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Writer's pictureLINDA A. Knowles

Sharing My Story With You



Please Don’t Judge Me, I’m NOT a Rebel.


God has asked me to share the following with you. I am making myself vulnerable so that you understand why I am saying what I’m saying if it will save lives and get people to stop and think.


I have had a few run-ins with the law and got myself into trouble.


Let me explain.


I was on my way to teach youth group on a Wednesday night. At the time, I was driving a red sport car. All of a sudden, my car was surrounded by unmarked police cars. The police got out of the car and told me to get out of the car. I got scared because they weren’t wearing a uniform and were not driving cruises cars. I refused! That’s right, I refused. They drew their guns and pointed them at me. One said, “Miss, step out of the car with your hands up, and pop open your car trunk.” I threw my hands up in the air, like I was told to do and added, “Please I’m not trying to be disrespectful to you. You are scaring me. You are in a unmarked cars and not wearing uniforms. How do I know you guys are real officers? And do you have a warrant for my arrest? Do you have a warrant to search my car? Can you please call for a police officer in a cruiser to come, and I’ll do as you say?”


People, I was in the wrong! I’ll never forget that gun pointed at my face, and my heart was pounding. He rolled his eyes. He told me, “Keep your hands up. Don’t move.” I obeyed, still refusing to get out of my car. A few minutes went by, and I was praying like crazy. Finally, they put their guns down, and one came and said, “Miss we are very sorry. There’s been a bank robbery. Your car matched the description of the getaway car. It happened down the street from the incident. You may go.” I should also admit my smart mouth remark when they drew their guns was, “Seriously, you're going to shoot me? I’m innocent.” People, thank the Good Lord, they were kind. I didn’t deserve their kindness. To them I matched the description of a blond woman, driving a red sports car. They were looking for a criminal. You bet they would protect themselves. In my case, it was mistaken identity.


Next time, I was driving through Connecticut to get to my cousin's wedding in New York. I was speeding, going 85 on a 35 speed limit road. I got pulled over by State police. He asked for my license and registration. I went to get my wallet, and it was missing. I grabbed my purse, not realizing my wallet was left in my other bag. The office said, “Miss, step out of the car. I have to arrest you.” As we know, in our country you cannot drive without license. You get automatically arrested. To top it all off, I didn’t have my registration on me either. Double whammy. I pleaded with the officer. He was getting mad. Again, my fault. I explained, my entire family was waiting in New York, and I had their suitcases in my car. Finally, he asked my passenger for his license. He showed his license, and he told him to drive. He gave me a big huge fat ticket. He threw every offense. 1. Driving to endanger 2. Resisting arrest 3. Driving without a license 4. Driving without registration. The guy who was my passenger, now was in charge of driving. “Do not speak to me for the rest of this trip.” Hahaha ( I have to add a little humor here) is what he said.


Third time. I was in a wedding. The maid of honor missed picking up her dress. She called to tell me I needed to step up and be the Maid of Honor. I didn’t want to do that. I decided to go to the Bridal Place and see, if by any chance, the cleaning crew was there. To my defense, I saw a light on in the back of the store, I started banging on the door, not realizing I set off the silent alarm system. The police arrived, thinking I was trying to break in. It was night time. “Stop where you are!” I stopped. I knew already they must think I’m trying to break in. They asked what I was doing. I explained. They said, “We have to take you in.” I knew that meant handcuff me, and I didn’t want to be arrested. I begged them not to arrest me, and of course, you can’t be in the back of a police car without being handcuffed. I resisted arrest. Thank God, they finally agreed to let me drive to the police station while they further questioned me. They said, “You will drive in between the two police cars. Don’t you dare try anything. You will be in big trouble.” I did as they asked. Once there, the owner of the Bridal Store, who knew me, explained the situation, and I was never arrested.


Please understand. The police were doing their job. Speeding was 100% my fault. No excuse. I broke the law; I needed to pay for the consequences. However, I was innocent of the rest. I didn’t rob a bank, and I didn’t break into the store. I forgot my wallet. The truth is innocent or not, the circumstances were incriminating. I just happened to be a victim of wrong circumstances. I wasn’t doing things on purpose. (Other then speeding. No excuse there.)


Here’s what the Word of God says. Please read the entire chapter of Romans 13.

“For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.” Romanians 13: 3-5


Friends, I make no apologies for speaking truth. I acknowledge that we have corrupt cops. I say cops because I do not honor them as I would a police officer. But guess what? There’s corrupt judges. Did we forget that? How many children have been molested and raped in schools by teachers? How about priests? I know, I’m making people upset now. But, truth is truth. Are we going to shut down courthouses, schools, and churches? Are we going to abolish schools? Burn them down? Isn’t that disturbing to anyone?


This past weekend, I shared with my two children, what I was going to post today. I wanted to be sure they understood I stand for the law. These things that happened to me were accidents. People speed all the time. They get tickets, and they don’t do it again. In my case, I forgot my wallet and that became cause to get arrested. I was blessed those police officers were kind. I never gave them an attitude. I simply talked respectfully, tried to come up with a solution, and prayed they would have mercy and not arrest me.


The points I’m making should be clear. The verses I used back up what I’m saying. Don’t break the law. I told my kids, “Listen, circumstances can happen. They do happen. They happened to me three times. However, when an officer of the law stops you. You stop. You halt, you don’t move and don’t breathe. You put your hands in the air, you remain quiet, and you answer respectfully. You explain, and if that explanation doesn’t work, you calmly get handcuffed and call me from the police station.” I said this to my kids because I don’t know what can happen in the future. My kids are very big supporters of our responders. They have helped us many times when needed. Even if I had 3 scary and bad experiences, I stand by the good police officers. I thank them for risking their lives to protect the innocent. I don’t care if you like or hate me. I have to voice my opinion, too. I had good and bad experiences.

I’m not happy with what’s happening. It is not of God all these lies. Please don’t buy into this foolish mentality we need to abolish the police and need to disrespect them with no regard for law and order. I’ll never support this mentality and actions. They are rubbish and foolish. I support getting rid of those who abuse the law. I believe in using new techniques, new rules of arresting, and new policies. However, at the end of the day, criminals don’t play respectful and nice like I did. Let’s try to remember that.


In the end times, lawlessness would abound. Remnant, see what’s happening and do not participate, partake, or acknowledge that which is evil. Spiritually evil is plotting. We are children of light, not darkness. We walk in the light. We defend the innocent. We become part of the solution. We don’t act like fools. Trust me, what’s happening right now has nothing to do with helping those they claim they are helping, creating havoc is not honored. Hotheads are committing criminal acts. We are not to honor this behavior. No way. Please use your voices, and power to change that which is broken. Don’t act out with evil behaviors.


Rev. Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

Founder and President of Thread of Hope, Inc.

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