👮♂️"In this day and time there's all sorts of things going on." ---- But is that really so or just an excuse?
Clinton, AR — March 22, 2024.
A First Amendment auditor (Justin / The Random Patriot) was filming and looking at patrol cars on public grounds at the Clinton Police Department.
Lt. Scott Solomon approached, demanded ID, and claimed Arkansas is a “stop and ID” state.
The auditor identified himself as an independent journalist, refused to produce ID, and pointed out Arkansas has no general stop-and-ID law requiring identification without reasonable suspicion of a crime.
Solomon also mixed up the 1st and 4th Amendments.
Sheriff Coons later joined and made similar claims.
After the video spread, complaints poured in.
An internal investigation followed.
On April 10, 2024, Chief Murdoch reprimanded Solomon for lack of leadership, policy knowledge, and misuse of resources.
He was demoted from lieutenant to patrol officer, lost pay and his take-home car, and was put on probation.
Solomon resigned the same day.
Arkansas is not a traditional stop-and-ID state. Drivers must show a license on a traffic stop. Otherwise, ID is generally not required during a consensual encounter or when simply observing public police vehicles.
❓How can a 14-year veteran police lieutenant not know basic stop-and-ID rules?
❓Do some officers just bluff their way through entire careers?
❓Did you feel embarrassed for this officer, even a little?