Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Is the overzealous and overprotectiveness of Sheriff Will Teasle as seen in the movie "First Blood" (1982) possible in USA?

In First Blood" (1982), When John Rambo travels to the small town of Hope, Oregon, he was quickly spotted by the town's sheriff, Will Teasle. Teasle soon picks him up and drives him to the edge of town, while stressing his dislike of drifters and "trouble makers."


Rambo begins heading back into town immediately after being dropped off, and Teasle then arrests him when Rambo did not comply and takes him to the local police station.


And the story goes on...


Does the government of USA allow this kind of activities by a sheriff?


Does a sheriff possess power to kick somebody out of a town without any reason? Then if he doesn't want to be kicked off, does a sheriff have enough power to take him into custody?


Answer


Such laws, since the 1972 Supreme Court decision Papachristou v. Jacksonville, have to be written so that they're not arbitrarily vague or enforced and that proper public notice has to be given.


Since the movie was set after that time, it could be argued that Teasle wasn't acting within US law although a vagrancy law that predated that decision might still be on the books in the town.


His arrest and subsequent treatment could have been challenged legally, probably with some success, but his actions following it were illegal and more or less made it a moot point.


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