I'm sitting outside and they pull up saying they got a call about a noise complaint. It's so quiet you can hear the crickets! I go inside and come back out to take out the trash, and an officer asks me when do I gotta move out by? Same officer who held me in jail a few days ago, but didn't charge me. I told him, I'm fighting it and I'm not moving, went back inside and grabbed my camera and started recording them sitting around in the gazebo not looking for noise, or should I say, the alleged noise. Soon as they see me with the camera saying "they came for a noise complaint, but it's quiet out here, and he has the nerve to ask about when I'm moving" they leave. They had their bright shining in my window, it's 11:30pm my kids are sleep and their waking them up. Is this not harassment?
I have met with several police chiefs and senior law enforcement officers on behalf of a client in situations such as yours. I can understand and sympathize with your situation, however if/when you speak to these senior level officials, you need to be calm, cool, and be able to tell a complete story in such a manner that this senior official can begin to investigate your claim and situation.
Do not expect an apology or written report, but you can reasonably expect that this particular officer would be asked to stay away from you or at minimum have another officer present to insure nothing untoward is occurring.
Just an FYI, it is still a legal gray area as to recording the police. Technically it is still currently a crime although this might change or choose not to be enforced by a Lake County Judge. Keep in mind that in order to even have a Judge consider that question, you would first have to be arrested for that alleged violation. Don't provoke the troublesome police officer, but keep a detailed diary of your contacts with him.
I would also strong suggest you consult an attorney.
Daniel G. GalivanCriminal Defense AttorneyClarendon Hills, IL ·
To answer your question calling the same department you say is harrassing you to report police harrassment would be futile. Request a meeting with the chief of police to report the conduct. If it continues, consult an attorney. www.galivanlaw.net
If your issue is the with the police department, file a complaint with either their citizens board (if they have one) or the internal affairs bureau or the ombudsman (or whatever complaint board they have).
Depending on how hard you want to push it, you could make a request for the call log to find out whether there was really a noise complaint.
You say you were arrested but not charged, but you don't say what the alleged violation was. If there is an ongoing investigation and you might be charged in the future, you should strongly consider hiring an attorney now. The police may be delaying charging you so that you don't get a public defender or other attorney assigned.
