VIDEO SHOWS TALLAHASSEE POLICE OFFICER PLANTING EVIDENCE DURING DUI ARREST
what began as a routine traffic stop for Calvin Riley Sr., 56, who goes by Riley, driving his white Mercedes Benz on South Monroe, quickly descended into a legal nightmare. Allegations of evidence planting by the Tallahassee Police Department have thrown a spotlight on the thin line between law enforcement and law-breaking. Ultimately, after planting evidence of an empty liquor bottle in Riley’s car, they would arrest him for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. Riley says He says the night ‘nearly ruined his life.’
After initially stopping Riley and getting his information, Officer Oliver calls in backup and discusses the particulars with Officer Margaret Mueth who arrived at the scene. Oliver, in comments captured by her body-worn camera, tells Riley that he smells like marijuana. Oliver, who says he doesn’t smoke weed, took offense to Oliver’s comments. “You lie,” Riley says in the video.
Despite initial claims that Riley smelt like marijuana, by the time they had placed Riley in the back of Oliver’s patrol car, officers began to claim that Riley smelled like alcohol.
“You still live?” Sergeant Smith asks, pointing at Officer Mueth’s body camera. He quickly looks away when he realizes she is. Just twenty seconds later, Mueth asked Oliver “Are you still on?”, Oliver shakes her head. The body camera footage ends. The arrest report was written by Mueth, and signed by Mueth, Smith, and the booking officer. The report reads “a search of Riley’s vehicle uncovered a small bottle of vodka (approximately 5 fluid ounces) that was found open in a pocket on the driver’s seat cover.” “I want to talk to my lawyer,” Riley says in the video.
if slacking off was an olympic sport they mighta had to create a platinum medal for me cause i’m surgical with this man. i just be at work frowning at my laptop pretending shit is complicated. sometimes i throw the “left hand massaging temple and eye at the same time” move in there to really take them on a ride