Man sues after "POLICE" t-shirt arrest - St Louis Dispatch

Short version: A guy was wearing a t-shirt with the word "POLICE" across the front and back. Some cops took offense, over-reacted, and arrested the guy for "impersonating an officer."

"According to the lawsuit, a waitress told Weinstein that some police officers wanted to speak with him outside the bar. Weinstein went outside, he said, and was greeted by Belleville Police Officer Jeff Vernatti.

"Vernatti, Weinstein alleges, asked him for his police credentials. Weinstein says he told the officer he didn’t have any credentials because he wasn’t a police officer.

"That’s when, according to Weinstein, the police officer started screaming curse words and became physically and verbally abusive. Weinstein says he was cuffed and later released by the officer, but made to take the t-shirt off while standing in the cold.

"Weinstein was ticketed for impersonating a police officer, but it was later dismissed. The ticket only alleges Weinstein wore the t-shirt."


Okay, here's the kicker - the thing which forced me to pass it along:

"I’m afraid to go to Belleville," Weinstein said in an interview. According to the lawsuit, Weinstein is a firefighter.


...with liberty and justice for all...

by MedfordTim on 12/30/2008 10:08:58 PM EST