Police State

Judge unseals records on 529 secret uses of Stingray cell phone tracking.

"According to the Charlotte Observer, the records seem to suggest that judges likely did not fully understand what they were authorizing. Law enforcement agencies nationwide have taken extraordinary steps to preserve stingray secrecy. As recently as this week, prosecutors in a Baltimore robbery case dropped key evidence that stemmed from stingray use rather than fully disclose how the device was used."

This judge just blew the lid off their secrecy.

"The newspaper also reported on Friday that the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s office, which astonishingly had also never previously seen the applications filed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), will now review them and determine which records also need to be shared with defense attorneys. Criminals could potentially file new claims challenging their convictions on the grounds that not all evidence was disclosed to them at the time."

All used in cases prosecuted should be shared with defense attorneys, but I doubt the prosecutor will see it that way. Defense attorneys should be checking these records themselves instead of waiting on the prosecutor.

"Worse still, local cops have lied to courts (at the direction of the United States Marshals Service) about the use of such technology. Not only can stingrays be used to determine a phone’s location, but they can also intercept calls and text messages. While they do target specific phones, they also sweep up cell data of innocents nearby who have no idea that such data collection is taking place."

Apparently they don't want to mention the FBI.

""As soon as the DA’s Office has a list of cases associated with the orders, the office will review those cases individually to determine whether the information was shared with defendants," the statement read. "If prosecutors find that the information was not shared, the office will then work to determine whether the information should have been included in the discovery process. The DA’s Office continues to stand by its law enforcement partners as we all work to protect the rights of individuals while also keeping our community as safe as possible.”"

I like how they say "should have". It all has to be shared.

Cleveland cop shot 12 year old boy carrying toy gun. More info.

"Police officers in Cleveland fatally shot a 12-year-old boy wielding what turned out to be a replica gun after receiving a 911 call saying a "juvenile" was scaring people with a gun that probably was fake."

I wonder what part of probably fake he didn't understand. Apparently the kid didn't threaten anybody.

Ron Paul explains it was good the fraudulent USA Freedom Act was defeated.