On the evening of April 14, 2009, Baptist Pastor and business man, Steve Anderson was traveling home to Tempe Arizona from San Diego California on interstate 8.  Near Yuma Arizona he entered a Border Patrol checkpoint.  Other than identifying himself, stating that he is a U.S. citizen and that he has not crossed an international border, and that he was not hiding persons or contraband, he refused to answer authorities questions because he believed he was invoking his fourth amendment right to be free from unreasonable detention and search.[1]  He was at that time directed to a secondary location.  At that time the authorities persisted in questioning him and demanded to search his vehicle.  Pastor Anderson continued to object and remained non-compliant, stating that they had no probable cause to search or detain him; after over an hour of enduring authorities accosting him, Pastor Anderson was horrifically beaten, then denied prompt medical attention.  You can hear Pastor Anderson retell the ordeal in his own words here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUzd7G875Hc

It is unclear if Pastor Anderson had a right to resist the checkpoint intrusion under the Fourth Amendment as the United States Supreme Court has ruled that sometimes the State’s interest outweigh individual rights.  The State, having a responsibility to ensure public safety may curtail an individual’s rights to achieve that end.  In the case of Boarder Patrol checkpoints, the Supreme Court has ruled that it is not a violation of Fourth Amendment rights to ask motorist a few questions to determine citizenship and to visually inspect the exterior of a vehicle for a couple minutes.[2]  The Court has ruled the State’s interest outweighs the checkpoint's minimal intrusion on the individual.

That confusion aside, what is crystal clear to me is that those authorities were perversely unjustified in their reaction to Pastor Anderson’s protest. Their actions were grossly negligent and they are culpable for his injuries.  You can hear him explain his position in this interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z_tDivKVcQ