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The plan that led to the arrests of hundreds of teenagers at Kmart, Sonic
KHOU TV Houston ^ | August 24, 2002 | By Jeff McShan

Posted on 08/24/2002 10:37:58 AM PDT by Dog Gone

"Simply issuing citations has had little or no impact"

08/23/2002

By Jeff McShan / 11 News

HOUSTON (KHOU) -- With parents still fuming over the arrests of hundreds of teenagers for trespassing, 11 news has learned the chief, himself, was apparently in on the planning for Operation E-racer.

Houston Police Chief Clarence Bradford made it clear this week that the raid on Westheimer would be thoroughly investigated. Hundreds were arrested in a sting operation set up to curtail street racers and trespassers.

But many have filed complaints saying the arrests were unjust. People like Emily Demmler. "I was handcuffed. I was put in the back of a van," she said. "And I sat in a jail cell from 4:00 to 9:00."

Monday night Chief Bradford called for an investigation of the controversial crackdown. He wanted to know who was in charge? What instructions were given to officers? And why were arrests made instead of issuing citations?

Who was in charge? It turned out to be HPD Captain Mark Aguirre. He told 11 news that he was surprised the chief had so many questions about the raid. "It was my understanding that Chief Bradford was in the loop," said Aguirre. "I assume that. Nothing of this magnitude would escape his attention."

Friday night 11 News obtained an interoffice correspondence, which appears to back Captain Aguirre's beliefs. The memo is the plan for last weekend's raid. It was sent to Chief Bradford on May 13, months ago.

In the correspondence Captain Aguirre explains to the chief the proposed solution for the problems in that area and why issuing tickets would not work.

Aguirre says, "Simply issuing citations has had little or no impact. By arresting individuals observed violating local, state or federal laws and towing violators' vehicles, law enforcement will have more of an influence over the individuals' future behavior."

Yesterday most, if not all, the officers involved in the raid were told to report to police headquarters where they picked up a set of over 20 questions. They'll all have to answer the inquiries about what happened last weekend, such as who was in charge. The questions came from HPD's Internal Affairs Division, which is investigating along with the Houston's Office of Inspector General.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: jackbootedss; kmartraid
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To: Dog Gone
"The plan that led to the arrests of hundreds of teenagers at Kmart, Sonic"

And that was just the employees!

61 posted on 08/24/2002 1:48:50 PM PDT by Pay now bill Clinton
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To: Lockbox
We need a system where government is responsible

They should sue Brown, the HPD Chief, and the HPD Union; hold them accountable for their members. Brown is the former HPD chief.

Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay.

62 posted on 08/24/2002 2:03:39 PM PDT by lonestar
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To: i_dont_chat
If there were errors made, the people will have their day in court

And you, as a Houstonian, will pay for the errors, and pay for them, and pay for them....

63 posted on 08/24/2002 2:04:34 PM PDT by freebilly
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To: Dog Gone
bump for later
64 posted on 08/24/2002 2:07:53 PM PDT by Leper Messiah
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To: Dog Gone
Thank you Houston Police Department for this plan you worked on for months. A few more months of this type of excellent planning and we'd have had our own Tianamen Square

Some of the neo-totalitarians on these threads can hardly wait.

65 posted on 08/24/2002 2:08:57 PM PDT by freebilly
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To: Dog Gone
several employment opportunities will be opening up soon for police officers who want to work in Houston.
66 posted on 08/24/2002 2:21:29 PM PDT by arthurus
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To: i_dont_chat
I have experienced what you are writing about... yet I can't come even close to seeing that this was appropriate. Even those of us who support the police are disgusted by this gross abuse of power.
67 posted on 08/24/2002 2:25:15 PM PDT by StolarStorm
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To: Ramius
The first reports made it sound like there were something like 450 arrested, though later reports toned it down to "only" 250 or so.

The police first reported it as the larger number and revised it downthe next morning.

68 posted on 08/24/2002 2:29:40 PM PDT by arthurus
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To: Ramius
Yup. As if groups of teenagers hanging out in mall parking lots is some kind of "new" thing. With cops that have the apparent judgement of turnips it's really lucky break that they didn't shoot anybody.

What strikes me about this is that the numbers involved aren't even very large. I live in a small town,and the Sonic here has space for roughly 30 vehicles. Assume it was half full,and assume 2 occupants per vehicle,and there's 30 arrests,right there.

The WalMart here is usually pretty full on Friday and Saturday nights-not jammed,but nowhere near empty. I don't have any trouble imagining over 200 people in a K-Mart parking lot,on a weekend,afterhours,in a major city. Heck,the beer joint I patronize on occasion has that many people in it sometimes,lol.

Where the numbers get really big is when referring to the reality dose that's about to land on the HPD. Assume 100 lawsuits,equals 100 vicious,attack-dog trial lawyers,looking at a really juicy target that doesn't have a leg to stand on,and this could be a lot of fun to watch...

69 posted on 08/24/2002 2:30:34 PM PDT by sawsalimb
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To: Dog Gone
"Thank you Houston Police Department for this plan you worked on for months."

Incredible, isn't it? I, too, listened to the Jon Matthews show and heard the 41 yr. old guy tell his horror story. If heads don't roll at the highest level in the police department over this moronic plan, we all need to be ready to march. On the other hand, who knows what will happend with bad, bad, Leeeeee P. Brown as our undistinguished mayor.

And now for a scary fact. Heard this on my way home yesterday... 60% of Houston's police force will be retiring in 2 years. Of course mayor Brown has no plans to off-set the staggering number of experience our police department will be loosing.
70 posted on 08/24/2002 2:42:31 PM PDT by demkicker
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To: demkicker
It's not definite that 60% will retire. That's the percentage that will be eligible.

Of course, unless there is a significant shakeup in the Department after we shine a bright light on them after these incidents, that number might even be low.

Similar numbers apply to the Houston Fire Department. I guess the esteemed Mayor has a plan for all that. Oh wait, he'll be out of office in two years. Never mind. There's no plan.

71 posted on 08/24/2002 2:51:01 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
I avoid that area on weekends for that very reason. However, the solution shouldn't involve arresting people in parking lots. It's the street that is crowded.

Not so is years past. Several businesses along Westheimer were closed at night and their parking lots were trashed by people using them to hang out and a lot of damage was done; windows broken, etc. That doesn't seem to be the case this time.

72 posted on 08/24/2002 3:53:12 PM PDT by lonestar
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To: i_dont_chat
What you folks don't seem to understand is how destructive and dangerous large unruly groups of young people can be. It is the mob mentality and if you haven't witnessed it, then you won't understand.

Oh, I understand that well enough. But I wonder if you've considered the dangers of mob mentality in dealing with such as issue?

As I mentioned before on another thread, one can deal with this easily enough, and do so legally. First, do an ID check. Those violating the curfew are taken in and their parents called to come get them. A citation is issued. Next, one does an ID check and determines whether there are any outstanding warrants (i.e., unpaid traffic tickets). A warrant is a court issued document that requires a Peace Officer to arrest the individual...so, obey the court order. Arrest them. Public Intoxication is a legitimate crime. Conduct field sobriety tests, and arrest those guilty of same. On vehicles that are present, conduct safety inspections before permitting them to be operated. A cracked tail light means that the vehicle cannot lawfully be operated on a public roadway.

After a few iterations of such thorough enforcement, the crowds will depart. And every single action I've mentioned is legal.

The problem with the current action is that innocent people who broke no law were arrested. In fact, it appears bunches of them were. Now what are nice, law abiding people like you and I to do when it happens to us? For we cannot know when we'll happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

73 posted on 08/24/2002 3:56:46 PM PDT by neutrino
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To: freebilly; Thud
Thanks for the ping.
74 posted on 08/24/2002 4:00:28 PM PDT by niki
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To: neutrino
Houston local ABC television is now reporting that Captain Aguirre has been suspended (with pay, of course) while the investigation is being conducted.
75 posted on 08/24/2002 4:01:50 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
This is disappointing. He indicated he had no knowledge of the raid. I believed him and thought Aguirre went rogue. Sounds like a lot of problems there including the pols.
76 posted on 08/24/2002 4:03:55 PM PDT by niki
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To: Dog Gone
ACLU plans to file suit over Kmart arrests

ACLU. Says it all.

77 posted on 08/24/2002 4:04:37 PM PDT by tallhappy
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To: tallhappy
Looks like a bunch of whining law breakers want their baby bottles.

Have you had a chance to read the other threads?

78 posted on 08/24/2002 4:05:11 PM PDT by niki
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To: tallhappy; Djarum; niki
Tallhappy: You guys would have to post more info than this to make your case. Liberal and leftists always say kneejerk that the cops are wrong and fscist. It is par for the course. Djarum, niki, could you enlighten tallhappy?
79 posted on 08/24/2002 4:08:52 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: i_dont_chat
Thanks for your comment.

And your assessment strikes me as right on.

I have seen so many knee-jek anti-police sentiments that I am immediately skeptical of them. Plus it is a media cottage industry to drum up police abuse stories.

80 posted on 08/24/2002 4:10:48 PM PDT by tallhappy
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