CT State Police Harass and arrest Christian Ministers
Author: Anonymous
Source: free-articles
August 4, 2004 — On Thursday, July 29, a Connecticut State Police Officer pulled over LLM’s Truth Truck as it was traveling through the State following a five day ministry effort in Boston.
At approximately 3:30PM, an angry Officer pulled the truck over and asked for Dennis Green, the driver and Director of Life and Liberty Ministries, to come to the rear of the vehicle. The Officer stated that the vehicle could not drive any further in the State until the pro-life messages were removed from the truck. Dennis Green informed him that the truck would remain as it was and proceeded to inform the Officer with regard to his First Amendment rights.
The Officer then began to fish for any reason to charge Mr. Green. He brought up the issue of seat belts and said that the occupants weren’t wearing them when in fact they were. Another Officer arrived on the scene and also began to verbally attack Mr. Green with regard to the messages and images on the vehicle.
When the driver was told that he was going to be charged with a crime, he immediately asked for a Supervisor to be called to the scene. The Officers refused repeatedly to yield to this request. At this point Dennis Green and one of the passengers, Michael Marcavage, called 911 to make a request for help. Mr. Marcavage began to film the incident from the opposite side of the guard rail and at the distance of approximately 25 feet.
The Officers immediately began yelling for him to turn off the camera and reenter the vehicle. Mr. Marcavage slowing began to retreat toward the vehicle while asking if Mr. Green could do the same. He made this request because the Officers were detaining Mr. Green behind the truck were he could not be seen.
The Officers climbed over the rail and placed Mr. Marcavage under arrest charging him with two crimes including a felony charge.
After Mr Marcavage was taken away, Mr. Green was ordered to get back into his vehicle and began driving South bound until he was out of the State. He was instructed that he would be followed and he was not to stop or take any exits.
During the time that Mr. Marcavage was in Police custody, he was repeatedly mocked and ridiculed for his Christian faith. Mr. Marcavage was called a Jesus Freak, a wing nut, brain washed, a scam artist, and many other derogatory terms.
The American Center for Law and Policy will be defending us in Court.