Attorney steps up to help with defense in homeless baiting cases

[The Straight Story]

KISSIMMEE, Fla. —

A long-time Kissimmee lawyer is fighting for the rights of homeless men and woman he believes were unfairly targeted.

Last week, a 9 Investigates story revealed deputies left a bike with a purse full of cash and a laptop at an Osceola County bus stop.

Ten people, most of them homeless, were arrested for allegedly taking the bait, and four of those suspects are still sitting in the Osceola County Jail a month after the sting.

When attorney Don Waggoner saw Channel 9's story, he said he was outraged.

"I don't see how this solves a problem," he said. "You don't know these people are the thieves you are looking for. You don't know they are thieves. You just put temptation in their paths."

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/attorney-steps-help-defense-homeless-baiting-cases/nfmRp/

[joeglow3]

1. I had a friend accidently leave a laptop at a train station in St. Louis.

Was the person who stole it a victim? What if they were homeless?

[Jefferson23]

2. A sting for homeless people. They know how to suck in this county, that's for sure.

Good on the attorney.

[Lancero]

3. Two minds on this.

The tried and true honor test.

If they were willing to do it with bait, they would be willing to do it with anything.

But on the otherhand, it doesn't say when they were arrested. Did police jump out right as they picked up the item and started walking off with it, or did they arrest them a couple hours later?

If the first, then what about those who took the items with the intent on turning them into the police so they could be returned to their rightful owners?

[Warpy]

4. This is why entrapment is illegal

Even in Florida, the homeless people should get off. Unfortunately, the crooked cops won't be disciplined.

[Stuart G]

5. Thanks for posting this.

I guess the police in Kissimmee have nothing better to do then set up a sting for homeless people..

[The Straight Story]

6. The story really pisses me off personally

I have ranted before about the crime in my hood.

We have had people breaking in to abandoned homes here, using a bank of america key (they use like 3 keys for all of their foreclosures and criminals know this) and called the cops out. Almost weekly for a few months (the house was listed in the paper).

And what did cops do? Never took a report. We blocked in one guy by parking in the driveway behind him. Cops showed up, made him put the stuff back. They guy claimed he was here to clean out the house and had a 'key'. This after the property manager and came out and explained the whole key situation and no one but him would be there.

I have gotten license plates, one of which was stolen from a dealer. Cops show up. No report, don't bother to get out of the car. I have confronted people doing this and keeping them busy till cops showed up (didn't tell them I called, just walked over and chit chatted). Week after weeks for months.

And here we have cops out trying to nail a homeless person over a bike. They are setting up the crimes to happen then grabbing someone when people like me all over this area keep calling them and nothing happens.

I have contacted the mayor, police chief, even called some old friends of mine from when I served and gave them the info. Nothing.