Community | May 03, 2010 | 203 comments

Couple Arrested For Asking For Directions

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learner1776
"In jail for eight hours -- sleeping on a concrete floor next to a toilet," Kelly said. "It was a nightmare," Brook said. "I was in there thinking I was just dreaming and waiting to wake up." (wbaltv.com)

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/9229472/detail.html

BALTIMORE --
Baltimore City police arrested a Virginia couple over the weekend after they asked an officer for directions.

WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter David Collins said Joshua Kelly and Llara Brook, of Chantilly, Va., got lost leaving an Orioles game on Saturday. Collins reported a city officer arrested them for trespassing on a public street while they were asking for directions .

"In jail for eight hours -- sleeping on a concrete floor next to a toilet," Kelly said.

"It was a nightmare," Brook said. "I was in there thinking I was just dreaming and waiting to wake up."

Collins reported it was a nightmare ending to a nearly perfect day. He said the couple went to a company picnic and watched the Orioles beat Kansas City. It was their first trip to Camden Yards and asked two people for directions to Interstate 95 South when they left.

Collins said somehow they ended up in the Cherry Hill section of south Baltimore. Hopelessly lost, relief melted away concerns after they spotted a police vehicle.

"I said, 'Thank goodness, could you please get us to 95?" Kelly said.

"The first thing that she said to us was no -- you just ran that stop sign, pull over," Brook said. "It wasn't a big deal. We'll pay the stop sign violation, but can we have directions?"

"What she said was 'You found your own way in here, you can find your own way out.'" Kelly said.

Collins said the couple spotted another police vehicle and flagged that officer down for directions. But Officer Natalie Preston, a six-year veteran of the force, intervened.

"That really threw us for a loop when she stepped in between our cars," Kelly said. "(She) said my partner is not going to step in front of me and tell you directions if I'm not."

Collins reported the circumstances got worse. Kelly pulled 40 feet forward parking next to a curb and put his flashers on while Brook was on the phone to her father hoping he could help her with directions. Both her parents are police officers in the Harrisburg, Pa., area.

"(Brook's father) was in the middle of giving us directions when the officer screeched up behind us and got out of the car and asked me to step out. I obeyed," Kelly said. "I obeyed everything -- stepped out of the car, put my hands behind my back, and the next thing I know, I was getting arrested for trespassing."

"By this time, I was completely in tears," Brook said. "I said, 'Ma'am, you know, we just need your help. We are not trying to cause you any trouble. I'm not leaving him here.' What she did was walk over to my side of the car and said, 'Ok, we are taking you downtown, too.'"

Collins said the couple was released from jail without being charged with anything. Brook is now concerned the arrest may complicate a criminal background check she's going through in her job as a child care worker.

Collins said police left Kelly's car unlocked and the windows down at the impound lot. He reported a cell phone charger, pair of sunglasses and 20 CDs were stolen.

Baltimore City police said they are looking into the incident.
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  2. tags:
    Police Misconduct,  Baltimore,  false arrest,  directions,  3 more
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203 comments // Couple Arrested For Asking For Directions

  • John_Thompson
  • sKiZz
    • 0
      sKiZz  

    • ""What's it take to make you wake up and open your eyes?
      How many beat on the street by the heat before you realize that a violent crime at any time can never be endorsed?
      What's the difference for a cop's excessive use of force?

      QUESTION ABUSE!
      QUESTION AUTHORITY!
      QUESTION ABUSE, QUESTION ABUSE OF AUTHORITY AND POLICE'S USE OF ABUSE!

      What you see on your TV is not your true reality, conditioned by the system to brutality.
      If you don't use your rights, you lose your rights and sell all self defenses.
      Now they have you where they want and are gonna beat you senseless.

      QUESTION ABUSE!
      QUESTION AUTHORITY!
      QUESTION ABUSE, QUESTION ABUSE OF AUTHORITY AND POLICE'S USE OF ABUSE!

      You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you, in a court of law, but there's a flaw, cause that long arm is armed with a claw!

      Force- Coerced- Force-Coward!!

      QUESTION! ""

      (Lyrics from Tree - Question Abuse www.treemusic.com)

    • 1 year ago
  • Billy_Mills
    • +1
      Billy_Mills  

    • I mean that's a normal thing for us black people the shocking part was to see it was a white couple, granted color should play no role in an officers decisions but it was still a shocker. nothing will happen to the officer they protect their own it's really sad to see.

    • 1 year ago
  • Patricia_Padgett
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  

    • Doesn't anybody remember that all of John Water's movies take place in Baltimore, MD? Have you seen John Water's movies, especially the early ones?

      Well the early ones made you feel like you were in the twilight zone meets Ru Paul's drag race.

    • 2 years ago
  • jane44095
  • PatrickEdwardMurray
    • +2
      PatrickEdwardMurray  

    • Still Falling...

      "Pensioner"???

      You must be very young because you have no idea.

      First of all, I guess that you left your manners in the trash or were you ever taught any?

      You mean that you were not taught to respect your elders?

      Secondly, Pensions are very relevant to our economy as that very few companies give pensions today.

      You my friend are going to learn that one of these days.

      Trust me, you don't stay young forever...time kind of rushes by and before you know it you are middle aged and looking at that magic age of retirement...

      That is IF you are lucky to still have a job and have healthcare.

    • 2 years ago
  • PatrickEdwardMurray
    • 0
      PatrickEdwardMurray  
    • Image

    • Not all cops are bad but consider this..It's not just cops either. Think about all the stories you've heard over the last several years of kids getting suspended for really insane things....

      Like having a couple of aspirin in your pocket.

      And my personal favorite...bringing a small telescope to school and being thrown out because some idiot principal thinks it's a gun of some type.

      And something that I just came across yesterday...and I know that many folks here are young and that gay rights or same sex marriage seems to be a popular thing but please read this essay by a Catholic Bristish Barrister (Lawyer) on some of the things that are happening in Britain today...let's just say that having a private conversation should NOT be a crime.

      http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/f0000424.shtml

      http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=36378

      Now I could care less what folks do in the privacy of their own homes but once you start down the road of screaming at folks who may not agree with your lifestyle but do not know you and have no intention of giving you any trouble...then you really are looking for for trouble in that you are stepping on their rights...the right to be left alone.

      Apparently, in Britain today, if you are Christian you are the target:(

    • 2 years ago
  • sKiZz
  • EmperorThan
    • 0
      EmperorThan  

    • How old was this 'couple'? Is that them in the picture? They look like little kids, if I was the cop I'd be suspicious if they were even old enough to drive!

    • 2 years ago
  • maisry
  • corndog67
  • olddogdaddy
    • 0
      olddogdaddy  

    • 'to serve and protect', isn't that what law enforcement paints on the vehicles as 'their creed' and sworn 'oath', pledged to we the people?

      Kudo's to the couple for their courage to bring yet another incomprehensible act by law enforcement agents to public attention.

      it's been said of many police agencies that they are nothing more than another urban gang fighting for survival / turf. many times it is true; political misappropriation of tax dollars,[oops, i should say underfunding], is too often compounded by the lack of public support and trust. among enforcement personnel this breeds contempt for us all.

      that says to me that 'we the people' have yet another duty to ourselves, and our neighbors, to be ever more vigilant over each one of those to whom 'we the people' have given certain powers. the more we watch, report and demand appropriate action upon those who abuse their power, the more there is hope for oppurtunities where the police can earn back our trust.

      i know that i wan't to help, to the best of my ability, the people that i trust to protect me. but it is difficult at times to not be cynical.

      in a perfect world all citizens of baltimore would demand of their 'representatives' appropriate action. in today's world, i believe it imperative that we nurture good relations between citizens and 'big brother's' law enforcers. the ideal of this type of relationship proved itself this weekend in nyc. we were very fortunate to not have lost any lives.

      their are no laws to limit OUR DUTY to keep our eyes on 'big brother' and its agents. law enforcement agents are not above the law.

    • 2 years ago
  • Maven_25
  • PatrickEdwardMurray
  • MotherForTruth
  • jahbini
  • Earl_of_Edmonds
  • ChicagoLarry
    • 0
      ChicagoLarry  

    • This particular incident could be true or entirely fabricated—and still tell the story of how cops are today. Here's how:

      Tell this story and how many people will react with, "That just couldn't be possible! Cops don't act that way. Cops serve and protect!"

      Precious few would have that response. Most of us would imagine this story to be perfectly possible, maybe even highly likely.

      Why? Because that's the reputation cops have earned over time. Sure there are a lot of good cops. But it is no secret that many, many of them behave just like the cop in this story. If it's not their fragile egos or insecurities, it's their natural penchant for bullying and throwing their weight around (such persons would be attracted to this job).

      If cops don't like this general impression of the public, they should raise their own standards and start behaving more properly.

      P.S.: Even if the citizens in this story "mouthed off" royally, professionals (especially cops) should be able to take it in stride. And if they don't agree, well, then they just don't get it.

    • 2 years ago
  • lessslie311
    • +1
      lessslie311  

    • I live in Baltimore.

      This story is at least a year or so old.

      &The O's are my shit, even though they suck.

      The Wire is FICTIONAL, the cops aren't like that here.

    • 2 years ago
  • device80
  • LukesAlive
  • calm_incense
  • jswiz
  • mitekillem
    • +1
      mitekillem  

    • From what I gather, police today, are not like the police of yesterday. They're all about the bottom line, and the numbers; Ticket numbers, arrest numbers, etc. They operate more like a business than a social service. The thing is, if they don't prove that they are needed, and that they contribute, then they lose their jobs.
      That is what our society has come to: the bottom line. If crime is down, we need less cops. Which is false.

      We should have a fixed ratio. One officer for every so many people. Take us back to the day's of Mayberry. When I was a kid, police officers were "our friends". Now...imagine how hard that pill is to swallow, when the kids know better because their parents were arrest for no reason...and teachers are arrested for no reason.

      We need permanent and stable funding so that they don't have to focus on how many tickets they've written Vs. another officer. It should be about how many people they've helped today.

    • 2 years ago
  • wellhunggimp
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  
    • wellhunggimp:

      So how'd it end? Did the truth come out? Did the cop video tape it? Did the cop get reprimanded? What happened? If the kids parents are cops I'm sure they looked into this situation and the said police woman....

    • 2 years ago
  • jahbini
    • 0
      jahbini  
    • nursediesel:

      Well, it still has not ended. It's being re-hashed on Curent.com at this very moment. For some reason, it's gotten a phenomenal amount of attention for a years old story. Ain't that a kick in the pants! Like zombies and vampires, some stories just won't die.

    • 2 years ago
  • wellhunggimp
    • 0
      wellhunggimp  
    • nursediesel:

      I don't know Nurse. I went to the link and noticed how old it was, chuckled and left it alone. If it's still ongoing I would be shocked. I know we like to dilly dally in our legal system but damn.

    • 2 years ago
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  
    • wellhunggimp:

      You know, wellhung, I usually look at the date but am so far behind on my e-mails and other work I just opened it and read it! Someone further down the site up dated some sites regarding the story. But thanks for answering me.

    • 2 years ago
  • yaget1chance
    • 0
      yaget1chance  

    • Man oh man....I have heard so many authoritative blunders in the past months I am beginning to wonder if they do ANY training in academy any more. Used to be that enforcement officers had to undergo quite a bit of scrutiny before they were put in an authoritative position. Anyone who showed signs of being an idiot was weeded out or at least somewhat redirected. GENERALLY I say..There have always been idiots....Just fewer. Now I think there are more of the "I wanna be a cop so I can do what I want" people getting through..seems like it. Now maybe they are just the ones you hear of. The ones that do things like using a tazer on a 17 year old running on to the field of a stadium during a game. Wasn't that just yesterday? dunno....too tooo many idiots playing cops and robbers.

    • 2 years ago
  • KSirys
  • desertcat
    • -1
      desertcat  

    • I would like one of the Proud White Americans to provide documented proof that under President Obama, black Muslims are terrorizing White Americans, pulling them over and beating them like they were LA police, profiling them, throwing them in jail instead of giving ticket, burning crosses or terrorizing with white sheets hiding their faces etc, etc, etc. Has to real proof not something that came out of the mind of Billo, Sarah, glenn or those other Fox Idiots. He's been in office over a year and I am sure you can come up with at least 1,000. Start typing.

    • 2 years ago
  • Sapience
  • desertcat
    • 0
      desertcat  
    • Sapience:

      I know of no documentation that shows President Obama being a radical black Muslim terrorizing American white men. What I was asking for was proof from a AWM who makes these charges against President Obama to verify one.

    • 2 years ago
  • Sapience
  • wellhunggimp
  • desertcat
  • scameron
  • Sapience
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  
    • Sapience:

      Yeah, must be a lot of people on Current that got caught doing something illegal and now hate law enforcement.....there is a trend toward that in a lot of the cop related posts.
      Hey, I've run into some snot-assed cops myself. I started contradicting one's accusation that my husband ran a "dangerously red light". BS he went through a yellow light...unless that's the new lingo for yellow: dangerously red!!
      But all in all most police I've dealt with are pretty 'by the book' if you are polite to them. Of course I'm white and don't make it a habit to do illegal things.

    • 2 years ago
  • cutee_leslie
  • harborlights
    • +1
      harborlights  

    • each one of us is just one step away from being wrongly arrested... this is America home of the free... well not free, free... well you know, oh well, wake up America!

    • 2 years ago
  • ozoneocean
    • +1
      ozoneocean  
    • Image

    • You can Google the old reports related to this story.
      Preston wrote conflicting info on her incident report that makes the couple sound rude and argumentative... although why they'd act like that to a police officer, especially when both their parents are officers is beyond me. Preston was probably lying.

      Anyway, There are other reports saying that officers at the time were encouraged to arrest people for minor, "nuisance" things just to boost arrest numbers. That was a Political move, with morons like officer Preston just implementing it on the ground.
      Still another report says the couple planned to sue the Baltimore police:

      http://www.wbaltv.com/news/9233802/detail.html
      http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1634459/posts
      http://www.examiner.com/a-112709~Sources__Officers_ordered_to_boost_arrest_numbe...
      http://www.examiner.com/a-112696~Editorial__Baltimore__Charm_City_or_Gates_of_Hell_.html

      You can google it yourself to find out more.

    • 2 years ago
  • nursediesel
  • CalgarC
  • dozegotcha
  • CalgarC
  • Sapience
  • KSirys
  • CalgarC
  • Armageddon_Now
  • srg
    • -6
      srg  

    • happens ALL the time. Happened to me in oklahoma speed trap at big cabin. I was sitting dead still at a stop light. cop pulls up to the light from opposite direction. Light changes, I pull out...cop shoots a u turn in behind me...charged with doing 65 in 45. note I was sitting at the light before the officer was even in sight. no radar bust here. But try to fight small town traffic court. they can SAY whatever they want. they don't need a reason to pull you over

      I ended up cuffed hands & feet behind my back in the floor board of his car. I looked over my shoulder at him. he was pointing his .45 auto at my head. He stood there awhile...called me an ignorant white cracker ass m f...then holstered his weapon. Later back at the station i was taken into a back room and smacked around. Hit hard enough to break one of my hearing aides and dislodge the other. I was eventually let go without charge.

      I was the wrong color. The officer was black. No phony rodney king video for me. No money to sue.

      Now we have this angry white hating black muslim in charge of the nation and I'm not supposed to be worried?

      Just so you know. I don't go w/ popular opinion that we white people are the evil race. I am proud to be white. I am NOT ashamed of my nation as michelle hussien is...I think AMERICA is a GREAT nation that has helped billions of people around the world of ALL colors. How did hussien obama grow up here and NOT know this? Oh thats right. He grew up in a muslim madrasa in indonesia.

      PROUD WHITE AMERICAN

    • 2 years ago
  • calm_incense
    • +2
      calm_incense  
    • srg:

      srg: What a clown. Thanks for providing laughs.

      Let's share some of srg's greatest hits, folks:

      "Now we have this angry white hating black muslim in charge of the nation and I'm not supposed to be worried?"

      No, go ahead and be worried. That makes it even more entertaining!

      "I am NOT ashamed of my nation as michelle hussien is."

      Funny, do you regularly refer to people by their middle names? Did you refer to our past president as George Walker? Are you a supporter of Sarah Louise?

      "How did hussien obama grow up here and NOT know this?"

      Or Hudson Rush? Or Lee Glenn?

      People like you are so *cute*.

    • 2 years ago
  • HaloedGriot
    • -1
      HaloedGriot  
    • srg:

      Unfortunately, your only problem is you think the way to be proud of being White is to hate other people...you're not proud of being White, you're lucky.

      Get over yourself.

    • 2 years ago
  • TasteHi
    • 0
      TasteHi  

    • I'd definitely use all the weight I could muster to make sure that "cop" didn't have a career left. With regular follow-up to make sure she didn't join any other branch of civil service.

    • 2 years ago
  • ocanada
  • inyourstory
  • RudyRudell
    • 0
      RudyRudell  

    • They prob thought they were trying to buy drugs in that area. I don't understand how you miss 95 leavin Camden yards though it's pretty much impossible not to get on 95 from there or the ravens stadium they funnel directly onto 95.

    • 2 years ago
  • EmperorThan
    • +1
      EmperorThan  

    • *pulls up to prostitute on street corner*

      -Hey, Suga. Whatchu need?...-

      "Sorry, I think I'm lost can you give me and my wife directions?"

      -It's gonna cost you. I charge by the hour.-

      "Honey, get some cash to pay the nice lady."

      *cop pulls up* ~KEEP YOUR FUCKING HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE EM ASSHOLES!~

      "Oh no, this is just a big misunderstanding, officer."

      ~Let me guess, you were 'just asking for directions'? Like the last 15 people...~

    • 2 years ago
  • NothingIsAbsoluteTruth
    • 0
      NothingIsAbsoluteTruth  

    • they are allowed to detain you for 24 hours without a reason.. well at least here in new hampshire that is how it is. still the cop shouldnt have been a bitch about it, they should be here to help us not harass us

    • 2 years ago
  • RudyRudell
  • bombastinator
  • flipriza
  • fury46
    • 0
      fury46  

    • A terrible story, in my country at tha moment we are treating tha case of a young man killed by police, for unknown reason.Later when he was olmost dead he was carrie in HOSPITAL, where he had no m,edical treatment. A terrible story, moving the consciences of people all oround.Which in ab'ny case will need years before arriving at a conclusion. It happens in 2010 in a develloped country in the middlem of Europe, in a city, not in the middle of a desolated country.

    • 2 years ago
  • thelastwheeler
  • Maven_25
  • Nephwrack
  • bombastinator
    • +1
      bombastinator  
    • Nephwrack:

      well that will depend now on whether or not this officer is disciplined for her actions or not won't it?

      Also one of the perennial problems with these stories is things tend to be left out. Like what exactly it was that crawled up this officer's ass and died. Once that is known this whole thing will likely become more clear.

      UPDATE: and here;s what they left out: the story is 4 years old. *facepalm*

    • 2 years ago
  • NothingIsAbsoluteTruth
  • Nephwrack
    • 0
      Nephwrack  
    • bombastinator:

      the police always drag these things out in court. the shooting story is a bit old too but my point is that cops shouldn't be behaving in this way in the first place. the san fran shooter's defense was that he mistook his handgun for his tazer. weak sauce. anyone who's ever handled a tazer and a loaded handgun knows the difference, and even the "i thought it was my tazer" is weak, as the victim was already pinned and handcuffed, presenting no threat to the officers or himself.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nephwrack
  • bombastinator
  • NothingIsAbsoluteTruth
  • trut
  • DisownCashValue
  • daveinLA
  • dariusvons
  • Adamant18
    • -1
      Adamant18  

    • stupid pigs. there use to be a law called habius corpus, or however its spelt, that said u could not be arrested if your not being charged with anything, but a certain president (bush) abolished that law. so now u can be arrested and not even know why.

    • 2 years ago
  • bombastinator
  • NorwegianHammer
  • lynxlannock
  • bombastinator
  • shaberkorn
    • -3
      shaberkorn  

    • cops are not here to help or protect. they are here simply to get people convicted or to feed their own need of power. to me they are all the enemy and i wish death upon them all, good or bad, if you're a cop you're the enemy

    • 2 years ago
  • Numbz
  • DisownCashValue
  • Nephwrack
    • 0
      Nephwrack  
    • shaberkorn:

      wrong. but not completely. sure a lot of cops are needle dicked high school social outcasts, and serve the twisted need for violence that their sociopathic tendencies contribute to, but also, they have their masters, the owners of the corporate prisons and their ever expanding industry to feed. i dont wish death on them but they definitely aren't here to serve or protect.

    • 2 years ago
  • calm_incense
    • 0
      calm_incense  
    • shaberkorn:

      One of my parents' friends is an individual for whom I have the utmost of respect for. He is truly one of the most admirable men I have ever met in person. He is an ex-cop. If you wish death upon him, I can only wish death upon you.

    • 2 years ago
  • GeorgetteMcFarland
    • 0
      GeorgetteMcFarland  
    • calm_incense:

      There are many admirable people in law enforcement. Bad news often travels faster than good news, and gets into the news more often, so we don't hear the good stories as often. Thanks for reminding us and sharing this.

    • 2 years ago
  • trut
  • jahbini
    • +1
      jahbini  
    • calm_incense:

      From the Desk of JAHBINI.
      To Trut, Calm Incense.
      RE: Karmic debt payment

      I don't usually apologize for other's comments, when it's only a level of insensitivity like trut's statement comes up, I feel like I need to.

      I'm older, wiser, but have been struggling with asperger's for years. I'm getting much better at figuring out people's emotions now. I appreciate how much his statement might hurt, because I have made statements like that in my early years. And I have many forgotten statements that I even forget who I offended, I'll take this opportunity to pay a karmic debt, so I can continue to improve, Just Like "My Name Is Earl"

      Please take my apology, Over the years I might have improved my social skills and know better than to say anything like that, and I hope that trut also may learn that. Soon!

      There are kings of spirit that exist in American culture. A fine man like your family friend, I'd expect. That may just be the kind of cop we would want all cops to be like. Because we need good cops, the best cops.

      I hope that trut figures that out too.

    • 2 years ago
  • calm_incense
  • trut
  • calm_incense
    • +1
      calm_incense  
    • trut:

      trut: Wow, can't even recognize a Chinese man when you see one. Looks like I overestimated your intelligence (which I did not think to be possible).

      Oh, and he's not crazy. He *is* friendly and charismatic, though, and always willing to lend a helping hand—which is clearly more than you could ever claim. And he has a lovely wife, and an adorable little daughter.

      So go ahead, have at him. Leave behind a widow and a fatherless little girl.

      Whatever makes you happy.

    • 2 years ago
  • Norther00
  • GeorgetteMcFarland
  • bailey78
  • Nephwrack
  • irtehjoe
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