to search not provable cause to just rip someone’s property apart. Like, What strong odor? Prove there was a strong mj odor. Sue the police.
NT IN TEXAS!
Been done to me! So? I had nothing to hide! They found nothing! This should only bother you if you are hiding something! You cannot escape the government! Ever! And they have proven that many times over. So, don’t want to go to jail? Don’t stash evidence in your car!
they should fix everything if it doesn’t run whne they didn’t find anything
Not really. As said probable cause has to hold up in court if charges are filled. You could just not break basic laws and never have to worry about it.
There is a chief and a corporal that need to look for new jobs.
Dorothy, that’s what I thought.
I guess if they didn’t find anythign the dog needs to be shot! It’s the CRIMINAL, right?
Where’s the rest of article? Lousy reporting. Follow up? Victim’s actions? Police response? Why that vehicle?
Parked on street or driveway?
As long as you are a law abiding citizen you have nothing to worry about.