Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
A disabled Iraq war veteran said on Monday that he plans to battle Hinds County to get nearly $5,000 back that deputies confiscated during a traffic stop.
The Texas man asked the American Civil Liberties Union for help because the county said he'll have to sue to get his money back.
Deputies in Clinton pulled Hiran Medina over while his friend was driving during their trip from Kileen, Texas, to Georgia.
Medina said he cooperated with the deputies and even let them to search his van. It's a decision he said could cost him $5,000 of his hard-earned money and time in court fighting to get it back.
Medina vowed not to return home to Texas until he gets the money back that Hinds County sheriff's deputies confiscated during the traffic stop Saturday night.
Medina said the money was to buy supplies for a Texas lawn service.
"I'm thinking, seized property, we didn't get a ticket or nothing," Medina said. "They just took our money and left."
Medina gave deputies permission to search his minivan. Once deputies found the money, Medina said they handcuffed him and his friend and read them their rights. But then they let the men go.
Medina's friend got a warning for allegedly swerving.
Deputies gave Medina a forfeiture notice saying that Medina has to sue the county within 30 days to get his money, and if he doesn't, the sheriff's office gets to keep every penny.
Hinds County sheriff's officials declined to comment on camera.
"I feel violated, man, and discriminated," Medina said. "We got stopped because we are racially profiled. We are black."
Medina took his case to the ACLU. The organization could represent him in court.
"It could be an example of the kind of racial profiling that we see across Mississippi, and that doesn't matter what race of the officer or the deputy was," said Brent Cox, of the ACLU.
Medina said he is not involved with any illegal activity and doesn't have a criminal record for drugs.
He said he thinks his Texas plates, foreign accent and dark skin were the reason he was pulled over.
"I told him I served my country for 20 years," Medina said. "I served in Iraq. I am a disabled vet and that's how you treat me?"
Hinds County deputies made a marijuana bust at the same location earlier this month. They recovered 100 pounds of marijuana. The truck also had Texas plates.
Medina said the deputies were talking about that bust while he was handcuffed. He also said they laughed about taking his money.
Medina said he has contacted the sheriff's office Internal Affairs Division.
The ACLU said on Monday that anyone who must travel with large sums of money should get travelers checks or keep bank receipts.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: MSNBC
Copyright: 2009 MSNBC
Contact: Contact us - About msnbc.com- msnbc.com
Website: Iraq War Vet Wants Confiscated Cash Returned - News- msnbc.com
The Texas man asked the American Civil Liberties Union for help because the county said he'll have to sue to get his money back.
Deputies in Clinton pulled Hiran Medina over while his friend was driving during their trip from Kileen, Texas, to Georgia.
Medina said he cooperated with the deputies and even let them to search his van. It's a decision he said could cost him $5,000 of his hard-earned money and time in court fighting to get it back.
Medina vowed not to return home to Texas until he gets the money back that Hinds County sheriff's deputies confiscated during the traffic stop Saturday night.
Medina said the money was to buy supplies for a Texas lawn service.
"I'm thinking, seized property, we didn't get a ticket or nothing," Medina said. "They just took our money and left."
Medina gave deputies permission to search his minivan. Once deputies found the money, Medina said they handcuffed him and his friend and read them their rights. But then they let the men go.
Medina's friend got a warning for allegedly swerving.
Deputies gave Medina a forfeiture notice saying that Medina has to sue the county within 30 days to get his money, and if he doesn't, the sheriff's office gets to keep every penny.
Hinds County sheriff's officials declined to comment on camera.
"I feel violated, man, and discriminated," Medina said. "We got stopped because we are racially profiled. We are black."
Medina took his case to the ACLU. The organization could represent him in court.
"It could be an example of the kind of racial profiling that we see across Mississippi, and that doesn't matter what race of the officer or the deputy was," said Brent Cox, of the ACLU.
Medina said he is not involved with any illegal activity and doesn't have a criminal record for drugs.
He said he thinks his Texas plates, foreign accent and dark skin were the reason he was pulled over.
"I told him I served my country for 20 years," Medina said. "I served in Iraq. I am a disabled vet and that's how you treat me?"
Hinds County deputies made a marijuana bust at the same location earlier this month. They recovered 100 pounds of marijuana. The truck also had Texas plates.
Medina said the deputies were talking about that bust while he was handcuffed. He also said they laughed about taking his money.
Medina said he has contacted the sheriff's office Internal Affairs Division.
The ACLU said on Monday that anyone who must travel with large sums of money should get travelers checks or keep bank receipts.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: MSNBC
Copyright: 2009 MSNBC
Contact: Contact us - About msnbc.com- msnbc.com
Website: Iraq War Vet Wants Confiscated Cash Returned - News- msnbc.com
