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(Yet) Another Isolated Incident
Since my colleague Jacob Sullum beat me by a day to the botched Indianapolis raid, here's one from Montgomery County, Maryland:
Kenyan immigrant Nancy Njoroge had been living in the United States for a year when a Montgomery County SWAT team burst into her Gaithersburg apartment at 4 a.m., handcuffed her and her two teenage daughters, and searched her apartment, court records show.
Police found nothing.
The reason: Njoroge lived in No. 202 of her apartment complex. The police had a search warrant for apartment 201.
After rejecting an offer from the county’s claims adjuster of a “couple of movie passes,” the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the county on the family’s behalf for unspecified damages, according to ACLU records filed in court.
The ACLU said the purpose of the lawsuit was to hold the police department accountable for its mistake.
“Officers had but one apartment to locate, in a quiet and well-lit hallway in the dead of night, without distraction and with clearly marked doors and numbers,” ACLU lawyer Fritz Mulhauser said in a letter to the county...
Court records don’t give a clear reason why the police raided the wrong apartment, and the county attorney assigned to the case did not respond to inquiries for the story. But in court records, a SWAT team leader indicated that it was an isolated incident.
The movie passes were a nice touch. The raid actually happened in 2005, but after negotiations with the county failed, the family filed its federal civil rights suit this month.
PC|6.23.09 @ 10:00AM|#
Are these officers in these botched raids taking Sotomayer approved tests? Are numbers racist?
|6.23.09 @ 10:06AM|#
Montgomery County has a three billion dollar budget. They are the thievingist rat bastards on the planet. But they can't offer a fair settlement to these people. The entire state and county governments in Maryland need to be shot.
Xeones|6.23.09 @ 10:06AM|#
Balko, it's not a contest. Just 'cause Sullum beat you to an "isolated incident" once doesn't mean you have to try to be even MORE depressing.
monkey on juice|6.23.09 @ 10:06AM|#
As I said yesterday, numbers are just too difficult for cops. We can't expect them to understand subtle differences in numbers like that between "201" and "202". I mean, its not like they've got the superhuman computing ability of say a second or third grader.
hmm|6.23.09 @ 10:08AM|#
Dueling blogging. Who can produce the most egregious police
violations in a week.
I have an offer for the SWAT team violating my property. It's not
quite as much fun as two movie tickets. Sooner or later the after
the fact courts are not going to be enough.
There's no counting in SWAT, fire till it goes click drop the mag,
pop the mag, and keep firing!!! Counting is for the coroner. I
guess that isn't entirely fair the do qualify, of course a shaved
chimp can meet most qualifications.
anarch|6.23.09 @ 10:10AM|#
"Officers had but one apartment to locate, in a quiet and well-lit hallway in the dead of night, without distraction and with clearly marked doors and numbers," ACLU lawyer Fritz Mulhauser said in a letter to the county...
I don't like that.
Surgeons who leave sponges in people's intestines don't get to say
it was because they were distracted. If you can't focus on a
high-risk job, postpone the job.
Solanum|6.23.09 @ 10:12AM|#
How about cutting the officers some slack. It was very overcast in that apartment hallway...
|6.23.09 @ 10:17AM|#
The offer of movie passes, ie roughly USD $10 per person in
compensation, trivializes this beyond belief. Glad they made the
offer, though, because it shows how very out of touch Montgomery
county is with reality.
I hope the final settlement ends up costing each and every
Montgomery County taxpayer the amount of a movie pass, and that
this fact is hugely publicized at tax time.
BTW, Montgomery County must have caught whatever is afflicting
Prince George's County next door to them - that's the county with
all the recent shootings of citizens by police officers. When I
lived in the area, Montgomery was always the "nice" county, and PG
the ghetto/rural county. Arrrgh.
anon|6.23.09 @ 10:18AM|#
Free passes to *which* movie?
Reno 911: Miami?
Mall Cop?
Important detail...
|6.23.09 @ 10:23AM|#
Here's what amazes me: beyond the fact that cops can't seem to
read, when they bust into a place that has only a woman and two
children or two old people who can barely move, why don't they
immediately think "oh shit, I think we're in the wrong place" and
immediately double-check the number on the door?
Oh wait, I know: because the "regular citizens" are all subhumans
to be treated as criminals.
Tonio (Not Tony)|6.23.09 @ 10:26AM|#
This is a good opportunity for the Obama administration to step
up to the plate and use the DOJ to start investigating widespread
abuses of police powers...
[crickets chirp]
Oh, well.
hmm|6.23.09 @ 10:35AM|#
...why don't they immediately think "oh shit, I think we're in the wrong place" and immediately double-check the number on the door?
They don't think, there is zero critical thinking in police
departments. I don't mean that as a sarcastic comment either. They
are trained how to enforce a statute, what the statute is verbatim,
and how to get a case to court without jeopardizing the case. Even
detectives don't think beyond that scope.
Spend 10 minutes looking for discussions on boards LEOs commonly
frequent. You will quickly notice a lack of an ability to discuss
or argue anything outside the statute itself. The general approach
is the repeat the statute and say I just enforce what the law says.
Fucking shaved chimps with guns. (that was sarcasm, well kinda)
|6.23.09 @ 10:40AM|#
C'mon, Epi, these guys work themselves into adrenaline frenzies and you want them to stand down when all they see is a couple of geezers? Not a chance.
|6.23.09 @ 10:42AM|#
The cops are apes. But the county's refusal to even try to make
these people whole again is fucking outragous. It is bad enough
that this shit happens. But what makes it worse is that once it
does happen no one in government finds anything wrong with it. They
just say "mistakes were made now go fuck yourself".
Montgomery County is filled with well meaning and mostly harmless
liberals. If the general pulbic knew that the country was screwing
over some immigrant housewife there would be an uproar. If we had a
media, maybe people would know. But we don't have a media. We just
have professional Obama cocksuckers. Reporting on things like this
would take away from the all important job of being a propeganda
organ for the government.
hmm|6.23.09 @ 10:42AM|#
I forgot to say screw the PC argument that not all cops are bad.
I used to believe that bullshit. The fact is everyone of them takes
and oath to protect and serve me and every other citizen. The
minute a LEO does something that is contrary to their oath to
protect and serve every officer for 100 square miles should be
pointing a finger and screaming at the top of their lungs. They
don't. They faithfully toe the thin blue line and keep their mouth
shut or back their brethren. The few that do raise questions are
driven out. Fuck each and every one of them for their direct
offenses or their silence and not holding up to their oath.
Maybe since they want to play Army they should be held to something
similar to the UMCJ and as soon as they violate it they can sit in
Leavenworth like those that violate the rules in the military.
Tricky Prickears|6.23.09 @ 10:43AM|#
Police later served the search warrant on the correct
apartment, where they found 600 grams of cocaine and $27,820 in
cash,
After she turned down the movie passes, they offered
her the coke and cash.
Xeones|6.23.09 @ 10:45AM|#
Fucking shaved chimps with guns.
Dude, that's harsh... to chimps.
hmm, i think you meant "faithfully tow the thin blue lion."
MNG|6.23.09 @ 10:48AM|#
Epi
These are the same people who see Jack Russell Terriers as threats
to their lives...
MNG|6.23.09 @ 10:52AM|#
Have you noticed how the cops are starting to get cool cars,
like Mustangs, Camaro's and Chargers?
What they should do is every cop who makes one of these mistakes
should have to trade his cool car for a pink PT Cruiser...
Fascitis Necrotizante|6.23.09 @ 10:53AM|#
Welcome to America, African immigrant single(?) mother of two!
hmm|6.23.09 @ 10:53AM|#
hmm, i think you meant "faithfully tow the thin blue lion."
I see what you did there. You're a crafty one. Reported to SWAT for
craftiness!!!
hmm|6.23.09 @ 10:56AM|#
What they should do is every cop who makes one of these mistakes should have to trade his cool car for a pink PT Cruiser with fuchsia flames and a real gay man on the roof going "WHOooooooWHHOOooooooo, HONK HONK, PULL OVAH, PULL OVAH!!"
|6.23.09 @ 10:57AM|#
"What they should do is every cop who makes one of these
mistakes should have to trade his cool car for a pink PT
Cruiser..."
No. Smart cars and Segways. And horses. Most cops should be out
walking the beat in pairs or on horses. Make them walk the
neighborhoods they patrol and learn to be human beings. An no cop
should be armed with anything beyond a badge, knight stick and .38
revolver.
Xeones|6.23.09 @ 11:00AM|#
Reported to SWAT for craftiness!!!
Hey, i'm just trying to enforce this community's standards. But you
had to call out SWAT. Now they're going to break into my neighbors'
house and shoot their dog. Great.
Ample Bosoms|6.23.09 @ 11:01AM|#
From today's Minneapolis paper:
Minneapolis family is taking Strike Force to court
The federal lawsuit is over the damage to its home, property seized
and distress inflicted in a raid by officers working with the Metro
Gang Strike Force. No arrests were made.
By RANDY FURST, Star Tribune
Shelly Blas, 17, was in her bedroom in her south Minneapolis home
when she heard glass shatter and her aunt scream. Then five police
officers burst into her room and at gunpoint ordered her down on
the floor, where she was handcuffed.
"Shut up," they were yelling. "Shut up."
Her father, Felix Blas, drove up in a car 45 minutes later and was
greeted by two officers pointing guns at him.
The Feb. 6 raid on the Blas residence, launched by the Metro Gang
Strike Force with the help of Minneapolis SWAT team officers,
resulted in more than $3,000 in damage and the seizure of property,
including a computer and camera, the family says. It also subjected
the Blases to emotional distress, they say. And to date, it has
produced no arrests.
On Monday, Shelly and Felix Blas and Shelly's aunt, Vitalina
Bautista, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis against
the Strike Force and officers in the raid.
While the Strike Force had a search warrant signed by Hennepin
District Judge Patricia Belois, the target of the warrant, Joe
Barrera, 18, a nephew of homeowner Felix Blas, was not at home and
has not been arrested. After interviews with family members and
other inquiries, the Star Tribune can find no record of an arrest
warrant for Barrera.
More at:
http://www.startribune.com/local/48815907.html?elr=KArksUUUycaEacyU
Xeones|6.23.09 @ 11:01AM|#
Smart cars and Segways.
Here in downtown Norfolk the beat cops are all on Segways. The
metermaids get the smart cars.
|6.23.09 @ 11:05AM|#
In Seattle the metermaids get Segways and the beat cops ride bicycles. Therefore, our cops are in great shape for running people down and kicking their ass.
hmm|6.23.09 @ 11:09AM|#
hmmm
Good one.
I wish it were mine, but Eddie Murphey gets the credit for that
one. I forgot to add I'm not talking about a cute little effiminate
gay man either. I'm talking 200+ pound, fully bearded, leather
wearing, bear of a gay man with 20 inch arms. Just to make the cop
feel even less manly, since most are homophobic.
No sense in half assing it.
hmm|6.23.09 @ 11:11AM|#
Here in downtown Norfolk the beat cops are all on Segways. The
metermaids get the smart cars.
Just what the majority of cops need. Less walking at the expense of
tax payers.
|6.23.09 @ 11:16AM|#
Check out these comments from the twin cities article
above.
SAME HERE
MY HOUSE WAS RAIDED BY THE DRUG TASK FORCE, THEY BROKE WINDOWS,
TRASHED ALL THE ROOMS, TOOK ID'S-CHECK BOOKS-HUNTING RIFLE-MONEY
& AFTER THAT IT COST MY FAMILY-$2000.00 AND WE HAVE SEEN
NOTHING OR HEARD ANY THING. SO ONE TEAM IS LEARNING FROM
ANOTHER.
You can't fight city hall.
I had a similar incident happen to me with the St Paul police
department. The police thought that I was part of a large theft
ring. I had nothing to do with the break ins that had occurred. No
charges were ever filed. So far the "investigation" has cost me
about 1500. Damage to my home, impound fees for my car, storage for
the car including 5 days when the investigator was on vacation, and
more to come I am sure. They took a bunch of stuff from my house
and I have found that it is almost impossible to get it back. I
can't get anyone to return my calls much less my property. Last
week I actually received a bill because they called someone out to
secure the door that the kicked down. Ironically one of the things
they took from me were the keys to my house and car. I was
suppressed to find out how much power the police have. Prior to my
experience I had nothing but respect for the Saint Paul police
department. That respect has been reduced to zero. The police that
I worked with were a combination of arrogant and incompetent. I was
also suppressed to find that the police are basically immune from
paying damages. You can hire a lawyer to try but the lawyer will
cost more than the damage. Good luck to the Blas's F. Jackson Saint
Paul MN
posted by freddyjack on Jun. 23, 09 at 7:47 AM |
18 of 21 people liked this comment.
These Cops Have Records...
This is not new for several of these officers. My husband sued (and
won) one of the cops that was involved with this raid for doing the
same thing to him 13 years ago.
posted by murjovb on Jun. 23, 09 at 6:47 AM |
Maybe those folks are all lying but I doubt it. As you would
expect, people don't just become depraved. This kind of things
seems to be a bit common.
Xeones|6.23.09 @ 11:17AM|#
In Seattle the metermaids get Segways and the beat cops ride
bicycles. Therefore, our cops are in great shape for running people
down and kicking their ass.
We've got a few bike cops too. For some reason they're always
riding through the mall like it weren't a thing. Probably 'cause
Norfolk's not too friendly to bikes -- there are almost no paths,
the roads are shit, and nobody knows how to drive.
I prefer the Segway cops, because they're ridiculous. I once saw a
squadron of them in vee formation booking down Main Street, all
electric motors whining and bellies jiggling when they hit
potholes. Hilarious!
Xeones|6.23.09 @ 11:19AM|#
I was suppressed to find out how much power
the police have.
A very telling, and accurate, slip.
Rich|6.23.09 @ 11:23AM|#
My carpenter Dad taught me: Check warrant twice; kick down door once. I just do not understand how this stuff happens.
|6.23.09 @ 11:25AM|#
Rich,
When there is a union that will ensure that no one is ever held
responsible for any of their fuckups, people tend not to give a
shit. These cops just didn't care to check twice. What is the old
Lilly Tomlin line about the phone company "we don't care because we
don't have to". That can be applied to pretty much any law
enforcement agency.
Zeb|6.23.09 @ 11:33AM|#
I still fail to understand why a warrant gives them the right to trash your property. Wouldn't a search be more effective if they carefully and methodically went through everything instead of smashing shit and making a big mess?
Xeones|6.23.09 @ 11:35AM|#
Wouldn't a search be more effective if they carefully and
methodically went through everything instead of smashing shit and
making a big mess?
How would that help them project their power and instill fear in a
cowed populace? What, you think cops should treat "civilians" like
people?
Rich|6.23.09 @ 11:43AM|#
Thanks, John -- that seems about right. Also, you reminded me of the old "Kung Fu Christmas" song: "He don't care, he don't live there."
|6.23.09 @ 11:48AM|#
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2722379822_1c5cdcaba4.jpg
That would be a nice punishment for any cops who bust into innocent
people's homes and kidnap innocent citizens.
Actually, a nice punishment would be immediate unpaid suspension
pending an investigation via an independent watchdog group, with
all findings being turned over to a prosecutor who is not part of
the DA. Sentences would be far harsher then what an average
civilian would get for the same crime, and all testimony given by
the officer in question to remove the money or freedom of others
would be called into question and investigated.
Then we can all ride our gumdrop unicorns to the marshmallow
kingdom.
monkey on juice|6.23.09 @ 11:49AM|#
"How would that help them project their power and instill fear
in a cowed populace? What, you think cops should treat "civilians"
like people?"
Exactly. These tiny-dicked buffoons with badges have to do
something to enhance their sense of manhood, and what better way
than smashing your stuff and making you cower in fear?
|6.23.09 @ 11:51AM|#
No. Smart cars and Segways. And horses.
Cops in Chicago already have Segways. And we have mounted police
that patrol downtown. (you can see them on Michigan Ave daily) And
ATVs. (in and around Grant park)
Your snark can't keep up with reality :-)
Rich|6.23.09 @ 11:58AM|#
> Smart cars and Segways. And horses.
Do any cops use dirt bikes or skateboards? That would probably help
with community relations.
|6.23.09 @ 12:02PM|#
"Cops in Chicago already have Segways. And we have mounted
police that patrol downtown. (you can see them on Michigan Ave
daily) And ATVs. (in and around Grant park)
Your snark can't keep up with reality :-)"
A lot of cities do and it is a good idea. A cop walking the beat or
riding a horse does more to deter and stop crime than one in a car
waiting at a speed trap does.
Warty|6.23.09 @ 12:06PM|#
Fuck horses and bicycles, cops should have to walk their beats and, you know, get to know the people THEY WORK FOR. Plus, it wouldn't hurt if they got Irish accents and grew big red moustaches.
Michael|6.23.09 @ 12:10PM|#
The Feb. 6 raid on the Blas residence, launched by the
Metro Gang Strike Force with the help of
Minneapolis SWAT team officers, resulted in more than $3,000 in
damage and the seizure of property, including a computer and
camera, the family says. It also subjected the Blases to emotional
distress, they say. And to date, it has produced no
arrests.
Who the fuck names these departments? Were they looking for Cobra
Commander?
The Angry Optimist|6.23.09 @ 12:15PM|#
Michael - look at the Indy one, where the sheriff's office
apparently has a major on staff.
whenever I see a comissioner of a big city on television with
four fucking stars across his shoulders like he's David
Petraeus, it makes me want to punch cop "officers" in the
throat.
you're not in the military, and you sure didn't do the time that a
General in the Armed Services did, so take that shit off your
uniform.
|6.23.09 @ 12:19PM|#
"""I once saw a squadron of them in vee formation booking down
Main Street, all electric motors whining and bellies jiggling when
they hit potholes. Hilarious!"""
Right out of a Polica Academy movie?
We laugh at them, they beat us up, that just the realtionship we
have.
"""When there is a union that will ensure that no one is ever held
responsible for any of their fuckups, people tend not to give a
shit."""
It's not an union issue. Even in court, cops are rarely found
guilty when charged as long as their actions were on duty.
Cops get away with this crap because most of the citiznery doesn't
have a problem with it.
|6.23.09 @ 12:32PM|#
What beats me is how some people can think that cops who can't read house numbers are the only ones who should have guns. "But they're trained professionals!" Pfah.
|6.23.09 @ 12:39PM|#
""""What beats me is how some people can think that cops who
can't read house numbers are the only ones who should have
guns.""""
No kidding.
|6.23.09 @ 12:40PM|#
Who the fuck names these departments? Were they looking for
Cobra Commander?
I saw "Strike Force" and immediately thought of the Strike Team and
Vic Mackey on The Shield. I'm starting to think The
Shield isn't very realistic, seeing how evilly competent Vic,
Ronnie, and Shane are.
¢|6.23.09 @ 12:44PM|#
Make them walk the neighborhoods they patrol and learn to be
human beings.
You sound white.
I'd rather have an hourly drug-gang shootout in my front yard than
see cop walking by. Less dangerous.
Paul|6.23.09 @ 12:48PM|#
The entire state and county governments in Maryland need to
be shot.
Preferably in a wrong-door raid.
hmm|6.23.09 @ 1:18PM|#
I don't think they can take Cobra Commander. They could probably
own the old lady that lives next door to him, and her fucking
poodle!
The cops with a shit ton of ribbons and stars look like Costa Rican
Generals. Lil' tin pot fucktards with pretty ribbons and
badges.
The phrase "Strike Force" is hard to work into a kool acronym. They
should consider changing the name.
Ample Bosoms|6.23.09 @ 1:24PM|#
"What is the old Lilly Tomlin line about the phone company "we
don't care because we don't have to". That can be applied to pretty
much any law enforcement agency."
I'd say government as a whole.
|6.23.09 @ 1:26PM|#
You know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see one PD say, "this was an isolated incident, and to make sure it stays that way, we're going to (a) fire the dumbfucks who screwed up, (b) put everyone on the force into remedial reading and civil rights classes and (c) pay the family $5 million from our operating budget - skimmed from our salaries."
hmm|6.23.09 @ 1:33PM|#
Be easier to just let people shoot police when they threaten
your life and violate your property without a warrant or one hell
of a warrant exception.
Talk about one steep and expensive learning curve.
Spartacus|6.23.09 @ 1:34PM|#
Police later served the search warrant on the correct
apartment, where they found 600 grams of cocaine and $27,820 in
cash,
How stupid is that? The apartment next door gets raided, so the guy
just shrugged and left his stash lying around? The only reason
criminals ever get caught is because they are dumber than the
cops.
Tricky Prickears|6.23.09 @ 1:43PM|#
Cops get away with this crap because most of the citiznery
doesn't have a problem with it.
Not
quite
|6.23.09 @ 1:46PM|#
"They are trained how to enforce a statute, what the statute is
verbatim, and how to get a case to court without jeopardizing the
case."
They are not even familiar with the state laws in most instances
only the ones they deal with directly like vice and narcotics
etc.
Here in La. we have the right to open carry firearms. Yet the cops
don't seem to be able to wrap their tiny little minds around the
concept. It is simple, a person in the state of La. may openly
carry a firearm so long as that person is legally able to own said
firearm. Slowly but surely they are learning as they harrass and
try arresting people for nothing but flexing their rights to carry.
One guy even won enough from being arrested to buy two nice BMW
motorcycles. We are trying to get more people to pass on the
concealed carry license and just carry openly as you sign away sme
of your rights to conceal carry you do not have to when openly
carrying.
A right unused is a right lost.
Oh and F**K the POLICE and their Isolated incidents. Wonder how
they would feel if they had more isolated incidents of cops being
randomly shot at while on patrol. Just an isolated incident right,
nothing to worry about.
|6.23.09 @ 2:37PM|#
radley, seriously, are you automatically forwarding these stories to scalia? because if not, you should be.
ev|6.23.09 @ 2:56PM|#
Wiggum: All right shows over folks! Nothing to see he---OH MY GOD! A HORRIBLE PLANE CRASH! C'mon everybody! Get a load of this flaming wreckage! C'mon don't be shy, crowd around!
hmm|6.23.09 @ 4:15PM|#
They are not even familiar with the state laws in most instances only the ones they deal with directly like vice and narcotics etc.
They barely know their local statutes. They have no clue about
recent major supreme court decisions. I spent a few pages watching
an officer argue Arizona v. Gant had zero effect on Terry v. Ohio
and the extension of Terry v. Ohio to automobiles with Michigan v.
Long. He never once even came close to getting the connection
between Terry and Michigan, much less understand the cause changed
per the search of vehicles. He even bragged about searching
vehicles when ever he wanted. Truly fucking amazing. The same cops
talked about taking someones CCW while talking to them, zero
legislation gives them the authority to do so not to mention thatto
get a CCW here you have to basically sell your soul fingerprints,
picture, and all. Not a whole lot of threat after the ass reaming
and prostate check they give you. (of course the property rights
are evident)
I'm considering trying to get a hold of some defense attorneys in
his area, I know where he works, and letting them know there is
discoverable information concerning a local cop on a certain board.
I don't know discovery rules per the interwebs, so not sure. I'm
sure if it is discoverable a few defense attorneys would love to
look over the claims and bravado. Personally if I were defending
people I would be cruising every forum any LEOs frequent. There is
a metric ton of damning evidence. I just don't know how strong it
would be.
|6.23.09 @ 5:11PM|#
"""They barely know their local statutes. They have no clue
about recent major supreme court decisions."""
Cops don't want to be lawyers and they have no problem saying so.
An ex-cop friend of mine was always on top of SCOTUS rulings and
would apply them, he caught shit for it all the time. He would tell
them where they were wrong and he would get yelled at for acting
like a lawyer and not a cop. For the most part, cops are not
interested in law, as odd as that sounds.
|6.23.09 @ 8:20PM|#
Police State?
Homeland Gestapo?
oil
spy
leak
theft
aipac
dance
goyim
opium
profits
the fed
mossad
neocons
911 liars
art students
whistleblowers
moving company
propaganda media
The chosen the superior
Extortion blackmail bribery
By deception ye shall wage war
AIPAC's Israel-first dual-nationals
2-3% of the U.S. population controls
For-profit NotFederal NoReserve scam
|6.24.09 @ 10:03AM|#
Far fewer of these abuses would be occuring if we replaced unionized government employees with private security firms like Pinkerton's and Xe. And if an abuse did somehow occur, you can bet they'd gladly admit wrongdoing and make up for it without having to be dragged into court. And if even if it did somehow end up in court, the Roberts wing of SCOTUS has a much better record of taking the little guy's side against corporations than against cops.
|6.24.09 @ 10:13AM|#
After one of these wrong door raids up here in Canada recently (in which two men were attacked and injured by the police dog), the cop said later the officers can't be expected to think once the raid starts..... and even if the people inside aren't who they're expecting, well, these criminals can be pretty wiley when they're trying to avoid being arrested.
|6.24.09 @ 12:03PM|#
Something very like this happened to me. I live at 1998 "Our
Street".
That's 1998.
The neighborhood batscat-crazy drug dealer lived at 1988 Our
Street.
That's 1988.
So -- 8AM on a Sunday morning, I'm reading the paper in my living
room when suddenly there's pounding on my door, and somebody
screaming "JACOB, GIMME MY MONEY *NOW*!!" As I run to the door, the
guy tries to open it. I'm screaming and holding the door closed and
telling him that Jacob lives two doors down, you know, at the
obvious Drug House. My husband wakes up and helps me hold the door
while I run to call the police.
By the time the cops show up, my husband has threatened the guy
enough that he's just wandering around in the middle of the street
screaming, "GIMME MY MONEY, JACOB!"
I see the cops talking to the guy and taking a paper from him and
reading it. Then a ladycop comes up to our door and rings the bell.
I answer, assuming she's going to ask me what happened and tell me
they're taking him in.
Nope. She demands to speak to Jacob, and asks me why we're not
giving this guy his money. I tell her he has the wrong address;
Jacob lives a couple doors down.
She says, "This man has *YOUR* address written down here!" and
smugly and triumphantly produces a crumpled piece of paper with the
house number "1988 Our Street".
I tell her, "We're 1998!" She snarls, "That's what this *SAYS*!" I
had to tell her 3 times to look more carefully. I had to point out
my house number on the wall 18 inches from her face. Even then,
first time, she looked at the paper saying "1988", and the wall
saying "1998", and tried to tell me they were the same. (BTW, the
Drug House has "1988" hand-painted on the wall in crooked red
letters 3 feet high, facing the street.)
I shudder to think what would have happened if either the guy or
the cops thought they had some reason to come in shootin'.
They grow the cops awfully damned dumb around here, too.
Interesting that she and some crackhead drug dealer had exactly the
same problem recognizing a sequence of numbers.
|6.24.09 @ 12:15PM|#
They should be happy they don't have dogs, else they'd have been
shot (even the Pekinese), just like that mayor in PG County, whose
dogs were shot while running away inside their home.
Ed
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