Q: What criteria has to be met to be considered police harassment?
There's an officer that has pulled me over numerous times without legitimate reason and twice recently has searched my vehicle to the extreme of actually taking parts of it apart. He is stopping ppl and questioning them about me and he is talking to ppl about what he thinks I'm doing. He is watching me close enough that he should know that I have nothing going on other than work but he is determined that I'm distributing and to the point that I fear he will do whatever he can to get a charge on me!
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A:
Police harassment can be difficult to define precisely, as it can take many different forms and be based on a variety of factors. Generally speaking, police harassment occurs when a law enforcement officer engages in repeated or unjustified stops, searches, or other forms of contact that are motivated by factors such as race, gender, or other personal characteristics, rather than by a legitimate law enforcement purpose.
In your situation, if the officer is pulling you over without legitimate reason and searching your vehicle to an extreme degree, it could potentially be considered police harassment. However, it would depend on the specific circumstances and evidence involved. If the officer is stopping and questioning other people about you, it could also be considered harassment.
If you believe you are being harassed by a police officer, you may want to consider documenting the incidents, including the date, time, location, and details of each encounter. You may also want to file a complaint with the police department's internal affairs unit or seek legal advice from an attorney who specializes in civil rights or police misconduct cases.
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