Canada Journal – News of the World Articles and videos to bring you the biggest Canadian news stories from across the country every day
Questions are being asked of a North Carolina police department after an officer in the city of Durham testified that its common practice for cops there to make up excuses to illegally enter, then search, the homes of local residents.
Durham Police Dept. Chief Jose Lopez now says he’s investigating claims that his officers may have lied in order to trick home owners and tenants into letting law enforcement officials look into area residences under false pretenses.
Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez said the 911 tactic was never part of official policy, although he officially banned its use last month in a department memo.
Officer A.B. Beck admitted on the witness stand to making up a 911 call in February to gain entry to a woman’s home, where he found two marijuana blunts and a marijuana grinder.
Beck testified that he intended to serve a warrant at the house, although he never showed the warrant in court.
The officer testified that the 911 tactic was permitted under department policy when domestic violence was alleged.
The woman’s attorney made a motion to suppress the marijuana evidence, saying the defendant’s consent to a search was made under false pretenses.
The judge granted her motion, and prosecutors dropped the charges against the woman.
“You cannot enter someone’s house based on a lie,” said Durham County Chief District Judge Marcia Morey.
Lopez issued a memo 10 days after the case was dropped to all department personnel banning the 911 tactic.
“It has recently been brought to my attention that some officers have informed citizens that there has been a 911 hang-up call from their residence in order to obtain consent to enter for the actual purpose of looking for wanted persons on outstanding warrants,” said the memo. “Effective immediately no officer will inform a citizen that there has been any call to the emergency communications center, including a hang-up call, when there in fact has been no such call.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
There is something wrong in Durham,n.c. home of Duke university. Several years ago the D.A.’s office poorly investigated and wrongly charged several players from the Duke lacrosse team over a party involving a local stripper/hooker and allegations. Now the phony 911 calls. The D.A.’s office normally advises on questionable tactics, via police channels. As in the lacrosse case, there are cops who don’t know their law worth a damn, and nobody watching them. One again, the city of Durham had better get a bucket of money ready for the civil suit that is sure to follow.
I did not read that the officers are prohibited from making fake 911 calls and claiming help is needed (even though such a call would be illegal). I travel alot and have seen many other types of activities by police, that if made public, would put into question how legally police operate (or illegally operate). If we lied to them, there’s a law against that; yet, they regurally lie to us; without fearing criminal charges for it.