Man flips the finger at police - will sue them for harrassment

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

When Robert J. Ekas decided to exercise his right to free speech, he didn't open his mouth.

He hoisted his middle finger.

His single-digit protests, aimed at Clackamas County sheriff's deputies last year, resulted in verbal showdowns, traffic tickets and, ultimately, a federal lawsuit.

Giving a police officer the finger may be a rude and ill-advised gesture, but it is not against the law, legal experts say.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held that speech may not be prohibited simply because some may find it offensive," said Ira P. Robbins, a law professor from American University in Washington, D.C. "Virtually every time someone is arrested for this, assuming there's no other criminal behavior ... the case is either dismissed before trial or the person is convicted at trial and wins on appeal."

Ekas, who represents himself, sued the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and three of its employees, seeking corrective action and unspecified damages. Assistant County Counsel Edward S. McGlone III declined comment on the lawsuit.

Ekas, 46, a retired Silicon Valley systems analyst turned mathematician who lives in the Clackamas area, claims the traffic stops were acts of retaliation that violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights. He also wants the court to rule that the Sheriff's Office fails to discipline employees who "chill citizens' ... free speech rights."

rest of the story

[phkrause]

Interesting article. I guess showing his IQ was not a good thing. hahahahaha

pk

[Dr. Rich]

One of these days, and it will not be long, police might want the citizens to help them, but the way they are now treating citizens I don't have any pity for them at all. Police have now become bill collectors for the government. They have forgotten that they are the servants for the citizens and when your 'boss' disses you off, he probably had a good reason for it.

[phkrause]

Dr. Rich the police have always needed citizens to help them? So am not sure what your saying? Please explain, thanks.

pk

[Dr. Rich]

The 'people' are mad as heck right now about what is going on in this country and they are not going to take it much longer (so I hear). Too many citizens are being arrested for defending themselves and others and I had a good friend who caught trespassers on his property out in high desert. These trespassers had been shooting his water tanks and doing other damage so he called the SO and reported them. Well, they turned around and arrested him because he had a gun on him at the time. He was arrested and found guilty for assaulting (didn't do anything to them with the gun) them. So I guess one can't even have a gun on him when he catches someone trespassing. Go figure?

The police have become the hated because they refuse to do their job correctly. They have become worse than then gangs in many areas. My son-in-law was with the LA PD and saw so many things wrong but could not say anything for fear of being set up for something himself. He is no longer there, but most police today are taking the place of highway robbers of the past. They wait to ambush someone in order to make them pay the government-even when there was no victim. People are learning not to call the police, but to take action themselves. A criminal is not going to wait around for the police to show up in most cases.

Some day soon, the police will be like the jackbooted thugs were in Germany.

[Guest]

We agree on this one Rich.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

There are still some good police out there....you can't paint such a wide swathe as if there were no good cops. I have several in my family.

[phkrause]

The 'people' are mad as heck right now about what is going on in this country and they are not going to take it much longer (so I hear). Too many citizens are being arrested for defending themselves and others and I had a good friend who caught trespassers on his property out in high desert. These trespassers had been shooting his water tanks and doing other damage so he called the SO and reported them. Well, they turned around and arrested him because he had a gun on him at the time. He was arrested and found guilty for assaulting (didn't do anything to them with the gun) them. So I guess one can't even have a gun on him when he catches someone trespassing. Go figure?

The police have become the hated because they refuse to do their job correctly. They have become worse than then gangs in many areas. My son-in-law was with the LA PD and saw so many things wrong but could not say anything for fear of being set up for something himself. He is no longer there, but most police today are taking the place of highway robbers of the past. They wait to ambush someone in order to make them pay the government-even when there was no victim. People are learning not to call the police, but to take action themselves. A criminal is not going to wait around for the police to show up in most cases.

Some day soon, the police will be like the jackbooted thugs were in Germany.

OK thanks Dr. Rich for the explanation.

But this is nothing new. Back in the late 60s early 70s back in NYC. We had a live in couple in our church down in Manhattan at the Times Square Center. The wife was pregnant at the time also. They had a burglar brake in and was going to rape the wife. The husband happen to come in and see this, so he got his gun and shot the guy, called the police. They came found out that the guy who shot the burglar did not have a license for the gun. So they put him in jail and let the burglar go free. These things Dr. Rich have been happening for years. Probably not to the extent as today. But I do agree things are getting out of hand.

pk