Courthouse News Service: "A family claims Chicago police broke into their house, urinated on their mail, spit in the coffee maker, stomped and slapped them and told them "You've been punk'd," while searching for someone who had not lived there for at least a year." (Via Arbroath)

  • social_maladroit

    There’s a simple explanation for all of this. They meant to search an apartment on O Street, but by mistake, they went an extra block to P.

  • abstract_reg

     That seems kinda harsh, even for Americans.

    • Antinous / Moderator

      Seems like business as usual to me.

      • penguinchris

         That pile of junk mail really tied the room together.

  • http://twitter.com/trempls tré

    Just a couple bad apples. Who will probably get protected by the “good” apples.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jon-Coe-Othman/100001355171598 Jon Coe-Othman

      couple of bad apples, you’re being ironic right.  there are a couple good apples in a vast sea of completely rotten apples.  confidence in law enforcement is delusional.

      • David Wyatt

        Obviously (probably get protected by the “good” apples) means sarcasm instead of irony.

        After many heated debates over the topic of law enforcement and the GOOD or BAD of them all Ive noted some peculiar results.

        Lets call it “confidence in law enforcement”
        1. Age has a lot to do with belief, a 10=20 year old person will have an entirely less INFORMED REALISTIC view of police, whereas a 20-40 year old person will have EXPERIENCED IT FOR THEMSELVES usually by then.
        2. Poverty level also reflect peoples views, a young or old wealthy person will usually see all police as helpful and “good” whereas a person who is dirt poor, young or old, will see and fear police as a problem, festering in corruption, lies and abuse.
        3. Experience.  Which is pretty much the sum of the above. 

        So in conclusion, a 15 year old wealthy child will see police as their saviors, their servants, and a 15 year old inner city youth DEFINITELY fears the police more than they fear the hungry eyed crack addicts on the corner. 

        Who wouldnt, a crack addict might beat you up or rob you for your money or jewelry, but you will likely still live a long happy and free life.  BUT, the police CAN and DO, electrocute, beat, shoot, kidnap you, torture, stalk, assault, lie to you, lie about you, verbally abuse you, and even murder a teen, only to be found “guilty of no wrongdoing.”  Not to mention the mountain of unfounded charges that CAN AND WILL be made up just to lock you away for years or make you spend thousands of dollars and years of your life fighting for your freedom and INNOCENCE…
        Not some urban myth, Factually and actually happening every day and they wonder why “nobody talks to police” hell, I dont even call them for any reason, I have a gun, a higher IQ, and better training.  They have big ego’s, big bellies, an addiction to adrenaline, and an even stronger love of escalation.  No thanks.

        Unfortunately for the police, you can only rule with respect or fear.
        They chose fear, but fear can be overcome pretty easily.  If only they tried half as hard to gain our respect instead of trying to instill fear, maybe they would be a viable and valuable resource.  Instead they are mostly a joke in the bad areas where they are most needed.

  • Diogenes

    “Gentlemen, get the thing straight once and for all—the policeman isn’t there to create disorder, the policeman is there to preserve disorder.” — Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

  • SomeGuyNamedMark

    Sure they were cops?  “Plainclothes”, no IDs.

    • AlexG55

       I’m puzzled how, if the officers never identified themselves, the plaintiffs know to sue Officer Sergio Martinez…

      • Ipo

        FTA: They left a copy of the warrant on the floor on their way out of the premises around 3:00 p.m.

    • Ipo

      FTA: Seconds later, seven to eight police officers in plainclothes and one in uniform crashed through two hall doors with a slam bar.

      • SomeGuyNamedMark

        FTA: “The officers came in with guns drawn, were wearing plainclothes, and had no identifying information or badges displayed.”

  • Pedantic Douchebag

    In Chicago, this is known as “Tuesday”.

    • chgoliz

      Don’t know whether the following is sad or scary….when I originally saw the thread yesterday, that was my first thought as well, right down to which day of the week.