Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jun 2003
Source: Waukesha Freeman (WI)
Copyright: 2003 The Waukesha Freeman
Contact: (262) 542-8259
Website: http://www.freemanol.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/770
Author: Ginny McMillan

CITIZEN UPSET SHE WAS TREATED AS CRIMINAL

I have lived at my current address for three years, and recently I had 
something happen to me that has never happened before.

A former coworker of mine stopped to pick up some items that she had left 
at work. I walked out to her car, which was parked on the street, and we 
sat and talked for a few minutes before she left. As I was walking back to 
my house, a police officer pulled into my driveway and questioned what I 
was doing. I told him my friend came to pick up some compact discs. He told 
me he had reason to believe that he saw an exchange take place. He then 
proceeded to ask me if he could frisk me. I, never being in trouble before, 
said OK. He had me do the whole routine - turn around and put my hands on 
the car - while he patted me down. He asked what was in my pocket and I 
told him it was money. He asked if he could check there and I said yes. I 
gave him no reason to continue because I didn't do anything wrong, and like 
I tried to explain to him, I am not into drugs in any way, shape or form.

My biggest problem with this situation is that I am a good law-abiding 
citizen, I have never been in trouble and never used drugs. Just because I 
don't live in the best neighborhood, it doesn't mean that everyone there 
uses drugs or deals drugs. I felt very violated and confused as to why a 
young, white female can get frisked and made to feel like a criminal while 
real criminals are still walking the streets.

Ginny McMillan, Waukesha Received via e-mail
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom