Posted on 10/20/2002 7:48:19 AM PDT by SamAdams76
The photos above currently on the Drudge site concern me. I followed the link and the article clearly stated that nobody was arrested last night.
Why then, do we have drivers of white vans, innocent civilians, evidently being pulled out vans at gunpoint and treated like dangerous criminals? One photo shows a man on the ground, evidently in handcuffs, with police officers standing over him as though they have just captured Whitey Bulger. When I first saw the photo, I figured the man was obviously a wanted criminal that police just so happened to come across during their search. But since there were no arrests last night, this man was obviously released and was no criminal after all.
The other photo shows a man by another white van with his hands in the air and a police officer has a gun drawn on him. Again, this was evidently just another innocent civilian who had the misfortune to be driving a white van on I-95 last night.
Now I understand the need for these roadblocks and for the police to be very thorough in their search for the sniper(s). But I cannot see the point of innocent people dragged out of their vehicles at gunpoint with no pretext other than the fact that they happen to be driving a white van.
Now maybe somebody here has an explanation why these two individuals were treated like criminals. Maybe they tried to evade the police or maybe they were driving stolen vans. But again, there were no arrests made last night. So what is the deal with our citizens being treated like Jesse James just for driving a white van?
Person of Interest = Occupant of a house targeted by law enforcement, where they inadvertently had the address wrong or was given an incorrect "tip" from an informant due to the informant wanting to get even with a neighbor or co-worker...
First of all, we are not at war. It may be a technicallity, but we are not. Secondly, what does this have to do with "the war"?
I suspect there is a lot we don't know, and I am comfortable with that. If your scenario is right, even part of it, once the people realize that this IS, in fact, a real war, just new rules, all hell is going to break loose. I suspect law enforcement are trying to bring us there in steps.
Translation: Cops are scardy cats, so be prepared to suffer humiliation and indignity for this fact.
It's just not that hard a decision for me personally to make. It's called citizenship and the good of all. People have forgotten what that's all about.
1. Authorities need to release more details to the public, including descriptions, info on the tarot card, etc.
2. Authorities should put in place a system where the public can be alerted via radio (Emergency Broadcast System)within minutes that a shooting has occurred at X - be attentive.
3. Unfortunately, they must mostly rely on a person disrupting the next attempted sniping, or on an acquaintance turning the sniper in.
Let's face it, these roadblocks are really meant to give the appearance the police are "on the case". The chances of one resulting in an arrest are nil; the sniper's already prepared for this eventuality.
You are led to believe that by your own tinted glasses. Have not watched cops enough to know what a felony stop looks like? They don't manhandle anyone if they don't have to. THAT is risky. They stand back and ask the guy out of the car, and don't approach until the guy is down and laying out prone. That is the way it works when it works well, and that is the way it worked on the video I saw of it last night.
That's a reasonable assumption considering the cops knew they were being filmed when holding people at gunpoint on the ground in handcuffs. I can only imagine what they did when the cameras weren't rolling..
Of course it's only a guess, but I'd say it's highly probable.
Being held at gunpoint and handcuffed until they determine who I am and what's in my vehicle is reasonable behavior for the police. It's fine with me.
I suppose you wouldn't mind if their finger "slipped"?
Yeah, like asking if he was under arrest or refusing consent (oh wait, consent wasn't asked).
In some ways that could work against a local ---they'd be more likely to slip up. Someone would recognize them, notice they did something out of the ordinary. Using a small town might not work because often in those everyone knows everyone and everything. They notice when something is out of the ordinary, they notice even when a stranger comes into town. Escaping into a garage would be easier.
I propose that the poster in question should change his name to "burntheconstitution", or "p*ssontheconstitution"...
Ironic isn't it, your screen name and all...
And owning a white van is NOT probable cause.
And I see you have no response.
Come on. Surely you aren't serious. What law abiding citizen in that area would complain about a police roadblock and extra precautions taken with white vans. Commonsense would dictate continuing that practice until they've ruled out the possibility of a white van being used in these murders. Ask the wife of last night's victim that question.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.