I’ve pointed out before that we have so many laws that allow police departments to seize cars that we’re turning our police forces into auto theft rings with badges. And I’ve commented several times on the police practice of conducting home invasions in the name of the War on Drugs.
Now, it appears that Orleans Parish in Louisiana has graduated to hostage taking:
The man, Tyrone Claiborne, had been mistakenly arrested on a warrant meant for a man with the same birthday named Tyrane Claborne. The wanted man had failed to pay his fines and fees while in the Section C drug court after pleading guilty to attempted heroin possession with the intent to distribute.
Another judge had handled the drug plea before Willard took over the section.
According to [Public Defender Stuart] Weg, Willard asked whether the two men were related. “Upon discovering that the two are brothers, the judge declared that the matter was a ‘family affair’ and that he intended to continue holding Tyrone L. Claiborne until he… could cause his brother to appear before the court,” the lawsuit says.
Awesome. What a fabulous idea! This was initially unintentional (I assume) but really, why should the Sheriff’s department go through the tedium of tracking down the subject of a bench warrent when it’s so much easier to just grab up a few relatives and use them as leverage?
(Hat tip: Simple Justice)
Is the ACLU or IJ going to take this case? This is all sorts of illegal.
Then, when Stuart Weg, the public defender representing Tyrone Claiborne, complained to the judge about not releasing his client, the judge tossed Weg in jail as well.
Nice.