Houston passes law requiring photographs, fingerprints of gold sellers

"Houston City Council on Wednesday passed new rules on precious metals dealers despite a lengthy attempt to water down the ordinance by Councilwoman Helena Brown, who called it 'safety theater' that would burden businesses and invade jewelry sellers' privacy. Officers in the Houston Police Department's precious metals unit said reputable dealers already implement many of the new rules but said the ordinance - which requires a photograph and thumbprint of each seller and mandates dealers enter transactions into an online database - will help them catch crooks and recover stolen goods." Continue reading

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Man’s lawsuit contends his son accosted by deputy over toy pistol

"A Bonita Springs man is suing the Collier County sheriff and a deputy, alleging his civil rights were violated when he was arrested after questioning why his 5-year-old son couldn't bring a lime green toy gun into the county fair. Maytham Mahmoud, 47, contends sheriff's Sgt. Gaines Myers, who was then the fair's security director, used excessive force and violated his rights by throwing him to the ground and kneeing him after he asked why the toy gun wasn't allowed." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMan’s lawsuit contends his son accosted by deputy over toy pistol

Man’s lawsuit contends his son accosted by deputy over toy pistol

"A Bonita Springs man is suing the Collier County sheriff and a deputy, alleging his civil rights were violated when he was arrested after questioning why his 5-year-old son couldn't bring a lime green toy gun into the county fair. Maytham Mahmoud, 47, contends sheriff's Sgt. Gaines Myers, who was then the fair's security director, used excessive force and violated his rights by throwing him to the ground and kneeing him after he asked why the toy gun wasn't allowed." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMan’s lawsuit contends his son accosted by deputy over toy pistol

Idaho, Arizona Schools Go Into Full Prison Mode

"Schools in Meridian, Idaho went into full 'prison mode' after a student who brought a folding shovel to Heritage Middle School in Meridian, Idaho prompted the school’s 'resource officer' to call for a full lockdown. On February 5, three schools in Yuma, Arizona were placed on lockdown as the result of what was later described as a 'rumor' of a gun on campus. Officers from two local law enforcement departments and two federal agencies – many of them kitted out in full combat attire – were mobilized for the operation. The students were held in custody for more than three hours before being released." Continue reading

Continue ReadingIdaho, Arizona Schools Go Into Full Prison Mode

Idaho, Arizona Schools Go Into Full Prison Mode

"Schools in Meridian, Idaho went into full 'prison mode' after a student who brought a folding shovel to Heritage Middle School in Meridian, Idaho prompted the school’s 'resource officer' to call for a full lockdown. On February 5, three schools in Yuma, Arizona were placed on lockdown as the result of what was later described as a 'rumor' of a gun on campus. Officers from two local law enforcement departments and two federal agencies – many of them kitted out in full combat attire – were mobilized for the operation. The students were held in custody for more than three hours before being released." Continue reading

Continue ReadingIdaho, Arizona Schools Go Into Full Prison Mode

Man Sues TSA For $5 Million Following Peanut Butter Arrest

"An Arizona man who was arrested at the behest of the TSA, following a wisecrack over a jar of peanut butter is suing the federal agency for $5 million. Frank Hannibal, 50, was detained and dragged from LaGuardia Airport recently by police after a run-in with TSA agents over the jar of gourmet sandwich spread. 'The liquid oil that separated from the peanut butter had them baffled,' Hannibal told the New York Daily News. Hannibal spent the next 24 hours in a cell, during which time he was fed a peanut butter sandwich by cops who later charged him with the felony of 'falsely reporting an incident'." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMan Sues TSA For $5 Million Following Peanut Butter Arrest

The DEA Wants to Use a $37 Pot Sale to Seize a $1.5 Million Anaheim Building

"As it happens, the building owners are the kind of clients whom defense attorneys love to represent: law-abiding citizens. Specifically, they are married, in their late middle age and from Irvine. The wife is a dentist; the husband a computer engineer who holds a government security clearance, which is why the latter asked to remain anonymous. Although he feels he has done nothing wrong, he explains, even being accused of allowing his property to be used to break the law is embarrassing to him." Continue reading

Continue ReadingThe DEA Wants to Use a $37 Pot Sale to Seize a $1.5 Million Anaheim Building

Armed cops storm house after owner posts picture of TOY weapon on Facebook

"Mr Driscoll's picture showed an Action Man plastic figure and in the background was a toy mortar gun, around six inches tall. The mortar gun was next to a TV remote control clearly showing its small size but someone who saw it contacted police. Five officers, including two armed with submachine guns, then arrived at his home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. Mr Driscoll said: 'I was shocked and stunned. It was just mad. Five officers turned up in unmarked police cars. They flashed the search warrant in my face and said it was lucky I was in so they didn't have to break my door down.'" Continue reading

Continue ReadingArmed cops storm house after owner posts picture of TOY weapon on Facebook

LAPD: Collateral Damage For The Sake Of The State

"Soldiers and other killers for hire in Iraq and Afghanistan are carefully trained to stop thinking of their targets as human beings. Otherwise they'll flinch and hesitate when they need to kill. 'If you ask yourself, ‘did he kiss his kids goodbye this morning,’ you’re through,' I remember one sniper saying. And I remember this one, too: 'Sorry, The chick got in the way.' Many LAPD and other police force members are veterans of those wars. Do you think they can forget that training? Turn it off like a switch? The LAPD-Dorner case has proven that they can't." Continue reading

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Christopher Dorner and the Chaos Inherent to Government

"The LAPD and surrounding police departments were out in full force, their penchant for unleashing deadly violence without warning on no more basis than a hunch on open display. In truly military fashion, police even unleashed a surveillance drone as part of the search. Understandably, many felt unsafe. And for what? While bringing Dorner in — or down — was clearly a priority, the way in which he was pursued, the pile of resources devoted to his capture, and the unprovoked violence inflicted on civilians made it clear that that priority wasn’t rooted in public safety." Continue reading

Continue ReadingChristopher Dorner and the Chaos Inherent to Government