Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

extortion by police

A car was parked in my driveway (I live in snow country and the driveway was just plowed) blocking my passage to the street I went down (driveway about 50 yds long and down a hill) and banged on his bumper with a snow shovel to clear the snow to get his license number. That did not work so I went to the front of the vehicle to get the number. He was backed in the driveway facing the street. He revved his engine like he was going to run me over so I jammed the shovel into his grill so if he went forward it would cause damage. I believe he did go forward. Anyway, he gets out and we remove the shovel and he says I cracked the plastic in the grill. We called the police but they did not come out and so two hours later he left for his motel. The police finally came, after talking to car owner at his motel and said I had to give them a check for car owner for 500 dollars or go to jail. I do not believe I caused any damage to the car but if there was damage it was slight. I gave them a check and since this was Saturday I waited until Monday and stopped payment on the check. I do not mind going to court on this matter but I believe it is between me and the owner of the car. Am I right? Should I fear arrest? Is this extortion?

1 Answer from Attorneys

Related Questions & Answers

More Criminal Law questions and answers in California

Looking for something else?