Interesting LEO encounter

VanLifeCrisis · Nov 28, 2014

So as some might know, i work at a motel. I had a sheriff deputy come in and ask me about a guy who was outside and apparently wigged out on drugs. He wanted to know if he was staying here with a bunch of workers building a walmart.

While i was looking through the tickets he asked who's van that was outside, and asked if i knew that guy who lives in a van. I told him it was me, and i said it used to be a blue van. Im in this brown one now.

And he laughed and said "Yeah i remember we rolled up on you a while back." to which i told him yea, I was really sick, you guys were killing me.

He said "You know, it is what it is man, someone called us saying you were making meth in there. And we have to check it out. We all know about you now, you haven't been bothered since then right?" Which is true, I haven't.

So as i suspected/hoped, letting them have their little look and pony show basically gave me peace for the last year. Maybe i would have refused them a look inside if i wasnt stationary, but i think this was the wiser course this time.

It is funny he admits now that the call was about me making meth, at the time they said they were looking for a guy, i forget the name they used, who was known to be a meth dealer in a similar van. Of course i knew that was BS.

offroad · Nov 28, 2014

Was the search bs because you have to have some reason? Or did they actually get a call because someone really reported you maybe making meth? Suppose you can make meth in a tent in state park too.

SoulRaven · Nov 28, 2014

offroad said:
Suppose you can make meth in a tent in state park too.

“Enjoy enjoy the great outdoors of Northeast Pennsylvania”-Manny Gordon District Forester

VanLifeCrisis · Nov 29, 2014

their excuse at the time was bs. the call might be bs too, who knows. my guess is they wanted to know what i was doing is all.

they arent technically supposed to detain you unless they reasonably suspect you of a crime, but nothing says they cant talk to or engage you. of course you dont have to respond, but that is not always the best option.

also note that i was in a park and ride, which ive seen on some signs saying you cant 'camp' at them no sign at this particular one but i suspect there is a law they can enforce against me if they choose to.

Seraphim · Nov 29, 2014

Just for information, the legal term is 'articulable suspicion'. If an officer can explain his actions to an average member of the community, and that member believes the officer's actions to reasonable, then the officer performed within the constraints of his authority. Articulable suspicion lasts up to the point of an arrest (or citation or summons) which then requires probable cause - a different standard. As DazarGaidin mentioned, you are not required to respond. You are not required to ID yourself, unless you're in physical control of a motor vehicle, in which case you are required to provide a driver's license.

coolmom42 · Nov 29, 2014

He sounds like a reasonable sort of LEO. You did well to cooperate and get on their good side, especially given that you were staying there for a while.

He may not have been BSing you about the call and suspicions, either. Given the plague of meth in many areas, it's pretty plausible.

offroad said:
Was the search bs because you have to have some reason? Or did they actually get a call because someone really reported you maybe making meth? Suppose you can make meth in a tent in state park too.

Yep, you can. Or in the back seat of a car in a WM parking lot. People have been busted for both within a few miles of my house.