Philly police officers kicked in the teeth of a 60-year-old auto mechanic,robbed him of $34,000

[The Straight Story]

Businessman Describes Philly Cops as Thugs

PHILADELPHIA (CN) - Philadelphia police officers kicked in the teeth of a 60-year-old auto mechanic and robbed him of $34,000, the self-employed businessman claims in court.

Warren Layre and Michael Tierney, co-owners of the shop, sued Philadelphia and five of its police officers: Thomas Liciardello, Brian Reynolds, Brian Speiser, Michael Spicer, and Lt. Robert Otto, in Federal Court.

Layre says in the complaint that he was doing business as usual in his shop on the night of June 23, 2011, when plainclothes officers broke through the garage door with a battering ram.

The officers, who did not identify themselves, handcuffed Layre and two other men - nonparties Thomas Basara and Brian Timer - forced them to the floor, and ransacked the shop, claiming to be looking for "money and contraband," according to the complaint.

"Officer Reynolds told plaintiff Layre that he was an FBI agent and he had been driving all day from a case in Virginia and that he was in a bad mood and that he would 'shoot you [Plaintiff Layre] in the head, myself,'" if Plaintiff Layre didn't tell him where the drugs and the money were hidden.," the complaint states. (Brackets in complaint.)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/03/27/56098.htm


Layre's court filing is the latest aftershock resulting from the transfer of six top Philadelphia narcotics agents last month. The officers were moved to lower-profile positions after District Attorney Seth Williams notified police that his office would not prosecute their drug cases.

Williams has not explained his decision, citing only "prosecutorial discretion." His office has since dropped 139 cases, Layre's among them.

http://articles.philly.com/2013-01-09/news/36218873_1_narcotics-field-unit-raid-controversial-narcotics-squad

[MrScorpio]

1. Yay Cops, They're the best! nt

Last edited Wed Mar 27, 2013, 10:22 AM - Edit history (1)

[Ed Suspicious]

2. They're like criminals with uniforms and badges! Everybody loves a man in uniform.

[The Straight Story]

3. And some folks only want them to have guns

Because, somehow, working for the government makes you magically responsible.

[The Magistrate]

7. You Prepared To Shoot Police, Sir?

When 'team NRA' types step up and start blowing brutal police away on the street or at their homes, this line you trot out might have some heft, but until then, it is just drivel.

[The Straight Story]

8. Well, think of it this way

I am not about shooting cops (having been one I can tell you many folks in jail would like to do so).

But I think folks should have a way to defend themselves from both criminals and those who claim to be working for the government.

Unlike some I don't think being a cop or a person working for the government gives you magical powers.

50 million people own guns and a small, very tiny, fraction of them use them in bad ways - but with government and law enforcement I would venture to guess that more of them abuse the power they have than us citizens.

Maybe some folks would be happy just letting those in power have more because they trust them and think the rest of us are potential terrorists/killers/etc - but then those folks probably sit around reading about gun crimes each day and don't see all the folks who own guns not using them in a bad way.

Some folks love bias, it helps them in moving along an agenda to take from the many to give to the few.

[The Magistrate]

19. So It is Mere Drivel, Sir

Which is about all anyone really expects.

In the context here, the only meaning 'and some want only the police to have guns' can carry is that people must be armed to defend themselves against criminal acts committed by police. This is, indeed, the basic 'I need guns to defend against tyranny' line, brought down to cases. When we see 'Team NRA' types stepping up to gun down brutal and criminal police officers, that line can be taken seriously. Otherwise, it is simply a reflexive noise, comedic as it is contemptible.

[The Straight Story]

24. Nope.

People want to be armed to protect themselves from those the cops won't (and some like guns for hunting and target shooting).

Some only think the cops should have guns because they trust them (because they...well I dunno, they are just like me an you but work for a big company) - here we have an example of why some do not trust them.

Back to numbers though - what percent of gun owners use their guns in a negative way versus those who have guns and work for the government (ie, cops)?

But let's get your views - are you against anyone but the government and security owning guns? And who has killed more with said guns (public or government) in unjust manners?

You have stated before you are for the use of drones and killing people in countries we are not at war with (like Pakistan who wants us to quit doing so and Yemen who covered up us killing innocent people) even if they are innocent people since that is a cost of 'war' - and yet you seem bothered by people here having guns when the majority, the vast majority, do nothing wrong with them.

[The Magistrate]

27. The Problem Is Yours, Sir, Not Mine

In this context, complaining 'some people want only cops to have guns' can only mean people should be armed to defend themselves against police, so they can shoot police who mistreat them, or who they see mistreating others. This is simply the standard 'people need guns to defend against tyranny' line of 'team NRA', brought down to cases. When 'team NRA' types start to step up and shoot police who brutalize citizens, the line 'we need guns to defend against tyranny' will have some heft; until then, it is simply noise, as noxious and contemptible as it is comedic.

[The Straight Story]

28. Where do you get that from?

"complaining 'some people want only cops to have guns' can only mean people should be armed to defend themselves against police"

No, it simply means some people only trust authority figures with them because they think the rest of the people in this country are somehow stark raving mad and only people who work in a government role are good enough to own one.

Again, I will ask, what percent of gun owners in this country use their guns in crimes? And what percent of people in government positions, as cops, use their 'power' in a negative way?

[The Magistrate]

29. I Do Not Blame You For Trying To Crawfish Away From Your Statement, Sir, In Plain English

Because you, and the many 'team NRA' types who parrot the 'we need guns to defend against tyranny' pap, have in fact absolutely no inclination to resist tyranny, and simply wish to indulge themselves in a fantasy life of armed power in which they are the embodiments of Truth, Justice, and The American Way, as well as irresistible to the opposite sex....

Still, Sir, however often you try and wriggle away from it, in this context the only meaning the statement 'and some people want only cops to have guns' can convey is that people should be armed to defend themselves against police who mistreat and brutalize citizens. It is simply the standard 'team NRA' 'we need guns to defend against tyranny' line, brought down to cases. Until 'team NRA' types step up and begin to shoot police who mistreat and brutalize people, this is simply noise, and noise that is noxious and contemptible as it is comedic.

[The Straight Story]

30. Well, I won't run from it - let's look at it:

"And some folks only want them to have guns" (referring to cops)

That statement refers to the idea that some people only want non-citizens to own guns (ala cops/government).

You are the one implying I was saying we need guns to defend against tyranny.

My point is why do we only want some to have them and not others? Because we trust them more - well, as can be seen, we should not.

I know many people who own guns. They don't harm others with them. Again I ask, what percent of people who own guns use them in a negative way?

[The Magistrate]

31. And Stated, Sir, In Context Of Police Beating And Robbing a Citizen

This makes the meaning of 'and some people want only cops to have guns' quite clear: people must have guns to defend themselves against police when police behave brutally. This is simply the standard 'team NRA' line 'we need guns to defend against tyranny', brought down to cases. Until 'team NRA' types step up and begin to shoot police who brutalize citizens, this is simply noise, noxious and contemptible as it is comedic.

[The Straight Story]

32. You keep trying to tell me what I was meaning/thinking for some reason

Why?

I have made it clear, but you don't want to accept that for some reason.

Do you think I am lying? It was clear - some do, perhaps even you, only want people who are cops or in government to be allowed to own guns.

I tend to think more highly of my fellow citizen and if I don't trust them more I trust them at least as much when it comes to that.

[valerief]

21. They're like bankers with bats. nt

[HughBeaumont]

4. Police: The Legal Gang.

[grahampuba]

12. until you need a cop..

everyone calls cops assholes until you need one,..

because when you do they transform into incompetent assholes.

[The Straight Story]

16. I have called the cops here in my hood many times

And they have done, and continue to do, nothing.

Talking about people blatantly breaking into abandoned homes and the cops show up, make them put the things back, and leave.

I have written the mayor's office about it, called old friends from the police force and complained, etc.

They just don't care.

We have people running around here selling drugs and guns (and I know many of them personally). Had someone offer to sell me a double barreled sawed off shot gun sometime ago. While I was standing on my porch having a smoke.

A few kids tried to burn down an abandoned house. Nothing was done.

Folks wonder why people like my dad, brother, nephew and my neighbors here own guns. It is because by the time cops do show up it is too late, and when they show up they just take some notes and leave.

[Fuddnik]

22. Have you tried offering them doughnuts?

[HughBeaumont]

18. I don't call cops "assholes" until they do horseshit like what's pictured.

I don't call cops "assholes" until they bust out thick clubs and pepper spray and martial arts moves on protestors exercising their First Amendment rights.

I don't call cops "assholes" until they make dickish unwarranted comments at random, which they've done to me many times, just because they CAN.

That's a two minute google search. I imagine there are thousands upon thousands more examples, most of the bloodied victims looking as if they're putting up no resistance whatsoever. How many YouTube videos exist of egregious police abuse on skateboarders?

[L0oniX]

20. When I call the cops all that happens is that they get more information on me. n/t

[backscatter712]

23. When you actually need cops, they're useless.

Remember, they don't work for you. They're enforcers for the rich.

They don't give a shit about you.

[grahampuba]

33. aka.. incompetent.

[Nye Bevan]

9. Would you have made a similar comment if the robbers had happened to be construction workers,

or truck drivers? As in "Yay Construction Workers, they're the best!"

You should note that when a profession contains thousands and thousands of people, some of them will be criminals.

[frylock]

11. are constuction workers or truck drivers paid with my taxes to protect and serve?

when a profession contains thousands and thousands of people, many of which are fucking thugs, and when a profession contains thousands and thousands of people who turn a blind eye to the criminal activities of "some" of their cohorts, they too can fuck themselves along with anyone who defends that shit.

[MrScorpio]

13. Show me any other profession that routinely abuses people under the color of law and I'll agree

But if you want to show your love for these guys, it's a free country

[Jim__]

5. You say "robbed", I'm sure they'll say "seized."

My understanding of the asset seizure rules in this country is that even if the man is not convicted of any crime, the police can still keep the "seized assets." The man is free to go to court and try to prove that the money was not obtained illegally and did not in any way aid in a criminal enterprise. Good luck with that.

[Uncle Joe]

6. That would be a byproduct from the insane "War on Drugs." n/t

[frylock]

10. fuck tha police

[MrScorpio]

15. Damn Skippy!

[Demoiselle]

14. This terrible invasion happened two years ago.

..And the courts are just getting around to it now?
I believe the saying is "Justice delayed is justice denied." Good grief.

[Mnemosyne]

17. I wonder if Gov Gasshole's s-i-l was one of them. He was just suspeneded for stealing. nt

[backscatter712]

25. No thread on police abuse is complete without scolding from DU's authoritarians!

Why, we're not praying to the police! Sound the alarm!

How dare we criticize them for abusing their power!

[sulphurdunn]

26. Somehow

the narcs learned that the garage owner had a checkered past and fat bank balance they could go after under the state RICO statue. I'm pretty sure his shop and house would have gone on the block next while he went away to do some hard time. When a DA won't prosecute so many drug cases it's because he knows he can't win or because higher ups want something to go away.