Drivers of White Vans are being treated as criminals

Vanity | Self

[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?

[Kerberos]

"So what is the deal with our citizens being treated like Jesse James just for driving a white van?"

The deal is that we are very quickly slidding into reactive mode. If this doesn't come to an end soon, you can expect to see a lot more of this.

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

Simple answer -----

The cops are lazy and not very smart. The sniper(s) could (and probably did) paint their white van blue, or switch vehicles, altogether. Of course, this would NEVER occur to our squad of "Andy Taylors and Barney Fifes".

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Yet another reason to bomb Saddam to smitherines.

[Boner1]

White Van Sales Are DOWN wonder Why?

[wku man]

All this, and no one actually knows for a fact that a white van/panel truck was used in any of the shootings. So people report seeing a white van or truck in the area after a shooting. So what? The other day and counted 18 white vans/minivans/panel trucks in about 10 minutes/three miles on Alt. US 19 (Pinellas Co., Fla.). They're arguable the most common vehicle on the roads today. Welcome to Police State, USA.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[ladyinred]

Why? Because of the sniper of course. The authorities have to check this out, and they never know who might be in the van. Walking up and saying, "Hey, you aren't the sniper are you?" doesn't make sense to me.

[Nov3]

I don't blame the cops for being paranoid but this is over the top.

[cynicom]

Police mentality using arrogant brute force is getting worse not better. This affair only gives them an excuse to vent their "them vs us" attitude.

Police and their supporters will say them have to do this to protect themselves. Perhaps, perhaps not.

[thepitts]

We are all the enemy untill proven otherwise? brilliant.

[SamAdams76]

So you defend these tactics? I assume your husband, son or boyfriend doesn't drive a white van.

[soozla]

"Maybe they tried to evade the police or maybe they were driving stolen vans."

Maybe, but while we rip the guys that are doing the dirty work, the sniper continues to blow people away.

I say lets work together proactively with the law enforcement agencies i.e. be alert, attentive and observant so you can provide good clues and help to bring this person/persons down..................worry about the "civil rights violations" after the perp is caught!

[ladyinred]

No, it is red!

[SamAdams76]

Well hopefully no witnesses say they saw a red van in the next shooting.

[debg]

they are white guys..keep that in mind when some ME claims he was profiled and harassed for driving a white van.

[ladyinred]

How do the police know the drivers are innocent? How do they know that the driver isn't the sniper? What would you have them do? You know, I would cooperate with the police totally. If that is a problem for you, so be it.

[Clara Lou]

The cops are lazy and not very smart.
Is that your expert opinion? It's just so easy to sit back and criticize when there's no pressure on you personally.

[per loin]

Americans are being taught to accept having armed bureaucrats pointing loaded weapons at them. They are being taught to obey.

[SamAdams76]

I'm not ripping the law enforcement officers. They are just following orders. I'm ripping the tactics. Let's say there was a bank robbery and a witness says that the robber was wearing a blue shirt. Does this mean that the police should go house to house, dragging out at gunpoint any occupant who happens to be wearing a blue shirt that day?

The fact that a "white van" was seen in the vicinity of the shooting is just not good enough a description, especially since there are thousands of white vans out on the road. We are going to have to do better than that.

[cynicom]

I doubt very much if anyone physically forced facedown onto the roadway with a knee in their back is going to agree with the police supporters here on FR. Cooperating has nothing to do with it. The cops ARE profiling white males. I do not see any females on the ground, in the dirt.