ACLU Sues Connecticut State Police for False Charges Against Protestor

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More than a year ago, a peaceful protestor named Michael Picard was arrested on trumped up charges because he had the audacity to protest DUI checkpoints in Hartford, Connecticut. He simply thought those checkpoints were a waste of time and taxpayer money, and he had done the research to back up his claims.

One night, however, three state troopers decided that they had had enough of this private citizen making use of his constitutional rights and wanted him gone. They tried to destroy his camera, then took it from him and, while that camera was rolling, accidentally recorded themselves talking about what charges they could fabricate against him. They literally recorded themselves talking about what false charges they could bring against a citizen who had done nothing wrong.

Picard has finally gotten himself cleared of those false charges, and nothing has been done by the Connecticut State Police about the issue. No movement has been made by Internal Affairs to investigate or punish the officers who were so blatantly violating the law they are supposed to uphold. The state police even tried to contact Picard directly, numerous times, while he was involved in criminal proceedings—something they are not allowed to do—and refused to talk to his lawyer about their alleged need for him to make a statement before an IA case could be opened.

For these reasons, the ACLU is suing the Connecticut State Police. This case, though little reported, is an important one in the ongoing debate about civil rights and police actions. It shows, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that some police are cavalier about abusing their power and do not care about the constitutional rights of the citizens that they are supposed to be protecting and serving.

What do you think about the lawsuit and the police’s actions on the night they arrested Picard? Please share your thoughts in the comments.