You’ll weep, you’ll cry and you might just get angry, unless you’re a self-righteous prick or one of the people responsible for the harassment discussed in this story of how the drug war is improving the lives of average Americans. Radley Balko reports:
What seems clear to me is that a year and a half after this raid, and after continual police harassment, there hasn’t been a single criminal charge against David Ruttenberg, which is a pretty good indication that he and his father have a credible case of harassment (David Ruttenberg was charged with one count of filing a false police report in relation to a DJ who had stolen from him, but that too appears to have been a hatchet job. The prosecutor refused to go forward with the charge. This incident is also discussed in the brief). After a massive show of overwhelming force, one that needlessly terrorized everyone in the Manassas Park shopping center that night, the best police could come up with against Ruttenberg were a few minor regulatory violations.
I grew up being taught that police officers were always there to help and keep the bad people from hurting the good people. Somewhere along the road, the Drug War has given police too much power and things have gotten very twisted. It’s time to rethink our approach. Unless, of course, you’re looking forward to the day when a SWAT team breaks down the door to your business and makes your life a living hell. Don’t think it can happen to you? Think harder.