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?
I'm not saying that at all. Those in the roadblock should cooperate fully with the police. But they should not be yanked out of the vans at gunpoint and shoved to the ground and handcuffed. Is that the kind of "cooperation" you have in mind?
I don't think they're lazy but they are just paid hacks who want to give out citations and retire.
The worst nightmare for them is come across this dude/dudes in the act.
So far, all they can do is call an ambulance and target white vans.
They pray he moves into some other state.
I even notice "white vans" in my state now....and there are alot of them!
I am certain we will begin to see more of this in the United States in the near future. In my opinion, the terrorists have won, although not without willing ( or unwitting ) help from our 'betters' in D.C. .
That's right, profiled! *gasp* How will I ever recover from such an insult!?! Let me tell you about it.
There we were, heading off to work on a bright, sunny morning, just about to cross over the Martinez/Benicia bridge. Suddenly, out of nowhere, there's a CHP behind us, and two Calif. State Patrol cars following him.
Of course, I pulled over; there's little chance I'd try to outrun THESE guys in a Dodge Utility Van. The moment I stopped on the shoulder, the van was surrounded by officers, guns drawn, and very serious expressions on their faces.
After the initial driver's license inspection, I thought it odd that the two passengers should have to ALSO show their IDs, but I wasn't about to make a big deal over it. Then, while we were standing on the side of the road, they went into the van and took a few minutes checking out the contents (a bunch of music equipment and suitcases.)
No, I wasn't nervous, mainly because I knew that 1) I had broken no laws and, 2) there was nothing "illicit" in the van. But I WAS curious. After the inspection of the van's contents, their attitudes lightened, and they began to apologize for the inconvenience.
They then explained to us that they were conducting a manhunt, and the suspect vehicle was a Dodge Utility Van. The van in question wasn't the same color as mine, but they weren't taking any chances.
Of course, this case of profiling took place nearly thirty years ago, when three men hijacked a school bus full of children and then took the children (in the van) to a remote locale. There, they locked the children in a buried container. Is this sounding familiar?
How did I react to this case of "profiling?" Well, I certainly did NOT contact my lawyer and whine about my civil rights. My reaction at the time was (and still is,) "hey, there are the lives of children at stake here. Search my van all you want, and then go and stop every other van you can find."
Profiling? Pfffftt! Yes, my van was the wrong color, and yes, they were looking for three men, not a woman driving a van. But can I fault them for being desperate to find those kids? Lives were at stake, and time was of the essence.
Is this ringing any bells???
Oops! Never mind. The President they showed was Clinton, so I turned off my TV.
Obviously you have forgotten that the watchword in American law enforcement is supposed to be "innocent until proven guilty". Unless and until some probable cause exists, there is absolutely no justification for this cr*p (and no--merely driving a white van is NOT sufficient probable cause).
This kind of police tactic is unconscionable, but is becoming "typical police procedure". DAMN these jack-booted thugs.
They continue to claim the witnesses are mistaken (this has happened since the very start, remember the white box truck/purple lettering?).
If the white van is not a clue, why are they only searching white vans?
This crime will not be solved without citizen involvement, and yet the citizens are kept in the dark as to what to be aware of.
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