Cops Will Use Your Posts

Yup. A YouTube video was used to convict me of obstructing a public officer in municipal court.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESv-39IT1QY&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLA348F17680340FAF

Yard Sale said:

Yup. A YouTube video was used to convict me of obstructing a public officer in municipal court.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESv-39IT1QY&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLA348F17680340FAF

Click to expand...

You can appeal the conviction then.

Not under arrest but not free to leave?

Why were you stopped in the first place?

WalkingWolf said:

Not true, most sites the government thinks is on extreme edge are monitored and records are kept, not only on the internet but cell phone use including texts. One only has to take a look at the Zimmerman case and the extreme the prosecution has gone into to prosecute them even to the point of Z and his wife talking about groceries, supposedly some type of code they claim. It anyone puts anything on the internet it is out there, permanently. Unless it makes Obama look bad.

Click to expand...

Oh I am fully aware of that. People have no where near the privacy they think they have. The power and reach of the NSA is unbelievable. But my point is, and remains, that local authorities do not have access to this type of means. As I said, it is reserved mostly for the feds and high profile cases, such as the zimmerman case that you pointed out. "Some guy upset over his 2A rights" suing local law enforcement, is not going to draw that kind of attention and warrant (no pun intended) that type of involvement.

twpetry said:

"Some guy upset over his 2A rights" suing local law enforcement, is not going to draw that kind of attention and warrant (no pun intended) that type of involvement.

Click to expand...

That may be. But if your butt was on the line and you were facing having your firearms rights taken away, would you risk it?

Sig229 said:

That may be. But if your butt was on the line and you were facing having your firearms rights taken away, would you risk it?

Click to expand...

I'm not saying you should go spouting off all kinds of trash :cuss:, i'm just saying not every police department/sheriff's office has the kind of resources and technology you see on tv shows. that's all

This is getting nuts

Listen, my mistake could have been saying "here's ME getting detained." or "here I am dealing with the police." Whatever.

Issue 1: No one cares what this forum really is about. The jury will see what is presented and today is proof that even the most "educated" on our legal system can't apply the Constitution.

Issue 2: It's up to you guys, but I'd scrub my prior posts before posting anything in a lawsuit. Be naive and attack me if you like...

Issue 3: Get a new lawyer? This is a public forum just like Youtube. Anything you say can and WILL be used against you. My whole point...my whole point...was that this forum is going to be brought before a jury. Just be careful.

If your lawyer doesn't aggressively attack the defense for introducing as evidence posts made online from youtube and this forum, then you definitely need a new lawyer. or on the other hand i suppose that would be an great cause for an appeal if the ruling is unfavorable.

anybody can say anything they want online. to use it as evidence that YOU said it, they have to prove that YOU said it. and just because in your posts you said its you isn't sufficient reason to believe its really you.

"I was the cop that stopped you that day. I was having a bad day, my wife was nagging me about spending to much time at work, my sergeant was on my case about not getting enough arrests and missing my ticket quota, and i didn't get my coffee and doughnuts that morning, so i said to my self, the next mother ------ I see is mine. I saw you carrying a gun and said to myself i'm making this guy my ----- today."

now by your logic, I'm obviously that cop, and your lawyer should use this post against the defendant

PistolPackingMomma said:

I assume what you are asking is how can they prove your username is yours? IP address would be my guess. Log-in history, account history, etc. But that assumes they have access to your personal computers' information.

Click to expand...

twpetry said:

I'm afraid you have been watching too many tv crime shows. Many local police departments/sheriff's offices do not even have the ability or technology to do the kind of computer forensics required to prove who someone is online. Many times they have to outsource that kind of work, even so, that kind of investigating is only utilized for higher profile cases, because it costs $$$.

Click to expand...

It's not hard to do and there are free programs that you can use to track IP's.

I have met a forensic computer specialist who is deputized by a local small Sherrif's office, he OC's too.

My kids and I experimented with it and with limited programs and a little youtube search we were able to track IP's of who were racing against him in MarioKart on the wii. (in some cases find out were they lived)

They will not be able to find out who you are or where you live if you wrap your house with aluminum foil inside & out. You apartment dwellers are out of luck.

OC for ME said:

They will not be able to find out who you are or where you live if you wrap your house with aluminum foil inside & out. You apartment dwellers are out of luck.

Click to expand...

I prefer hanging garlic to keep the blood suckers away...

sudden valley gunner said:

I have met a forensic computer specialist who is deputized by a local small Sherrif's office, he OC's too.

Click to expand...

Computer forensics are very open source these days and like you're saying not as complicated as one thinks. To be honest, the OP probably had his threads and user handle marked down by the LE in this incident by simply posting his youtube video... especially if that was in any way, shape, or form used as evidence.

As far as IP address and all that fun jazz, let's just assume for a second LE gets a tip that some person who started a lawsuit is a member here. LE is having trouble proving it though, but they know where the person lives. It's as simple a hosting a picture or website on web hosting you control or even using link tracking sites like this, and then posting it on here in a cleverly disguised thread that will make most people comment (A.K.A. social engineering the thread and situation). The LE can then go back to their hosting/link tracker and see what IP's have looked at said pictures/web content and compare those IP addresses locations with known locations of their person of interest via free online tools like this. Based off of who has replied to their thread, they can start narrowing down their pool of "suspects" once they have a promising IP per the location they're looking for. Sending that pool of "suspects" a PM with more tracking images/links, and you can probably figure out the user handle.

That's the long and sneaky way of digging, other ways include serving warrants to your ISP or OCDO for IP/server logs. Long and short, put something on a network or the internet, it's no longer secure. Now you can be paranoid about this, get your tin foil hat and only access websites using a 256K encrypted VPN connection (your ISP will see only jibberish data at this point) out of a server in some obscure country where US LEA's warrants for server logs mean jack all... or you can watch what you say online and in real life. The second option is much simpler.

http://anonymox.en.softonic.com/

There is software to help mask your IP address also.

marinepilot81 said:

They, however, will say "Ladies and gentlemen, it's obvious he's a member of a right-wing, anti-government group..."

Click to expand...

Yeah, 'cause objecting to people breaking the law & harming innocent citizens is so anti-government...
Which gives us the inverse: breaking the law & harming innocent citizens is pro-gov't.
:uhoh:

LkWd_Don said:

marinepilot81 is suggesting that you review all your prior posts for anything inappropriate before posting about the action you are involved in with regards to that LEA.

Click to expand...

Except that nothing on the internet ever really disappears,
and
it's lots easier just to behave yourself in the first place. You don't have to waste time scouring your posts & hoping you haven't missed something that could be twisted or misunderstood... which is exactly what a vindictive cop or prosecutor will do.
Don't advocate violence or anything illegal, & it's harder to use your statements agaisnt you.

MKEgal said:

:uhoh:

LkWd_Don said:

marinepilot81 is suggesting that you review all your prior posts for anything inappropriate before posting about the action you are involved in with regards to that LEA.

Click to expand...

Except that nothing on the internet ever really disappears, and it's lots easier just to behave yourself in the first place. You don't have to waste time scouring your posts & hoping you haven't missed something that could be twisted or misunderstood... which is exactly what a vindictive cop or prosecutor will do.
Don't advocate violence or anything illegal, & it's harder to use your statements agaisnt you.

Click to expand...

Maybe you are not aware that even though the policy here is that you Own your Words and should avoid deleting your prior posts, deleting your own posts is still a possibility. You have to give a solid reason for why you are doing so.

When I met with a Deputy chief of Bellingham, he stated he read my posts and that's how he knows I am a "good guy". And had no problem allowing me to OC past the secure areas of the police station for our meeting. So yes know the LE are possibly reading everything you post here, and it is easy for them to find out who you are .

Read Automatica's post to know exactly how it is done. I could do it off of our wi-fi on tracking other users my kid was playing wii with and I am in no way a computer genius .

WalkingWolf said:

... One only has to take a look at the Zimmerman case and the extreme the prosecution has gone into to prosecute them even to the point of Z and his wife talking about groceries, supposedly some type of code they claim. ...

Click to expand...

I'm going to take a point of order on this statement. The police, jailers, prosecution can legally record anything you say/do on the prison phone systems unless you are talking to your lawyer (or his/her staff). Your fourth and fifth amendment rights are suspended. If you go and see someone in jail/prison and they have the glass and phone system that can be recorded as well. Zimmerman was talking to his wife on the pay phone from prison. That is what was recorded.

If you are ever imprisoned for any reason -- do not talk to other inmates as much as possible, especially about your case. Absolutely do not talk to the jailers unless it is about a health or safety issue. Do not talk about your case to your family on any prison communication system -- that can be recorded as well.

jimpen said:

I'm going to take a point of order on this statement. The police, jailers, prosecution can legally record anything you say/do on the prison phone systems unless you are talking to your lawyer (or his/her staff). Your fourth and fifth amendment rights are suspended. If you go and see someone in jail/prison and they have the glass and phone system that can be recorded as well. Zimmerman was talking to his wife on the pay phone from prison. That is what was recorded.

If you are ever imprisoned for any reason -- do not talk to other inmates as much as possible, especially about your case. Absolutely do not talk to the jailers unless it is about a health or safety issue.

Click to expand...

I was not talking about the legality of it, just the fact that it is what it is. I do think assuming is not part of recording a conversation. When the state makes claims that what is said is not what is meant, but actually what they want it to mean then I think it crosses a line.

Big Bro' IS watching

Before the computer age came along (that is to the little peeps) it was a little *unknown* fact that the Gub'ment had """A FILE""" 10" thick :shocker: on every man, woman & child in the good ole' USofA.

Now it's a comfort to know that we can save a tree and just have all of our *important* info on a PLASTIC = help Big OIL, disc and be accessed at the click of a finger!

Oh well, gotta love the computer age,,,,, HA!

peace&rkba4ever!

Sig229 said:

Considering how most of the posters in this forum usually know the law better than the LEO's, I figure the LEO's copying posts will learn something.
Lets hope anyway.

Click to expand...

Since law enforcement and judges and lawyers and juries will be reading this, I am copying sig229's statement for emphasis.

If their lawyer is going to use posts from here, I think I'd be inclined for my lawyer to use posts from cop forums. Some interesting stuff said on there sometimes.

twpetry said:

how do they know who you are? all they can say is [username] said this. and unless they can prove that is you isn't that hearsay?

Click to expand...

sudden valley gunner said:

It is as simple as putting 2 and 2 together, they know who they pulled over and when. The officer knows if he is the one in the video unconstitutionally harrassing his employers.

Click to expand...

Actually, no. Even if you were to log in here, state your full name, address, DOB and SSN, and write you swear on a stack of Bibles it's the truth, it's still inadmissible in a court of law because they can't prove it's actually you. All they can do is demonstrate that whoever posted has intimate knowledge of the case, and possibly was posting it using your computer. Could have been your spouse, child, or friend whom you let borrow the computer.

What they would need to do is present the transcripts then question you under oath on the stand, "Did you write this?" Only after you admit it does it become evidence.