Posted on 08/14/2013 11:23:23 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Several residents at the “Garden of Eden” sustainability garden in Arlington, Texas, claim that local police raided their farm because they thought tomato plants were marijuana plants.
The police reportedly damaged the garden's property and the crops during the Aug. 2 raid, which included a SWAT team (video below).
“They came here under the guise that we were doing a drug trafficking, marijuana-growing operation. They destroyed everything,” said garden owner Shellie Smith to WFAA-TV.
Apparently, an undercover officer and a helicopter surveillance crew believed there was probable cause that the wrong kind of plant was being grown in the garden and an armed raid was planned.
“They can’t even tell the difference between tomato plants and a marijuana drug cartel," said farm resident Quinn Eaker to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. "That’s just really bad intel.”
According to the Garden of Eden's website, the raid lasted for an estimated 10 hours.
However, the City of Arlington stated: “No cultivated marijuana plants were located on the premises. Narcotics detectives and members of the tactical unit cleared the scene within 45 minutes.”
According to reports, police officers removed legally cultivated plants such as blackberries and okra. Police also removed pallets, tires and cardboard that were used for sustainability projects.
Instead of the damage done to the farm, police spokesman Christopher Cook seemed more concerned about the reaction on Facebook against the police.
“That’s what concerns me about their social media allegations," Cook told the Dallas Morning News. "Yes, they were initially handcuffed, however once it was determined it was secure they were taken out of handcuffs. Typically we wouldn’t do that, but they were compliant."
Sources: Dallas Morning News, WFAA-TV, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, IntoTheGardenofEden.com
“Contadina Cops!!!
Preggo Patrol!!!
Ragu Roughnecks!!!!”
ROTFLMAO!!!!
Seriously, that’s what they do. Fly around and shoot the ground with an infrared camera. Some particular signature supposedly tells them it’s marijuana.
There has to more to this story doesn’t there?
This just reeks of stoopidity!!
all those LEOS couldn’t be this stoopid...
could they?
String some braided cable up very high around your property -— you know, for lightning protection.
Be a shame if a helicopter didn’t notice it; they could get hurt.
Arlington Texas.
Check
Double Check
another great place to avoid!
They should consider themselves lucky they weren’t lined up and machinegunned by the police.
zremunerated for their losses? Or do they need to sue for compensatory and punitive damages?
This is beginning to look like the remake of “Police Academy”.
Boy, what dummies.
There’s an old joke that goes like this....
A man lives on a farm, he writes to his son in prison - “I can’t grow potatoes this year. I’m too old to be digging up the field.” Soon he gets a letter back from his son. - “You can’t dig in the field, that’s where I buried the bodies!” The next morning, people came from the police. They dug up the entire field but found nothing. Soon the farmer gets another letter from his son. - “Now Dad, you can grow potatoes. It was the best I could do from here.”
LOL!
Okay I’ll admit that the farm Dude “Lord of the Tomatoes” looks to be a tree hugging, dope shooting, needle sucking, Occupy Wall Street, hippie type person... But He and his Earth Mama need to stick it to the Arlington Police.
Peace Out! ;)
The cops believe they are Nazis and you have no rights. Never talk to a cop.
Happened to be in a field 1/2 mile down the road with 5 of my hands as it was going down , we all sat on the tail gate and had a good laugh,
“...How dumb do you have to be to not recognize tomatoes?!...”
They probably figured it out the moment they saw it, but being “THE LAW!!!” they couldn’t just back down and walk away with an apology and a promise to set things right.
We’re long past Officer Flaherty the Peace Officer and his nightstick asking Mrs. Grady how the wee little ones are doing today while she’s hanging out the wash...
Now it’s “You WILL Comply Or Else.”
Maybe the Garden of Eden people just pissed off the wrong people.
Paybacks a moose.
Angel on your shoulder that day, friend.
A shame you even have to THINK about something like that happening in your own Country, ain’t it?
Must have been hippies. They are always growing pot.
Well this will cost the tax payers several hundred thousand.....
Armed commando raid, handcuffed, harassed and intimidated over tomatoes?
Add a million or two to the several hundred thousand bucks in lawsuits...Tax payers once again pay for bloated corrupt, inept government....
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