This is a great example of what I was saying in my post about how LEO’s can (and WILLINGLY) put exaggerated or non-existent statements into their reports that courts will look upon during proceedings… DO NOT SPEAK TO LEO without an attorney if the there is a semi-to-really serious charge you might be facing.
Even NOT saying other than the minimum name, DOB, etc., and handing over your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance, can still get prejudicial statements (or outright falsehoods) put into police reports. Once, late at night, I pulled into a bank parking lot (bank obviously closed) and turned around (slowly, as the parking lot was unlit and the bank building blocked any streetlights) as I needed to drive the other direction than I had been going. My intent was to exit the parking lot where I’d entered it, so I drove in a rough circle, with plenty of room to spare. A squad car pulled in and blocked me, grill to grill. The ticket was for reckless driving, of which the specific language (IIRC) was “doing doughnuts in the parking lot.” Further, as I stood in front of the officer while he was writing the ticket, I mainly looked past the officer (I ain’t so good with sustained eye contact in any setting) when we weren’t directly speaking. He noted on the ticket “Attitude indifferent.” What? How was that even relevant? I was cooperating, hadn’t said a word in defense of myself, answered his questions and provided required documentation as requested, and kept a calm demeanor (in my opinion) during the whole event. I could see noting down his opinion of my attitude if I was being rude, sarcastic or something similar, but because I stood there quietly, I was ‘indifferent’ to the whole process?
The defense lawyer present when I showed up in traffic court laughed when he read the citation. I can’t remember if the officer who’d ticketed me was there that morning, but I had with me the 3 passengers I’d had in the car that night to serve as witnesses for me. I do know the defense lawyer, when it was my turn, went up to talk to the judge and the ticket was dismissed within seconds.