Encounter with the Police: Much Better than I Excepcted

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One time, I found myself at a police station, for reason I'd rather not disclose. I even rode there in a police car, handcuffs and all. I got there around 3:00am. There were many officers there: "E", the one working on my case; "S", someone higher-ranking; and a few other officers walking around.

E leads me to a room, sits me down at a table across from him, and starts filling out paperwork. I apologize for any erratic behavior on my part, and explain how I get nervous in new situations, and it really seems like the officers I've spoken to actually believe me. A little bit later, S walks in and suddenly asks me: "so how do you like our building?". Knowing that he's just messing me in some way (S put up a tough guy act, although not too disrespectfully, for most of the night), I responded: "I don't know, but it's serving its purpose" in a bitter tone. S went silent in shock, while E chuckled. Apparently, they were surprised at the answer I gave. Nervously, I ask E about the machine results. (I had to do a test of some sorts.) He evaded my questions, but somehow, I managed to parse out the word "negative" in the responses. Then S starts asking me about the drugs I tried. After telling "no way" or variations of it multiple times, I blurted out: "if I tried any of those things, wouldn't I be sitting in a holding cell instead of this office?". S seems to like my answer, and leaves me alone.

By then, E finished up writing, and handed me a ticket for public disturbance. (Maybe I really was disruptive, but it was probably just so the cops wouldn't feel like they wasted their time.) Then S politely handed me a paper bag containing the stuff that fell out of my pockets during the ride in the patrol car. Finally, E told me that the original charge got nullified after S checked my records, and I was free to go. Then he proceeded to walk me out of the station building. At that point, I felt comfortable enough to ask for water. E went into what appeared to be the jail kitchen, and brought me a bottle of water; its original label had a piece of paper marked "[City Name] Police Department" glued over it. He gave me directions to the taxi stand a block away, said "have a good night", and closed the door behind me.

I walked down the street toward a brightly lit taxi stand, nervously puffing on a cigarette, while the intimidating police station towered in the background. By then, it was early morning, with the sun lighting up the bottom of the eastern sky. I still had the bottle in my hand when I got to the taxi stand. I couldn't help but get a kick out of the strange looks I got when people saw the bottle. When I got home, it was already broad daylight. I still have the empty bottle stashed under the sink; I'm debating whether I should keep it or trash it.

The whole ordeal felt like being trapped in a horrendous virtual reality I couldn't escape. At the same time, I think I got off really easy with just a "disruptive noise" ticket. The court date shouldn't be a big deal either. I'm just upset that I had to go through this whole nasty thing, just because my AS-caused anxiety got the best of me. But at least I gave some good answers to questions intended to trip me up. So what do you all think of this? How do you think I handled it? Anything I should have done differently?

I still don't know why you spent the night in jail in the first place. Noise disturbance? Likewise I don't know if you could have handled it better because all I know about the incident is what you've chosen to tell me. But it doesn't sound like they were too upset with you.

In addition to my drivers license, there are some things I NEVER, EVER, leave the house without. These are my medical ID card, my medical alert pendants, my autie card (describes autistic behaviors and the cause), and my cell phone. I have all of these not because I feel i need them for medical emergencies, but rather to deal with law enforcement and D.W.A. (Driving While Autistic) issues. I also have decals on the outside of my vehicle. These may advertise my autism to those around me (which I don't like), but they may also save my life from a trigger happy officer. Most police will leave me alone after they see the documents, but if some persist, there are people in my local autism community who can raise a good amount of ruckus about it. Just keep in mind that law enforcement agents usually do investigate situations when they receive a call or when they notice something out of the ordinary.

If the cops took you away and decided to release you, the least they could have done is offer to drive you back to the place where they picked you up or give you cab far so that you could have gotten back yourself. There is a possibility that you may have a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act if you are in America (spelling intentional). If the fine was for something beyond your control, you might bring documents I mentioned as well as a doctor's diagnosis to court. Unless the local court in a kangaroo court, there is a good chance that the person presiding over the court will dismiss the case.

There is more to your story than you are revealing...

Police are public servants and their main job is to protect the public at large. When police encounter an "erratic acting" person,
often designated as an EDP or "emotionally disturbed person," such persons are taken to an Emergency Room for a psychiatric
evaluation...and any criminal charges added afterwards.

What was the real reason you were taken to jail...was it on the assumption of that you were carrying illegal drugs?

They probably thought he had taken some sort of illegal drug or drunk. Some aspie behaviors do act as if you are on something. The machine may be a device which checks the level of alcohol or drugs in the system.

As for the noise ticket (which will probably result in a fine and no criminal record), you could try to a sympathetic judge but you may find it better to just pay the fine. It depends on what the punishment really is however (if they are talking jail/probation and criminal record, then I would fight it).

It sounds like the issue of autism never really came up with this encounter so I cannot say about police training, etc.

You should recycle it!

Police have to ask about possible drug or alcohol use in any arrest for a disturbance. If you were stoned, you would need a few hours in lockup to recover. The way you sounded was a little rattled, which is expected in this case. You didn't smart off at anyone and you gave clear, intelligent answers. The trip-up questions are to spot people who aren't sober. As for the ticket, discuss your autism with the judge and see if the court will let you off with a warning. Take in copies of any documentation you have for their records.

It sounds like you talked to a couple of good cops. Good luck with the court date.

I didn't spend the night in jail. They just took me to the station for about two hours. I was never in a holding cell. I just sat in E's (the cop handcuffing me) office mostly, then in a lab to do the breathalyser, then finally in the front hall where I signed release paperwork after briefly speaking to S (E's supervisor). At the end, I walked out in my own, with E escorting me only to the entrance. As for the "noise disturbance", I was playing the radio too loud, and since I passed the breathalyser, they probably wanted to give me something, just so they wouldn't feel like they wasted their time. I actually read somewhere that if you blow and pass the test, the cops will try to give you anything they can think of, just to teach you a lesson.

All in all, "upset with me" wasn't the issue; I was just their job. But in their defense, they treated me with respect, although S was putting on a tough guy act. I might have talked (small talk-type things) more than I should have, but when he asked me what I do to get high (after questioning about drugs), I just came out and said to his face: "going to strip clubs". He didn't ask me another drug-related question for the rest of the night.

I see.

Thanks for clarifying that.

Actually, they offered that, but I declined. Why? One ride in a police car was more than enough for me. Also, the more time I spent with the police, the greater are the odds of me saying something that could be used against me in court. So I thought it was best to it the way I did; it just looks better when the report says: "defendant was released and left the station on his own". And on that note, I felt more satisfaction with walking out of the police station, than I would have being driven back by the same cop who arrested me.

f*****g cops

If you think the cops did their job reasonably well, you could write a letter to the department describing what they did right. In the context of a letter they will like to read, you can give them more information on how events looked from your perspective. Then they can do better next time. If you do that, let someone else (ideally NT) read the letter, to make sure that the letter doesn't sound to the cops like a disguised complaint. If you write, wait until after the court case, so that neither the police nor the court thinks you are trying to influence witnesses.

People with complaints are more likely to write letters than people who have something good to say. With complaints both being common and making people defensive, a positive letter could have more effect. Do you think they treated you well enough that you could honestly write a positive letter?

I was awoken by several dogs barking so went outside to see what was happening, only to find 3 police dogs and a dozen officers spraying a guy on the ground with CS Gas, my immediate reaction was ask what the hell was going on, i had been woken and was in rather a stressed mood, which instantly resulted in me being grabbed and arrested for a public order offence, i pleaded and explained that i was disabled with ADHD & Aspergers to which i was told shut your mouth, was grabbed and placed in hand cuffs, having aspergers i hate people touching me, but was slung into the rear of a squad car, i became agitated and started panicking, i was scared , felt theatened and was in such a state i was trying desperately to remove the handcuffs, after much squirming and franticness i managed to squeeze one hand from the cuffs and as soon as an officer saw this i was torn from the car by my feet and dragged along a gravel path, they strapped my feet and knees together, replaced the cuffs and held me face down on the ground by means of 1 officer kneeling on my jaw!! whilst another officer held my head, this officer had previously CS gassed a neighbour and had the remains of CS gas on the gloves that were holding my head, my forehead was burning like crazy and even though i pleaded and pleaded i was constantly told to shut up, or they remarked "i dont give a s**t" the officer that tore me from the police car then continued to intimidate me by stating that he would be in the back of the police van with me and to see what happened then!!whilst this was taking place another officer was doing a radio check on me and it replied that i had ADHD & Aspergers, the officer that tore me from the squad car then unstrapped my legs and knees, removed the handcuffs and told me to get back in home, to take a tablet and to get some sleep. I was instantly De Arrested and the matter was over. Apart from the fact that now my wrists are badly bruised, my back is covered in grazes and scratches, i have a lump on my ankle the size of a golf ball, yet this kind of behaviour is common knowledge with certain police officers in the UK, I rang a police sargeant today and was seen by the inspector who kindly offered to have my injuries photographed and a police doctor was called to examine me, i am hoping tha the officers in question will be charged for misconduct and / or acting against the Disability Discrimination Act 2004. I really cannot understand how several police officers who are angry at having to CS gas a suspect can instantly turn on me for asking what all the noise was about?. I know i have behavioural problems but to be turned on by officers that were frantically trying to subdue a suspect and because i happened to be disturbed from my sleep is this the treatment i deserve??

Well, I was in traffic court today. The judge was somewhat sympathetic. He sentences me to pay a fine (more than I thought, but whatever), gave me supervision, and told me that this will not go on my driving record. The condition is that I'm not supposed to get any tickets (excluding parking tickets) for the next three months. But since I'm a careful driver, I can put up with that. I still think the cop gave me this ticket just so he wouldn't feel like he wasted his time. After all, when I didn't pass the field sobriety test due to nervousness, he was clearly hoping to stick me with a DUI. But when I did the breathalyser at the station, it was below the legal limit; can't charge me that.

All in all, I didn't exactly come out clean. But the whole thing ended pretty well. And now, at least I know what the court experience is like. So if, God forbid, I get charged for something in the future, I'll have an idea of what to do and how to act.

Oops, sorry. Accidental double-post.

I'm glad you didn't get in serious trouble.