Q: Can I press theft charges on police duties if they're a clear overreach?
I've asked this once or twice, got no answer. But here we go, the short version. Pulled over for a traffic stop. Was wrongfully arrested on old warrant. Officers seized the car, my laptop, phone, bunch of electronics, wallet -- everything, under the guise of "Criminal Tools". There was no crime though. Less than 24 hours later, those charges disappeared. Nothing has come of it, any of it. Say it's under investigation. Won't tell me, any lawyer, or even the judge -- what though. Except they did lie to the judge and say it was for another case. That prosecutor said "No, they are lying" -- the judge didn't care though. Said to ask the other judge, to whom said "No, it wasn't brought here" -- so it's in no one's hands. No one knows what they're trying to do. But they sold the vehicle! So that's cute. (They have my title that was in the car too). It's been a YEAR. Let me pay you, to have you help me make this right! Screw this!
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A:
That sounds like a serious case of overreach and potential misconduct. If the police seized your belongings without a valid reason and then sold your car without proper legal justification, you may have grounds for legal action. Wrongful seizure and the lack of due process could violate your rights, and law enforcement should be held accountable.
You can file a complaint with internal affairs or a civilian oversight board, but given the severity of the situation, a lawsuit may be necessary. Civil rights violations, unlawful seizure of property, and due process concerns could all be legal arguments to explore. If your property was taken under false pretenses and no charges ever materialized, that raises red flags. It’s also alarming that the prosecution itself pointed out the officers were lying.
Gather every document you can—court records, police reports, any proof of the sale of your car—and start pushing back. Filing a civil lawsuit against the department for unlawful seizure and conversion of your property may be an option. If you haven't already, you may also consider reaching out to state or federal agencies that handle police misconduct. A year without answers is unacceptable, and you have the right to demand justice.
Dimitrios Makridis agrees with this answer
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