So uh, anybody know any good lawyers in Boston?

[yoursweatersux]

So I was riding my bike through Northeastern University's campus yesterday and got hassled by some cops... apparently I'm getting a court summons in the mail for "tresspassing, destruction of property, and failure to obey a police officer". Here's my recounting of what happened if you're interested (I wrote it as soon as I got back to my apartment).

I was riding my bike with four other individuals, 2 bike riders and 2 skateboarders, all friends of mine. We were riding our bikes through the Northeastern campus when we noticed police officers following us. We continued for about 100 yards and made a left turn into what was essentially a dead end. At this point we stopped and got off our bikes as the officers approached us in their car. At no point in time did we perform any “tricks” or use our bikes for anything other than transportation. After asking us whether or not we were students, the shorter officer with the mustache told me to “get the hell out of here”. At this point, I began to ride away, and told my friends that we had been instructed to leave the campus. Within about 30 seconds, the police car appeared on the one-lane road we were using to exit the premises. I never heard any commands or orders to stop. I assumed that the officers were following us to assure that we left the area promptly, and my assumption appeared to be confirmed by the fact that they simply drove past my friends John and Matt, who at about 30 yards behind me were the slowest two people to exit the campus. As we left the campus a man that appeared to be a security guard on a bike yelled something at us, although I didn’t hear what he said in particular. Seeking simply to leave the campus as quickly as possible we rode our bikes past the unidentified man on the bike. As we got onto the street that ran adjacent to the campus, the man on the bike appeared next to us and identified himself as a police officer and told us to get off our bikes. We immediately complied once we were aware that a police officer was instructing us. They took our identification and information, and informed us that we would be receiving a summons in the mail. At this point, we were released.


So, anybody knows any lawyers? Thoughts? In my opinion the trespassing and destruction of property charges aren't going to be included in the summons since they're pretty much bogus. As far as I know you can ride your bike through a campus. Secondly, we never once touched any of their property so unless the officer flat-out lies (which he might, this guy was a real prick) I can't see that being one of the charges.

The only charge I'm concerned about is the failure to obey a police officer. Unfortunately, us blowing past the police officer on the bike and going about a block before realizing he was an officer could be construed as failure to obey an officer. I'm sure they'll make it sound like he was yelling STOP STOP the whole way, and that we clearly knew he was an officer. Also, this is a misdemeanor not an infraction, so it would go down on my record which I honestly just cannot afford to happen.

I've never had any prior trouble with the law though so I'm hopeful that at the arraignment the failure to obey an officer can be bargained down to something that won't go on my record. That's possible right? Anyway, I'd love to hear what you guys think and if you have any advice.

[indeedproceed]

That sucks almost as much as my sweater. Sorry bud.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

I currently study law, and could tell you there is a chance you can be convicted of trespassing. You most likely weren't supposed to be in there and there was probably a sign saying that. However, I dont think you disobeyed a police officer if you left like he said. This is a confusing situation, and I know plenty of lawyers that do this stuff all the time. Too bad they're all in New York, but if you want I can get you some advice from some experts.

[RAcker]

So I was riding my bike through Northeastern University's campus yesterday and got hassled by some cops... apparently I'm getting a court summons in the mail for "tresspassing, destruction of property, and failure to obey a police officer". Here's my recounting of what happened if you're interested (I wrote it as soon as I got back to my apartment).

I was riding my bike with four other individuals, 2 bike riders and 2 skateboarders, all friends of mine. We were riding our bikes through the Northeastern campus when we noticed police officers following us. We continued for about 100 yards and made a left turn into what was essentially a dead end. At this point we stopped and got off our bikes as the officers approached us in their car. At no point in time did we perform any “tricks” or use our bikes for anything other than transportation. After asking us whether or not we were students, the shorter officer with the mustache told me to “get the hell out of here”. At this point, I began to ride away, and told my friends that we had been instructed to leave the campus. Within about 30 seconds, the police car appeared on the one-lane road we were using to exit the premises. I never heard any commands or orders to stop. I assumed that the officers were following us to assure that we left the area promptly, and my assumption appeared to be confirmed by the fact that they simply drove past my friends John and Matt, who at about 30 yards behind me were the slowest two people to exit the campus. As we left the campus a man that appeared to be a security guard on a bike yelled something at us, although I didn’t hear what he said in particular. Seeking simply to leave the campus as quickly as possible we rode our bikes past the unidentified man on the bike. As we got onto the street that ran adjacent to the campus, the man on the bike appeared next to us and identified himself as a police officer and told us to get off our bikes. We immediately complied once we were aware that a police officer was instructing us. They took our identification and information, and informed us that we would be receiving a summons in the mail. At this point, we were released.


So, anybody knows any lawyers? Thoughts? In my opinion the trespassing and destruction of property charges aren't going to be included in the summons since they're pretty much bogus. As far as I know you can ride your bike through a campus. Secondly, we never once touched any of their property so unless the officer flat-out lies (which he might, this guy was a real prick) I can't see that being one of the charges.

The only charge I'm concerned about is the failure to obey a police officer. Unfortunately, us blowing past the police officer on the bike and going about a block before realizing he was an officer could be construed as failure to obey an officer. I'm sure they'll make it sound like he was yelling STOP STOP the whole way, and that we clearly knew he was an officer. Also, this is a misdemeanor not an infraction, so it would go down on my record which I honestly just cannot afford to happen.

I've never had any prior trouble with the law though so I'm hopeful that at the arraignment the failure to obey an officer can be bargained down to something that won't go on my record. That's possible right? Anyway, I'd love to hear what you guys think and if you have any advice.

You did good by recording your story here in writing.  Hopefully that can be used to help you in some way.  If you have never been in legal trouble and just didn't see the "No Trespassing" sign, hopefully you will be shown some mercy.

[Truck Lewis]

were they northeastern or boston cops?

[yoursweatersux]

I currently study law, and could tell you there is a chance you can be convicted of trespassing. You most likely weren't supposed to be in there and there was probably a sign saying that. However, I dont think you disobeyed a police officer if you left like he said. This is a confusing situation, and I know plenty of lawyers that do this stuff all the time. Too bad they're all in New York, but if you want I can get you some advice from some experts.

Frankly, I'd be ok with a trespassing charge; first time trespassers are given an infraction instead of a misdemeanor so it wouldn't go on my record. There is something I forgot to mention about the failure to obey an officer part though: one of my friends apparently said something wise to them before we left, and I think the officers told him to stop walking away. I didn't hear that since I was 30 yards away by that time. In that sense, my friend was running from the cops while I was kind of unaware of what exactly was going on. I'm sure the officers are going to make it sound like they told all of us to stop initially and that we ran for about 3 blocks.

[yoursweatersux]

were they northeastern or boston cops?

yup

[Redz]

were they northeastern or boston cops?

yup

yup, which?

[yall hate]

wait till you actually get the summons before you freak out.

they may have just been trying to scare you guys (or they may actually be jerks).

by the letter of the law, yes you trespassed - but then it comes down to whether the campus is open to the public (certainly a good argument it is), whether the general public tends to walk around where ever you were etc...

The failure to obey is easy enough to deal with by stating exactly what you have here, that you didnt hear them. 

I am not sure what property they could have accused you of damaging according to your accounting...

Wait till you get a summons to worry about it, I wouldnt be surprised if nothing happens from this

[yoursweatersux]

were they northeastern or boston cops?

yup

yup, which?

whoops I misread that. Northeastern cops

[Truck Lewis]

wait till you actually get the summons before you freak out.

they may have just been trying to scare you guys (or they may actually be jerks).

by the letter of the law, yes you trespassed - but then it comes down to whether the campus is open to the public (certainly a good argument it is), whether the general public tends to walk around where ever you were etc...

The failure to obey is easy enough to deal with by stating exactly what you have here, that you didnt hear them. 

I am not sure what property they could have accused you of damaging according to your accounting...

Wait till you get a summons to worry about it, I wouldnt be surprised if nothing happens from this

well put, i agree with everything YallHate said,,,

i figured they were NU cops and not boston cops

i agree probably just trying to scare you or retaliate for your friend's comment.

Id be suprised if anything comes of it. 

[blueygreen]

[Byrdman]

I currently study law, and could tell you there is a chance you can be convicted of trespassing. You most likely weren't supposed to be in there and there was probably a sign saying that. However, I dont think you disobeyed a police officer if you left like he said. This is a confusing situation, and I know plenty of lawyers that do this stuff all the time. Too bad they're all in New York, but if you want I can get you some advice from some experts.

Where are you studying law?

[Brickowski]

I know several first class criminal defense lawyers in Boston, but none that you could likely afford.  And even it you could, it's probably not worth it for a misdemeanor. Keep in mind that this is not the sort of case that the district attorney's office is going to spend significant effort to prosecute, especially if they were campus cops or rent-a-cops.

Ask the judge to appoint someone to represent you on a pro bono basis.

One more thing.  If you are Black or Latino, ask your court-appointed attorney about a civil counterclaim for racial profiling and/or police harrassment. That will get the DA's office thinking about whether or not it really wants to pursue the matter.

[Eja117]

Since Roy lives in Jersey I'm going to say no.