Posted on 09/24/2014 10:59:01 AM PDT by reaganaut1
...
Florida has a statute requiring that barbers be licensed and it gives the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) authority to enforce it through biennial inspections of barber shops. Two inspectors conducted an inspection of the Strictly Skillz shop in Orlando on August 19, 2010. They found no violations.
But only two days later, DBPR came back to Strictly Skillz, this time with an astounding display of force: eight armed officers, including narcotics agents, some of them wearing masks and bullet-proof vests burst into the shop with weapons drawn. Squad cars blocked off the parking lot. The officers shouted that the customers were to leave immediately and that the shop was “closed down indefinitely.”
Several barbers who had been working were patted down, then handcuffed. When one of them, Reginald Trammon, protested that he had done nothing wrong, an officer replied, “It’s a pretty big book and I’m sure I can find something in there to take you to jail for.”
Shades of Lavrenti Beria’s pledge to Stalin, “Find me the man and I’ll find you the crime.”
Not long after the raid began, the owner of the shop, Brian Berry, entered and asked what the trouble was. He was patted down and put in handcuffs too.
With the premises “secure” officials, including DBPR inspector Amanda Fields who had been there just two days before, searched the shop, checked all the licenses, and found nothing illegal. Berry and the other handcuffed barbers were then released. The raid lasted about an hour.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Multimillion dollar lawsuit. Slam ‘em.
we can only hope they shove it so far up their backsides, they begin coughing paperclips
I am NOT a libertarian, but I strongly object to abuse of authority by law enforcement or any agent of government.
These “officers” should be sued into poverty as well as their full chain of command about them.
When are we going to get back to the concept that police are a respected part of the community (not separate from it) that have the mission to serve and protect the community. They don’t exist to be oppressive or heavy handed.
In the county I’m in in Florida they issue $15/year occupational licenses. Even for photographers etc. But to top that is the need for a state of Florida registration of the name you want to use,. That’s $50 every 5 years. If you don’t renew at the state level, the county is notified and the county attempts to revoke the usage of the name. My solution was a complete pass on paying any fees at either level.
Unfortunately you cannot initially setup a bank account in the business name without going through all this regulation.
Screw em.
In the county I’m in in Florida they issue $15/year occupational licenses. Even for photographers etc. But to top that is the need for a state of Florida registration of the name you want to use,. That’s $50 every 5 years. If you don’t renew at the state level, the county is notified and the county attempts to revoke the usage of the name. My solution was a complete pass on paying any fees at either level.
Unfortunately you cannot initially setup a bank account in the business name without going through all this regulation.
Screw em.
I only clicked Post once ...
I read the whole article. No mention whatsoever of a search warrant and its contents nor a mention of the judge who might have issued it, if there was a search warrant. WTF? I am not anti-police but why some police think they can get away with this type of behavior is beyond me.
Extraordinary to learn they followed “Probable Cause” and the Warrant requirements.
Didn’t find anything?
What was this guy hiding?
Who tipped him off that a raid was imminent, so he could hide evidence and subvert a lawful process?
Did he unlawfully bring oranges in from another state?
Improperly store sharp instruments? ?
Dorks...
But did they have “RESCUE” printed on their T-shirts and face masks and all the armored vehicles they rolled up in?
Because if they did, that absolves them, and you can’t accuse the state of fielding an army to police the citizenry, because that’s expressly forbidden in American tradition and jurisprudence.
They were just trying to make it home safely at the end of their shift!
Anyone who objects to this must hate cops.
Yes.
They sued the police; the trial court threw the case out because police officers have "qualified immunity" for law enforcement actions they take in "good faith" even if it turns out later they acted illegally; and the Court of Appeals reversed that decision (by a 2-1 vote), holding that the officers could not reasonably have believed that what they did was legal. The case will now go back to the trial court for a jury trial.
Under current Supreme Court precedent, no warrants are required for an "administrative search" of a regulated business-- for example, the Pharmacy Board can send an inspector into a drugstore during normal business hours to check that their records of painkiller prescriptions are up to date, and they don't need a warrant. The court in this case held that if the cops are going to come in with drawn guns and start handcuffing people, it's not an "administrative search" anymore and a warrant is needed.
In many cases, if you protest to much (or even sue afterwards), the local DA will trump up some charges, have you arrested and then offer to drop them or plea bargain to a misdemeanor fine if you agree to a release from liability.
Pure, criminal extortion.
This is weird. What was the possible motivation and exact reason for the warrant?
Was this due to an anonymous tip?
Did the investigators have some beef/past history with any of the barbers?
Are these Stasi agents just sadistic MFers just terrorizing random citizens?
Very heartening to say the least!
‘That malady is our abundance of needless laws that invite abuse by those who love to exert power.’
Monetary punishment isn’t whats wanted. Those involved need new careers outside of LE and regulation. Clearly they don’t have the right ‘stuff’ for the job.
Then there are the Law & Order types that just can’t get enough of the police state. Those would be the boot licker that hang out here pretending to be conservatives. In fact they have far more in common w/ the DU crowd.
"Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both;"
In addition to the Civil Penalties, which I hope are severe, each officer and any superior who was aware...and the inspector lady and her superiors who were aware...should spend 12months in a Federal Prison.
And this should be applied nationwide IN EVERY CASE when LEO oversteps reason and law.
Somebody fails at due diligence and check/balances for an affiant on a drug bust...and somebody gets killed in a no-knock raid...should result in a Murder charge and the Death Penalty...in accordance with the Federal Law.
Subject LEO to the Law, in all cases. And Prosecutors.
Punishment for being uncooperative with bribes to inspectors. Welcome, Comrades.
“RESCUE”
you’ve been paying attention very well Ink.
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