Case dropped against man who gave the finger to trooper

The American Civil Liberties Union offered the 35-year-old man free legal representation after he was charged with harassment, but authorities have now decided not to pursue the case further, saying "this incident does not support probable cause to sustain the charge of harassment." The guy told the officer he gave him the finger "because you're thieves and you harass people." (Denver Post)

Comments

[sometimesilie]

It has been well established in the courts, including the US Supreme Court that any citizen has the right to give the finger to the police, say F you, filthy pig, etc., etc., etc.

The legal reasoning has to do with the offensive gestures and language falling below the legal standard of being likely to incite violence in a reasonable person. (Most people know that they will possibly/probably be assaulted in the real world. That's reality vs. legal standards). Cops are considered "reasonable people" at all times when they are on duty.

There is no way the "Authorities" in this case did not know the legal standards involved. They simply wanted to push home a point.

[twerp]

This is one case I back the ACLU on.

Most of the time the ACLU pursues BS in my opinion though.

[Pile of Pooh]

Bird = wings

Cop = pig

See?

[Big Kahuna]

This is just the wrong charge. "Harassment?" Give me a break.

Many areas have something on the books called, "Obscene gestures in public."

I know, because I spent the night in Juvenile Hall cause I flipped off a cop when I was a teen.

[Phranqlin]

Lift those middle fingers high in celebration!

[KDP]

BK, you were really charged with "Contempt of Cop".

[wank]

"Obscene?" I'll tell you what's obscene, brother. It's when a brainless thug you played football with in high school becomes a drug dealer, gets shot in the leg during a drug deal gone bad, doesn't go to the hospital because he's afraid of getting into trouble, then gets a job as a deputy. But he's still brainless, still a thug, still doesn't care about anything but gratifying his own immediate needs, only now he's got a badge and the legal authority to push you around. Sticking a finger in the face of a guy like that is about the only thing you CAN do.

[twerp]

Wow, wank. That's super scary.