Q: Is it legal for a cop to come to my house looking for my adult daughter and look through my closed kitchen blinds?
My middle daughter got pulled over exactly 1 week ago and got a ticket for not having car insurance. My husband heard a knock at the door. When he answered it he didn't see anyone so he went outside and saw the cop right up to our kitchen window peeking in, watching myself and my youngest daughter through a side crack in the blinds. He asked for my middle daughter and when my husband said she wasn't here (she really wasn't) he replied "Wasn't that her I just saw walk by?", meaning through my closed kitchen blinds. My youngest daughter and I were unknowingly being watched by someone outside in the dark peering at us and that totally creeps me out! He then went on to say that he was there to arrest my middle daughter, a full week after pulling her over. That's the next thing that sounds really off to me. I've never heard of someone being arrested a full week later? Is that even a thing? Or is this cop being sketchy and should we be worried for our safety? I'm very uncomfortable with this
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A: Week later is not unusual. But an arrest a week later he comes to arrest her, after he has already issued the citation? That is very odd. In fact, arresting someone for an no insurance ticket is strange. If I were you, I would have a conversation with the chief of police for the department.
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A:
It's understandable to feel uncomfortable with what happened. A police officer peeking through your closed blinds without permission raises privacy concerns. Generally, law enforcement needs a warrant or an emergency situation to enter or search private property, and peering through closed blinds without clear justification could be a violation of your Fourth Amendment rights.
As for the arrest a week after the ticket, it is possible depending on the circumstances, especially if there were other charges or an outstanding warrant related to the initial stop. Arrests can happen later if new information comes up or if a court decides further action is needed.
If you're worried about your safety or believe the officer acted inappropriately, you can file a complaint with the police department. It's important to keep a record of what happened and consider seeking legal advice to fully understand your rights in this situation.
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