Police State

Philly narcs face lawsuit by victim of drug raid on auto shop

"The officers, who entered with guns drawn and never identified themselves as cops, then asked the three men 'where the drugs and money were hidden,' the complaint reads. Officer Thomas Liciardello allegedly struck Layre on the back of the head with a steel pipe, knocking him unconscious. After Layre began to regain consciousness, the officer allegedly kicked Layre in the mouth so hard that the business owner’s front upper row of teeth separated from their roots. The suit goes on to state that $41,000 in cash taken off of Layre had been money legitimately earned by Layre and that the officers unlawfully kept $34,400 of unreported cash for themselves." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPhilly narcs face lawsuit by victim of drug raid on auto shop

Marc Emery Released from Solitary Confinement

"Emery has already served four years of a five-year sentence in the US for selling marijuana seeds online from Canada. With the permission of prison officials in the Special Investigative Service (SIS), photos of his band were put up on Emery’s Cannabis Culture blog in April. Emery was under investigation by the same SIS authorities who gave permission for the photos; they claimed that the pictures had been taken with a prohibited smart phone. Officials put him in 'the hole' while they looked into the matter. On Tuesday, June 11, Emery was released from solitary confinement after a staff person admitted he had taken the photos." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarc Emery Released from Solitary Confinement

Teen Rots in Jail for Facebook Joke; Cop Who Talked About Killing Michelle Obama Gets Vacation

"Justin Carter, 19 was arrested for making an off-color joke to a friend about a MOBA* computer game they were playing. For this transgression, Carter was not just investigated, but arrested. He's been in jail for months now, held on $500,000 bail. Across the country, in Washington, D.C., a very similar situation has had a very different outcome. D.C. Police Officer Christopher Picciano, 'a 17-year veteran who was a member of the elite presidential motorcade detail,' will be suspended without pay for a little over a month after joking about killing the first lady, threatening to go on a shooting spree, and calling Pres. Obama a communist." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTeen Rots in Jail for Facebook Joke; Cop Who Talked About Killing Michelle Obama Gets Vacation

Cop Fatally Shot Unarmed And Mentally Ill Man, Forbade Family from Giving Him CPR

"Showing 'total lack of awareness,' a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy awoke a mentally ill man and then shot him to death in his own bedroom, the man’s family claims in court. Theodore and Karen Rose sued Sacramento County, its Sheriff Scott Jones, and Deputy David McEntire for the wrongful death of their son Johnathan Rose, in Federal Court. He says in the complaint that though he called 911, he did not overdramatize the situation or indicate that Johnathan was on a rampage. After Ted Rose’s 911 call, Johnathan calmed down enough to take his medication and fall asleep. More than an hour later, Deputy McEntire showed up at the Rose home." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop Fatally Shot Unarmed And Mentally Ill Man, Forbade Family from Giving Him CPR

Police Using ‘Seatbelt Checkpoints’ to Search Cars Without Warrants, Make Drug Arrests

"Police are increasingly using seatbelt checkpoints in Tennessee, Louisiana and New York as a way to search vehicles without a warrant. Mayfield Heights, Ohio police even set up a fake checkpoint along I-271, noted Cleveland.com. How are police allowed to do these types of warrantless searches? Many states do not consider a checkpoint an actual 'traffic stop' by police. The checkpoints are legal as long as the primary purpose is 'regulatory' instead of 'general criminal enforcement,' which is what police departments often claim in press releases, such as the one above." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Using ‘Seatbelt Checkpoints’ to Search Cars Without Warrants, Make Drug Arrests

Blood, spit and cops: Nationwide drug roadblocks raise eyebrows

"The roadblocks are part of a national study led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is trying to determine how many drivers are on the road with drugs or alcohol in their systems. Similar roadblocks will be erected in dozens of communities across the nation this year, according to the agency. It's been going on for decades. Previous surveys date to the 1970s. The last one was run in 2007, and it included the collection of blood and saliva samples without apparent controversy, sheriff's spokesmen in both Alabama counties said. Gov. Robert Bentley complained that his office had not been notified that the surveys were going to be conducted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBlood, spit and cops: Nationwide drug roadblocks raise eyebrows

Audited Virginia farmer faces more thuggery

"Martha's disputes brought her national attention because of her willingness to stand up to ridiculousness. She was cited and threatened with $5,000 fines for hosting a birthday party for eight 10-year-old girls without an 'events' permit from the county. A Fauquier County supervisor blabbed about her IRS audit two days after the notice was signed at the IRS and six days before Boneta received it. That shows collusion. Then in 2011 the county concocted an ordinance restricting farm sales that was enforced only against Boneta. She was cited for selling such things as emu-feather necklaces and homemade pies without a 'special administrative farm sales permit.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAudited Virginia farmer faces more thuggery

Oregon Supreme Court Allows Unticketed Drivers To Be Searched

"James Kenneth Watson had been driving through Myrtle Creek when Officer Kris Malek recognized him and decided to pull him over. Officer Malek claimed Watson's car briefly crossed over the yellow painted lane divider stripes. When pulled over, Officer Malek decided not to issue a ticket. He asked for license and registration and began questioning Watson while he waited for dispatch to confirm the license and check for arrest warrants. Deputy Clayton Ruble arrived on the scene and claimed he smelled a 'pretty strong' odor of marijuana that Officer Malek had not noticed. An officer with a drug dog was called to the scene to sniff Watson's car. The dog indicated." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOregon Supreme Court Allows Unticketed Drivers To Be Searched

What the Libertarian Candidate for NYC Comptroller Would Like to Ask Eliot Spitzer

"'I'll ask his position on prostitution. And if he thinks johns should be arrested and charged just like madams and prostitutes. If he thought it was fair that he was never charged as a john under his new felony law but that I spent four months in Rikers Island from which I returned penniless, homeless, and forced to take sex offender classes for five months with pedophiles and perverts while he returned to his wife in his 5th Ave. high rise without ever being fingerprinted, mug shot, remanded, or charged with a crime under the very law he signed.' 'But my guess is that he will use his vast money he used to pay high-priced prostitutes to try to knock me off the ballot.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat the Libertarian Candidate for NYC Comptroller Would Like to Ask Eliot Spitzer