Police kill man with $2 of marijuana. Then lie to try and cover it up.

[Ns1]

A blunt shouldn't cost $20-60 (right?). Somebody ain't telling the truth.

1 gram blunts cost ~$20 - most people do not buy 1 gram blunts. $60 would probably be an 8th.

 

[Fern]

1 gram blunts cost ~$20 - most people do not buy 1 gram blunts. $60 would probably be an 8th.

Damn. By my calc that works out $560 an oz.

Fern

 

[Ns1]

Damn. By my calc that works out $560 an oz.

Fern

bulk discount yo, although 560/oz for some really top shelf is not unheard of.

 

[motsm]

That article is written like a sob story, reading it just makes me hate "the news" more than anything they are claiming. I'll take the facts, not this drivel.

 

[Subyman]

Yes they are!

Home invasions have to end. All they had to do was sit back, announce themselves, and wait for the guy to surrender. OR sit back and wait for him to leave his house to go do something.

A little patience and police wouldn't be killing innocent people all across this country. They are directly to blame!

Procedures and rules of engagement need to change. It should NOT be standard policy to bust in doors in the middle of the night. This country needs to riot until this policy changes.

What does that have to do with the swat team's orders? They were called in and given a no-knock warrant. So they did exactly what they were told to do and the guy, unfortunately, was armed. The problem in this case isn't with the swat team. Its with the idiots commanding them. You said it yourself, the procedures and rules of engagement need to change. The swat team doesn't make the rules.

They followed proper procedure as ordered, the lead investigator used them on bullshit info and it got a seemingly decent man killed.

 

[shortylickens]

2 dollars worth?

Is that like a mouth full of smoke?

 

[mrjminer]

2 dollars worth?

Is that like a mouth full of smoke?

Probably a little more than a standard hitter rod's worth. Maybe almost two rods. If memory of my youth serves me correct

 

[brianmanahan]

play stupid games, win stupid prizes

 

[Jhhnn]

I'm so glad colorado made pot legal.

Amen. It's proving to be superior public policy that should be implemented everywhere in this country. It's a declaration of Peace, on ourselves, one that we can all easily live with.

 

[crashtech]

I pity those who are able to rationalize these kinds of debacles in the name of an illusory "greater good."

 

[Subyman]

Amen. It's proving to be superior public policy that should be implemented everywhere in this country. It's a declaration of Peace, on ourselves, one that we can all easily live with.

Towns have been banning dispensaries though right? So they are still battling all over the state. I've heard there has been a huge increase in illegal grow arrests since the program started, is that true?

 

[Jaskalas]

I pity those who are able to rationalize these kinds of debacles in the name of an illusory "greater good."

I pity us for still living in a country that does this !@#$.

 

[Jhhnn]

Towns have been banning dispensaries though right? So they are still battling all over the state. I've heard there has been a huge increase in illegal grow arrests since the program started, is that true?

Local authorities have the right to ban both dispensaries & retail outlets. It doesn't change the right of possession or the right to grow one's own in complete anonymity.

That last part has effectively driven busts of small growers through the floor. Denver LEO, anyway, seems very reticent to bust any growers who might be legal. Dealing is another matter entirely.

http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/2014/08/20/police-crack-down-on-illegal-pot-sales/14374261/

Colorado LEO seems to have shifted gears rather effortlessly, as they needed to do. Growers who never sell are pretty much safe & those who observe plant count limitations doubly so. Highly advanced techniques can yield over 2 lbs per plant & there's no at home possession limit. LEO basically needs proof of trafficking to obtain a search warrant in our framework where home growing is allowed.

In cooperation w/ the DEA, they're particularly keen to bust people shipping wholesale quantities out of state. That's imperative in a regulated states rights market scenario to protect legit business from federal interference. Law abiding providers are basically cheering them on.

 

[Darwin333]

this part angers me the most

So he is credible enough to get a no knock warrant on some stoner kids that requires the friggen SWAT team leading to the death of some poor kid who was basically out of weed but not credible enough to say that the cops twisted his words?

Does that sum it up about right?

 

[Darwin333]

Meh. IDK. It says the cops knocked on his door and announced themselves. It was at 7:30 PM, no reason to think they were asleep at that hour.

Needs more facts. The boyfriend says they only sold a blunt here and there to friends. The article says the police drove the informant there to buy $20-60 of pot. Did the cop driving the informant there confiscate the pot? One would think so. A blunt shouldn't cost $20-60 (right?). Somebody ain't telling the truth.

The informant should have been the one shot.

Fern

High end pot can often go for $20 a gram. Not sure how much pot is needed for a blunt but if it was high end stuff $60 is roughly 1/8 of an ounce, which is a very small amount of pot and fairly in line with what he claimed. Even if it was mexican dirt weed, $60 is still not a major drug deal.

 

[Ns1]

So he is credible enough to get a no knock warrant on some stoner kids that requires the friggen SWAT team leading to the death of some poor kid who was basically out of weed but not credible enough to say that the cops twisted his words?

Does that sum it up about right?

Yep

 

[Jhhnn]

So he is credible enough to get a no knock warrant on some stoner kids that requires the friggen SWAT team leading to the death of some poor kid who was basically out of weed but not credible enough to say that the cops twisted his words?

Does that sum it up about right?

He said/ she said pretty much sums it up. Both parties will embellish any story to serve their purposes.

Results matter, and we'll keep getting poor ones from poor policy.

None of it has to make sense, anyway, because it's Florida.

 

[BoberFett]

So he is credible enough to get a no knock warrant on some stoner kids that requires the friggen SWAT team leading to the death of some poor kid who was basically out of weed but not credible enough to say that the cops twisted his words?

Does that sum it up about right?

Mind boggling, isn't it? Law enforcement in this country is a mess.

 

[Darwin333]

What does that have to do with the swat team's orders? They were called in and given a no-knock warrant. So they did exactly what they were told to do and the guy, unfortunately, was armed. The problem in this case isn't with the swat team. Its with the idiots commanding them. You said it yourself, the procedures and rules of engagement need to change. The swat team doesn't make the rules.

They followed proper procedure as ordered, the lead investigator used them on bullshit info and it got a seemingly decent man killed.

Not send two shotgun slugs through an exterior wall to potentially kill an innocent bystander or neighbor over some kids?

 

[Darwin333]

He said/ she said pretty much sums it up. Both parties will embellish any story to serve their purposes.

Results matter, and we'll keep getting poor ones from poor policy.

None of it has to make sense, anyway, because it's Florida.

To be fair its roughly the same in every other state. It's not like incidents like incidents like this only happen in Florida...

 

[BoberFett]

Not send two shotgun slugs through an exterior wall to potentially kill an innocent bystander or neighbor over some kids?

The Nuremburg Defense will work this time, I'm sure of it!

 

[Dari]

I'd put the blame on the cops as much as anyone but, in this case, the victim had it coming. I mean, this guy isn't too bright. He knew he was doing something that was illegal in that state and still went and talked to police? Why? You never talk to police. They may know more than you think and, in this case, it caused him his life. You have a snitch singing in that cops' ears and you have the victim going to police and telling them that he has a gun in his home and is concerned for his own safety. When it came time to serve that warrant, do you really think police were going to take any chance with a jumpy drug dealer? He signed his death warrant when he talked to that cop.

 

[master_shake_]

I'd put the blame on the cops as much as anyone but, in this case, the victim had it coming. I mean, this guy isn't too bright. He knew he was doing something that was illegal in that state and still went and talked to police? Why? You never talk to police. They may know more than you think and, in this case, it caused him his life. You have a snitch singing in that cops' ears and you have the victim going to police and telling them that he has a gun in his home and is concerned for his own safety. When it came time to serve that warrant, do you really think police were going to take any chance with a jumpy drug dealer? He signed his death warrant when he talked to that cop.

do your arms hurt?

cause that kind of reaching must really take a toll on them.

remember the opart when the cops told him to shoot anyone that walks in the door?

or was it TL;DR

Police tracked down the suspect and warned him to stay away. Westcott, those close to him said, was left with a word of advice from the investigating officers: If anyone breaks into this house, grab your gun and shoot to kill.
On the night of May 27, as armed men streamed through his front door, Westcott grabbed his gun. But the 29-year-old didn't have a chance to shoot before he died in a volley of gunfire. And those who killed him weren't robbers.

it's right here if you'd like to read it.

you: but wait that's not what im talking about

me: it is like you stopped reading after the title.

In an interview with the Times, Tampa police Chief Jane Castor defended the drug investigation at 906 W Knollwood and said she has seen no signs that the officers who killed Westcott acted inappropriately.
"Mr. Westcott lost his life because he aimed a loaded firearm at police officers. You can take the entire marijuana issue out of the picture," Castor said. "If there's an indication that there is armed trafficking going on — someone selling narcotics while they are armed or have the ability to use a firearm — then the tactical response team will do the initial entry."

he pulled a gun in self defense.

exactly what the police told him to do.

 

[Jhhnn]

To be fair its roughly the same in every other state. It's not like incidents like incidents like this only happen in Florida...

Not in every other State. Here in CO, anyway, the deceased wouldn't have even been on the police radar.

Florida is just one of those places where conservative authoritarian stupidity runs deep. There are others-

http://www.alternet.org/story/150935/the_5_worst_states_to_get_busted_with_pot

 

[Dari]

do your arms hurt?

cause that kind of reaching must really take a toll on them.

remember the opart when the cops told him to shoot anyone that walks in the door?

or was it TL;DR


it's right here if you'd like to read it.

you: but wait that's not what im talking about

me: it is like you stopped reading after the title.



he pulled a gun in self defense.

exactly what the police told him to do.

Yes, I read that part and I'm not reaching. Fact is, Westcott went to police asking for advice about a potential robbery knowing that he's a fucking drug dealer. I mean, come on, you just don't do that. If you want to be in that life then you should know how to protect yourself. You can't go running to police if you have a problem, especially if you're a drug dealer. Unfortunately for him, the cop did what all good cops do, he became suspicious and looked into him. Seriously, think about this. How many people do you know worry about a potential robbery? The only people that have such fears are those that are sitting on something highly valuable or highly liquid. If it was legit then he would've told the cop what it was (he did go to the cop after all). If he doesn't tell the cop then it has to be something illicit and that was his downfall. Westcott tried to play both sides and payed with his life.