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Nyjer Morgan Pulled Over, "Loses Temper" with Police

I completely missed this, but Primer caught it for me. There's not enough detail here to say definitively what happened, but it's a pretty interesting story on a number of levels.

Morgan offered to bring three Dodgers players -- Russell Martin, Joe Beimel and Delwyn Young -- back to the Westin hotel after all had been at a nearby restaurant after the Pirates' 6-2 loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday. Just after leaving the parking lot, Morgan was pulled over by a city policeman on West General Robinson Street, which runs along the third-base side of the stadium.

According to Morgan, the officer informed him that the tint on his vehicle windows was too dark and violated the state law.

"I was texting in the back seat and before you know it, we're sitting on the curb and it's like, what's going on right now?" Martin said...

"I guess we fit the description pretty good -- we're in Pittsburgh, young, African-American driver, nice car. It was embarrassing."

Martin's statement offends me deeply--Nyjer Morgan isn't "young"!

All kidding aside, whether Martin's right to be upset or not, one would think that a statement by a public figure that implies that Pittsburgh police are racist would merit more news coverage than this story has gotten. Also, there's this:

When the officer asked Morgan to step out of the car, the Pirates' outfielder admitted he got agitated and lost his temper. Morgan said that all the players were searched. Morgan's SUV also was searched.

According to Morgan, the officer that first pulled him over called for backup -- about three other police cruisers -- during the search process.

So Morgan lost his temper with the police and didn't get in any trouble? That's remarkable. I wonder what the real story is here. I assume if I lost my temper after being pulled over, I'd be taken to jail. But I'm not a baseball player.

The LA Times has more:

Russell Martin, Delwyn Young and Joe Beimel shook their heads and giggled when asked about how they were pulled over, individually searched and forced to sit on a curb by a police officer outside of PNC Park the previous night.

The players were at a late-night spot across the street from the ballpark that describes itself as being perfect for a "pregame meal or postgame drink" and accepted a ride back to their hotel by Pirates outfielder Nyjer Morgan. According to the players, the officer told them that Morgan's black SUV was stopped because the front windows were tinted. The recently purchased vehicle also didn't have a license plate.

The article later quotes Beimel (who is white) saying he did not think the incident was racially motivated. Personally, I don't know what to say--I don't have any experience with Pittsburgh police and am lucky to have only been pulled over once in my life. I believe "Driving While Black" exists, but I suppose it's also natural that the police would notice a new vehicle with no plates, whether or not they could see who was inside. That doesn't explain the search, of course.

I don't mean to stir the pot here, but I'm really surprised that I can't find this anywhere in the Pittsburgh papers. (UPDATE: Dejan Kovacevic did link to the LA Times story in his blog.)

0 recs  |  Comment 22 comments

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At least...

the Pirates didn’t try hushing it up.

by Thunder on Sep 20, 2008 8:18 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

No License Plate?

If I was stopped (here in NY) driving w/o a license plate they would have impounded the car. When you buy the car (assuming you are not trading in another car) , you get a temporary plate that you must have on the vehicle.

Before they stoped him, how did they know it was not stolen from a dealer’s lot? With no plate, they can’t check on the vehicle before they pull it over.

This is not profiling, it is proper police work to me.

My question is why Morgan was given special treatment? Why was he allowed to drive away w/o a plate on the car?

by zogger on Sep 20, 2008 9:05 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

they can check the VIN number

Morgan could have had documentation that established the car as his. He’s also a notable public figure. Its not like he would be hard to find if needed.

by ol Pete on Sep 21, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The article says he had a temp plate on.

Ergo, not out of the ordinary. Except that it was expensive car being driven by a young black guy.

by Vlad on Sep 21, 2008 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Vlad, maybe I’m crazy, but which article says he had temp plates? I can’t find that reference.

by Charlie on Sep 21, 2008 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This one:

“All four players said Wednesday that the reason officers gave them for the traffic stop was that the tinting in the front windows of Morgan’s SUV – which he recently purchased and which still had temporary license plates – was too dark to conform with the local code.” -Tony Jackson, The Daily Breeze

by Vlad on Sep 22, 2008 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

My question is

how can the players contend Morgan was stopped for DWB when the police say he was stopped for tinted windows? I mean, wouldn’t the tint make it difficult if not impossible for the police to tell the race of the driver? Also, if I were a cop and I couldn’t see inside the vehicle because the windows were tinted, I’d sure as hell call for backup, because I wouldn’t be able to see if someone were pulling a shotgun on me. I imagine that’s why they have laws against tinted windows in the first place.

by bucdaddy on Sep 20, 2008 9:42 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

bucdaddy

You just make too much sense.

by patthatt on Sep 20, 2008 9:55 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

From what I understand

Morgan’s car had temporary plates.

I’m really surprised that I can’t find this anywhere in the Pittsburgh papers.

I’m not.

Steve Z

by steve_z on Sep 20, 2008 10:20 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Maybe the Nuttings are just too cheap to put out a proper press release?

by matskralc on Sep 21, 2008 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe you're too dense...

…to notice that I don’t care about what you think of me?

Steve Z

by steve_z on Sep 21, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The pullover

As a retired Police supervisor,I can say with confidence that the Police had sufficient probable cause to pull over a new vehicle,or any vehicle for that matter,that did not display a registration plate(which has to be current,of course),and that had windows that were tinted beyond a legal level. Whether or not there was addtional probable cause for a search of the occupants is another matter,and unknown at this point…

by rissaldar on Sep 20, 2008 2:31 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I think it was in the P-G, at least

Pretty sure I saw a one-liner about it at the bottom of one of Dejan’s things. Larger point stands, though.

And isn’t it remarkable how trouble seems to follow Joe Beinel around?

by Vlad on Sep 20, 2008 2:57 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

If it’s in the P-G, I can’t find it. I ran it through Google News and it didn’t come up, and I looked through all the Notebooks, too.

by Charlie on Sep 20, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

“Three Dodgers hitch a ride with Nyjer Morgan and get delayed by the Pittsburgh Police because of … tinted windows? Russell Martin makes a fairly serious accusation in this Los Angeles Times report.”

From the PBC blog posted on September 18th entitled: “Morning links: About that effort. . .”

But it’s still barely a mention.

I made most of my life decisions at a Foghat concert... I stand by them.

by Chester J Lampwick on Sep 20, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ah. Thanks.

by Charlie on Sep 20, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I linked to the story

in the Sept 17 gamethread.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST

by cocktailsfor2 on Sep 20, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Read the book "Are Cops Racist?"

It’s pretty compelling, scientific study on whether cops are racist, and the reaction in inner-city, predominantly minority neighborhoods to increased police protection.

by hisjazziness on Sep 21, 2008 7:51 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Why Searched?

Sounds shady to me. Why were the passengers and driver searched? Nowhere do I see any suspicion of alcohol or drugs and yet the police officers manage to get their hands in their pockets. I generally respect Pittsburgh Police (as opposed to borough police, who are known for corruption all around town) but I wish the media would relate as to why they were searched.

by SkeedTom on Sep 22, 2008 5:47 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

its not a Pittsburgh thing

its pretty standard and they get around the requirement for probable cause by asking permission. If you refuse, they can hold you there for a while and they can call for a drug dog which would provide the probable cause.

by ol Pete on Sep 22, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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