Police cop rap over teen's arrest

[grace]

A MAGISTRATE said he believed police had erred in their decision to put a teenager in custody over a breach of bail.

 

Chris Callaghan said yesterday he found it “completely unacceptable” that police had chosen to arrest Liam James Champney and deprive him of his liberty for two hours when the 18-year-old had rectified the breach and was complying with his conditions.

 

“They do have the right but they have a discretion in these matters and they’ve exercised it wrongly in my view,” Mr Callaghan said.

 

Mr Champney, who faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court yesterday, had been pulled over for a random breath test about 3.10pm on October 18.

 

Police became suspicious when the teenager remained nervous despite a negative reading, and then they smelled cannabis in the vehicle.

 

A check on Mr Champney’s driver’s licence revealed his learner licence had been suspended because of unpaid fines and he was driving unaccompanied without L-plates.

 

Mr Champney fled the scene and threw a bag of cannabis into a drain as he ran, where it was later recovered.

 

Police caught him and found another three ecstasy tablets on him during a search and found an illegal telescopic baton on the floor of his car.

 

The court heard the breach of bail related to a change in residential address without notifying police, but he did let them know at a later date.

 

Mr Champney was put on a four-month good behaviour bond, ordered to complete a drug diversion course, and disqualified for one month on the driving charge.

 

He was convicted but not further punished for the other charges because of time in custody.

 

Author: Rae Wilson

Date: 7th January 2010

Source: Sunshine Coast Daily

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story...r-teens-arrest/

[Nooby]

umm, so what were the cops supposed to do?

[ADLpotter]

ye i hate to take the cops side but damn, he deserved to have been arrested

[jabez]

umm, so what were the cops supposed to do?

 

Umm, give him the breath test then leave him the fuck alone! Not make up shit about smelling weed on him just cause they don't like the look of him!

 

Even they admit there dogs, they can smell fear.

[Nooby]

Maybe, but then if the little fucker was driving around high or stoned then I don't want him on the roads. I'm all for responsible and informed drug use but 'responsible' means not putting other people in harms way, ever. Also they didn't 'make shit up' he had a bad of grass and some pills, again, no big deal AFAIC...unless he gets behind the wheel of a car, it's people like that that make it hard for the rest of us to make any headway in regards to societal attitudes and sensible law reform. .

[Rocker]

Good post nooby I don't want these idiots on the road either. They can do what they like but don't drive any vehicle anywhere.

[ADLpotter]

they didn't make up smelling the weed if the kid obviously had weed on him, which he did.

 

 

That's what I call, a good call.

[luciddreaming]

Agreed. Plus he was a learner, with a suspended license, driving without a licensed driver and, obviously, high and possibly on pills too.

IMO the cops did the right thing.

[jabez]

Maybe, but then if the little fucker was driving around high or stoned then I don't want him on the roads. I'm all for responsible and informed drug use but 'responsible' means not putting other people in harms way, ever. Also they didn't 'make shit up' he had a bad of grass and some pills, again, no big deal AFAIC...unless he gets behind the wheel of a car, it's people like that that make it hard for the rest of us to make any headway in regards to societal attitudes and sensible law reform. .

 

In there own words the police claim they only noticed the smell of cannabis after the breath test came up negative and he was still acting nervous. What a load of shit! If they where going to smell it, it would have been while they had there noisy head in his car window giving him the breath test, not after. The corupt dogs where making an educated guess, I've had it happen to me twice, it's common trade practice for them.

 

They abused there powers from start to finish and even the judge agrees.

 

I find it kind of odd and really don't know where you get the idea that this poor kid is the reason for peoples prejudice attitudes and the illogical drug laws. I think short sighted people who think police should have the power to do what ever they want and think its alright to stereotype and make assumptions about minority groups have far more to do with it. Kind of like how you did by assuming the guy was driving under the influence, just because he was young and a drug user!

[Nooby]

I find it kind of odd and really don't know where you get the idea that this poor kid is the reason for peoples prejudice attitudes and the illogical drug laws.

 

Because when stuff like this happens it reinforces the public opinion that drugs are bad and cause danger to us all. If the guy was at home minding his own business and not putting anyone at risk then fair enough...but he wasn't, he was out on the roads in car without a license. And what were the unpaid fines for? Obviously this guy shouldn't be on the roads in the first place.

 

I think short sighted people who think police should have the power to do what ever they want and think its alright to stereotype and make assumptions about minority groups have far more to do with it.

 

Actually I think the cops have too much power already, but then as they are merely the POLICY enforcers for corporate governments it's only going to get worse isn't it? And which minority are we persecuting here? The minority of clowns who drive around without a license in car full of drugs? Colour me guilty. But then I don't have any more patience for idiot who drive around pissed either.

 

 

Kind of like how you did by assuming the guy was driving under the influence, just because he was young and a drug user!

 

Yeah fair enough.