Shades of Cool Hand Luke


I always thought "Respect my authority!" was a movie cliche

You want proof of a police state?

The five-year Atlanta Police Department veteran said he initiated verbal contact with Fernandez-Armesto before he stepped into the street, directing him to the nearby crosswalk, but said the professor ignored him. Fernandez-Armesto said he didn't know Leonpacher was a police officer.

"When I questioned who he was, he said something to the effect of 'When I give you an order, you obey it,' " Fernandez-Armester said. "I asked him what his authority was because I didn't see a badge. But he was extremely upset I had questioned his bona fides."

Leonpacher -- who said he was wearing his Atlanta Police Department uniform -- said when he asked Fernandez-Armesto why he didn't follow his instructions, the author shrugged him off and walked away.

"Five times I asked him to stop," the officer said. He then asked him if he was hearing impaired. Once Fernandez-Armesto confirmed he wasn't, Leonpacher said he grabbed the professor's arm. "I let him go when he turned around to face me," he said. Leonpacher then says he repeatedly asked Fernandez-Armesto for his identification, but the professor responded by asking for the officer's I.D.

This was for jaywalking.

If I didn't see a badge, I would want to see official identification too. Right before I saw my lawyer.

Hat tip to The Agitator.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Thu - January 11, 2007 at 02:30 PM  Tag


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Pagan Vigil "Because LIBERTY demands more than just black or white"
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