Morrow’s viral traffic stop sparks controversy

The traffic stop occurred in Morrow, Georgia, in September, in an area that had been previously vandalized.

MORROW, Ga. — A video of a traffic stop in the Atlanta metropolitan area is going viral.

The traffic stop happened months ago in Morrow, but the driver, who posted the video this month, hopes to get justice for his cause.

Jesse Cortez claims he did nothing wrong and was unfairly targeted. He was arrested in September by Morrow Police Chief Michael Crumpler. Crumpler told Cortez that his vehicle was suspicious based on video of the traffic stop. The stop began near the area known as the District.

“They are cursing me, violating my rights, pulling me out of the vehicle, physically moving, disarming me, taking my gun away, and they were in my face,” Cortez said. “I got scared, I was scared for my life.”

Just a few months earlier, several teenagers were arrested on charges of arson burning down historic buildings in the area. “No trespassing” signs were posted on the property.

Cortez said up to 10 police officers responded to his traffic stop in September after he refused to show his license when asked by Crumpler and others.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Cortez said. “It is 2023 now. If we are forced to give identification because we appear suspicious, when does the suspicion cease? That means anyone can come up to us and harass us. I’m glad it was daylight. I’m glad I had someone there with me, I had cameras rolling.”

Morrow Police Commander JW Guest said an internal review of the traffic stops found that none of the officers acted improperly or violated any constitutional rights.

“Because of the ongoing construction, public works people are going in and out of there operating heavy machinery, it’s not safe for the citizens of Joe and Jane to go in and out of there,” Guest said. “If I had given the boss his ID, I guarantee the boss would have told the guy ‘hey, you can’t come back here,’ it would be over.”

The rights of a driver during a traffic stop

Mike Puglise, a former police officer and current attorney who is not affiliated with the case, weighed in.

“If you are in a car, you must provide your driver’s license, your vehicle registration and proof of insurance,” Puglise said. “You don’t have to answer any questions. You do not have to give any information or provide your name. You don’t have to say why you are there. He doesn’t have to say anything at all. But once the officer asks for the driver’s license, he has to hand it over.”

Puglise cited a Supreme Court ruling as the basis for that law. He said that the police still cannot arbitrarily detain people. There must be probable cause or reasonable suspicion for the arrest. Police told Cortez that he was trespassing on public property, which Puglise acknowledged was possible if there was a sign on the property clearly restricting access.

During the stop, police also found a gun in plain sight that belonged to Cortez. Puglise said the officer was within his rights to charge Cortez with obstruction for refusing to surrender his driver’s license.

“The police chief was well within his constitutional provisions to exercise those rights to go up to that car and find out what was going on,” Puglise said. “I congratulate the police officers. They are taking a proactive policing stance and doing their job. That’s why we hire and train them.”

Now, Cortez can’t get through the town of Morrow without this traffic stop on his mind. He was eventually cited for disorderly conduct and had to pay a $575 fine stemming from the traffic stop. He released the video this month, hoping for justice in his case.

Cortez told 11Alive that he was considering filing a civil lawsuit against the Morrow Police Department, but has been unable to find a lawyer willing to take on his case.

“I spoke to two lawyers and they told me it’s not worth it,” Cortez said. “But for me, it’s more of a principle situation. The police did it to me, how many other people do they do it to? I talk to friends and they tell me that at least you didn’t get beat up. I don’t know who else go. I felt robbed, cheated.”

Source: news.google.com