Just the other evening, a man walked his bicycle down his driveway, intent on taking a ride to get his father something to eat. Before he stepped off the curb, an officer stopped the man, accusing him of riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. The officer asked for ID, and said he had to run the man's driver's license. After a few moments, the officer said a warrant came up. The man, gainfully employed, asked “What kind of warrant?” Answer from the cop: “A motor vehicle warrant.” The man asked, “What's that?” Cop: “I don't know, but motor vehicle issued a warrant for your arrest.”

Between the precinct and central booking, the man spent 24 hours in police custody. In court, the attorneys conferenced, and the judge dismissed the case. The man promptly went to motor vehicle to inquire about his license, where he was told the Dept. of Motor Vehicles does not issue arrest warrants.

Are Commissioner Kelly's officers being trained to make up laws out of whole cloth in order to generate arrest numbers? Or, as one person opined, are arrests based upon non-existent laws a basis to harass citizens and get their fingerprints?

The male arrested for a “motor vehicle arrest warrant” is looking for help. Does anyone have suggestions?