Land Of The Flea

Cops Go Undercover at High School to Bust Special-Needs Kid for Pot

"Californians Doug and Catherine Snodgrass are suing their son’s high school for allowing undercover police officers to set up the 17-year-old special-needs student for a drug arrest. They were 'thrilled' when their son -- who has Asperger's and other disabilities and struggled to make friends -- appeared to have instantly made a friend named Daniel. 'Daniel,' however, was an undercover cop with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department who 'hounded' the teenager to sell him his prescription medication. When he refused, the undercover cop gave him $20 to buy him weed, and he complied -- not realizing the guy he wanted to befriend wanted him behind bars." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCops Go Undercover at High School to Bust Special-Needs Kid for Pot

84-year-old woman with oxygen tank arrested for drugs

"An 84-year-old woman in Albuquerque has been arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, tampering with evidence and possession of drugs. Court documents showed that Lillie Smith, who uses a oxygen tank, was not arrested in 2011 when her son was busted for dealing drugs. As Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputies were serving a warrant on her son, Nathan Jones, officers said that they observed Smith trying to stash marijuana and cocaine. Neighbors insisted that Smith had only allowed her son to deal drugs out of the apartment where they both lived because she needed someone to take care of her." Continue reading →

Continue Reading84-year-old woman with oxygen tank arrested for drugs

Lawsuit filed over veteran’s psychiatric detention over Facebook posts

"A civil liberties group filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of an ex-Marine who was detained in a psychiatric facility after posting anti-government messages on Facebook, using the case to criticize a program that looks for veterans who may have become extremists. Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute filed suit in Richmond over the weeklong detention last August of Brandon J. Raub, a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Attorneys for Raub claimed his detention came under a federal program called 'Operation Vigilant Eagle' involving surveillance of veterans who express views critical of the government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawsuit filed over veteran’s psychiatric detention over Facebook posts

911 Dispatcher Tells Sexual Assault Victim No Cops Will Help Her Due To Budget Cuts

"An Oregon woman was told by a 911 dispatcher that authorities wouldn’t be able be able to help her as her ex-boyfriend broke into her place because of budget cuts. Her call was forwarded to Oregon State Police because of lay-offs at the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office only allows the department to be open Monday through Friday. The sheriff’s department had to cut 23 deputies and the entire major crimes unit after it lost a multi-million dollar federal subsidy, according to Oregon Public Radio. The sheriff’s department even put out a press release warning domestic violence victims to 'consider relocating to an area with adequate law enforcement services.'" Continue reading →

Continue Reading911 Dispatcher Tells Sexual Assault Victim No Cops Will Help Her Due To Budget Cuts

Cops Being Trained That Cell Phones Could Be Guns

"As a result of the numerous legal cases that have proven recording police officers is not a crime, authorities are getting more creative in attempting to stop abuse by law enforcement offices ending up as a viral video on YouTube. In the clip above, Detective Shannon Todd of the Newark Police Gang Unit approaches a man who is recording a police stop on his cell phone, ordering him to, 'put your phone down, put it in your pocket.' Despite acknowledging that the device is a phone, when the man refuses to follow the unlawful order, Todd remarks, 'I need to hold on to it,' before stating, 'May I look at it and inspect it to ensure it’s not a firearm.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCops Being Trained That Cell Phones Could Be Guns

Cops Being Trained That Cell Phones Could Be Guns

"As a result of the numerous legal cases that have proven recording police officers is not a crime, authorities are getting more creative in attempting to stop abuse by law enforcement offices ending up as a viral video on YouTube. In the clip above, Detective Shannon Todd of the Newark Police Gang Unit approaches a man who is recording a police stop on his cell phone, ordering him to, 'put your phone down, put it in your pocket.' Despite acknowledging that the device is a phone, when the man refuses to follow the unlawful order, Todd remarks, 'I need to hold on to it,' before stating, 'May I look at it and inspect it to ensure it’s not a firearm.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCops Being Trained That Cell Phones Could Be Guns

When Cops Rape … and Nothing Happens

"Stories of cops propositioning, harassing, and sexually assaulting women turn up every week around the country. February 18 saw the arrest of Houston officer Victor Chris for allegedly telling two women he would tear up their traffic tickets in exchange for sexual favors, according to the Houston Chronicle. Police chargedSergio Alvarez, an officer from West Sacramento, California, on February 25 with allegedly kidnapping and raping six women while on duty. On March 1, Denver cop Hector Paez got eight years in prison for driving a woman he’d arrested to a secluded spot and forcing her to perform oral sex." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhen Cops Rape … and Nothing Happens

When Cops Rape … and Nothing Happens

"Stories of cops propositioning, harassing, and sexually assaulting women turn up every week around the country. February 18 saw the arrest of Houston officer Victor Chris for allegedly telling two women he would tear up their traffic tickets in exchange for sexual favors, according to the Houston Chronicle. Police chargedSergio Alvarez, an officer from West Sacramento, California, on February 25 with allegedly kidnapping and raping six women while on duty. On March 1, Denver cop Hector Paez got eight years in prison for driving a woman he’d arrested to a secluded spot and forcing her to perform oral sex." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhen Cops Rape … and Nothing Happens

‘The Rendition Project’ sheds new light on U.S. global kidnap and secret detention program

"A groundbreaking research project has mapped the US government’s global kidnap and secret detention programme, shedding unprecedented light on one of the most controversial secret operations of recent years. The interactive online project – by two British universities and a legal charity – has uncovered new details of the way in which the so-called extraordinary rendition programme operated for years in the wake of the September 11 attacks, and the techniques used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to avoid detection in the face of growing public concern." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘The Rendition Project’ sheds new light on U.S. global kidnap and secret detention program

Antiwar.com Lost Major Donors After News of FBI Monitoring Broke

"Yesterday the ACLU filed a lawsuit on our behalf against the Federal Bureau of Investigation, demanding the receipt of records in their possession regarding surveillance of Antiwar.com, and key editorial personnel. We know they possess such records because of documents received as a result of a third party Freedom of Information Act request, subsequently published online. A memo from FBI headquarters in Washington speculates Antiwar.com and its principals are possibly 'a threat to national security' engaging in a conspiracy 'on behalf of a foreign power' and recommends a more thorough investigation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAntiwar.com Lost Major Donors After News of FBI Monitoring Broke