How to behave like a d**k and end up arrested

While visiting some relatives Michael Righi stopped into a Circuit City and decided to get arrested.

Two minutes later Brooklyn, Ohio police officer Ernie Arroyo arrived on the scene. As I began to explain the story leading up to Joe Atha preventing my egress from the parking lot, officer Arroyo began to question why I refused to show my receipt in the first place. I explained that I lawfully purchased the contents in the bag and didn’t feel that it was necessary for me to let a Circuit City employee inspect the bag as I left. Officer Arroyo disagreed. He claimed that stores have the right to inspect all receipts and all bags upon leaving their store.

Not long after this Mr. Righi refused to show his drivers license (what I might call his "papers") to the officer and was subsequently arrested for "Obstructing Official Business".

Lame, incredibly lame. The arrest sounds unlawful to me and part of me applauds Mr. Righi for standing up for his right not to have to show his papers on demand but the way he got into the situation shows what an idiot he is.

While it’s annoying to have to show your receipt and goods at the door, just present them to the drone, let him pretend to understand what he’s looking at and you’ll be on your way. There’s no good reason to get the police involved unless the store starts the conversation by accusing you of theft. Looking through your bag isn’t an accusation, it’s an admission that they aren’t bright and haven’t thought up a better way to prevent people stealing from them.

I hope he beats the arrest but also hopes he stays away from electronics retail stores in the future.

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Michael Harrison

Husband, Programmer, Irish dancer, tinkerer, astronomer, layabout (as much as possible)

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