Charges Dropped Against Man Jailed For Giving Middle Finger To Cop

By on June 6, 2011 in News 14

2675523388_4eeb75de3e35-year-old Shane Boor had no previous criminal record but could have faced up to six months in prison. Or three months, if it had been a sly middle finger where you pretend to scratch your nose. Via CBS Denver:

A harassment charge has been dropped in the case of a Colorado man who gave a state trooper the finger in April. Saying it’s free speech to give officers the finger, the Colorado State Patrol said in a statement late Friday that it asked the case to be dropped. The State Patrol described the incident as “protected free speech.”

Shane Boor, 35, was charged with misdemeanor harassment after acknowledging “flipping the bird” to an officer making a traffic stop near Denver April 19. The American Civil Liberties Union offered Boor free legal defense in the case that made headlines. Boor said he told the officer he gave him the finger “because you’re thieves and you harass people.”

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  • http://twitter.com/CMStewartWrite CMStewart

    I love getting the middle finger. It looks so funny, like somebody’s proudly displaying a boogee. XD

  • Anonymous

    “because you’re thieves and you harass people.” 
    Often times, criminals are less of a nuisance than cops. At least your allowed to defend yourself against criminals. Fight a cop and you end up fighting all cops… 

  • Anonymous

    More than charges dropped, they should be compensating him for wrongful arrest. Why is it that so many police don’t seem to know where the boundaries of personal liberties are?

  • http://profiles.google.com/saintzedofourlostyouth R Z

    I know very few people who would actively disagree with what he said about cops:

    ” you’re thieves and harass people”

    I know it sums up VERY succinctly my own feelings.

    and neither should he have been charged in the place-

    it’s hypocrisy at it’s best. and yet it’s the amerikan way!

  • Crypticfreak

    The mafia has their paid goons, the government has theirs. I really don’t see the difference. Its all psychology, the uniform provides the illusion of authority and importance. It reminds me of the nazies. To me they look like clowns. The only reason the world isn’t complete and total chaos, is because most people just want to live and enjoy their lives, it is not because of any of these so called authorities. If we all decided to lose it, there really isn’t much they can do. Also, as all of us who have had to deal with the police know, they don’t really seem concerned about our safety as much as making money money money.

  • DeepCough

    Because civil liberties prevent cops from doing their jobs, and they just can’t have that.

  • Tuna Ghost

    That’s the second or third reasonable, almost insightful comment I’ve seen you make in two weeks.  What…what is happening, who are you

  • Tuna Ghost

    It is pretty much a giant “protection” racket, isn’t it

  • Anonymous

    I’ll strip away the bait its wrapped in and take the complement. Have a nice swim in the ethers dear Tuna.

  • Simiantongue

    Charges dropped but the message is clear. Do something we don’t like and you will be harassed. It’s enough coercion for most people.

  • Jack Dixon

    I agree. The officer/LEO should be fined or deducted the amount that was used to process this case….gas, his pay, booking costs, prosecution review, etc, at the very least. At most he should loose or get docked a days pay with suspension for harassing and violating the mans rights. If officers are not punished for their deeds they have no incentive to stop doing such bad deeds.

    Jack Dixon
    http://www.frimobil.se/iphone  unlock your iPhones and other mobiles
    upplåsning

  • Commenter

    I don’t know where YOU are from, but walk outside and flip off a police officer or call him a pig and see what happens.  It is an act of hostility and aggression towards a police officer who absolutely reserves the right to use his discretion to arrest your disrespectful ass.  I realize not all cops are “good,” however it’s a little delusional to think one police officer represents a whole that is innately “bad” and you have the right to let them know about it.  While on the topic, did you know that if you flipped off somebody while driving that they abso-fucking-lutely can get your license plate number, call the police, and charge you with similar charges that this man was charged with?  I’d say his punishment certainly fit the crime and if he can’t curb his spontaneous aggression and anger, he needs some serious help.  I understand that some of you are *scared* because our law officials who are here to protect US frequently abuse their power and are not held accountable enough, and with that I very firmly agree, but this does not justify random actions such as these.. same goes for recording police officers and arguing with them when they ask you to turn it off.  You’re only recording them to begin with because you know you’re not supposed to or that they may be uncomfortable with it and I think it is reasonable that an officer simply ask for you to turn it off and you comply.  You go looking for a fight, you’re sure as hell going to find one, but if we can address WHY people are so hostile towards police, WHY they would want to record police officers or flip them the bird, instead of demanding the right to do those things, we may actually make some progress.  Pick your battles and this is certainly not the one.

  • Commenter

    I don’t know where YOU are from, but walk outside and flip off a police officer or call him a pig and see what happens.  It is an act of hostility and aggression towards a police officer who absolutely reserves the right to use his discretion to arrest your disrespectful ass.  I realize not all cops are “good,” however it’s a little delusional to think one police officer represents a whole that is innately “bad” and you have the right to let them know about it.  While on the topic, did you know that if you flipped off somebody while driving that they abso-fucking-lutely can get your license plate number, call the police, and charge you with similar charges that this man was charged with?  I’d say his punishment certainly fit the crime and if he can’t curb his spontaneous aggression and anger, he needs some serious help.  I understand that some of you are *scared* because our law officials who are here to protect US frequently abuse their power and are not held accountable enough, and with that I very firmly agree, but this does not justify random actions such as these.. same goes for recording police officers and arguing with them when they ask you to turn it off.  You’re only recording them to begin with because you know you’re not supposed to or that they may be uncomfortable with it and I think it is reasonable that an officer simply ask for you to turn it off and you comply.  You go looking for a fight, you’re sure as hell going to find one, but if we can address WHY people are so hostile towards police, WHY they would want to record police officers or flip them the bird, instead of demanding the right to do those things, we may actually make some progress.  Pick your battles and this is certainly not the one.

  • Richard

    Why would police object to something that is not illegal?  Please show me where it is illegal to video police.  Please show me where it is illegal to give them the finger.  Under U. S. v. Bad Elk if a LEO is arresting you for something that is not illegal it is absolutely legal to resist to the point of using deadly force.  Read it and reply.