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Regulars to this space know I am rarely at a loss for words. But honestly, there's not much to say here except that this video, chronicling the Opelika, Ala., police department's efforts to lure suspects wanted for unpaid child support into custody with the promise of free Alabama-Auburn football tickets, goes from mildly humorous to mildly disturbing — and then to very disturbing — with unprecedented speed:
OK, the ruse I get: Rare is the opportunity for authorities to have a wanted suspect walk right into their office. I even kind of get the presence of the local news cameras, in a documentary sense — see "COPS" or "To Catch a Predator" or any of those other cheap thrill shows where the cameras are just along for the ride. Voyeurism, I understand.
But why on earth did the local news actually agree to participate in the ruse? "A police sting involving routine, nonviolent offenders? Yeah, our reporting team really wants to play an integral role in making that happen." Really? The next time Channel 3 sticks its microphone in some random citizen's face, forgive him if he spends the entire interview looking over his shoulder for black vans.
As quick and dirty entertainment, though ... well, there it is. "Nearly a dozen" people were arrested in this fashion last Friday, according to the Opelika-Auburn News, which doesn't have much else to add to the story, either. What else is there? Alleged deadbeats love the Iron Bowl, too, and they're paying dearly for it.
'Operation: Iron Snare' lures wanted deadbeats with Alabama-Auburn tickets. Seriously. - Dr. Saturday - NCAAF Blog - Yahoo! Sports
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- Public Discussion (6)
"You just won the publishers clearinghouse!!!"
"Really?"
"Hell no, you're going to jail!"
- 1 vote
#1 - Fri Aug 5, 2011 9:58 PM EDTIt's hard to have sympathy for deadbeats. Real men support their children. I would rather see all their posessions siezed and sold to pay the overdue child support than to see them get arrested though.
My problem here is not my stance on the Dad's themselves. It's trickery, and entrapment that really grinds my gears. Dads should pay up, And moms that are supposed to pay need to pay up too. They got the newspaper involved in the trap though, that's what scares me.
It's trickery, and entrapment that really grinds my gears.
It's not entrapment because they aren't being arrested for trying to pick up the tickets, they are being arrested for being deadbeats. Entrapment is when law officers convince someone to break the law when they otherwise would not have and then arrest them for breaking the law.
Yes, it's trickery, big deal? Cops are allowed to trick suspects, they're allowed to lie to suspects.
They got the newspaper involved in the trap though, that's what scares me.
Why does it scare you? They get help from various businesses all the time in their stings.
I appreciate your look on entrapment. It is probably more accurate than the way I portrayed it. Thank you. On the topic of the newspapers: I feel like if I have to explain why the free press getting involved with Govt stings is scary, that you are the type of person that will never understand. That's okay if you think it's legitimate. I just wont debate it.
the free press getting involved with Govt stings is scary
Well I can understand and appreciate that point of view. You would have done better to explain your point of view that way to begin with.
I don't find it scary for two reasons though:
1) it's not new.
2) because I have no control over it.
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