The Burning Times - Are they truely over?

This is written by a friend and I asked her if I could share it with you all and
she said yes. This JUST happened to her!

The Burning Times Aren't Over
By
Theresa Chaze
I now know how the women of the Burning Times felt being dragged from their
homes in the middle of the night and tortured. I wasn't dragged from my home nor
was I physically tortured, but I was kidnapped and emotionally tortured by the
Traverse City Police Department and the Grand Traverse Sheriff Department of
Michigan.

After working a ten hour shift at Normic Industries that started at 3:30 pm
Tuesday October 17th and ending 2 am on the 18th, I was driving home on South
Airport Road. A few minutes after I turned off Park Drive on to South Airport, a
car drove up very close behind me. The headlights were lighting the interior of
my car and it was making me very uncomfortable because it simply wasn't safe. If
I suddenly had to stop, the other car would have rear-ended me. I turned on my
signal and moved into the left lane. The car advanced and I saw it was a police
car. I thought he was in a hurry and would pass. Instead, he turned his flashers
on. Confused, I turned on my signal and pulled over back in to the right lane,
then off to the side of the road, turning off my car and rolling down the
window. The officer walked up and I asked "What? What did I do?"

He asked me for my driver's license and registration.

I told him it was in my purse and pointed to the backseat.

He told me to get it, so I started opening the door. He got angry and slammed it
shut. He demanded that I get it by reaching around the other way. There was no
way I could reach it. He yanked open the door and ordered me to get out and go
to the back of my car. I did what I was told, asking what did I do. He refused
to answer. Moments later, he walked around riffling through my purse. He asked
me if I had anything sharp that would cut him or a weapon. I have a small atheme
that I carry for when I do ritual in the woods. It's a set of two knives--two
inches and one inch. Since most people don't know what an athame is, I called
them knives. I bought them on Ebay for 99 cents. He dug to the bottom of the
outside pocket and found them. He again looked through the main pocket, then
gave me my purse back and demanded I give him my license and registration. I
asked him to hold his flashlight over my purse while I looked for them; it was
even a bigger mess than when I gave it to him. After I gave him the forms, I was
handcuff and put in the back of the squad car. I kept asking why and neither
officer would answer me. I asked to talk to a supervisor and was told he knew,
but he was too busy to talk to me. Where the second officer came from I don't
know. I was so overhelmed, I didn't see if there was a second car. They searched
my car without my permission and arranged to have my car towed. They took my
keys and drove me to the jail. The handcuffs were so tightened they make my
hands numb. Wednesday I woke up with my right wrist hurt and swollen.

After we got to the jail, I was informed that my car was swerving and that is
why I was stopped. They arrested me because of my carrying a concealed weapon. I
was totally amazed. They took off the handcuffs and I was processed. They took
all my jewelry, including my pentacle necklace, and I was searched. During the
processing, I was searched twice more, which I didn't understand. Except for
going to the bathroom, I was always in their sight, so why would they
continually have to search me? Another person was being given a breathalyzer
test. I asked to be given one as well. I wanted it as evidence that was sober
and I had never done it before. I asked to talk to a supervisor and again was
denied. I asked for an attorney and was denied. They placed me in a hallway.
There was a payphone, but I didn't know who to call and I no longer had any
money. The longer I waited, the more nervous, I became. Stress is the main
trigger for my asthma. As the attack started, I asked for my inhaler; they
refused to give it to me. It turned into a major attack to the point of throwing
up and peeing on myself. An officer walked in and told me to stop making myself
sick. I told him the best that I could that I have asthma and needed my inhaler.
A few minutes later, he allowed me to use it, but it took a little while before
I was able to talk. During that time a dark haired officer with a mustache, who
claimed he was a supervisor came it. I told him that I could talk yet and to
come back in a few minutes. He never came back, but another one did. He said he
was the shift sergeant who arrest me and that the other was the supervisor for
the jail. I explain to him what had happened and the actual size of the knifes.
He didn't understand why the officer decided to arrest me--that he had the
option of not. He also said that the officer contacted him and told him that the
knife was three inches long; it was at that point he gave the officer the option
of arresting or not. He said at this point there was nothing he could do, but at
the 9 am, I would be given my bond hearing and that I would most likely be let
go without having to pay a bond. I told him about my asthma, allergies, and
hypoglycemia. He said he would make sure that I had access to my inhaler and
given something to eat. I told him I would be missing two dozes of my allergy
medication because I didn't carry them with me. There was nothing he could do. I
asked for an attorney and why my rights hadn't been read to me. He said my
rights didn't have to be read to me because they hadn't asked about the knife,
but ignored my request for an attorney. Before he left, he again said he didn't
understand why I was arrested and was sorry that he couldn't help.

Later I was put into a holding room and bagged lunch with two sandwiches,
cookie, juice and an apple were given to me. The juice was high in sugar so it
helped bring my blood sugar left back up. The sandwich tasted strange and the
bread was all dry. It made me sick. I forced myself to eat half of it because I
needed to eat and nibbled on the stale cookie. It was so bad I didn't know what
kind it was. I rationed out the juice to keep my blood sugar up. For the rest of
the night, I sat on the mattress and walked the parade of people. Every few
hours my chest would start to get tight and I would ask for my inhaler. It was
hard to get their attention, but eventually it would be provided. Each time the
officers were getting nastier about it. Breakfast was served to the other
inmates but I didn't receive any, nor was I asked if I wanted any.

There weren't any clocks so I lost track of time. Eventually I was let out to
talk to the "magistrate"--the woman who set my bail. I tried to tell her my
side; she wouldn't listen. No one would. She was more interested in my income
and what property I owned, than finding out what my history was. I tried to tell
her that I had never been arrested; like everyone else, she ignored me. She told
me I was to go before the judge at 2pm. My bond was set at five thousand dollars
with ten percent down. The only person I could think to call who would have
access to that kind of money was my employer. I called him and he said he would
see what he could do. Later, I was able to use the phone twice more to get bond.
My sister-in-law wasn't home; my credit card wouldn't increase my limit. I
didn't know what I was going to do.

No one would give me any information nor help me understand the process. For
most of the morning, I sat with my back against the wall, crying. Lunch was
served, but by that time I had waited to long to eat. Looking at it make me feel
nauseous, eating would only make me vomit. Instead, I curled back up in my
corner and drank the Kool-Aid type drink they gave me. I continue to ask for my
inhaler regularly. The officers were getting hostile. At one point, they nearly
refused, but they gave it to me and told me it was the last time. Another
officer mentioned that they should send me to the nurse to be checked out.
However that wasn't done.

It seemed to be getting late. I started asking about the time. I was told I had
to appear before the judge at 2pm. I was already in enough trouble already; I
didn't need more by being late. The officers told me not to worry about it; the
paperwork wasn't filled out yet, but it would be soon. There was an announcement
made for something at three o'clock. I again told an officer about the 2 pm
appointment, he told me the paperwork still wasn't ready. Later I asked again
about the time, the officer said it was nearly four. Another person and I would
be arranged before five. The was a problem with the transfer of a person and
there was chaos for about 10-15 minutes. The officers had a good time beating up
a young man who was being difficult. They laughed and joked about how they
wanted to punch him bloody. After things had calmed down, my court appearance
had been pushed back to Thursday at 9:45 am but my bond had been posted. They
were just waiting to get the receipt. After dinner had been service, I was
finally let out of the cell and my paperwork processed. They had taken all the
cash I had on hand and deducted cost of my stay, returning the rest in a check.
They wouldn't give me copies of anything bond the receipt of my bond being paid
and the check. They allowed me to use the phone. I called my employer to tell
him that I had been released. He told me that he had tried to pay the bond
earlier, but was told that I would be arraigned at two and that it would be
reduced. When he called before three and he found out that I hadn't been, he
made arrangements to pay it before 4. I wasn't released until after 5pm. It was
too late to contact an attorney. By the time, the cab picked me up and the tow
driver returned to the lot, it was after 6:30pm. Neither of them would accept a
check and I ended up going over my limit on my credit card in order to get
myself and my car home.

On Wednesday, I arrived at the courthouse at 9:30. I asked where I need to be
and for my paperwork. I was told I didn't need any and was directed to the
courtroom. While I was waiting, I talked to a man who also had been in jail at
the same time. He heard the officers joking that my paperwork had been ready for
a while, but since I had been a pain they were going to teach me a lesson. It
was after 11:30 before I was called before the judge. He finally read me my
rights and gave me a phone number to call the next day to get an attorney. I
told him I had never been arrested before and he agreed to give me back the ten
percent my employer paid. I was able to leave.

I was cooperative from the beginning and through the whole ordeal. I keep asking
why, because I wasn't being given answers. The couple of times in the past, when
I had been stopped the first words the officer said was did you know you were
speeding. The arresting officer wouldn't tell me anything. It was as if he was
looking for a reason to arrest me and wouldn't stop until he found one. I didn't
know him and don't know why he would want to hurt me. I lost two days of work,
cost me money I couldn't afford, and has made me physically ill. I learned we do
not have as many rights as we think we do. You can be pulled over and arrested
without being told why. The officer and his co-workers refused to give me his
name or give me a copy of the police report. You don't have to be read your
rights, given access to an attorney, or receive medical attention. You can be
bullied and mocked by the people who are suppose to protect you; if you ask
questions you are considered a troublemaker and you are detained longer. I
always thought the police were to protect the public, but they are the ones the
public needs protection from.
Here is the first article I wrote about my experience. It is the first
of many. You are welcome to share it with whoever and whereever you
wish. I'm also asking if you have the time and are willing to calle the
Traverse City District Attorney's office at 231-922-4600. The Michigan
Attorney General is Mike Cox and his phone number is517-373-1110. I'd
appreciate any help you could give me.


Since the first day of the Patriot Act being signed these stories keep coming to light. Since Shrub and his ette's have subverted the government for their own purposes these abuses of our civil rights happen more often and harsher, each time those who are supposed to protect us get away with things like this.

Just a year ago there was a woman in the south, a Druid who faced trouble with her neighbors and the local police. This was in my blog.

These things are not going away they are getting worse. They will keep getting worse until we can get those in power who are stealing our rights out of their offices!
Those of you who are moderates, we need your voices even more right now!