The story is a little vague, and there may be more to the incident, but it seems a Philadelphia police officer has proven his ignorance of the rights of the free press: PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia family said they are outraged over the arrest of one of their family members. The family of Neftaly Cruz said police had no right to come onto their property and arrest … [Read more...] about Ignorance of the Law
Too Much SWAT, Part 1
In response to an article I wrote last month about Police Shootings that Make You Go Hmmmm..., a commenter named Erick writes: I've been on the Chicago Police SWAT team now without incident for over a year. SWAT teams don't just take random phone calls from anonymous callers, gear up and go smashing in peoples doors. If this were the only criteria people would call in false … [Read more...] about Too Much SWAT, Part 1
The Value of Land Under Eminent Domain
Radley Balko says this: In Tacoma, Washington, the "Sound Transit," a government agency, offered a landowner $439,000 for a piece of property in 2004. Finding the offer low, the landowner sued, and eventually lost in the State Supreme Court. Now, the Sound Transit is offering just $240,000, citing a "reassessment" of the property's value. That's about half what the same agency … [Read more...] about The Value of Land Under Eminent Domain
Zombie Dance Party
You don't really need to know the rest of this story about a "zombie dance party" to appreciate this paragraph: Police say the group was uncooperative and intimidated passersby with their "ghoulish" makeup at a time when officers were on high alert in reaction to a bulletin about men in other states who wear clown makeup while attacking and robbing people. Now that's great … [Read more...] about Zombie Dance Party
No Trackbacks Here
I've never really understood how trackbacks work. In fact, for over a year now, trackbacks haven't been working. I get lots of notices of spam trackbacks, but not a single legitimate trackback ever. I assume something in my Movable Type blogging software is swallowing them up, but I don't know where it happens. I'm giving up. I've removed the trackback-receiving page from … [Read more...] about No Trackbacks Here