Truck owner wants DEA to pay up after botched sting

Houston Chronicle ^ | July 29, 2012 | Dane Schiller

[Pearls Before Swine]

Usually, government claims sovereign immunity to blow off suits. This, however, is outright theft by the government. I find it hard to believe there won’t be compensation if the story is as told and Patty gets a good lawyer to stick with it.

[unixfox]

These “under cover” ops sure do work out well. Maybe they should focus on building a fence. Naw... too much work.

[Zeppo]

This, however, is outright theft by the government.

There are few things that the government does well, however outright theft is certainly among them.

[MestaMachine]

“And without Patty’s knowledge, the Drug Enforcement Administration was paying his driver, Lawrence Chapa, to use the truck to bust traffickers.”

Another ‘good’ idea from your government ... botched.

[SquarePants]

I think there’s a fourth amendment issue here - I mean, who authorized this agency to commandeer employees and equipment that are being paid for by a private businessperson, who is unaware that their equipment’s being used in a government scheme?

[saganite]

Does Fast and Furious ring a bell?

[Truth29]

If Craig Patty doesn’t shut up and become a good little subject, the all munificent government will probably inspect his business, shut him down for whatever violation is convenient and then raid his house and shoot his dogs. Cynical? You bet.

[muir_redwoods]

Burnish think of all the benefits this War on (some) Drugs is bringing us.

[American in Israel]

Somehow, when you rent a car you are expected to return it in good shape. This however was theft not rent, I guess laws don’t apply to the goobermint under an illegal President.

[skinkinthegrass]

psst!..you don't understand...everything belongs to pResident O'Bozo..
all the resources/(esp. the) successes are his...but none of the negative/failures.

[television is just wrong]

what the hel is happening with Darrell Issa’s investigation of fast and furious. is holder being held accountable?

[hiram569]

At least his truck was not sold to the cartel.

[Bshaw]

“If Craig Patty doesn’t shut up and become a good little subject, the all munificent government will probably inspect his business, shut him down for whatever violation is convenient and then raid his house and shoot his dogs. Cynical? You bet.”

Or simply send over some bureaucrat to shut his last remaining truck down for some administrative technicality.

[Grams A]

I’m surprised this incident made the news at all. Thanks for the post.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

At least his truck was not sold to the cartel.

He and his family live in fear of the Cartels now (at end of article).

[Minutemen]

High time that the Keystone Cops get knocked down a peg. Enough of this "sting" baloney.

Setting-up crimes makes you the criminal. There are enough real crimes being committed without L.E. creating more of them with catastrophic results.

[marktwain]

About 15 years ago, I was giving a concealed carry class to a number of Border Patrol agents. During one of the breaks, an agent casually mentioned how he and other agents routinely stole license plates from innocent citizens (cars in parking lots) to facilitate their surveillance operations. I was shocked. There was absolutely no concern for the difficulty, time and trouble that the innocent citizen was subjected to.

It was considered routine.

[JayAr36]

F-ngovernment has become one word. The bastards have been running roughshod over this country ever since the, “War on Drugs” began. It is high time that this country stood up for its rights and put this f-ngovernment back in its place.

[bgill]

This isn’t even a dust mite on a hair of a flea on the tip of the iceberg that is government corruption.