San Antonio Cop Caught on Dashcam Allegedly Stealing Gun, Drugs, and Cash on New Year's Eve


A San Antonio cop arrested this week could end up on an episode of America's Dumbest Criminals. Via Fox in San Antonio:
According to the arrest affidavit, the 32-year-old officer came upon a man and woman in a parked car, separated the two and asked the man if he had anything illegal in his car.
The man told the officer that he had an unloaded rifle, $5,500 cash and a duffel bag containing marijuana.
The affidavit states that Officer [Konrad] Chatys offered to "'give him a break' because it was the holidays" and took the rifle, marijuana and some, but not all, of the cash after the woman pleaded that she needed rent money.
SAPD's Internal Affairs Unit checked the story with the officer's dashcam video, and according to the affidavit, the video appears to show him taking the money, drugs and rifle.
Police also say that officer's report from the incident classified the call as a "civil disturbance" and that he failed to submit the money, drugs and rifle into the SAPD property room.
Chatys is on "administrative leave," facing a charge of theft by a public servant.
Decriminalizing inherently non-violent behavior, putting more cameras on cops, and making it easier to terminate them are just a few of the policy solutions that can help cops chill out.
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So the guy forgets to fill out an evidence collection form, make an arrest and then turn the evidence in. Anyone could make a tiny mistake like that, I mean come on.
Also, how is the answer to "Anything illegal in your car?" ever ANYTHING but "No." Who are these people?
Procedures weren't followed. Training needs to be tightened up somewhat.
Yeah, my response after reading that was "both the cop and the man that got stopped should be on the same episode of World's Dumbest Criminal". My answer would always be "no". If they found something, and after my lawyer told me to answer, I'd say "I forgot".
The problem here is that you will have made a false statement to a police officer. Remeber, they can lie to you as a matter of standard police practice, you will be charged with making a false statement to a police officer if you lie to them.
I think better to just STFU from the get go except to repeatedly ask if you are being detained. That whole "Am I being detained" routine does more than just anooy the fuck out of the cop, it also provides responsive cover when you are asked probing questions to which you would rather not respond.
"Have you commited a crime?"
"Am I being detained?"
How is it allegedly if there is a video of him doing it?
We do still have de jure guilty until proven innocent in this country, and some journalists adhere to the letter of that. I think it's a good thing.
Fine.
/glares at policeman
"Allegedly" means someone has alleged that he did it. "Video recording" means there is no doubt. There won't be a conviction in either case, so stick with the proper wording.
We have to wait until the union interpretation of the video comes in.
Right?!
Since when are a rifle and cash illegal?
Maybe it was a stolen rifle and cash?
I mean before the cop also stole the rifle and cash.
When they are accompanied by weed.
No wonder cops oppose legalization. The War on Drugs gives them an excuse to do anything they want.
And prison guard unions $millions$ have spent oppose legalization because it would decrease overtime and job opportunities.
Hmm.. If I had a bag of pot in my car, I'd much rather had it stolen by the cop than submitted to SAPD with a proper chain of evidence.
Cost of doing bid-ness. I wouldn't have reported the cop, I would have gotten more weed and made up the difference.
Yes, if it was the man who filed the complaint, and established himself as the owner of the pot, he may have just destroyed his life.
Better to stop the bigger criminal and get him off the police force. I say bravo.
Shocked, I am, that those given absolute power would abuse it.
It's almost like a certain segment of society refuses to believe that human beings respond to incentives. With a little more community organizing, a few more laws and better training we will rid humans beings from the scourge of self-interest!
All things considered, I'd rather a cop pull something like that than the legal alternative.
The cynical part of me thinks that the SAPD is going after this cop because he didn't turn in the property to the SAPD to confiscate for itself, as a lesson to other cops.
There's nothing cynical about that at all. I contend this is the modus operandi for most police forces.
It really says something about our current state of affairs when getting robbed by the police is the preferable to the alternatives.
the
Which one? I'm so confused.
Both.
The one on the left.
No - your left.
Did I help?
(Happy Friday)
While some might question Ed's dedication to Alt Text with such a short, concise submission, that picture combined with that caption speaks volumes.
Well done Ed.
The only thing I can think of when I look at that picture:
Hi. This is Wilford Brimley. Welcome to Retardation: A Celebration. Now, hopefully with this book, I'm gonna dispel a few myths, a few rumors. First off, the retarded don't rule the night. They don't rule it. Nobody does. And they don't run in packs. And while they may not be as strong as apes, don't lock eyes with 'em, don't do it. Puts 'em on edge. They might go into berzerker mode; come at you like a whirling dervish, all fists and elbows. You might be screaming "No, no, no" and all they hear is "Who wants cake?" Let me tell you something: They all do. They all want cake.
When you work in a culture where you are allowed to do as you please with no consequences, things like caring whether the camera is rolling just sort migrate to the back of your head.
But is it PAID or UNPAID!?!?? This is a very important distinction... for Dunphy
Well, the department let him keep the stuff he stole, of course.
Dammit! That was my question!
Im sure this has been written about and discussed here already, but I'll leave this here.
And Harry Siegel wrote in the New York Daily News on what might be the effect on attitudes toward police. "It's tough to run a protection racket when people don't feel threatened".
Begins a slow clap....
something, something Dumbo ears
"...facing a charge of theft by a public servant."
The wisecracks about this just create themselves.
Can we use this to reduce the size of government?
Why would you ever admit to having anything illegal in your car?
"Do you have any idea how fast you were going?"
"The speed limit!... or were you looking for me to incriminate myself?"
'Sir, do you know how fast you were going?'
'The more important question, Officer, is do you know how fast I was going.'
I got pulled over by a State Trooper once after I blew by him on the highway. As soon as I realized I just blew by a trooper doing 90 or so I slowed the fuck down, but of course he pulled me over, and of course he goes:"Do you know how fast you were going?" I reply, "Why, officer, how fast was I going?" He starts laughing and says :"I don't know, you slowed down before I could get your speed when you blew by me. I can't write you a ticket, but you really need to slow down."
And then he pistol whipped you?
Cash and an unloaded rifle aren't illegal.
You're making a terrible mistake, a tragic mistake! I'm not obsolete! I work for the State, I believe in the State! I help give the State its strength! How can you call me obsolete, HOW CAN YOU?
Always loved that one.
"The man told the officer that he had an unloaded rifle, $5,500 cash and a duffel bag containing marijuana."
Upon hearing this, did the cop start giggling to himself, or did he just wet his pants?
Both.
Dammit. My city makes H&R with a bad cop story and it turns out to be a slap fight over who's the bigger idiot.
This cop shouldn't be fired for what he did... he should be fired for being a fucking moron.