You would think that a cop would know how easy it is to get caught with cell phone images like this one…
A federal judge is allowing a Virginia woman to move forward with part of her lawsuit against a D.C. police officer, who reportedly took her cell phone during a traffic stop and then proceeded to text himself a ‘naked selfie’ of the young lady.
Officer Terrence Richardson took Natalia Argota’s phone while another officer conducted a field sobriety test on her back in 2012, according to court records.
He began perusing the images on it, until he came to a “naked photo of [Ms. Argote] that she had taken for her boyfriend.” Without Ms. Agote’s knowledge or consent, according to court records, Officer Richardson attached a copy of the photo to a text that he sent himself from Ms. Argote’s phone.
In her lawsuit, Ms. Argote alleges that through this somewhat brazen violation of privacy the District of Columbia Metropolitian Police Department violated her constitutional right on several fronts – including her Fourth Amendment Rights. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens “against unreasonable searches and seizures.”
At first blush, this might seem to be a case of an ‘unreasonable search.’ After all, the officer reportedly boldly snatched her phone without consent. But, the federal judge, in this case, says – not so fast. The Police Department can’t be sued for this because of something called “sovereign immunity.” Basically, Ms. Argote must prove that the department – as a matter of practice – was continually violating people’s civil rights by illegally searching cell phones. Apparently, Ms. Argote doesn’t have evidence of that. Those claims were dismissed.
But, U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer, did allow Argote to move forward with her lawsuit against Officer Richardson personally. That means there is a potential the officer could be forced to pay her for “emotional or reputational” damages.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time this sort of thing has happened. Video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMhntWiAY3M&spfreload=10
Here’s what happened in this case:
Unfortunately for New Yorker Pamela Held, one sleazy cop is under investigation for looking at her erotic pictures when he confiscated her iPhone, deciding he’d like to keep them for his spank bank and sending himself copies.
Spotting a Nissan Sentra without an inspection sticker on Feb. 6, New York police pulled the car over. Five officers with the 104th Precinct in Queens spoke with Held and her friend.
One officer found a bottle of prescription meds, and the two women were hauled into the station on suspicion of drug offences.
Held told the policeman she was visiting a friend and had texts to prove it, before handing over her phone and passcode. She says officer Sean Christian found explicit images meant for her boyfriend and copied them for his own use.
After leaving the station she looked through her phone and was horrified to see her photos had been sent to an unfamiliar number.
Held’s lawyer worked with a private investigator to trace the strange number back to officer Christian. She is suing the city’s police department.
Source: Youtube, Mediaite