Some people might argue that it is simply in some people’s nature to assume the worst about another person. These assumptions seem to increase when a person is acting contrary to normal expectations, even if those actions are not necessarily illegal. For example, police in Illinois have recently arrested a woman on a prostitution and drug charge after witnessing a man make a phone call.
Police claim they witnessed the driver of a car parked in a hotel parking lot make a phone call. Because a woman standing outside of one of the hotel rooms answered a call at approximately the same time, they assumed he was calling the woman. After the phone call, police report that the passenger in the car approached the woman. They both entered the hotel room, and the man exited approximately four minutes later.
Police later pulled the car containing the two men over and asked them about the visit. They claim the men initially told officers that the passenger had been visiting his girlfriend, but then stated they had met the woman at a mall and were meeting with the intent of having sex. Officers then returned to the hotel where they searched the woman’s room and allegedly found drugs and drug paraphernalia. She now faces charges related to prostitution and drugs.
There are many aspects of this case that are unclear at this time. For example, it is unclear why police officers were watching the hotel and why they found a phone call so suspicious. Additionally, it is unclear why they pulled the two men over, what may have merited a search of the woman’s hotel room or if the men will also face charges. Even if the Illinois police officers felt that the men and woman were behaving suspiciously, there are rights that protect them even when suspected of criminal behavior. Many people facing criminal charges, including prostitution or a drug charge, have found it helpful to obtain advice and guidance from those familiar with the criminal justice system; those with such experience can help the accused determine if their rights have been violated and ensure that these rights are upheld as they continue through the criminal process.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Woman arrested on prostitution, drug charges at Downers Grove hotel”, Dawn Rhodes, July 23, 2014