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Hi I’m Benjamin, I got stuck here in Florida this last 9 month’s. I had originally came down here in December from Ohio to see a friend and check out the work around here, which I was doing good working for home owners, doing yard work, raking, trimming, gardening, lawn mowing, etc.
I was arrested in a local park where I was walking my dog, I had hung out there a few times that week while I only had another week I was going to be here to go to South Dakota for a pipefitter job.
(I’m a journeyman pipefitter) A crossing guard would also park there and she waved the police over without my knowledge so when I got back to my car there was a police car parked behind mine. I walked up to my car and asked if everything was ok, the two police officers said they had never seen a licence plate like I had on my car, which I purchased from and agency in Washington D.C.
I showed them the supporting paperwork, the plates are private so they didn’t show up in their system. After an hour and a half they arrested me and charged me with counterfeit license plates which they are not counterfeit compared to Florida’s. I spent 25 days in jail I could not bond out because they considered me a flight risk.
After getting out I wound up staying at a salvation army for awhile (my friend moved a few counties away to take a different job) until one of my customers had a little room I could stay in. Of course I had no money to get my car out of impound and they would not let me have my belongings either.
They are horrible here in Manatee county Florida. I am fighting the court’s on the police had no real probable cause to do this but they are all playing along to make what they can off of me and keep me stranded here. I also have an 11 year old son in Michigan I have not been able to see. It’s hard for me to get work with just a bicycle, and dealing with these court’s and having to check into probation.
I go to some of the soup kitchen’s and homeless shelters and help out, I also been helping some of the homeless and unfortunate people with their legal problems and such. Seems the police like to arrest anyone they can here to make a buck, which is sad and they show no empathy.
I am not only asking for help for me but so I can continue to help and comfort other’s not only here but other’s that I know of that are struggling across the country.
I have also got the call from the contractor that they still want me to get up to South Dakota.