The Jefferson Area Libertarians passed a resolution aiming to check the efforts of the Charlottesville Police Department in its search for the area's serial rapist.
The resolution, which coincided with a Monday meeting evaluating the search, calls for the Charlottesville Police Department to "refrain from branding innocent people as criminals" and "stop using intimidation tactics to coerce innocent people to give up those freedoms," according to a press release.
Jim Lark, University systems and information engineering professor and JAL secretary, said the group issued the resolution to caution police officials in their hunt for the serial rapist.
"We're sounding a warning bell that the police have to be very careful in their zeal to apprehend [the serial rapist] that they don't trod upon the rights of citizens," Lark said.
Lark emphasized that citizens have the right to decline to take a DNA test, currently in use by the Charlottesville Police, if police do not have a search warrant or probable cause. Based on press reports about the testing, Lark said it appears police officials may be using intimidation tactics to pressure people who are reluctant to give a DNA sample.
"We're sounding this alarm bell to make sure people are aware of what's going on and aware of what their rights are," Lark said. "The police need to be aware of the fact that their conduct is under some scrutiny so they don't go from legitimate inquiry to the point where they're harassing citizens."
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