Say Anything Blog

I laughed about this, too.  What a creative way to solve a problem!  Kudos to Sheriff Laney for some remarkable thinking!

It would be embarrassing if that trick worked more than once on the same person.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

Yeah I thought it was very clever to.

What’s really sad is, it’s such a widely know tactic and yet, the fools still fall for it. Ditto’s on the “Well done, Cass County Sheriff’s Department”

Nothing good comes from deception, especially when it’s done by public officials.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Where can I get a cushy job like that?

I see no problem with rounding up these people. And besides deception is a fairly large part of law enforcement.

And besides deception is a fairly large part of law enforcement.

Yes, and it is also the source of most of law enforcement abuses; they should be required to do actual police work, IMO.  Entrapment is slightly slimy.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Damn, I agree with Robert108.

Shouldn’t people in positions of power or authority at least pretend to be honest?

“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
“Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac.” —George Orwell

LOL, I can see it now, “excuse me .. Mr. Dealer, I am an undercover cop and I would like to purchase some drugs from you. Oh, and to be completely honest with you, I intend on arresting you after you sell them to me”
Yes sirrrreeeee… that should bring ‘em in by the droves

Good point Anna, undercover cops are dishonest too. My mummy always said: “No matter what other people do AV, you are always responsible for your own actions”. 

“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
“Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac.” —George Orwell

The Ozzy forum was full of people complaining about this as if they were arresting innocent people. Go PDL Productions!

Yes AV, I bet your Mum also mentioned ...you be a good honest person and you won’t have to worry about those undercover cops trying to catch the bad guys

What a tricky way to con people into thinking there going to have a good time, and watch a concert. Is that illegal in anyway?

What a tricky way to con people into thinking there going to have a good time, and watch a concert. Is that illegal in anyway?

Not at all.  On the other hand what they were doing to get the warrents and such issued against them wasn’t legal.

I don’t see where getting fugitives from justice off the street (or at least in the legal system) is a bad thing.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

Police officers shouldn’t lie?  In some ways I guess that’s a good policy, but what about undercover officers?  Should an undercover officer, infiltrating an organized crime organization, be truthful about his background?

I think there are boundaries when it comes to cops lying, but reasonable people can draw those boundaries without needing to favor any extremes.  The little subterfuge executed by the deputies described above rounded up people who were already wanted for valid legal reasons and done so in an efficient and effect manner that not only probably saved us some tax dollars, but also kept all involved a little safer.

I think objecting to this is pretty absurd.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

I think it was great because it cleared the docket of outstanding warrents. I think its great to round up some dirt bag criminals that owe their debt to society.

Check out:
Goon’s North Dakota Red Neck
Goon’s World

Fascism in action. Homegrown American style.

Fascism?  Getting people with legally-issued warrants to show up so they can be arrested is fascism?

Do you even know the meaning of the word?

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Fascism?  Getting people with legally-issued warrants to show up so they can be arrested is fascism?

Do you even know the meaning of the word?

Yeah apparently its facisim if your enforce the rules you have on the book, ah yeah that right, Joshie must be one of these defeatocrats that doesn’t want the law enforced, that wants illegals to have the right to citizenship and drivers liscenses… How about people that are a threat to society are finally arrested and taken off the street. All the police are doing is serving warrents, they can do that or knock their door down.

Check out:
Goon’s North Dakota Red Neck
Goon’s World

If people want to dispute any of the individual charges these people were being arrested for, I’m all ears.  But a warrant is a warrant.  Police should bring wanted people to justice, and this little ruse seems like a safe and effective way of doing it.

I don’t see what the problem is.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Yeah how dare the cops serve warrents. I think its funny…

Check out:
Goon’s North Dakota Red Neck
Goon’s World

I’m probably a little late with this comment, but it seems to me that the sting was about strategy, not deception.

This type of ruse has been used by police for years to gather up all those having outstanding warrants. I’ve seen everythiung from cruise giveaways to big-screen television giveaways to rope them in.

"Can’t I just eat my waffle....”

-BHO

I don’t see what the problem is.

You can’t see it because there isn’t one!
Claiming cops are dishonest in the way they catch criminals is like saying sports players are dishonest when they steal a base, or fake a play in football. It’s all in the name of the game including law enforcement. After all everyone knows, if ya gonna play ..ya gonna pay!

To me, it goes to the Fourth Amendment, specifically “probable cause”.  If attending a concert is probable cause for being arrested, then it’s OK.  Real police work would be to hunt them down and arrest them.  Nothing complicated there, simple laziness, which justifies deception.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Robert, I fail to see where probable cause comes in to play.  A warrant was already outstanding for these people.  The local police officers went through their list of outstanding warrants, invited those with warrants to attend, and then arrested them when they showed up.

If there wasn’t probable cause, there’d be no warrant.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Rob: Why didn’t they just go arrest them, then?  Why the clown act; publicity?

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Rob: Why didn’t they just go arrest them, then?  Why the clown act; publicity?

For one thing, a lot of these people won’t open their doors when the police show up, and cops aren’t real keen on kicking down doors for relatively minor warrants.  Also, a lot of them are living with friends or family who claim that the person in question isn’t there.

Plus, home arrests can be dangerous.  If the person freaks out, people get hurt.  This little ruse was effective in rounding a bunch of these people up without all the hassle of hunting them down (which costs us tax dollars, I’d add) and it’s safer for all involved.

Your objection to this seems baseless.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Robert,
What do you think is more efficient: tricking people with warrants into turning themselves in at one gathering spot - or- using X hundred police man-hours to surveil potential residences for those with warrants (not exactly the most stable bunch), arrest them singly, and process them singly. Pretty easy answer really.

And sure, some of it is for PR - cops want to remind people that they’re out there doing what they’re paid to do.

"Can’t I just eat my waffle....”

-BHO

Rob,

Probable cause: The warrant itself is the probable cause. The PC has to detailed on the officer’s affidavit for the warant. The affidavit is then reviewed by a judge and if he finds sufficient PC then he issues the warrant.

Therefore no further PC needs to be established either for approach or arrest.

And, r108 said:

To me, it goes to the Fourth Amendment, specifically “probable cause”.  If attending a concert is probable cause for being arrested, then it’s OK.  Real police work would be to hunt them down and arrest them.  Nothing complicated there, simple laziness, which justifies deception.

Attending a concerts isn’t PC. Having a warrant is. And it isn’t laziness or the need for publicity. Why waste hundreds of man hours tracking down relatively minor offenders when you can get them all to come to you? Simple business decision with a comic touch.

The future ain’t what it used to be.....

Your objection to this seems baseless.

Hardly.  I think deception and dishonesty in the name of “police work” is always something citizens should be concerned about.  If the justification is to save money, why not just get them in a room and pipe in some poison gas?s We eliminate the criminals from society for just pennies.  Everybody wins.  /sarcasm

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Hoss: If efficiency is your goal, refer to my previous comment.  When you sanction this type of behavior on the part of the police, because it seems to be justified in this case, where does it stop?

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

You’re right 108. Deception is bad. Honesty and touchy feely communication with criminals works everytime.

Hey! I know! Why didn’t the Fargo Police just ride through town with a megaphone saying, “Okay, all you guys with warrants...come in today and we’ll get this all taken care of.”

I’m sure that they would have been flooded with people just dying to clear their names and turn their lives around.

Take a reality pill, 108.

The future ain’t what it used to be.....

While certainly not every action the police take needs to be overt, and the police will from time to time need to be clever to “get their man,” they ought to remember that if a perp cannot trust the man in blue, neither can a jury.

I don’t know that this case violates the principle; as long as there was a party involved, it’s not a flat out lie.  However, people ought to be careful about letting police cross a line into flat out lying.

On another note, it’s interesting that apparently a large portion of child support defaulters are metalheads.  Might be a lesson there somewhere, though I’m not quite sure what it is.  I grew up listening to metal, but thankfully the only child support I pay is to my wife, who abundantly makes it worth my while.

You’re right 108. Deception is bad. Honesty and touchy feely communication with criminals works everytime.

Those are my only two choices???  How about real police work?

With all the problems with police corruption and criminality across our fine nation, you would think that this kind of thing wouldn’t get publicized, at least, but never underestimate the arrogance that goes with absolute power.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

How about real police work?

Hot news flash....putting multiple wanted people in jail IS real police work. Just because Officer Friendly wasn’t going door-to-door looking for them doesn’t change that.

And Bubba....the Supreme Court has long since decided that deception can be part of police work. I’ve solved many cases by telling the suspect that I knew more than I did and playing it up until he puked all over himself (figuratively, not literally). I was, in your words, “flat out lying” to the suspect and I’ve done it many times.

Do you think that’s wrong?

The future ain’t what it used to be.....

Two scenarios to illustrate:

Cop: You know, Mr. Crook, we think you pulled those other burglaries, too, but we canb’t prove it. Is there anything you want to tell us? No? Oh, well. I guess Mrs. Jones won’t ever get her great-grandmother’s jewelery back. Have a nice day.

Or:

Cop: Okay, Mr. Crook, you’ve told me what you know now let me tell you what I know....I’ve got your prints from two of those other burglaries and guess what? That house on 8th street, the one with the convenience store across the street? You’re on their outside camera. It reaches that far. I gonna get some coffee. think about what you want to tell me while I’m gone. Wnat some?

Yeah...it’s lying, but it works. Personally I would have told me to pound sand, but you’d be surprised how many will give it up when you play that way.

I know...bad, bad cops. Getting people’s stuff back or finding out who robbed them by lying. The nerve.

The future ain’t what it used to be.....

However, people ought to be careful about letting police cross a line into flat out lying.

Undercover police officers lie.  Are you suggesting that my father, who was a vice cop for a time, should have told the people he was buying cocaine from that he was a cop?

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Another time I heard that they sent the people wit the warrants a letter saying they are receiving a free tv.  And almost all of them showed up to get their tvs, but not to court.  This is an ingeneous way of catching those that have warrants on them.

Have you ever heard about how cops say that your pal has ratted you out and then get someone to confess.  That is also sohjonest, but it get the truth out of suspects.

Unless you don;t have a warrant or are a criminal you have no worries. 

Just like the warrantless wire taps.  Unless yuou are talking to a terrorists in Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq you have nothing to worry about.

Just like the warrantless wire taps.

Nope.  Unlike this stunt, the so-called “warrentless wiretaps"(actually microwave monitoring) don’t involve deception at all.  Bad analogy.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Are you suggesting that my father, who was
a vice cop for a time, should have told the people he was buying cocaine from that he was a cop?

I’m not suggesting anything about your father, obviously.  If he had placed a deceptive ad in the newspaper for the purpose of luring cocaine dealers to come to a place under false pretenses, that would be analogus.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

If attending a concert is probable cause for being arrested, then it’s OK.

LOL, perhaps they neglected to read the fine print:
Some provisos may apply to the recipient of this promotional give away

Pil: I guess the end justifies any means.  If we knew who the criminals were beforehand, it would be simple.  However, some doubt is involved, which is why we have a justice system.  Otherwise, we would just round up all the criminals and dispose of them in some way or the other.  Are we sure that 100% of the people caught by this type of operation are guilty?  Why have courts?

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Rob: The probable cause enters in with the selection of who gets invited to the event.  Issuing the invitation presumes guilt.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

The probable cause enters in with the selection of who gets invited to the event.  Issuing the invitation presumes guilt.

These people had pre-existing warrants, which in turn instructs law enforcement to take them into custody.

Warrants do not imply guilt.  Warrants imply probable cause for arrest.  Meaning the officers had all the cause they needed to make the arrests.

If you want to quibble about probable cause, tell me which one of the warrants was incorrectly issued.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

These people had pre-existing warrants, which in turn instructs law enforcement to take them into custody.

Absolutely; it did not, however, instruct to invite them to a concert.  It instructed them to go arrest them.

If you want to quibble about probable cause, tell me which one of the warrants was incorrectly issued.

I don’t regard wanting law enforcement to be honest as “quibbling”, and my issue isn’t about the warrants themselves, but the deception involved in rounding up the suspects, as I have clearly stated a number of times.

BTW, Rob, this technique is widely used in the War on Drugs.  Do you approve of it when it’s used to round up pot smokers?

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Rob: Explain this, please: Martha Stewart and Scooter Libby were convicted of lying to law enforcement; why should the police have a lower standard of honesty than private citizens?

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Pick me Pick me.

They were convicted on a stupid law that shouldn’t be on the books.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

Robert, lying in and of itself isn’t a crime.  If I told you that the sky is pink...I couldn’t be arrested for that because no damage was done.

Now if I lied under oath and sent you to prison because of that lie, that’s a crime.  Or if I lied to people about a product I was selling, that’s a crime.

There is nothing illegal about tricking people with outstanding warrants into showing up some place so they can be legally arrested.

Absolutely; it did not, however, instruct to invite them to a concert.  It instructed them to go arrest them.

I wasn’t aware that warrants were in the habit of instructing the manner of arrest.  You should maybe try actually knowing what you’re talking about.

I don’t regard wanting law enforcement to be honest as “quibbling”, and my issue isn’t about the warrants themselves, but the deception involved in rounding up the suspects, as I have clearly stated a number of times.

You questioned the probable cause.  I pointed out that the probable cause was undoubtedly established in the warrants, and asked you which warrants you felt were incorrectly issued.  Obviously, you have no knowledge about any of the warrants, which makes me wonder why you were talking about probable cause.

Again, you should actually try to know more about how this process works.

BTW, Rob, this technique is widely used in the War on Drugs.  Do you approve of it when it’s used to round up pot smokers?

Given that smoking pot is currently illegal, yes I would wholeheartedly support this tactic as a way to round-up people with outstanding warrants relating to marijuana use.

Though that doesn’t mean that I can’t also feel that marijuana should be legal.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

There is nothing illegal about tricking people with outstanding warrants into showing up some place so they can be legally arrested.

I agree that is the current state of things, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t take the position that it should be illegal.

I repeat: the warrants obviously establish probable cause to arrest them, but not necessarily to invite them to a concert.  Thought I was clear about that.
You seem to confuse their criminal status with an excuse to use deception to arrest them. If they are criminals, why not just go arrest them?  Why wait until you can pull some sort of stunt?  What about the crimes they may commit while this stunt is set up?  Did they all commit their crimes at the same time?  You also assume that all the warrants will prove to be justified, even though there hasn’t been adjudication.  What do you do with those who might bew “rounded up” unjustly?  When they sue for damages and collect, what does that do to the cost factor?

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

I don’t regard wanting law enforcement to be honest as “quibbling”, and my issue isn’t about the warrants themselves, but the deception involved in rounding up the suspects, as I have clearly stated a number of times.
BTW, Rob, this technique is widely used in the War on Drugs.  Do you approve of it when it’s used to round up pot smokers?

Robert these types of tactics are used all the time they are pretty common.

Check out:
Goon’s North Dakota Red Neck
Goon’s World

Robert, lying in and of itself isn’t a crime.

Not true.  Martha Stewart did time for lying to an FBI officer.  Scooter Libby faces prison time for “lying” to federal investigators, which damaged no one, even if he did lie.  In my State, it’s a crime to lie to a DMV employee.  You are wrong on that one.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Robert these types of tactics are used all the time they are pretty common.

Exactly.  It’s also common for people to invade our country from the south, and to set up shop here and exploit our prosperity and welfare programs.  Does that make it OK?

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

I repeat: the warrants obviously establish probable cause to arrest them, but not necessarily to invite them to a concert.  Thought I was clear about that.

You were, and I was clear on the fact that A) warrants have never dictated the manner of the arrest and B) you obviously have little idea as to how this stuff actually works.

You should see if your local police department has a ride-along program for citizens or something.  You may find it instructive.

You seem to confuse their criminal status with an excuse to use deception to arrest them. If they are criminals, why not just go arrest them?  Why wait until you can pull some sort of stunt?

First, they’re not all criminals I imagine.  Some have yet to be tried and convicted, I’m sure. so you’re jumping to conclusions and again demonstrating your lack of grasp on this subject.  Second, the deception is necessary because simply going and arresting them hasn’t worked.  It’s not like these officers were like “We could go and arrest these people, but let’s wait for that Ozzy concert so we can lie to them and stuff.” I’d be willing to bet that they’d tried to arrest every one of these people before, but were unsuccessful.  So this ruse was a different way of going about it that proved to be very successful.

You also assume that all the warrants will prove to be justified, even though there hasn’t been adjudication.  What do you do with those who might bew “rounded up” unjustly?  When they sue for damages and collect, what does that do to the cost factor?

Whether or not the warrants were properly issued is a separate matter entirely.  If they were improperly issued, there would be lawsuits even if the officers had picked these people up in a more traditional manner.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Not true.  Martha Stewart did time for lying to an FBI officer.  Scooter Libby faces prison time for “lying” to federal investigators, which damaged no one, even if he did lie.  In my State, it’s a crime to lie to a DMV employee.  You are wrong on that one.

I’m not wrong at all, actually.  For lying to be illegal, there usually needs to be an intent to defraud.  Such as lying to a DMV employee about your SSN so you can get a license as an illegal.  Or lying under oath to mislead a jury/prosecutor/judge.

Lying to a group of fugitives to get them to show up somewhere so they can be arrested is not only not illegal, it’s beneficial to all involved.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

This is like lying to your kids about Santa Clause

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

What are you trying to say Whistler… that there really isn’t a Santa Claus?

If lying and dishonesty by law enforcement personnel was to be made illegal, then every sting operation, every undercover buy from pot and smack to AK-47s and Stinger missiles, every cop posing as a hit man for hire, every sort of law enforcement infiltration of bad guys doing bad stuff, all would be illegal.

And that’s just plain silly.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

For lying to be illegal, there usually
needs to be an intent to defraud. Wrong.  The act of lying itself is the crime.  Of course, as in the case of both Martha and Scooter, it is usually used selectively for political purposes, but it’s still against the law to lie to a law enforcement officer. Such as lying to a DMV employee about your SSN so you can get a license as an illegal. Or lying under oath to mislead a jury/prosecutor/judge.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Second, the deception is necessary because simply going and arresting them hasn’t worked.

This justification speaks more to the competency of the police in question.  It’s like a failed govt program demanding more money.  The incompetent police want more power to do their job, because they can’t get it done by the usual means.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

...every sting operation, every undercover buy from pot and smack to AK-47s and Stinger missiles, every cop posing as a hit man for hire, every sort of law enforcement infiltration of bad guys doing bad
stuff, all would be illegal.

I don’t believe any of the warrants in question were for any of those crimes.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Are we sure that 100% of the people caught by this type of operation are guilty?

No. But they sure had warrants ordering their arrest for an offense. It’s up to the courts to determine if they’re guilty. It’s up to the police to arrest them for sufficient cause. A signed warrant is that cause.

108, you’re attacking the legitimate use of a tactic.

The future ain’t what it used to be.....

I’m confused.  How did the police sort out the ones with outstanding warrants from the rest of the crowd?  If they ID everyone as they came in, then I would question the legality of this operation.

You don’t have to be a moron to be a liberal Democrat but it sure helps.

108, you’re attacking the legitimate use of a tactic.

No, I’m questioning its legitimacy on ethical and Constitutional grounds.  I have questioned its use under Fourth Amendment grounds, and also on the grounds that it represents behavior that would be illegal and punishable if done by a private citizen.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

How did the police sort out the ones with outstanding warrants from the rest of the crowd?

Exactly.  It goes to the selection process.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

Rob, Pilgrim, I don’t know exactly where the line is drawn, but I do know that it is.  In my town, a case against an accomplice to murder was thrown out (and rightly so) because the interrogator had promised the man he wouldn’t be prosecuted, and then turned around with the evidence obtained to prosecute the man.

So in reality, we cannot assume that the courts give carte blanche to the police to lie to suspects.  Again, if I cannot trust the police if I’m being questioned, tell me why I should trust their testimony if I’m in the jury box.

Now this doesn’t mean that the police need to show their hand before playing poker, so to speak; it means that deliberate misrepresentations of the truth need to be avoided. 

Using the example of the burglar, we would have to assume that Pilgrim had some evidence that would tie the man to the crimes--why not simply mention that the marks from the burglary tools looked substantially the same and so on?

BB introduces the next stage of this argument, which is what is the ultimate outcome of this type of tactic?  What is the conviction rate? How many of those cases are pleaded out, with no jail time?  How many are not convicted due to bad police work?  In other words, what’s the cost/benefit calculation on this tactic?  Good defense lawyers make a living off this kind of police behavior.  The public is not served if these alleged criminals are not actually kept off the streets, is it?

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

I have no idea why you’re having such an issue with this Robert. Warrants are issued giving the police the power to arrest and detain someone, and guess what, most of these people aren’t our most stable citizens. So, instead of x number of cops sitting outside the 3 residences that Joe Blow is known to bounce between, they send 3 Ozzy concert invitations to these residences in his name and let the person come to them. Don’t feel too sorry for someone that refuses to show up (many times repeatedly) to court as so ordered by the court.

It’s really a matter of efficiency, and I’d much rather have the cops out on the street patrolling than out trying to round-up these dumbasses that don’t show up for court when they’re suppose to.

How did the police sort out the ones with outstanding warrants from the rest of the crowd?

They usually have one meeting point for the guys to show up to “claim” their free tickets...they don’t ID the whole crowd.

"Can’t I just eat my waffle....”

-BHO

They usually have one meeting point for the guys to show up to “claim” their free tickets...they don’t ID the whole crowd.

Thanks hoss, that gets away from the random search which I believe is unconstitutional.  But if this is the way the warrants were served, then this is clearly entrapment which almost always involves legal questions on constitutional rights.

You don’t have to be a moron to be a liberal Democrat but it sure helps.

I have no idea why you’re having such an issue with this Robert. Because you haven’t read and understood what I’ve written, I guess. Warrants are issued giving the police the power to arrest and detain someone, and guess what, most of these people aren’t our most stable citizens. Agreed, but that’s not my point at all. So, instead of x number of cops sitting outside the 3 residences that Joe Blow is known to bounce between, they send 3 Ozzy concert invitations to these residences in his name and let the person come to them. Don’t feel too sorry for someone that refuses to show up (many times repeatedly) to court as so ordered by the court. I don’t feel sorry for the criminals(so you are wrong there), nor do I feel sorry for the police for having to do actual work to catch criminals.

It’s really a matter of efficiency, If that’s your standard, then why not just shoot or gas them?  That would be very efficient. and I’d much rather have the cops out on the street patrolling than out trying to round-up these dumbasses that don’t show up for court when they’re suppose to. What about the other end of the process, where a lot of criminals get cut loose, do no time or plead out, due to inadequate police procedure in apprehending them?  That doesn’t get the publicity this sort of stunt gets, but it directly impacts the public safety.

"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

But if this is the way the warrants were served, then this is clearly entrapment which almost always involves legal questions on constitutional rights.

Entrapment?

My goodness.  Remind me never to ask you guys for legal advice.

Bubba:

if I cannot trust the police if I’m being questioned, tell me why I should trust their testimony if I’m in the jury box.

Now this doesn’t mean that the police need to show their hand before playing poker, so to speak; it means that deliberate misrepresentations of the truth need to be avoided. 

You can trust an officer’s testimony in court...because they’re under oath.  But really, there are good cops and bad cops.  Some cops do, unfortunately, lie even in court.

When it’s important, cops shouldn’t lie.  But is it really important that cops not trick fugitives into turning themselves in?

LetR