Cops Raid Marijuana Dispensary In Order To Play Darts, Sample Edibles And Offer To Kick Amputee Owner 'In The Nub'
from the LOL,-CIVILIANS dept
If we accept the premise that law enforcement and intelligence agencies encroach on personal freedoms and rights in "the public interest" -- i.e., to ensure the safety of non-criminals -- then we have to ask ourselves how this raid of a medical marijuana dispensary fits into this thought process. [via CJ Ciaramella]
Santa Ana (CA) cops raided a pot dispensary -- not because the items for sale were illegal under local laws -- but simply because it was unlicensed. Sure, having the proper paperwork in place is important, but this dispensary was in line to receive authorization from the city -- a process delayed by the locality's faulty licensing "lottery" system, which was gamed by businesses who "stuffed" the selection box by purchasing multiple bids.
The PD performing the raid treated this lack of proper paperwork like it was the Zeta Cartel operating under its nose. The video captured by the dispensary's cameras shows heavily-armed cops -- some wearing ski masks -- smashing through two doors and yelling at the peaceably-assembled customers to lie on the floor. Then -- somehow -- it gets worse.
The cops tear the place apart, strip cameras from the walls and yank the DVR off the shelf in the back room. They play darts, sample the presumably-cannabis-laced goods, and otherwise fuck around. Why? Because there is absolutely no danger present, despite the use of ski masks, weapons and tactical gear. This is "public safety" being ensured by a raid on a sitting duck that threatened no harm to the surrounding community. The final result of all this noise and damage? Tickets for violating a city ordinance.
But despite their expertise, the cops missed a couple of cameras. And that's going to hurt them. Especially when one female cop is caught on camera disparaging one of the owners -- an amputee confined to a wheelchair -- by stating she wanted to kick her in the "nub." (Enjoy the first few seconds of this video, where a cop attempts to break down a set of metal PULL doors by hammering them in the wrong direction with his ram.)
The police department has responded to the recording that got away with nonsensical claims that the released footage is "non-chronological" and "edited." I can't even imagine what the full footage shows, other than there being a bit more breathing room between unprofessional actions and misconduct on the part of the raiding officers.
This is the charade of drug enforcement: cops raiding a dispensary for code violations, rather than its potential ability to diminish the safety of other Santa Ana residents. And doing it in full battle gear, as though it expected a hail of gunfire in response to its backdoor-smashing entry. The entire incident is pathetic, bordering on nauseating: a pointless, vulgar display of power that wreaked havoc on a local business simply in order to issue two citations.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: california, marijuana, paperwork, police, raid, santa ana
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Gee, if only there was more video to show the entire raid uninterrupted. Oh, right...
The cops tear the place apart, strip cameras from the walls and yank the DVR off the shelf in the back room.
Sarcasm aside, I imagine they went with such a pathetic excuse because they know that the odds of any of those involved receiving more than a slap on the wrist is as close to zero as to be indistinguishable. Why put more effort into it than you have to after all, especially when being honest would force them to admit that the behavior of those involved is inexcusable.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Lawsuits-To-Be-Filed-Against-Santa-Ana-After-Pot-Shop- Raid-307406381.html
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
"Hey, that's a nice shop you got there. It would be a shame if something happened to it."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
When will they ever learn?
While the local DA might not want to discipline these thugs, the stores insurance company might go to town on them.
And all they got to charge were a couple of citations? Were those misdemeanors?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: When will they ever learn?
There is no insurance against legally acting law enforcement. First you have to prove that they have been acting illegally, and that requires a criminal conviction. Which in turn requires the local DA.
The insurance company has no interest to get involved here. You'd have to get the feds involved for shutting down the whole law enforcement racket before you'd be able to get things moving here, and as opposed to civil asset forfeitures, there is no money in it for the feds so they are hard to interest in stopping the racket.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: When will they ever learn?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: When will they ever learn?
Since then declared unconstitutional.
I'm feeling lazy:
http://www.inquisitr.com/1483114/swat-raid-florida-barbershop/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
If cops on weed were the root or main problem, yes, but it isn't.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
I don't agree with the assertion that those were pot brownies tho.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The OC DA was already removed, along with dozens of prosecutors, from a different case due to things like paying for witnesses, tampering and other misconduct. Why should we expect them to do "the right thing" now, other than to exonerate the cops?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
... Not because it didn't win a lottery ticket...
Apparently opening a dispensary is complex. ... but as that locality had no law in force restricting licenses...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: ... Not because it didn't win a lottery ticket...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[UPDATE]: Cop . . . Recalls Party Time W/Judge Who Signed Search Warrant
[UPDATE]: Santa Ana Cop In Raid Footage Recalls Party Time W/Judge Who Signed Search Warrant
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/06/santa_ana_cops_caught_on_camera_eating_pot_cand y_joking_about_kicking_amputee_patient_in_her_nub.php
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Clear and Present Danger
WTF? Slant the truth much? Did you not see the cop use the swivel chair with wheels as a step stool? No danger, my donut fed ass.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Clear and Present Danger
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Clear and Present Danger
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Clear and Present Danger
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Clear and Present Danger
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What am I missing?
Absent the POLICE T-shirts, this looks like a film of a home invasion.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What am I missing?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What am I missing?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What am I missing?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What are law abiding citizens supposed to do, to deal with criminals like this when their actions are supported by the law system in place.
The only thing I can think of is to take the law into their own hands as these dirty cops are exempt from the law under the current police state.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Training Day
They are looking for the DVR ("Did you find the DVR?" 2nd video) to turn it off, they destroy cameras. Why would you do something like this if you thought that what you are doing is legal?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Training Day
They skipped the part about shooting each other though...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
The shop owners did not take out a license in a scheme that has already been ruled illegal by courts.
There is not much you can do except to dismiss, arrest, replace and prosecute the entire law enforcement of the county there, including district attorneys.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Poor journalism.
In Paterson this past weekend, over 80 people were arrested for attempting to buy drugs. Police quietly took over a known drug house, arrested the dealers, then posed as dealers and arrested people ranging in ages from 30 to 73 (!).
That's not a charade. Your unbalanced writing allows people to dismiss you easily, and I'm certain that's not your intent. Ratchet down the hyperbole, the pusillanimous outrage, and maybe you'll be speaking to more than just the choir.
-C
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Poor journalism.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Poor journalism.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
'Look, a distraction!'
If I punch a random stranger one day, and give a homeless guy some money another day, those two acts don't balance out. The act of charity does not stop my punching the random person from being any less wrong, and some cops not acting like rabid animals and/or idiots on a power trip does not excuse the ones who did act that way.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
So, assuming it is "non-chronological" and "edited," where in their standard operating procedure does it allow for these assholes to play darts, and eat consumables while on duty?
This is the problem I have with EVERY PR release they make where they say emphatically "the video isn't telling the whole story..."
When the fuck did this nonsense become SOP?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Firing Squad is what they deserve, right after a speedy trial.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
"Treason for Profit" feral traitors need speedy trial
Start at the top and work to the bottom of the feral pig cesspool. Psychopaths can't be fixed, they can only be cleansed from the gene pool.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Okay, suppose for a moment that instead of guys with badges, we saw Mob bruisers in fedoras with baseball bats...
It's just in this case, the mob is sponsored by the state.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Fascism 101 - death throes of a city
Minor correction here.
" The entire incident is pathetic, bordering on nauseating: a pointless, vulgar display of power that wreaked havoc on a local business simply in order to send a warning message to all such legal businesses, that the Police disagree with the law and will be taking the law into their own hands in future, so get out of town now before we kill you and your customers. "
The two citations were purely for paperwork sake, to try and make the assault and vandalism that makes up such a "shot across the bow" warning message, appear to be real police work and of course, to "rationalize" the expenses for the Raid that the tax-payers will cover.
None of the police officers who participated in this violent act of vandalism will be reprimanded for their crimes, as the assault was approved of and conceived at the highest levels of that city's government and very likely included a federal "go ahead".
In fact, the assault may have simply been the standard forerunner of a very old criminal enterprise - the protection racket. The next Police visit to the clinic would have been to pick up the monthly "insurance" payment that would prevent future assaults.
In a police state, career criminals are business partners, free-lance crooks are the competition, honest citizens are the victims and the law is the means of legal exploitation.
A Cannabis Clinic represents a huge loss to the lawyers, doctors, judges, CEOs and politicians, who have invested large sums of money in the lucrative businesses of production, distribution and sales of illegal cannabis, and the police, in a police state, work for these wealthy investors and thus need to help protect their interests.
---
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Armageddon is the only cure.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cops raid "medical" marijuana joint
"When you have made evil the means of survival, do not expect men to remain good." Ayn Rand
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Really it's because we're broken, whipped, kept, domesticated slaves of, and to, a system that is constructed in such a way that we all generate the wealth so that it can be hijacked and embezzled by the tiny ultra-wealthy group of @#%&ing "investment bankers" who own over 80% of the nation's wealth, while the bottom 40% (~150 million) Americans own ~0.3% of the wealth. A disparity many times larger than even the most savagely kleptocratic banana republic.
We live in an authoritarian, plutocratic, autocratic, lawless & illegitimate, kleptomaniac, militaristic & warlike, corporatist fascist police state oligarchy. We're more Communist than the nomenklatura, do things daily that would make the SS blush (read: strip search infants checking their diapers for dirty bombs, & no, not that kind 😒💩), we're less tolerant of certain groups of people than the Khmer Rouge, & more dysfunctional than the British Parliament.
All this because Americans are house trained, cowardly, neutered little wusses that routinely take it in the bunghole & are brainwashed to *demand* more, worse treatment every single time.
God save this country: Land of the Coward, Home of the Slave; because its own people obviously won't...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]