| JAILED BY CONNECTICUT STATE TROOPER ON I-95
7/29/04
Written by Michael Marcavage
On July 29th at approximately 3:30PM EST, Dennis Green and I were traveling southbound on I-95 through Connecticut, returning from a five day evangelistic pro-life mission at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. As we were driving in his ministry’s Truth Truck, a Connecticut state trooper pulled us over. Trooper David Febbraio came to the driver’s side window, appearing to be angry, and told Dennis to come to the back of the truck, in which he did comply. I was unaware of what was happening behind the vehicle, and after much time passed, I heard Dennis call out for me to dial 911. Concerned for his safety, I did as he asked and called 911, and stepped out of the truck onto the grass behind the guardrail with our video camera. Dennis told me that the troopers are demanding that the signs be removed from the sides of the truck immediately. As I began to record with the video camera, the troopers immediately started ordering me to shut off the camera and get back in the truck. I told them that I will do so, and was slowly backing up while asking if Dennis could return to the truck as well.
The troopers refused to answer my question. I asked again for Dennis to be allowed to re-enter the vehicle, when Trooper Febbraio jumped over the guardrail and placed me under arrest. I asked him several times what the reason was for my arrest, but he refused to answer me. I was not read my rights, nor did I have any idea as to why I was being arrested. Trooper Febbraio placed me in the passenger side of his police car, jolted the seat belt as tightly as he could. I asked again, “What am I being arrested for?” The trooper responded, “Shut the F—k up!” I soon found myself being driven by the trooper to an unknown destination. During this time, he continually berated me for my Christian faith and beliefs. He called me a “Jesus Freak”, a “wing-nut”, told me that I am “brainwashed”, and that I am an “extremist.” He stated that “children in the back seat of cars traveling down the highway should not have to look at those photographs.” He asked me why I thought it was right. I explained to him that “after the war in Nazi Germany, American soldiers marched men, women, and children, past the murdered Jews because they tolerated it for so long, and that here in America, we are responsible as a nation for the slaughter of millions of children; their blood is on our hands.” He then insisted that “people should not have to look at it.” I said that “we don’t enjoy displaying the signs, but are grieved that children continued to be murdered at the hands of abortionists.” I then quoted the reason as to why we show the pictures from Isaiah 58:1, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” He mockingly asked me to quote him another Bible verse. The trooper then stated, “If you are protesting, you need a permit to protest in Connecticut.” Other conversation related to God’s law, during which time he asked, “Can’t I have fun now and repent later?” He also said that he is “catholic” and that he has been to protestant churches as well. He asked me when I was saved or “brainwashed,” and questioned about hell. Trooper Febbraio also told me about a billboard that appeared at one time alongside the highway that related to him in someway, stating something along the lines of “I’m not bragging, but I never lost a case.” Several times he stated that he was hungry and that he wanted to go home for dinner, insisting that it was our fault that he would not be able to do so.
As we pulled into the parking lot of the police station, Trooper Febbraio told me that “the Lord is not in charge today, I am.” We entered into a garage and he escorted me into what appeared to be a processing room. It was there that I was fingerprinted and photographed. During that time, he asked me if this incident would be “made into a sermon.” The trooper also asked me if he is “going to hell.” I told him that he must “repent of your sins and put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.” He then asked if he could wait until he is old and near death to do so. I responded, “You are not promised tomorrow.” At one point, I was utilized as a ‘doorstop’ while still in handcuffs, as the trooper retrieved something from his police car. In addition, Trooper Febbraio filled out paperwork while questioning me. I asked him for an opportunity to call my attorney to which he replied, “You will be able to do so later.” Not surprisingly, I never had that opportunity. I answered his general questions. At one point during his questioning, the trooper came to the male/female sex question on the form he was filling out, looked at me, read it, and said, “Never?” He tossed me a copy of a form that he said I needed to sign. I reviewed it and pointed out the 5th right, under the Notice of Rights, written on the form, which reads, “You may consult with an attorney before being questioned, you may have an attorney present during questioning and you can not be questioned without your consent.” He looked at it. I then asked, “May I contact my attorney now?” “You will be able to do so later,” he replied. I soon found myself in a prison cell for approximately four hours, which I spent in prayer and song. After that time, Trooper Febbraio returned, escorted me out of the cell, and finished his paperwork while I signed a form that he handed to me. At this time, he said that I am “brainwashed” and that “it is not fair that you don’t have to work.” I informed the trooper that “I work very hard.” He replied by stating, “You don’t work, you are a scam artist.” I was then escorted down several hallways to an awaiting bail bondsman, where I completed the necessary paperwork for my release.
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Chronicles 7:14 KJV