Question

You, A Drug Dealer, and A Cop

A drug dealer happens to be wearing the same coat as you. Your bookbag is partially open as he turns the corner and comes running down the stairs in attempt to flee cops that are chasing him. Unbeknownst to you, he tosses his sack in your bookbag as he runs past you and gets away. Seconds later, the cop comes running down the stairs, sees you standing there, searches your bag and finds the sack, puts you in handcuffs while you're left standing there confused wondering whether it was the cop or the drug dealer that put the sack in your bag. What do you say to successfully convince the cops that he has the wrong person?

Answer 1

The drug dealer wouldn't have a backpack? :thonk: would be the most obvious choice, other than the fact that "I" am just loitering around for whatever reason, note even trying to escape.

Answer 2

not*

Answer 3

Best response wins the challenge.

Answer 4

Are the grammar errors a hint?

Answer 5

No, not really. I kinda rushed this post.

Answer 6

A police officer needs a warrant to search you. The sack is fruit of the poisonous tree and this wouldn't stand in court. I don't need to convince him of anything.

Answer 7

Actually they need a warrant to search a vehicle, or home, unless given permission, or have adequate reasoning, like watching a drug dealer flee and encountering a similarly looking person i the same area.

Answer 8

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

'persons' is you

Answer 9

It's commonly referred to as "probable cause"

Answer 10

We are missing the REAL question here:
What kind of officer searches the suspects bags before detaining them if they don't have backup?

Answer 11

Except in that moment, he's suspicious that you're the drug dealer since you're wearing the same coat. He searches your bag because you give him permission by intimidation. He's a cop and you're convinced you've done nothing wrong or have anything to hide so you go along with the search but while he's searching you, you're yelling in vain for him to run after the real drug dealer who is getting away. So that's more clarification on the matter.

Answer 12

BTW, that sack is definitely filled with an illegal substance.

Answer 13

Would it be practical to have him cuff you to the rail of the stairs while he goes after the criminal?

Answer 14

Except he's already convinced he's already found his criminal. He has a suspect and an illegal substance he found on your person.

Answer 15

Hmm. Would it be of any relevance to fingerprint? This riddle is so obviously centered around the jacket, yet so vague it doesn't make any sense. :thonk:

Answer 16

What about reminding the cop that the criminal was only carrying a sack and not a bookbag?

Answer 17

Okay first off, since this is 'us' I would never give police officers permission to search me.
Now, I would:
1. Point out the open bag thus how the sack got there, noting that I saw an individual with the same coat run past me.
2. Note that I did not see a book bag on the dealer, and since they were chasing the drug dealer previously, they would have that same fact.
3. The cops lost sight of the drug dealer, thus no consistency with me being the same individual that was running from them.

Answer 18

^Add the fact that it says you're standing there while the cop runs down the stairs, seconds after the suspect flees.

Answer 19

They lost visual. They can't know beyond a reasonable doubt that it was me. The visual information conflicts and the drug dealer didn't have an OPEN book bag.

Answer 20

Stuff you would mention after you've already been escorted to the police station while attempting to plead your case.

Answer 21

If the answer is perspiration I'm gonna be so mad.

Answer 22

Or checking your heart rate xD

Answer 23

@JustSaiyan there's no solution in particular. Just a test of situational awareness and common sense.

Answer 24

I thought of that too but that drug dealer would be a one of those super humans who don't perspire nor need that much oxygen to function.

Answer 25

LOL

Answer 26

You can also take drugs for lowered heart rate, and this is a drug dealer.

Answer 27

Shadow's definitely winning this one so far.

Answer 28

So what you are saying, in summary, this is not actually a riddle, but a hypothetical scenario created so we can test our abilities to defend ourselves in said situation without a single substantial piece of evidence on our side other than our suspicious loitering and physical description differences......

Answer 29

Yes

Answer 30

Hero is looking for his lawyer.

Answer 31

Yes, it's just one of those "what would you do/how would you respond if you happened to find yourself in this situation".

Answer 32

But no, not looking for a lawyer.

Answer 33

Wouldn't you have a wad of money on you from selling the drugs? Since he is in fact called a drug dealer

Answer 34

They have no evidence I was selling the drugs, the only evidence thus far is that they are in my bag. That's just possession, not distribution. Depending on the quantity you might not even get arrested

Answer 35

Yeah and since you're not a drug dealer or use drugs (assumption), you probably wouldn't want that on your criminal record so it would be worth your while to fight it

Answer 36

Then the argument would be as follows:
Why were they on an upper floor, a cop, and a drug dealer, in the same building, and one know the other is dealing drugs, yet not know his appearance, height, ethnicity, etc. Not to mention running down the stairs, only seconds behind the suspect, only to find a similarly dressed man standing on a landing (or floor) now inexplicably carrying a backpack, and just immediately assume it's the same person.

Answer 37

Now you're thinking. Good on you. I just thought of this on the fly. I'll do better next time. Anyway on to the next one.

Answer 38

.........What?