So another officer and I were taking our break on client property inside a public park this morning around 0320 when a vehicle pulled in and started circling us and acting suspiciously. To make a long story short, we approached, as the driver was on client property, and she began to ask us questions about the area, the park, etc. She demanded personal information from us (first name, etc.), which we declined to give ("Last Name, Serial, that's all you need."). She then offered to show her ID, which we gladly took for our report, and she mentioned that if this took long she would call her attorney. I let her know that she is not under arrest, nor is she being detained, and she is free to go at any time she wishes. Despite this, she stayed, to the point where I pulled the, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" line. She left, then came back and wanted copies of all of our paperwork, saying she had "never been pulled over in a park before." I explained again that we had not pulled her over, she was not being detained, she voluntarily stopped and initiated conversation, voluntarily produced ID for us to inspect, and was aware that she was free to go at any time.
I was careful with the words I said, how we approached, the positioning of our vehicles, etc., to try to prevent a stink. Anyways, my company is making a big deal out of this saying that I "possibly" placed her under false arrest. I am researching WA state law on what the definition of an arrest is and could only find something on the WSBA web site at http://www.wsba.org/media/publicatio...s/criminal.htm. When they call me into the office to try to rip my report apart and catch me in a lie that isn't there, I want to be well armed. Any suggestions?
I was careful with the words I said, how we approached, the positioning of our vehicles, etc., to try to prevent a stink. Anyways, my company is making a big deal out of this saying that I "possibly" placed her under false arrest. I am researching WA state law on what the definition of an arrest is and could only find something on the WSBA web site at http://www.wsba.org/media/publicatio...s/criminal.htm. When they call me into the office to try to rip my report apart and catch me in a lie that isn't there, I want to be well armed. Any suggestions?
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