Victim of corrupt cop? (Gulfport: 2015, apartment complex, insurance)

[beggersrun]

Mods: I'm not sure where to post this. Please move to a more appropriate place if needed.

I believe that I'm a victim of a corrupt cop and a vehicle towing company, and would like to SOMEhow initiate an investigation. I have no money to speak of and, thanks to a member of Pasco county's 'finest', I am now car-less.

I'd give you more details, but I'm not sure where to start! It's been a long 4 months. Ask away.

BTW ... I've edited/removed some of my profile details as I'm somewhat afraid of retaliation should the parties involved figured out who I am.

Your thoughts? How would you start an investigation?

Thanks!

[41mag]

Originally Posted by beggersrun

Mods: I'm not sure where to post this. Please move to a more appropriate place if needed.

I believe that I'm a victim of a corrupt cop and a vehicle towing company, and would like to SOMEhow initiate an investigation. I have no money to speak of and, thanks to a member of Pasco county's 'finest', I am now car-less.

I'd give you more details, but I'm not sure where to start! It's been a long 4 months. Ask away.

BTW ... I've edited/removed some of my profile details as I'm somewhat afraid of retaliation should the parties involved figured out who I am.

Your thoughts? How would you start an investigation?

Thanks!

- 'Steve'

be careful what you wish for ,before making those accusations I would be damn sure you can back up what you say happened to you,what proof do you have,have you have met others in the same situation,were you doing something illegal or parked where you didn't belong,did you offend anybody? you need positive proof of wrong doing or at the least a pattern of the wrong doing you feel that you have been a victim of.

[otter1803]

get professional legal counsel if at all possible.

[the awesomee]

towing companies for the police only accept cash, seems sketchy off the bat

[mortpes]

If you have no money then drop it and go on. It does cost money so weigh the cost of action vs possible rewards if successful. Sounds like it is more trouble than it is worth.

[beggersrun]

@ 41mag
There's tons of evidence and credible witnesses to what happened. I am being VERY careful but I don't know why. I have very little more to lose now, except for my health. I guess they could take that away from me too, but I almost don't care anymore.

@ otter1803
As I mentioned, I have no money to speak of, so I cannot afford legal counsel. I was unemployed, homeless and sleeping in my car when this occurred.

@ the awesomee
EXACTLY! The 'independent' towing company would only accept cash! Since I didn't have the funds to get my car out of their impound lot, I found a reputable dealership who was willing to buy my car. We (dealership and myself) arrived at the lot with our own tow truck and checks (one for me and one for the impound lot) in hand but was told they would only accept cash. This is the complete opposite we were told before we made the trip to their lot.

@ mortpes
Absolutely no trouble at all! Drop it? Let people crap on me? This was a 2004 Honda CR-V in excellent condition (bluebook it) with only 56,000 miles on it filled with a lot of my possessions, and now it's gone. No ... not going to drop it.

Thanks for your replies!

[SULAW2015]

I am at Stetson Law in Gulfport. Call the Stetson switchboard and ask about the pro bono department. There are some trained excellent students looking to assist people, they do it for free.

[kmarc]

SULAW,
Very kind of you to help this person out and give him a possible resource. It's people like yourself that give comfort to others who may be good people, but are taken advantage of when they are down on their luck.

Beggersrun, I hope you see the post. It sounds like an answer to your prayers.

Good luck. It always seems like people get kicked when they are down.

[Sunscape]

Originally Posted by SULAW2015

I am at Stetson Law in Gulfport. Call the Stetson switchboard and ask about the pro bono department. There are some trained excellent students looking to assist people, they do it for free.

Good!!

[beggersrun]

@SULAW2015

THANK YOU!!! THIS is the kind of help I have been looking for! I have the number (727-562-7800) and will definitely make that call on Monday.

In the meantime, here are some details. What do you think?

I use to take care of 'Bob', a 49 year old friend who has special needs. I drove him where-ever he needed or wanted to go every day (seriously ... every day) from November 2010 to June 4 2012. He would pay for gas and buy me a few drinks at his favorite bar.

I became unemployed late December of 2011. I could not pay my insurance premium or rent, and had to resort to sleeping in my car at Bob's gated apartment complex.

My license was suspended early this year for lack of insurance, but I still took care of Bob. Yes, I was still driving on my suspended license ... just so you know that I'm not trying come off sounding squeaky clean.

Early morning of June 4th 2012, one of Bob's neighbors reported me to the apartment office as being a suspicious person and vehicle. A Pasco county officer pulled up in front of my car (blocking me in) as I was preparing to walk to Bob's apartment to begin the daily routine all over again. The officer asked me for my ID and what I was doing there. I handed the officer my ID while explaining my presence there. He went to his car and (I assume) radioed my information to dispatch, as I saw him using his microphone. A few minutes later he exited his car and told me to 'stay here'. He proceeded to Bob's apartment to (again, I assume) ask him about me. He returned about five minutes later and stated that since my DL was suspended, he was keeping it. He then said (almost quoting here) "I was instructed to seize your tags, and you have about five minutes to walk, otherwise you will be arrested for trespassing." I gathered my laptop and a couple of other small items from my car while he proceeded to remove my LEGAL tags off of my car. I briefly stopped at Bob's to explain to him what was going on and told him that I would call him as soon as I could (from my laptop, since I don't have a cell phone) to see if he was ok. When I called Bob about three hours later, he told me that the officer returned about 30 minutes after I left and told him that my car was being towed and that there was (is?) a trespass warrant against me.

A lot has happened since then. I've talked with NUMEROUS people including various government agencies. One thing I needed to know was how long I had to get my car out of the lot before my car became theirs. I was told 60 days. On day number 56 my new employer and I were going to head to the lot to get my car. My employer called to get the amount due but was told they sold the car and everything in it around July 10th, 37 days after they towed it!

Soooo ... you see what I mean? I could have (and did) found someone the next day (Tuesday June 5th) to help me get my car and store it legally.

I've left out a lot of other crap that I've had to endure ... like sleeping under a bush for 4 days in a row. And how do you get a Florida ID without a birth certificate? And ... how do you get a birth certificate without a DL or Florida ID???!?!? What a load of CRAP!!!

Again, thank you SULAW2015 and kmarc and Annie!