[Home]  [Headlines]  [Latest Articles]  [Latest Comments]  [Post]  [Mail]  [Sign-in]  [Setup]  [Help]  [Register] 

If you need a Good Opening for black, use this.

"Arrogant Hunter Biden has never been held accountable — until now"

How Republicans in Key Senate Races Are Flip-Flopping on Abortion

Idaho bar sparks fury for declaring June 'Heterosexual Awesomeness Month' and giving free beers and 15% discounts to straight men

Son of Buc-ee’s co-owner indicted for filming guests in the shower and having sex. He says the law makes it OK.

South Africa warns US could be liable for ICC prosecution for supporting Israel

Today I turned 50!

San Diego Police officer resigns after getting locked in the backseat with female detainee

Gazan Refugee Warns the World about Hamas

Iranian stabbed for sharing his faith, miraculously made it across the border without a passport!

Protest and Clashes outside Trump's Bronx Rally in Crotona Park

Netanyahu Issues Warning To US Leaders Over ICC Arrest Warrants: 'You're Next'

Will it ever end?

Did Pope Francis Just Call Jesus a Liar?

Climate: The Movie (The Cold Truth) Updated 4K version

There can never be peace on Earth for as long as Islamic Sharia exists

The Victims of Benny Hinn: 30 Years of Spiritual Deception.

Trump Is Planning to Send Kill Teams to Mexico to Take Out Cartel Leaders

The Great Falling Away in the Church is Here | Tim Dilena

How Ridiculous? Blade-Less Swiss Army Knife Debuts As Weapon Laws Tighten

Jewish students beaten with sticks at University of Amsterdam

Terrorists shut down Park Avenue.

Police begin arresting democrats outside Met Gala.

The minute the total solar eclipse appeared over US

Three Types Of People To Mark And Avoid In The Church Today

Are The 4 Horsemen Of The Apocalypse About To Appear?

France sends combat troops to Ukraine battlefront

Facts you may not have heard about Muslims in England.

George Washington University raises the Hamas flag. American Flag has been removed.

Alabama students chant Take A Shower to the Hamas terrorists on campus.

In Day of the Lord, 24 Church Elders with Crowns Join Jesus in His Throne

In Day of the Lord, 24 Church Elders with Crowns Join Jesus in His Throne

Deadly Saltwater and Deadly Fresh Water to Increase

Deadly Cancers to soon Become Thing of the Past?

Plague of deadly New Diseases Continues

[FULL VIDEO] Police release bodycam footage of Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley traffi

Police clash with pro-Palestine protesters on Ohio State University campus

Joe Rogan Experience #2138 - Tucker Carlson

Police Dispersing Student Protesters at USC - Breaking News Coverage (College Protests)

What Passover Means For The New Testament Believer

Are We Closer Than Ever To The Next Pandemic?

War in Ukraine Turns on Russia

what happened during total solar eclipse

Israel Attacks Iran, Report Says - LIVE Breaking News Coverage

Earth is Scorched with Heat

Antiwar Activists Chant ‘Death to America’ at Event Featuring Chicago Alderman

Vibe Shift

A stream that makes the pleasant Rain sound.

Older Men - Keep One Foot In The Dark Ages

When You Really Want to Meet the Diversity Requirements


Status: Not Logged In; Sign In

United States News
See other United States News Articles

Title: VICTORY! State Disbands Cops Who Robbed Innocent People’s Life Savings, Victims Reimbursed
Source: Free Thought Project/Des Moines Register
URL Source: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/st ... t-victims/#IdvCEX3KgkggOGQu.99
Published: Dec 13, 2016
Author: Justin Gardner
Post Date: 2016-12-13 13:31:24 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 2009
Comments: 13

One of the worst states engaging in civil asset forfeiture, better known as “policing for profit,” suffered a blow in its campaign to rob innocent people of their cash and assets. After withering criticism and a lawsuit it couldn’t win, Iowa’s “Drug Interdiction Team” was disbanded on December 6.

“The so-called “interdiction” unit’s key focus was to stop vehicles traveling along Interstate Highway 80 suspected of being involved in drugs or other crimes. It was a part of the Iowa Department of Public Safety and had become a target in recent years from critics who alleged the team used unconstitutional practices to seize private property for law enforcement profits.”

This special group of State Troopers used every trick in the book to engage in warrantless searches of people’s vehicles, after pulling them over for minor “offenses” like failure to use a turn signal. Using flimsy excuses such as a dirty car, the odor of air freshener, or fidgeting, the cops would ransack vehicles in hopes of finding any amount of suspected drugs or paraphernalia.

The cops would then make up suspicions about “criminal activity” and use Iowa’s broad civil asset forfeiture laws to seize cash, assets and vehicles of the occupants – with no charge or proof of a crime. Even if no charges are filed or the person is found innocent, he or she must prove to a court they obtained their cash or property legally, incurring attorney and court fees.

Using these devious methods, Iowa law enforcement has raked in more than $55 million in cash since 1985 and 4,200 vehicles since 1991. It’s entirely unknown how much the cops took in other valuables such as guns, jewelry, furniture and artwork, as no records are kept for those items.

The Des Moines Register began exposing Iowa’s egregious use of civil asset forfeiture after a 2013 incident. Two California gamblers were traveling through Iowa with $100,000 in cash, and were pulled over for allegedly not using a turn signal. Having a California license plate, this was a golden opportunity for the “interdiction” team.

The cops used alleged “fidgeting and nervousness” to justify their search, which found a small bit of cannabis. It didn’t matter than both the men had California medical cannabis cards. After arguing the search was illegal, $90,000 was returned to the men, who filed a federal civil lawsuit in 2014 for damages, stating “the troopers had no probable cause to detain the men for a search of their vehicle and that officers had been taught improper techniques for justifying the search.”

Iowa settled the case by awarding the men an additional $60,000, on the same day it disbanded the Drug Interdiction Team.

The true importance of this lawsuit was that it forced the state of Iowa to re-examine its decades-long practice of pushing the constitutional boundaries of the state’s civil asset forfeiture law and to disband the Iowa Drug Interdiction Team,” said Glen Downey, attorney for the gamblers.

Four days after the announcement that the “interdiction” team was disbanded, Iowa’s policing for profit was struck another blow. The state’s Supreme Court ruled that cops wrongly detained a driver in a case that “will restrict the ability of state patrol troopers and deputies to do the type of warrantless vehicle searches…using controversial civil forfeiture laws.”

“Friday’s ruling came in the case of Robert Pardee, who’s fighting to get back $33,100 that a trooper seized after stopping a vehicle he was riding in and finding a small amount of marijuana during a search. The trooper called for a drug dog and searched the vehicle, partly because he believed the car had a “lived-in” look that could indicate cross-country drug trafficking.

But Justice Edward Mansfield in his opinion for the majority dismissed that evidence as “unremarkable” and clearly not evidence of criminal activity.

“There were water bottles, an energy drink, a metal coffee cup, chips and dip, apples and bananas, a trash bag with some trash, a sleeping bag draped on the rear seat and a guitar case,” Mansfield wrote. “Many vehicles are more lived-in than that.”

Pardee, a California resident, was acquitted of the drug charge, but even after the court ruling in his favor, he still has to convince the Poweshiek County District Court to give him his money back.

The insidious nature of civil asset forfeiture is being exposed across the country. In the last two years, 18 states have reformed their forfeiture laws, in some cases requiring a criminal conviction to seize assets. With these two cases being highlighted and the disbanding of Iowa’s “interdiction” unit, that state may be joining the list soon.

Post Comment   Private Reply   Ignore Thread  


TopPage UpFull ThreadPage DownBottom/Latest

#1. To: Deckard (#0)

VICTORY!
Well, I guess it can be called a “hallow victory” in that someone won something by only deleting an agency name, but no one has gained anything by “winning” this “hallow victory” because nothing has changed.

The forfeiture law remains unchanged and officers on the team have been reassigned to general patrol duties, however the interdiction work that has already resulted in millions of dollars in cash seized from interstate motorists continues, officials acknowledge.

The decision to disband the forfeiture team is seen as an attempt to sidetrack any legislative reform and create cover in future court battles.

The Iowa State Patrol’s acknowledgement that so-called “interdiction work” continues, despite the forfeiture team being disbanded.

The Iowa agency has made no promise to end warrantless searches or to eliminate a controversial practice of stopping tens of thousands of vehicles — primarily those with out- of-state plates — for minor traffic infractions that can result in the confiscation of thousands of dollars in cash.

So, what did hondo say just yesterday about “the fat lady singing?”

That fat bitch cannot even start her vocal warm up exercise for this one …

Gatlin  posted on  2016-12-13   15:15:08 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: Gatlin (#1)

This special group of State Troopers used every trick in the book to engage in warrantless searches of people’s vehicles, after pulling them over for minor “offenses” like failure to use a turn signal. Using flimsy excuses such as a dirty car, the odor of air freshener, or fidgeting, the cops would ransack vehicles in hopes of finding any amount of suspected drugs or paraphernalia.

The cops would then make up suspicions about “criminal activity” and use Iowa’s broad civil asset forfeiture laws to seize cash, assets and vehicles of the occupants – with no charge or proof of a crime. Even if no charges are filed or the person is found innocent, he or she must prove to a court they obtained their cash or property legally, incurring attorney and court fees.

That fact that you cheer those who steal from innocent citizens makes you a miserable POS police state enabler.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

Deckard  posted on  2016-12-13   19:04:34 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: Deckard (#2)

That fact that you cheer those ...

I didn’t CHEER anyone.

I damned well pointed out the you SCREWED UP and posted some grossly FAKE NEWS.

And that was my public service to humanity for today….thus far.

Gatlin  posted on  2016-12-13   19:54:21 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: Deckard (#2)

innocent citizens

Haaaaaaaaaaa. Yeah, ok.

I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح

GrandIsland  posted on  2016-12-13   19:59:21 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: Gatlin (#1)

d hondo say

at bitch cannot even start her vocal warm up

Because the officer's Trouser Trout is jammed down yo throat!

Hondo68  posted on  2016-12-13   22:28:29 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: Gatlin (#3)

I damned well pointed out

You pointed out nothing asshole.

No matter how small this victory is against the police state, it is still a VICTORY.

...you SCREWED UP and posted some grossly FAKE NEWS.

Go fuck yourself Hillary.

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

Deckard  posted on  2016-12-14   3:04:22 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: GrandIsland (#4)

innocent citizens

Haaaaaaaaaaa. Yeah, ok.

That's right queerbait - read the article.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

Deckard  posted on  2016-12-14   3:05:35 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#8. To: A K A Stone (#6)

Deckard

You pointed out nothing asshole.

Is this considered "stupid sh*t" from the site libtards?

I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح

GrandIsland  posted on  2016-12-14   11:18:37 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: Deckard (#6)

You pointed out nothing asshole.

Go fuck yourself Hillary.

That's right queerbait - read the article.

Calm the F down. Debate and quit name calling.

I'll ban everyone here if that is what it takes.

No you are not the only one. But you are the first on this thread.

A K A Stone  posted on  2016-12-14   11:23:46 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: A K A Stone (#9)

Thank you. I've always found you to be FAIR

I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح

GrandIsland  posted on  2016-12-14   11:28:03 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: A K A Stone (#9)

Calm the F down. Debate and quit name calling.

Hypocrite.

#9. To: Willie Green (#8)

You are a would be baby murderer. Who gives a shit what a useless eater like you thinks.

A K A Stone  posted on  2016-12-14   12:44:04 ET

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

Deckard  posted on  2016-12-14   13:04:54 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: Deckard (#11)

On that thread Willie said he supports abortion.

Why would anyone care what a person who would murder a kid think.

I'd rather spit on him then care what he thinks.

A K A Stone  posted on  2016-12-14   13:10:57 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: A K A Stone (#12)

Why would anyone care what a person who would murder a kid think.

I'd rather spit on him then care what he thinks.

Fair enough. As far as Gatlin, why should I show any respect for someone who posts articles from a communist/socialist website and then agrees with the article?

His past postings criticizing Oathkeepers and other patriotic groups have been extremely leftist and his support, allegiance and admiration for the SPLC shows a basic hatred for Constitutional principles.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

Deckard  posted on  2016-12-14   13:20:20 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


TopPage UpFull ThreadPage DownBottom/Latest

[Home]  [Headlines]  [Latest Articles]  [Latest Comments]  [Post]  [Mail]  [Sign-in]  [Setup]  [Help]  [Register] 

Please report web page problems, questions and comments to webmaster@libertysflame.com