I've long thought that too many civil liberties advocates (myself included) are reactive -- forever chasing the last horrendous abuse, only to be blind-sided by the next one. What we need are more pro-freedom advocates who are confrontational and take the battle to the authorities. Of course, that would probably require somebody with a bankroll to spend on good deeds, or else some way to make such confrontations into a commercial opportunity so they're self-financing. Sort of like what ex-cop Barry Cooper did when he set a trap for Odessa, Texas, police and filmed the results for his online reality show, KopBusters.
According to Cooper's Website:
KopBusters rented a house in Odessa, Texas and began growing two small Christmas trees under a grow light similar to those used for growing marijuana. When faced with a suspected marijuana grow, the police usually use illegal FLIR cameras and/or lie on the search warrant affidavit claiming they have probable cause to raid the house. Instead of conducting a proper investigation which usually leads to no probable cause, the Kops lie on the affidavit claiming a confidential informant saw the plants and/or the police could smell marijuana coming from the suspected house.
The trap was set and less than 24 hours later, the Odessa narcotics unit raided the house only to find KopBuster's attorney waiting under a system of complex gadgetry and spy cameras that streamed online to the KopBuster's secret mobile office nearby.
Cooper and company were hired by Raymond Madden, the father of Yolanda Madden, an Odessa woman convicted in 2005 of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Yolanda's supporters say a key witness in the case admitted in court to planting the drugs -- but that she was convicted anyway and sent to prison.
Local CBS news coverage of Yolanda Madden, Cooper and the raid here:
Cooper is a former Texas cop and drug warrior who turned against prohibition after seeing the consequences of arrests for non-violent, consensual acts on the people he brought in. "This war on people is a failed policy. We have more prisoners of this war in jail then ever before yet even the DEA admits we have more potent drugs and a larger supply of drugs available than ever before."
He's become an able self-promoter who makes money selling videos that teach people how to go about their lives, including growing, using and selling marijuana, without raising police interest. That's opened him up for some criticism, but it also means he may well be among the people best-positioned and most strongly motivated to keep setting traps for cops who cut corners and violate constitutional rights. After all, he stands to make money selling videos of the abuses.
Wow, civil liberties activism as a profit-making enterprise. I love it.
It will be interesting to see how the Odessa police react to the trap into which they walked. I suppose they could try to press criminal charges of some sort, but if Cooper and company are telling the truth, all they did was engage in perfectly legal activity and wait for the police to misinterpret the situation, probably through the use of illegal search techniques backed by fraudulent claims made to secure a warrant. Under the circumstances, any attempts at retaliation are just going to dig a deeper hole for the local authorities.
Hat tip to Radley Balko for first covering this case.
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Comments
Looks like Mr. Cooper is doing the job CBS 7 News OUGHT to be doing if journalists truly are "government watchdogs" instead of the public/private partnership lapdogs too many "mainstream" media outlets really are.
Good find.
BRILLIANT!
Their website is down, so try again later and spread the word.
The drug war is bad, however; cops that only enforce the law are not. Cops that lie in court or to judges to get a warrant or judges that will invade my home, as a lawful person, to search out some drugs are a problem that needs swift justice to correct. I respect cops. I can not tolerate those that lie to advance their career or to make the case better. As we saw in this story, the fourth amendment is to protect our privacy from arbitrary invasion. I hope this is investigated fully.
A show like this would get better ratings than Survivor and Big Brother. Fortunately, honest cops don't have anything to worry about.
Honest cops have as much to fear as unicorns, for the same reason.
"Just doing my job" didn't work at Nuremberg; it won't work at Nuremberg II.
How are the cops pinpointing the houses with grow lights? Do they monitor the local electric company 24/7 or something?
You guys sound stupid. It's simple. Stay away from illegal drugs and you won't have any of the problems you seem so irrationally concerned about.
"JohnnyJones" sounds like just the kind of door-kicking, dog-murdering, "evidence"-planting thug we should *all* be concerned about. Ever been to Nuremberg, Johnny?
JohnnyJones, aka DumbAss: People like you are the reason we have lost our freedom.
JohnnyJones is exactly the reason this stuff makes me mad. Ignore your rights and they will go away quietly.
JohnnyJones: "You guys sound stupid. It's simple. Stay away from illegal drugs and you won't have any of the problems you seem so irrationally concerned about". Problem here is..There were no illegal drugs Johnny..Just two Christmas trees and some lighting..Throw in some overzealous cops and some poor investigating techniques & there you are..BUSTED
I left Massachusetts to get away from local bureaucrats and cops who "make it up as they go " and the legislature/sheeple that encourage them. Unfortunately;what I described is an infectious desease-the tendency for people to demand that their "betters" just "do something" ,and the ethically challenged,civically ignorant fools they put into public trust positions. I am NOT a police "basher";when I need their help believe me I LOUDLY call for help-and am gratifed by their professional,helpful response. That said,Ayn Rand and Orwell had the right of it-gov'tand bureaucracy only have power over you when they can say that you " broke the law".
Great work Barry Cooper! Thank you.
Wimps! Those KopBusters are wimps. Why did they put up placards about its being a sting? Whats the use of having cameras and microphones if you also have signs. Cops won't plant evidence or make incriminating statements once they see the large placards on the wall.
And just how is it there was a lawyer there? Like a lawyer is going to wait around hoping the cops eventually show up? I think the KopBusters more likely did something to hasten the process by which the cops discovered and raided the premises.
Wimps! Those KopBusters are wimps. Why did they put up placards about its being a sting? Whats the use of having cameras and microphones if you also have signs. Cops won't plant evidence or make incriminating statements once they see the large placards on the wall.
And just how is it there was a lawyer there? Like a lawyer is going to wait around hoping the cops eventually show up? I think the KopBusters more likely did something to hasten the process by which the cops discovered and raided the premises.
Odessa Police Department may investigate posting of the Odessa American Online.
Ms. Maddens 2255 hearing was postponed and so was the depositions for the officers. They had moved her from Bryan,Tx and while in transport the hearing was postponed. She was in Mansfield,Tx at the time. Instead of taking her back to Bryan they moved her to Odessa.
The officer that met them at the door and took Ms. Madden to the holding area was involved in the intial arrest. A little intimidation move on OPD's part. She has still not been moved back to Brayn at this time.
Truth will prevail.
Standing on the truth.
COPs circumvent citizens CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS every minute of the day.... through the use of 'color of word', 'color of law', 'color of authority" done with crooked Judges that look the other way, hiding behind the use of 'prima facie' (assumed law) that has never been tested in a legal court of law. Take the people.... they 'ACQUIESE' to what ever they are told....due to their 'IGNORANCE'. COPs violate the USC section(s) 241 & 242 automatically and knowingly... When a judge tells you that the CONSTITUTION does not apply there .... you know you are in a KNAGAROO court. Most people think they understand their rights, when in reality they don't understand a damn thing... That is how stupid they are..
now cops are tryinng to make money they would do anything to get upgraded specially the odessa, texas cops, they brake in, in my house searching for drugs, they found a 50 personal used they took all 500dollars my rent money. their excused was that i was a distrubuator. that a big lie i dont sell drugs. they totally destroy the inside of my house. an this conplain will get to the white house, Odeessa texas is full of curropted cops!!!!!!!!!!
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