Wild Wild Texas

[ataraxia]

Unfortunately in a good many red state towns, that is exactly what DOES happen, and in full view of law enforcement.
There's always "that guy" or "couple of guys" who either have a brother or a father or uncle on the small local police force, and they get away with a lot more than everyone else.
They couldn't cut it so they never made it on the force. Maybe they become the local "volunteer fireman" or the tattoo artist, or the bouncer at at the local bar.
Stuff just "gets overlooked", simple as that.

Guy roughs up a couple of never-do-wells at a party, overlooked, beats up a couple of folks who smarted off to him, overlooked, pulls a gun on someone at a traffic light, stern talking to, and overlooked,
flashes a purloined badge and says he's the law to someone, gets reported, another talking to, badge confiscated, and overlooked, guy gets his hands on another badge.
Runs a guy off the road, local cops express doubts about who started it and it gets overlooked, goes way too far with a girl against her will, overlooked - everyone says she "was the town pump" anyway.
It all adds up over a lifetime and then the day comes where he crosses the cops themselves, they don't like it none too much and he gets his wings clipped a little, and HE doesn't like it none too much.
Doesn't stop him, he keeps pushing it until one day he shoots someone.

Town believes the image of him as a good solid kid with a bright future and anyway, it's not fair because he's just a helpful guy who is "inspired" by his cop brothers.
Slap on the wrist if his victim lives, maybe a couple of years accidental manslaughter if he doesn't, out in a year.

Chances are good you will run into a "guy like that" in every small town in a red state, or even a couple of "guys like that".
They DO HAVE counterparts in small towns in non-red states to be sure, but for some reason, the ones in those red states seem to get away with a bit more...a LOT MORE...
especially if that town is friendly to the local white supremacists.

Haha, yes. Sounds very familiar. Reminds me of the lyrics:

"Just two good ol' boys,
Never meaning no harm
Beats all you never saw,
Been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born

Straightenin' the curves,
Flattenin' the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em
Bur the law never will

Makin' their way
The only way they know how
That's just a little bit more than the law will allow

I'm a good ol' boy
My mama loves me
But she don't understand
They keep showing my hands
And not my face on TV"

Songwriters: Waylon Jennings
Theme from "The Dukes of Hazzard" (Good Ol' Boys) lyrics

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Why does that matter?
I'm against their use in the first place.
It's the police's job to find people on bail not hired guns.

Actually in the USA bail enforcement agents are a centuries old standard.
In a lot of states they have to become "officers of the court" but there is no universal standard for that, so it depends on which state you're in.

As of 2008, four states, Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, and Wisconsin prohibited the practice, as they have abolished commercial bail bonds and banned the commercial bail bonds industry within their borders.
In Wyoming there are almost no regulations whatsoever.

A Texas bounty hunter is required to be a peace officer, Level III (armed) security officer, or a private investigator.

Texas - Bail Bond and Bounty Hunter Laws

Texas laws regarding Bail Bonds, Bail Enforcement, Bounty Hunters, Fugitive Apprehension and Bail Bondsman. Check the links for possible updates

fugitiverecovery.com

Pursuant to Tex. Occ. Code § 1702.3867 (a), a private investigator executing a capias or an arrest warrant on behalf of a bail bond surety may not:

• enter a residence without the consent of the occupants;
• execute the capias or warrant without written authorization from the surety;
• wear, carry, or display any uniform, badge, shield, or other insignia or emblem that implies that the private investigator is an employee, officer, or agent of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state; or
• use deadly force.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Haha, yes. Sounds very familiar. Reminds me of the lyrics:

"Just two good ol' boys,
Never meaning no harm
Beats all you never saw,
Been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born

Straightenin' the curves,
Flattenin' the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em
Bur the law never will

Makin' their way
The only way they know how
That's just a little bit more than the law will allow

I'm a good ol' boy
My mama loves me
But she don't understand
They keep showing my hands
And not my face on TV"

Songwriters: Waylon Jennings
Theme from "The Dukes of Hazzard" (Good Ol' Boys) lyrics

And again I emphasize that it's not JUST red state small towns.
I'll never forget the first time I found myself face down with a rifle at my skull...it happened in Culver City, CA...not Podunk Hollow or Dogpatch.

I was a young guy, talking on the ham radio or CB with someone I "sort of knew', got into some kind of argument, and I decided to drive a little (a lot) closer to his neighborhood so my signal strength would drown
out others he was talking to, when suddenly two Culver City cops come screeching up, and next thing I know my friends and I are face down on the pavement.
Of course, after that little show of force we were deposited on the curb while we each got questioned.
Turns out he's the son of one of the sergeants on the Culver City PD, and I guess "Daddy" must have overheard our argument.
Not charged with anything but the lesson was clear.
And of course with an antenna farm on the roof of my van I wasn't difficult to spot either.

And of course they trashed the van and did a little "creative" work disconnecting radio equipment, and "accidentally" ripping out the coax on a couple of the antennas.
Yeah, sonny-boy gets away with anything, and Daddy will send his goons to help out if sonny is having a little "problem".

 

[NolanVoyd]

I'll never forget the first time I found myself face down with a rifle at my skull...it happened in Culver City, CA...not Podunk Hollow or Dogpatch.

I was a young guy, talking on the ham radio or CB with someone I "sort of knew', got into some kind of argument, and I decided to drive a little (a lot) closer to his neighborhood so my signal strength would drown
out others he was talking to, when suddenly two Culver City cops come screeching up, and next thing I know my friends and I are face down on the pavement.
".

Sorry, but I am having a hard time believing your story.

Cops don't carry rifles, they carry handguns and probably have a shotgun in the car.

They wouldn't have a rifle unless they were SWAT.

and I doubt the cops in your story were Swat.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

I got "busted" by rent-a-cops once. It was quite enlightening to go through the court system when the state's primary witnesses against you are civilians and no actual cop can testify against you other than by repeating hearsay.

Needless to say, the state dropped the charges when they realized I wouldn't cop a plea.

I got "PULLED OVER" by WesTec private security back in 1982!
Back then, hiring rent-a-cops was becoming very popular in Brentwood and the surrounding areas, where the wealthy could afford a 24HR armed response security service and so after many celebs began using them, they began to stretch their legs a bit and as California at the time had lax or few regulations, the WesTec vehicles began to closely resemble bona-fide cop cars.

This particular evening I was returning home from work in Orange County and as I crossed Sunset Blvd on North Bundy Drive, a Ford sedan in WesTec colors began pursuing me with the roof-rack lights on, which
were white and yellow, but this particular guard ALSO hauled out one of those magnetic RED beacons and slapped it on his roof.

Sucker then proceeds to attempt one of those "felony stops" or what WOULD be one if you've watched too many cop shows on TV.
Of course, turning around and seeing it's a WesTec car, I realized that a fake cop was attempting to pass as the real thing.
I was remarkably uncooperative.

It wasn't even a month or two later that I noticed that ALL WesTec Security "patrol vehicles" had had their emergency lights REMOVED from the roof.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

One town in North Texas has a couple of "regulars" who seem to be fond of harassing people on the freeway.
c. 2009 - NB U.S. 287, Mansfield

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Sorry, but I am having a hard time believing your story.

Cops don't carry rifles, they carry handguns and probably have a shotgun in the car.

They wouldn't have a rifle unless they were SWAT.

and I doubt the cops in your story were Swat.

That's it?
Because I said "rifle" instead of "shotgun"?
Wow, I don't remember specifically checking (at the time) to see if it was a rifle or a shotgun but yes you're correct that it was most likely a shotgun.

 

[TurtleDude]

One town in North Texas has a couple of "regulars" who seem to be fond of harassing people on the freeway.
c. 2009 - NB U.S. 287, Mansfield

View attachment 67358051View attachment 67358052

in ohio, we have a rule that police in unmarked cars are incompetent to testify in traffic enforcement cases.I agree with this and it promotes public safety. Years (I mean like 60+) a sheriff in an unmarked car in some podunk Ohio speed trap tried to pull over two guys who were returning from a hunting trip in WVa. The officer didn't have sirens or lights and the testimony was that he appeared to be trying to force the hunters over and off the road, when the passenger shot the cop dead with a rifle. The actions were ruled justifiable because the hunters believed they were being attacked. The evidentiary law was passed, from what I was told, in response

 

[NolanVoyd]

That's it?
Because I said "rifle" instead of "shotgun"?
Wow, I don't remember specifically checking (at the time) to see if it was a rifle or a shotgun but yes you're correct that it was most likely a shotgun.

Yep.

Just a coment.

Take it or leave it.

 

[Rich2018]

I got "PULLED OVER" by WesTec private security back in 1982!
Back then, hiring rent-a-cops was becoming very popular in Brentwood and the surrounding areas, where the wealthy could afford a 24HR armed response security service and so after many celebs began using them, they began to stretch their legs a bit and as California at the time had lax or few regulations, the WesTec vehicles began to closely resemble bona-fide cop cars.

This particular evening I was returning home from work in Orange County and as I crossed Sunset Blvd on North Bundy Drive, a Ford sedan in WesTec colors began pursuing me with the roof-rack lights on, which
were white and yellow, but this particular guard ALSO hauled out one of those magnetic RED beacons and slapped it on his roof.

Sucker then proceeds to attempt one of those "felony stops" or what WOULD be one if you've watched too many cop shows on TV.
Of course, turning around and seeing it's a WesTec car, I realized that a fake cop was attempting to pass as the real thing.
I was remarkably uncooperative.

It wasn't even a month or two later that I noticed that ALL WesTec Security "patrol vehicles" had had their emergency lights REMOVED from the roof.

Cheers, a heart warming story.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

in ohio, we have a rule that police in unmarked cars are incompetent to testify in traffic enforcement cases.I agree with this and it promotes public safety. Years (I mean like 60+) a sheriff in an unmarked car in some podunk Ohio speed trap tried to pull over two guys who were returning from a hunting trip in WVa. The officer didn't have sirens or lights and the testimony was that he appeared to be trying to force the hunters over and off the road, when the passenger shot the cop dead with a rifle. The actions were ruled justifiable because the hunters believed they were being attacked. The evidentiary law was passed, from what I was told, in response

These are pics of a guy who was known to local PD down there...he eventually became too stupid for his own good, got arrested, and that's about all I remember at this point.
He was a fixture on WFAA Channel 8 News a couple of times, and right around 2012, right before we moved, I heard he'd gotten popped again.
The fact is, there's quite a few wannabes running around and most police departments and most courts don't seem to take it very seriously.
Impersonating a cop should be a very serious offense and it should carry a minimum ten year sentence.

For some strange reason, that's actually pretty rare.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

By the way....ABOUT FAKE COPS:

Anyone ELSE here ever have any kind of run-in with one?
Or how about just "Anyone ever SEE one?"

Do any of you have your OWN accounts of local pud-whackers around your neck of the woods who get a
thrill out of trying to impersonate law enforcement?
I can't be the only person here who has encountered them.

Not talking about simple George Zimmermans, I'm talking about half-wits who go the whole mile,
dressing up in some kind of uniform or cammo, carrying cuffs, zip ties, fake badges, driving around in a decommissioned "cruiser"
equipped with all the right lights and strobes, two-radios, utility belt, PA systems, tries to "pull people over"...

 

[Rich2018]

Not talking about simple George Zimmermans, I'm talking about half-wits who go the whole mile,
dressing up in some kind of uniform or cammo, carrying cuffs, zip ties, fake badges, driving around in a decommissioned "cruiser"
equipped with all the right lights and strobes, two-radios, utility belt, PA systems, tries to "pull people over"...

You're talking unlicensed fake cops right ?

 

[calamity]

But didn't you say that they accused you of offering drugs ?

That is what they said.

The girls did ?
What were they ?

Agents working for a private firm contracted through the local PD to keep an eye on drug sales in various bars. I stepped into a sting...not to sell drugs but to try hooking up with what I thought was an easy score of two chicks.

 

[Rich2018]

That is what they said.

Agents working for a private firm contracted through the local PD to keep an eye on drug sales in various bars. I stepped into a sting...not to sell drugs but to try hooking up with what I thought was an easy score of two chicks.

Oh, when the pretend to be hookers and try to get you to offer money for sex.

 

[calamity]

Oh, when the pretend to be hookers and try to get you to offer money for sex.

No. They were pretend to be fun girls looking for a good time but mostly focused on trying to get me to break the law--give/sell them drugs. Our plan was to use an entrapment defense, but we didn't need to when the state dropped the charges.

 

[Rich2018]

No. They were pretend to be fun girls looking for a good time but mostly focused on trying to get me to break the law--give/sell them drugs. Our plan was to use an entrapment defense, but we didn't need to when the state dropped the charges.

Ah I see....why would they feel like you had any ?

Was it a regular bar ?

 

[calamity]

Ah I see....why would they feel like you had any ?

I had some pot. They wanted blow. Long story.

Was it a regular bar ?

Well, yeah. A sports bar-like joint. It was a little odd that so many hot chicks were in there at 10PM on a Tuesday, but I was too drunk to notice the anomaly. Plus, I was new to town. I just thought, "Wow! This place rocks!"

 

[Rich2018]

I had some pot. They wanted blow. Long story.

Ah...yes, you did the right thing to walk away, when the DA declined to press charges.

Well, yeah. A sports bar-like joint. It was a little odd that so many hot chicks were in there at 10PM on a Tuesday, but I was too drunk to notice the anomaly. Plus, I was new to town. I just thought, "Wow! This place rocks!"

So, it could happen to any of us.

 

[calamity]

Ah...yes, you did the right thing to walk away, when the DA declined to press charges.

For sure. No need to rock that boat.

So, it could happen to any of us.

Maybe not anyone. I was inclined to go out looking for trouble. Some people stay in their hotel rooms and read the bible.

 

[Rich2018]

For sure. No need to rock that boat.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Maybe not anyone. I was inclined to go out looking for trouble. Some people stay in their hotel rooms and read the bible.

Not the grey man sipping his beer quietly in the corner.

 

[calamity]

Let sleeping dogs lie.



Not the grey man sipping his beer quietly in the corner.

This was nearly 30 years ago. I was far from the sit quiet type back then. Now, I probably would just play the observer.

 

[Rich2018]

This was nearly 30 years ago. I was far from the sit quiet type back then. Now, I probably would just play the observer.

Best course. Are those agency companies still used do you know ?

 

[calamity]

Best course. Are those agency companies still used do you know ?

No idea. But, I know they were a big thing back in the 90's.

My understanding is the chick-crew successfully got a few guys to fall for their trap who then pleaded out. I sat tight, took the indictment and shoved my middle finger in their face as I hired two excellent criminal defense lawyers.

It cost me over $5K, IIRC. BTW, unknown to me at the time, but a rule nonetheless is that just giving someone pot is considered "trafficking." Cash does not have to exchange hands.

 

[Rich2018]

No idea. But, I know they were a big thing back in the 90's.

My understanding is the chick-crew successfully got a few guys to fall for their trap who then pleaded out. I sat tight, took the indictment and shoved my middle finger in their face as I hired two excellent criminal defense lawyers.

It cost me over $5K, IIRC. BTW, unknown to me at the time, but a rule nonetheless is that just giving someone pot is considered "trafficking." Cash does not have to exchange hands.

$5k is well worth it if it keeps you out of jail.

I knew a woman at work who got into some minor trouble as a young girl - obstruction of police officer I think. Naturally she had no money and the over worked public defender persuaded her and her friends to take a plea, whereas anyone with money would fought it and probably won.