Witness to Turner traffic stop recalls fear when law enforcement flooded Route 4
Stephanie Hopkins said she’s still terrified after being caught in the middle of a felony traffic stop, and she questions whether U.S. Marshals ensured her safety.
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TURNER, Maine — A Wilton woman was driving on Route 4 in Turner on Thursday when she found herself in a situation that left her terrified.
Stephanie Hopkins said she was on her way home that day when she noticed that a car was traveling close behind her. Then, all of a sudden, the two cars in front of her stopped. The next thing she knew, several law enforcement officers were surrounding her car with their guns drawn.
It was later learned that U.S. Marshals were conducting felony traffic stop in connection with an ongoing fugitive investigation.
But Hopkins said Friday that she’s still distraught after being caught in the middle of the traffic stop and questions whether U.S. Marshals who conducted the stop prioritized her safety.
Hopkins described feeling frantic during the situation. She said there was no separation between her and the suspect, which made her feel extremely unsafe, fearful that things could have easily gone wrong.
“I felt like a sitting duck,” Hopkins said. “He was the car immediately in front of me. I was terrified.”
In the video she shared with NEWS CENTER Maine, her car appears to sit directly behind the suspect’s vehicle with no distinct barrier between them. She said she wants law enforcement to find a better way to keep civilians out of any potential crossfire.
Ryan Guay is the supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal for the district of Maine. Guay said an arrest was made during the stop, and an illegally owned firearm was recovered.
Guay said Marshals use an abundance of caution to mitigate risk to law enforcement and the public during stops like this one, adding that fugitive stops are almost always conducted in this manner to ensure the suspect doesn’t flee the scene.
During a phone interview prior to reviewing the video footage, Guay said, “we did have vehicles between her and someone else. We are not going to keep an uninvolved vehicle not involved in between us and the suspect.”
Later during the call, Guay walked back his statements saying he couldn’t be entirely sure there was separation between Hopkins and the suspect’s care, adding that he needed to view the video first.
Guay also acknowledged that the incident was clearly very upsetting and frightening for Hopkins.
“I’ve reviewed the video provided. It was very obvious, based upon the audio, that this incident was very upsetting, frightening, and overwhelming for the individual recording it. We completely understand that normal, law-abiding citizens aren’t typically exposed or witness to these type of events,” Guay wrote in an email following the phone interview.
Guay said he doesn’t believe the video Hopkins shared shows every aspect of the encounter.
“On the onset of this stop, you can clearly hear a member of our Task Force giving specific instructions to this individual, to ‘stay right where you are,’ which she appropriately complied with and followed. What it doesn’t show accurately in the video is the distance from the suspect vehicle and this individual as it appears to be possibly ‘zoomed.’ You can see this if you scroll through the advance bar,” Guay wrote.
Hopkins video appears to show both a zoomed-in and zoomed-out view of the encounter.
Guay writes that there seems to be other visuals missing as well when viewing the Hopkins’ video as well.
“What you also can’t see from the video is the number of law enforcement officers to the left and right of the lead vehicles, flanking the suspect vehicle. What also isn’t seen is that there was also a Task Force member that stayed near this individual’s vehicle during and after the event ensuring her safety. It also appears she asked if she was safe and a task force member said, ‘Yes.’ It also appeared we checked on her directly after and assisted her in leaving the area as soon as possible,” Guay wrote.
Hopkins’ video shows a nearly 360-degree view of the incident that shows officers to the front, side, and back of her.
She said officers did escort her from the scene, but she said their efforts didn’t make her feel any less terrified.
“I just keep replaying, ‘What if he had had a weapon?’ ‘What of he had started shooting?’ ‘What if?’ Glad he didn’t,” she said.
Hopkins said she believes law enforcement should ensure no one is ever at risk of getting caught in the middle at stops like she was.
When Does Road Rage Become a Crime?
January 31, 2018|By MacDonald Law Office, LLC
What is Road Rage?
Some Marylanders who are otherwise nonviolent, law-abiding citizens can be driven to a level of anger and frustration they didn’t think they had in them when they encounter an aggressive, dangerous, incompetent or rude driver. We know the resulting behavior as “road rage.” Under Maryland law, “road rage” or aggressive driving is defined as as committing three or more of the following acts: speeding, ignoring road signs or traffic signals, tailgating, not yielding right of way, or passing improperly or on the right. The fines for this can be up to $335
Road rage can take many forms. Unfortunately, it too often escalates to violence — sometimes deadly violence. While “road rage” itself isn’t a criminal charge, common behaviors associated with are crimes.
Even if your road rage doesn’t escalate to trying to harm someone, behavior such as swearing at someone from your car, making obscene gestures, waving a gun or tailgating them can be considered harassment, particularly if you follow another driver and continue the behavior. Aside from landing you under arrest, it’s a dangerous form of distracted driving.
Maryland Road Rage Laws
Road rage often involves assault. One car bumps into another or perhaps a driver takes a parking spot someone was waiting for. For whatever reason, both drivers get out of their vehicles and punches get thrown.
Assault, however, can involve all types of weapons. Drivers overcome with road rage have been known to use baseball bats, pepper spray and anything handy to strike someone.
Because firearms are so prevalent in this country, road rage too often turns deadly when one or more people pull a gun. Shooting someone is considered assault with a deadly weapon.
Guns aren’t the only deadly weapons, however. When drivers intentionally ram their vehicle into someone or hit another car in an attempt to injure them, that is also considered assault with a deadly weapon.
The next time you’re angered by another person’s driving or are the object of someone’s anger, don’t respond in kind, even if he or she is in the wrong. Perhaps give a wave of apology to diffuse the situation.
If the other driver is following you or driving aggressively near you, get out of his or her way and put some space between you. If you feel threatened, call 911. If you both stop because there’s been a crash, it may be wise to remain in your vehicle and wait for the police.
Wadesboro Traffic Ticket Lawyer
Home/Wadesboro Traffic Ticket Lawyer
Law Office of Huffman & Kendrick, PLLC, was founded in 1961.
Wadesboro Traffic Ticket Attorneys
Traffic violations, such as speeding tickets, are common enough. This fact, however, does not make them any less serious than other legal matters. Depending on the circumstances of your violation, punishments could be severe, like having your license revoked or having your violation negatively impact your insurance rates and personal finances. Under these conditions, it is prudent to hire the counsel and representation of an Anson County, NC, defense attorney.
If you find yourself facing the consequences of an alleged traffic violation, you might think that your only option is to pay the associated fee and deal with the subsequent penalties. However, an experienced Wadesboro traffic ticket lawyer can fight to minimize the impact the traffic ticket may have on your life. Before you go ahead and pay the fine, accepting the consequences to follow, contact an attorney. Don’t wait to get the help you need.
Common Traffic Ticket Cases in Anson County, North Carolina
At the Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick, we offer guidance and representation for clients dealing with a litany of traffic violations. We can handle various types of tickets, including:
- Seat belt violations
- U-turn violations
- Stop sign violations
- Speeding violations
- Red light violations
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Carpool lane violations
- Texting while driving
- Driving without a license
- Failure to yield to pedestrians
- Driving without insurance
- Driving while impaired
- Driving an unregistered vehicle
- Fleeing the scene of an accident.
Contact A North Carolina Law Firm
You Can Trust
At Law Office of Huffman & Kendrick, PLLC, our firm is dedicated to achieving positive legal outcomes. Our extensive resources and knowledge can work on your behalf. Get the legal resources and fierce advocacy you need. You can schedule your appointment at our Monroe office by calling us directly or by emailing our firm.
Call Us980-447-5271
Is it Worth Hiring a Lawyer for a Speeding Ticket in North Carolina?
Pleading guilty to a traffic violation might seem like the easiest and simplest option. However, it can result in fines, points added to your driver’s record, and an increase in insurance premiums. Fortunately, the Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick are here for you. For over 50 years, our firm has built effective and aggressive defense and trial skills that we are ready to deploy for our clients. Our talented defense attorneys can help you fight your traffic ticket by:
- Helping you understand your rights and options so you don’t end up saying anything that could potentially harm your case. We also have the knowledge to explain the differences in the options available to you and any repercussions that might be associated.
- Gathering useful evidence such as traffic camera footage, police reports, and other evidence that could support your case.
- Recognizing and challenging improper or circumstantial evidence and taking the necessary steps to suppress it.
- Handling the legal process by knowing the necessary legal documents that will need to be filed as well as any deadline that might apply. The truth is filing the wrong paperwork at the wrong time could hurt your case.
- Consulting witnesses who have the knowledge that can help with certain kinds of traffic violations.
- Representing you in court and letting the court know you are serious about proving your innocence.
Common Kinds of Traffic Offenses in North Carolina
In the state of North Carolina, traffic offenses are classified in one of three separate ways. These classifications include:
- Infractions: These are traffic violations for which you might receive a ticket. They typically include things such as speeding or running a stop sign or red light. If you are found guilty, you will be required to pay a fine and possible court costs. You may also collect points on your driver’s record.
- Misdemeanors: These traffic violations are considered minor crimes and can lead to an arrest and possible jail time in addition to fines and court costs. It can also result in points being added to your driver’s license and even the potential for your license to be revoked. Driving while impaired, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident are all considered misdemeanor traffic violations.
- Felonies: These traffic violations are considered serious crimes and are typically punished by prison time as well as significant fines and court costs. These offenses can include hit and runs, vehicular manslaughter, and a pattern of DWI convictions.
It is important to keep in mind that the punishments for misdemeanors and felonies increase each time a subsequent violation is committed.
How Do I Fight a Traffic Ticket in NC?
The most common way people deal with traffic tickets in Anson County is to go ahead and just pay the fee. You might think this is the right option to mitigate the headache and avoid any legal proceedings. Depending on your situation, this might be an option, but an experienced attorney can analyze your specific case and determine which course of action is correct for you to take. This could include several strategic defenses being deployed on your behalf.
Contact A North Carolina Law Firm
You Can Trust
At Law Office of Huffman & Kendrick, PLLC, our firm is dedicated to achieving positive legal outcomes. Our extensive resources and knowledge can work on your behalf. Get the legal resources and fierce advocacy you need. You can schedule your appointment at our Monroe office by calling us directly or by emailing our firm.
Call Us980-447-5271
When you go ahead and pay that ticket, you are admitting guilt. This can have further consequences beyond that first financial payment. Your insurance rates can skyrocket, which can cause devastating harm to your personal finances. This is why it is crucial to know your legal options before going ahead and making a decision on your own. A skilled Wadesboro traffic ticket lawyer knows the possible defenses to go about mitigating this harm. These defenses include:
- Dismissal of case
- Reduction of the charge
- Reduction based on improper equipment being used on the side of law enforcement.
Any of these resulting in a positive outcome can help you avoid certain sanctions like points on your driver’s record and insurance. The right lawyer will know how to utilize these tools according to the nuances of your case. At the Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick, we have this knowledge.
FAQs
Contact an Experienced Traffic Ticket Lawyer Today
If you find yourself with more questions than answers following a traffic stop in Wadesboro, North Carolina, it’s time to talk to the Wadesboro traffic ticket lawyers at the Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick. Our firm can walk you through the options that may be available to you and help you determine which one is right for you.
Contact us today and see how we might be of service to you. We are passionate about providing each of our clients with compassionate and detailed counsel and representation that fits their needs and interests first and foremost. Facing traffic tickets can be scary, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. The Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick are here for you.
