Unusual conduct outside an Oregon courthouse has led to three arrests on drug charges. According to police, three woman were at city hall to pay a fine. When they left the building, court officials claim that the women started "twerking" - a dance made popular by pop stars - and exposing their genitals in public. Officials even reported seeing one of the women urinate in public before driving off.
Oregon police were called following the incident. Police followed the women in a car before eventually pulling them over. According to police, the driver of the car consented to a search of the car after an officer claimed to have smelled burnt marijuana. In the search, police say that they found prescription drugs, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. Each of the women was taken into police custody.
The women are facing a variety of drug charges including possession of marijuana, possession of prescription drugs, possession of methamphetamine, tampering with drug records and others.
While unusual public behavior may alert police to a person's present, it may not automatically give police the right to search a person for drug use. Oregon citizens are under no obligation to conform to one type of behavior and can express themselves freely. However, if police become aware of a person acting unusually they may choose to investigate. Through this investigation, other evidence - including seeing or smelling drugs - can give police the probable cause they need to search a person or the person's vehicle.
However, people should know that during these searches, people have legal rights. People are not under an obligation to admit to wrongdoing or to consent to searches by police. People need to protect these rights so that they can avoid the harsh penalties associated with drug charges in Oregon. Even drug possession charges can result in jail time.
Source: Fox 12, "Police: Women 'twerking' outside City Hall arrested, found with drugs," Jeff Kirsch, April 29, 2014
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