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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 5, 2009 - 02:34pm PT
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http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/05/texas.police.seizures/index.html
tl;dr is that these Texas cops were running an extortion ring fleecing motorists from out of town out of thousands of dollars in cash and personals in exchange for not being put in jail. The case profiled involved the guy having like $5k in his car to go buy a new car, and they claimed he was money laundering.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
North of the Owyhees
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Amok...ahem.
Not a nazi, just have a decent vocabulary & know how it is to be used.
This is not news......Have you ever BEEN to Texas?
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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"What's the best thing that ever came out of Texas?"
"Interstate 10"
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno
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Umm, why is it only under litigation? There should be criminal charges filed.
Sounds like there needs to be some of that Good ol' Texas Justice in Tehana... Eventually there will be, when they f*#k with the wrong person...
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noshoesnoshirt
climber
dangling off a wind turbine in a town near you
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"Umm, why is it only under litigation? There should be criminal charges filed. "
Because if you point a gun at someone and demand their money, it's a crime.
Unless you have a badge, then you are patriotic drug-warrior, and as such, not subject the same set of laws.
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno
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Which they'd be under the burden to prove. What are they even doing searching a vehicle that is only 2 miles over the speed limit? That a violation of constitutional rights. I'm jsut sayin'... This should be being pursued by authorities, as well as through civil litigation.
So many people are simply too afraid to stand up for themselves. It's sad.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
North of the Owyhees
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Dude, this is Texas!
There are TOOLS in Texas.
They'll beat you down like a baby seal.
Justice? I think knott! Availability is limited.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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I find it kinda weird that all these people are out-of-towners and have large sums of cash on them passing through what appears to be a small town.
Are the cars chaepaer in Texas compared to Louisiana? Is Tehana sitting on a drug-corridor?
carry on LEO/Texas bashing....
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GDavis
Trad climber
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If cops break the law and its not posted in supertopo, does it really happen?
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Umm, why is it only under litigation? There should be criminal charges filed.
My take on this, after reading the article, is that those who are in a position to file criminal charges locally are fully aware of what it going on, and either don't care or are supportive. Now that the story has hit the national news, it may be that State or Federal charges could be laid.
So many people are simply too afraid to stand up for themselves. It's sad
Um... how would you stand up if you were in their shoes? And before you answer, remember that you're black or latino, and the cops are white. And that you've got your wife (and maybe a couple of kids) in the car with you.
Can you honestly say you'd tell these redneck cops to go f*#k themselves?
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atchafalaya
climber
Babylon
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Hwy 59 is a major drug traffic corridor. Buying vehicles with cash? Would love to see the rap sheets of those complaining.
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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" Buying vehicles with cash? Would love to see the rap sheets of those complaining."
Yes, when you buy a used car from someone, usually the only form of payment that they will accept is cash. The amount of cash was consistent with what would be needed to buy a used car.
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atchafalaya
climber
Babylon
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GC, not saying its not possible. I used to live off Hwy 59 in East Texas. Lotta action running drugs/money down that way. The news report raises serious questions about the officers actions though.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Topic Author's Reply - May 5, 2009 - 04:40pm PT
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"Dude, this is Texas!
There are TOOLS in Texas.
They'll beat you down like a baby seal.
Justice? I think knott! Availability is limited."
My buddies in college stopped at the side of the road in Texas in the middle of nowhere to take a piss on the way to Enchanted Rock. An old boy state trooper nearly started bleeding out of his ears about it.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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I was driving through Nebraska in 1970 when out of an overpass' inky shadows came some flashing lights. When I handed my license to the guy he took it and said "Follow me!" With a growing seense of doom I followed him off the interstate for a good 3 miles to some two-bit town. It looked like an out-take from "Bad Day at Black Rock". When I followed him into the courthouse I noticed the bar next door. When he said, "The judge will see you now" I knew I was hosed. I wemt into the judge's chambers and when he asked me "How do you plead?" the stench of cheap bourbon about knocked me over. It was obvious that the bar next door and the courthouse enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. Mustering all my indignance I replied "Not guilty Your Honor." "Bail will be $40 and the case will be heard on Monday." Then I realized it was Friday and hizzoner was dealing from an advantagiously arranged deck. "Uh, Your Honor, can I change my plea?" Ho, remember what $40 was worth in 1970? I do because of the pain it caused when I pulled it out of my ass! When I walked out of the chambers there were already 3 or 4 more victims lined up; hizzoner was gonna have a gud weekend.
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GDavis
Trad climber
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ummmmm
what are numerous people going through a small town with 5 and 6 grand going to get??? Buy a car.... sure. Hahaha. I feel unsafe walking around with a hundred bucks on me, much less fifty times that.
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the Fet
Supercaliyosemistic climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Right wing aplogizers crack me up. Some people will just submit to authority even when it's obviously corrupt. The majority of cops are good people, but when some break the law it's a big deal because of the authority given to them.
These excerpts tell you all you need to know:
The document Henderson signed, which bears Russell's signature, states that in exchange for forfeiting the cash, "no criminal charges shall be filed ... and our children shall not be turned over" to the state's child protective services agency.
Texas law states that the proceeds of any seizures can be used only for "official purposes" of district attorney offices and "for law-enforcement purposes" by police departments. According to public records obtained by CNN using open-records laws, an account funded by property forfeitures in Russell's office included $524 for a popcorn machine, $195 for candy for a poultry festival, and $400 for catering.
Criminals are criminals even if they have a badge.
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GDavis
Trad climber
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of course the cops did what they did, thats not what I'm saying. I'm pointing out something obvious. Its a bit fishy, isn't it, that they managed to fleece 3 million (this is what the well written article states) from this small town of one thousand residents? From 150 cases? Thats 20 grand PER case. You mean to tell me that 150 people drove by with 20 grand in cash to 'buy a car' or 'buy a restaurant?' puh-lease...
my knee-jerk reaction to defend cops is only equaled to your knee-jerk reaction to condemn them.
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