You think serving a search warrant is gestapo police state ****? Should they arrest someone immediately just for show? Generally the way a raid works is that the department gets information from some source and takes that information to a judge to get a search warrant. The judge issues the warrant upon probable cause. The police then execute the warrant to search for contraband. If they find it, they can arrest the people that possess it immediately, or they can seize it and forward their information to the district attorney so they can decide how to proceed. In a case like this where a lot is going to depend on paperwork, records, etc., the DA may want to make sure all of their ducks are in a row before issuing charges and requesting an arrest warrant (or mailing out a letter to appear). The gestapo were also a police agency that conducted raids, but that is pretty much where the comparison ends.
Yeah, it's quite possible that she did nothing illegal (or hid it well), but they can still get her to forfeit those cars (or at least make it costly and difficult to reclaim them). The cops were probably looking for a cash score. In the poker world asset forfeiture is something that's been known for over a decade. Around DC, there was a big pro-heavy home game bust back in November when SWAT raided an unarmed known about group, basically lying and saying SWAT was worried about organized crime. They took $150k in cash and the heavy players planned on fighting it in court. It's still a legal gray area that needs better defining by the courts or legislature. Anyhow, police use this to their advantage and dismissed the charges including expunging all records of all the players arrested for 60% of the $150K. Basically, Fairfax extorted the poker the players. Instead of a costly legal battle that can make it way through the appeals process, those players decided to cut their losses. Someday, a whale is going to bankroll the legal fight if put in the wrong situation. Perhaps, gambling legislation will define better parameters in the future. Until then, it's all a big business plan for many police departments. Why try and solve difficult crimes with little reward when you can make the easy busts for publicity (john stings, overvaluing crap weed) and extort poker players?
There was an article posted on a thread a few months back talking about this. The bad thing is many of these police departments don't just target big fish like these poker players. They also target people who can't really afford to get legal representation. Seizing people's cars, cash, property, etc. This particular article really focused on this one stretch of road out in east Texas, as I recall.
This is bull**** and you know it. Her going public put a target on her back. This is an abuse of power and privileges and people shouldn't put up with it. Nothing will happen like usually and goverment/police/etc... will continue to use and abuse power (official misconduct) while everyone let's them get away with it. SSDD
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