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Drivers of White Vans are being treated as criminals
Vanity | Self

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?


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Virginia
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To: PatrioticAmerican
Wanna show the post where I did that? If yer gunna eavesdrop, get the whole story.

To: DAnconia55

"Worse. She votes."

Actually, I would like ladyinred to support the idea that, as a woman, she would support vice cops pulling her over when they perform hooker raids. She would then be handcuffed, placed face down on the pavement until her vehicle and purse were searched, and then she would be hauled to jail awaiting her trial. The charge? Being a prostitute. After all, she was caught equipped for the job and had money in her purse, but, then again, it is her opinion that people should be treated as guilty until they prove their innocence.


419 posted on 10/20/02 5:13 PM Eastern by PatrioticAmerican

561 posted on 10/20/2002 5:12:14 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: PatrioticAmerican
"If that escapes you, you are a one lost pup."

Anyone who can equate a vice raid to searching for a serial sniper is not a lost pup, they're a complete idiot!

562 posted on 10/20/2002 5:12:51 PM PDT by COB1
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To: Iron Eagle
2) Most of the outraged people aren't living within 15 miles of 8

And most of the 4th Amendment trashers don't live here either.
And many people who live here like gun confiscation too.

563 posted on 10/20/2002 5:13:46 PM PDT by palmer
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To: jwalsh07
You're not my mother. And if you are someone else's then welcome aboard since I am someone else's father.
564 posted on 10/20/2002 5:13:51 PM PDT by takenoprisoner
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To: ladyinred; DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
Oh, for goodness sake! Don't be offended! Consider the source. Just look at the posts right here. Utter drivel and all untrue!
565 posted on 10/20/2002 5:14:04 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: soozla
No, I said no such thing.
Apparently you have inferred that I said you did.

You have no right to ridicule people for their beliefs any more than they do you for yours.   You may look, but you will not find ....   And I am well aware of my rights.

speaking for myself, I didn't insinuate that you and others who held differing opinions, were personified by little animated graphics.   A reply to someone who alluded to sheeple does NOT equate to ridiculing.  Perhaps you should ask Tench_Coxe if s/he felt ridiculed?

As for being "bandwith challenged"...  END

566 posted on 10/20/2002 5:16:14 PM PDT by GirlShortstop
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To: jwalsh07
1. Authorities need to release more details to the public, including descriptions, info on the tarot card, etc.

What descriptions? If they had an accurate description, it would be public. If they don't and they make it public, then you have a different problem. You're upset about white vans being stopped, how would you feel about white people with curly black hair being stopped? Would the sketch be probable cause?

The sketch would provide neighbors and family with the info they need to come forward, by dispeling lingering doubts they may have. Just like in any other case. That said, the authorities may not have enough info to produce a sketch; everything I've heard/read suggests they do have enough to state rough characteristics.

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.

They have one its called am and fm radio. There is no need to reinvent that wheel. The networks are standing by breathing heavy and drooling for info to broadcast.

Yes, that's what I suggested. The EBS, which is broadcast via AM and FM radio. Perhaps I needed to spell it out more clearly.

3. Unfortunately, they must mostly rely on a person disrupting the next attempted sniping, or on an acquaintance turning the sniper in.

No, they rely on police work. When a crime is committed the number one priority is to seal the area. Thats what they are doing but you seem to object to it. I don't understand why to tell you the truth.

They can seal the immediate area to preserve the crime scene, but these roadblocks are not going to work. Since you ask me why below, I'll answer it there.

Let's face it, these roadblocks are really meant to give the appearance the police are "on the case".

The roadblocks are meant to snare the sniper, period. Do you actually propose that the cops do nothing when the reports come in of murdered Americans?

My point exactly. The cops are throwing up roadblocks primarily as window dressing, so that folks like yourself don't suggest they're doing nothing. With all the media reports of white vans being searched, what do you think are the chances the sniper will drive up to a roadblock in a white van, with his rifle tossed under the seat?

The chances of one resulting in an arrest are nil; the sniper's already prepared for this eventuality.

Pure conjecture on your part. Criminals are rarely caught in the act but they most certainly are apprehended while leaving the scene. You'll have to back up the "nil" claim somehow or other. I don't believe it for an instant. They will catch this guy leaving the scene or they won't catch him.

Well let's see. The police are currently oh for (what?) five. Logic dictates the highest probability a new tactic will work is on the first try. It didn't. If the sniper hadn't adopted tactics that would avoid roadblocks, he certainly has by now.

The guy may be caught leaving the scene, but it'll be because a citizen spots him and follows him. Hence my statement that a new shooting needs to be broadcast far and wide immediately, so people make sure they notice details as the event is in progress.

567 posted on 10/20/2002 5:16:48 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: takenoprisoner
Do you teach your kids to swear at women?
568 posted on 10/20/2002 5:17:23 PM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: GirlShortstop; soozla
Oh, please. We're NOT dumb here, in case you're hoping to get out of it that way.

Nobody here thought you were referring to Tench_Coxe as a sheple. You were referring to anybody who doesn't agree with you. And your little font, too.

569 posted on 10/20/2002 5:18:07 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Howlin
Heck, my husband travels to Maryland AND northern Virginia.

So do I. Matter of fact, Ashland happens to be one of the places I visit on business. So don't sit there and suggest I'm "talking big" because I'm not in the firing line.

570 posted on 10/20/2002 5:18:07 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: NittanyLion
If I have a remark to make to you or about you, I'll make it to you. I'm known for being pretty direct, as I am sure you know.

What you read into other posts is your own paranoia, which seems to be running amuck.

571 posted on 10/20/2002 5:19:32 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: McGavin999
These aren't conservatives, they are anarchists.

Because we believe in the idea of needing probable cause to conduct a search?

572 posted on 10/20/2002 5:20:40 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: Howlin
Oh, for goodness sake! Don't be offended! Consider the source. Just look at the posts right here. Utter drivel and all untrue!

LOL! You remind me of another friend of ours who is missing in action right now! She would say the same thing to me if she was here!

573 posted on 10/20/2002 5:22:09 PM PDT by ladyinred
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To: NittanyLion
So basically, you're answer is that the cops should do nothing proactive after the shooting to apprehend the shooter. That's what I'm getting here NL.

For somebody with a good mind, that kind of takes my breath away.

574 posted on 10/20/2002 5:22:44 PM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: Howlin
If I have a remark to make to you or about you, I'll make it to you. I'm known for being pretty direct, as I am sure you know.

The poster in #520 addressed a post to me and copied you. You responded to that post in #521 and agreed with it. If it wasn't about me, who was it about?

What you read into other posts is your own paranoia, which seems to be running amuck.

Yeah, right.

575 posted on 10/20/2002 5:23:09 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: Howlin; GirlShortstop
"And your little font, too."

Oh, come on, Howlin!!
You didn't think all those little colored fonts were pretty??!
I was enjoying feeling like I was back in kindergarten.
Of course, the content of the posts didn't do much to alter that feeling, either.

576 posted on 10/20/2002 5:23:22 PM PDT by COB1
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To: jwalsh07
Do you teach your kids to swear at women?

They are women and I have not sheltered them. They are free women to swear at whom they please. Meantime, I find nothing funny about any of this. The fact that you do speaks volumes for your character. I see no cause for any post here ending in "LOL."

577 posted on 10/20/2002 5:24:04 PM PDT by takenoprisoner
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To: NittanyLion
I don't pay attention to who the hell pings you.
578 posted on 10/20/2002 5:25:40 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: NittanyLion
"Because we believe in the idea of needing probable cause to conduct a search?"

No, because you don't seem to understand that when you're dead you have NO rights!

579 posted on 10/20/2002 5:26:15 PM PDT by COB1
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To: PatrioticAmerican; COB1
The statement was not made by me of course.
580 posted on 10/20/2002 5:26:57 PM PDT by ladyinred
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