Terrance Huff and his passenger were traveling along Interstate 55-70 through Collinsville when they were stopped by police officer Michael Reichert. Huff and his friend were headed home after visiting a Star Trek exhibit in St. Louis.
Around 8:00 a.m., on December 4, 2010, Reichert pulled Huff over and the encounter was captured on the in-dash camera in the police car. Reichert told the men they were being pulled over because Huff had crossed halfway over into another lane. Reichert asked Huff to get out of the car and Reichert explains again why he pulled him over. Huff explained it may ave been due fumbling with his drink. The officer then asked Huff if he’d ever been arrested or had a warrant out for his arrest. Huff responds he was arrested some 20 years earlier.
Reichert called for backup and when the other officer arrived, Huff was given a warning. Reichert then asked Huff if he could search the car and Huff said “no.” The officer then told Huff that without consent to search, he would bring a dog to sniff the outside of the car and if the dog reacted positively, there would be probable cause to search the vehicle. Huff asked to leave and the officer told him he was free to go, but his car was not.
Reichert asked if there were drugs in the car and Huff responded to the best of his knowledge there were none. The dog was brought out and Reichert said the dog alerted to a drug scent by sitting and scratching. Reichert then conducted a search of the car. After a few minutes, Reichert returned to Huff and told him there’s marijuana “shake” or loose leaves, seeds and stems, in the car under the seats, but he was going to let him go.
After he was back in Ohio, Huff obtained a copy of the video taken from the in-dash camera, he edited it, added commentary, graphics and a soundtrack from “Star Trek.” The video has had nearly a million hits.
Earlier this month, Huff filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was detained illegally and his civil rights were violated.
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