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Sunday, January 29, 2017
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
A Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stopped a vehicle for failure to stop at stop sign on Rt. 50 in the area of Bell Road. The driver was identified as John Robert Peters 41 of Salisbury, MD. A canine scan for drugs was conducted which resulted in the discovery of hypodermic needles consistent with suspected heroin use. Mr. Peters was arrested and charged with possession of equipment to administer a controlled dangerous substance. Mr. Peters was taken before a District Court Commissioner where he was released on his recognizance.
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18 comments:
Sounds like a case of profiling. We all know that cops don't stop people for running stop signs anymore. I see cops that witness red light runners and stop sign runners frequently, and they never pursue the offenders. Run a stop sign and get a canine scan? More evidence to suggest a profiling stop. Surely the cop couldn't smell the "strong odor" of a hypodermic needle emanating from the vehicle, to justify a canine search of the vehicle. No drugs found. Easy case for a lawyer to defend as an illegal search, no matter what the needles were intended for. Hypodermic needles have more uses than just heroin use (ever heard of type 1 diabetes?). Case will be dropped before it ever gets to court. As a profiling stop, even the stop sign violation will be thrown out. That deputy damaged his credibility on that stop, and it can be used against him in future court cases.
Access to priors isn't profiling. But it's a slap on the wrist charge. It's an inconvenience to the person.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Access to priors isn't profiling. But it's a slap on the wrist charge. It's an inconvenience to the person.
January 27, 2017 at 9:22 AM
Sounds like a cop just defended another cop's illegal stop.
Known junkies don't get profiled. They made their bed, now they should lie in it.
Diabetics are prescribed medication, and the means to administer it. Were that the case in this situation the driver would certainly have advised the officer. And would have also advised the magistrate. And it's pretty easy to distinguish insulin vials from heroin packaging.
Next case! Thank you, Officer.
January 27, 2017 at 9:54 AM
And, pray tell, how does a "known junkie" get stopped for running a stop sign, that no one else gets stopped for? PROFILING, that's how. As you allege to know, he was not stopped for running a stop sign, but for being a known junkie. Apparently the deputy didn't "know" what he thought he knew, as no drugs were found during this illegal search on a "known junkie." The proof is in the evidence, or rather, the lack thereof.
i know this guy, he doesn't have diabetes but he does have a drug problem. i don't know about profiling but if you run through or roll through a stop sign at 3 a.m. , i can see why the cops might stop you to see if you are impaired. My husband got a ticket in the middle of the day for sliding through a stop sign after it had snowed. He braked, but not in time and slid right out into the roadway. That one was a little irritating, since it was obviously due to road conditions and not intentional but maybe he wasn't going slow enough so oh well, live and learn,paid the ticket since he did actually run the stop sign and done.
8:33
You are so confused....I hope you didn't pay for that law degree
And you sound like either John Peters, or a criminal who gets caught lol. Always the excuses as to why it's not your fault you broke the law.
Break laws... Pay the penalty
I know Mr.Peter and he has been an addict for many years. As I read the 1st comment, my thought was he had written it. Very smart guy, unfortunately he has ruined his life with drug use.
8:33 is obviously clueless and zero knowledge of search and seizure laws. Excellent job as usual by local PDs. Police "profile" behavior, nothing wrong at all with that.
If the report said a motorist ran a stop sign and was pulled over and given a ticket, why, it wouldn't even be news folks. It's the unjustified canine search that I (and his attorney) object to. If you have a reason to search someone for drugs, you better find drugs. The 4th amendment is still part of the constitution, and is upheld in courts every day. And that dog did not smell a syringe. Get real, all you defenders of the deputy that made the stop. It is apparent to me that some of you think the ends justifies the means when a law enforcement officer breaks the law to enforce the law.
Please, by all means, let him off and quote the constitutionality of the search and seizure. That way, he doesn't get the help he needs, and ends up on the news but this time, as one of those that had over dosed. Regardless of how or why he got busted, he needs help badly. His record shows multiple infractions of the law.
I'm not sure how profiling comes into the picture here. Running a stop sign is a reason for stopping a vehicle, no matter if lots of cops don't do it. I am not that familiar with the laws that govern these types of searches. However, in my opinion, (not in a legal sense) if a cop pulls a record while the person is stopped and sees priors he SHOULD be able to have the dog scan the vehicle. Plus, the whole story isn't here. Maybe he was visibly intoxicated? Not enough information to really pass judgement either way, but since when has that stopped the internet. Lol! Happy Friday!
41 year old drug user. This is someones child. It would be nice to think that somehow this will help this man to get off drugs and not break the hearts and lives of all those related to him when he dies.
You have got to want to get help before anything will help.
"possession of equipment to administer a controlled dangerous substance" is a charge that can make every insulin dependent diabetic a criminal. Perhaps the deputy was a little overzealous and frustrated when he couldn't find what he was expecting to find.
To make it more understandable, it is NOT illegal to have an unused syringe in your possession in the state of Maryland. It it not even paraphernalia unless it has illegal residues on it. The dog couldn't legitimately hit on the needle. A 1st year public defender could win his case for him. The proof of my statement will come when the charges are ALL thrown out in court, or dropped before it gets to court. By the deputy's own actions following the stop for allegedly (yes, allegedly) running a stop sign, points solidly to a profiling stop. This is law school 101. Watch and see. Better yet, don't watch and see. We'll never hear of this case again.
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