In 2007, at about 8:00 PM I was stopped by a Fitchburg city cop and asked about my bookbag. I said I had beer in it and that I was 22. I didn't have my license on me but I had my school ID. I told them, "Look, you've arrested me before, I should be in the system, I just don't have my wallet." After about 5 minutes they said I was alright and let me go. I walked into the backyard of 182 Highland and joined about 80-90 other people. As I'm trying to recognize faces in the crowd, it dawns on me.
There is a warrant for my arrest.
A.) How could I be so stupid carrying that bag?
B.) How the hell did I get by the cops?
Well after about 7-8 minutes of being there, about 5 cops came into the backyard. In front of about 40 onlookers that noticed the cops came in, one of them points at me and goes "There he is!"
My jaw drops as I accept my fate. I give my beers to the nearest friend and wait for judgement. Without even waiting to be addressed I look at them and quietly surmise out loud "The warrant?"
I can't quite remember if they slapped the cuffs on right away, or let me walk on my own recognizance to the paddy wagon. My own stupidity fueled my cooperative nature, so I can fathom them showing some pity, and waiting until I was out front to hand-cuff me. I'll ask around today to see if anyone else remembers.
But again, I get sidetracked with the hilarity of the scenarios in which I'm involved. Going back to police practices..... why should I be in fear that my bag would be searched? There could be a thousand people drinking on the campus. The truth is, if I'm walking in a straight line on a city street, I SHOULD NOT BE STOPPED. The officer has zero reason to be suspicious of anything.
And then, it takes me a year to realize, that if the officers know there is a warrant for my arrest, they need SEARCH warrant to come get me. They never should walked into the backyard for 182. There is no set protocol for these cops.
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