The War On Kids
Local cops are rewarded for the sheer numbers of people they pick up in drug arrests. One of these people was an autistic, bipolar kid, Jesse Snodgrass. He was befriended by an undercover cop, who eventually persuaded him to buy a half joint from a homeless man and give it to him.
The video is 24 minutes long, but even the first three minutes are worth watching.
His dad said he thought Jesse just bought the pot because he thought he needed to or he'd lose his friend -- his only friend.
Deputy Daniel Zipperstein of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, who busted Jesse, is a predator under cover of the law, acting out of careerist self-interest. Vile.
All in all, 22 kids were arrested as part of this drug sting. Nine of them were considered "special needs" kids.
Nothing new, a few years back the local sheriffs office coned a guy with an IQ of 80 into "trying to assassinate the sheriff with a car bomb"
lujlp at July 17, 2014 7:51 AM
Name and shame.
Remember this name, Deputy Daniel Zipperstein of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Janet C at July 17, 2014 8:08 AM
For the past few years, I have attended the presentations on marijuana legalization presented by Peter Friedman at DragonCon. As you might guess, lively debate ensues... One of the things Peter does NOT have time for is anecdotes about police misconduct, because the Q&A session is not a place to complain about police.
Here's the thing: the Second Amendment guys will tell you that cops have been bad for longer than weed has been an issue.
Police misconduct is related to drug traffic in the USA, but it is not because of it. It will continue as long as a significant portion of the public refuses to police themselves, instead calling police and empowering them.
Radwaste at July 17, 2014 8:18 AM
Not to take anything away from Jesse's story, but VICE is not credible journalism. Seems good, but it's rotten underneath.
This story has been extensively written about elsewhere, here it is at Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-entrapment-of-jesse-snodgrass-20140226
jerry at July 17, 2014 8:59 AM
This is sick. Very disturbing.
It will continue as long as a significant portion of the public refuses to police themselves, instead calling police and empowering them.
There is truth to this. There are plenty of "normal" people who use illegal drugs, but still think that drugs should remain illegal because they're afraid it will encourage thieving and murdering drug addicts.
These raids and stings continue without much concern from the "good" people in the illegal drug community. And that's sick and disturbing, too.
Jason S. at July 17, 2014 12:10 PM
At least in 21 Jump Street they busted "the cool kids".
Red at July 17, 2014 3:01 PM
I can see why we call them America's Heroes.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at July 19, 2014 4:36 PM
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