Miss. Police Find $360K in Secret Car Compartment
A Mississippi officer found over $360,000 in cash hidden in a car’s secret compartment during a routine traffic stop, police said.
“On Tuesday, July 9, an officer pulled over a driver for a routine traffic violation,” Capt. Dean Harper of the Meridian Police Department told ABC News. “After suspecting that there could be some type of criminal activity he asked the driver for consent to search his car, which the driver gave.”
“During the search the officer found a secret compartment in the car that contained $364,590 in $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills,” Harper said. Police declined to provide details on where the cash was located.
An official from a Meridian bank counted the money and confirmed that it was not counterfeit. The money is now being kept in a bank vault, according to Harper.
“We are in the process of investigating where this money has come from. Once we gather that information the case will be reviewed by the Circuit Court of Lauderdale County,” Harper explained. “The driver of the vehicle was questioned and is cooperating with police.” Policed declined to release the driver’s name.
This is not the first time Meridian police have found a large sum of cash during a traffic stop.
“We used to get stops like this before. We once found $1.8 million in a car, which is our largest find to date,” Harper said.
According to Mississippi state law, money confiscated by police officers can be used by police departments once all legal proceedings surrounding the money are concluded.
“In the case of the $1.8 million, our department was able to buy 55 new patrol cars,” Harper said.
The investigation into where the $364,590 came from is ongoing and police are not ruling out criminal activity.
The driver of the car has not yet been arraigned or indicted, according to a spokeswoman for the Circuit Court of Lauderdale County.
Maybe he got lucky at the casino's. lol
Two, as asked by onenikelmiracle, how is the mere possession of cash a crime? On what grounds can the police seize cash? How much is considered a large amount? Personally after big casino wins I've had as much as 5 or 6K on me. Is that a "large" amount of cash? If the cash was legitimately earned (unlikely but bear with me). How does the owner of the cash "prove" it is legitimate? Perhaps it's his life savings or something. Again I know unlikely, but just for the sake of argument. How would you prove it's yours if you've been squirrling it away in your mattress for 20 years or something. People actually do that, some people just don't trust banks.
Perhaps one of our lawyers who's a member could address my concerns. Just curious.
Quote: vendman1Two, as asked by onenikelmiracle, how is the mere possession of cash a crime? On what grounds can the police seize cash?
On the grounds thay police get to keep the money they seize. That's a HUGE incentive for legalized theft.
Quote: NareedOn the grounds thay police get to keep the money they seize. That's a HUGE incentive for legalized theft.
Yes well that much is true for sure. One thing in the article that made me go huh?...is that a spokesman for the Meridan Miss. police dept. Said they used the last big seizure to buy 55 police cruisers. What the hell does a small city like Meridan MS, need with 55 police cruisers?
Quote: treetopbuddyThe checked pant country club Republicans are walking around with woodies on this one.......how's that war on drugs going?
Yep. It is all the Republicans fault. Absolute horse shit. It appears to anyone who even bothers to read a bit that the war on drugs, in various forms, has been around for years and has been supported by every administration in some way.
The region of Niagara here had 647 officers in 2006 serving a population of 427,000 residents, or one cop for every 660 residents. I think they have about 300 cars. I would think 1 car for every 2 to 3 cops or so.
Quote: boymimbo41,000 people, 105 officers (one cop for every 390 residents). 55 police cars isn't out of this world.
The region of Niagara here had 647 officers in 2006 serving a population of 427,000 residents, or one cop for every 660 residents. I think they have about 300 cars. I would think 1 car for every 2 to 3 cops or so.
Not enough cop cars in the world for boymimbo
Quote: RonCIt appears to anyone who even bothers to read a bit that the war on drugs, in various forms, has been around for years.
Brilliant RonC
Quote: boymimbo41,000 people, 105 officers (one cop for every 390 residents). 55 police cars isn't out of this world.
That's cars for 110 officers.
Now, some will be in the shop some of the time. but then not all 105 cops are out on aptrol in a car every day. Some work desks, others patrol on foot. And not all of them will be at work every day.
So say 1/4 of the cars are in the shop at any one time, let's say 1/7 of all officers have a day off at any one time, too (assuing they rotate days off and get only one per week). That's a max of 90 officers and 40 cars. Assuming two police per car, that means only 10 either patrol on foot or work at a desk. And this is assuming they had no patrol cars at all before the windfall.
It just doesn't add up.
But that's not the point. the point is: what right do police departments have to detain someone merely for carrying large amounts of money?
Quote:I handled many of these cases when I was a prosecutor. It is called asset forfeiture. It normally occurs during a routine traffic stop. If police discover a large amount of cash (with or without the presence of drugs) they can and often do seize the cash. This becomes a problem for you because while under our constitution a person accused of a crime is never required to prove that they are not guilty , it is always the burden of the state to prove the guilt of an accused beyond a reasonable doubt, this is not true in asset forfeiture cases.
If the police seize your money, the district attorney then gives you a notice of seizure. If you fail to respond to that within ten days you can and often do lose the money. If you respond timely then another series of legal petitions and answers are required and most people fail to file the appropriate paperwork to get the money back timely. Only a lawyer well versed in asset forfeiture alw can really help you. It is a catch 22 because in order to get the money back you have to first admit you are the owner, this often implicates people in a crime if they cannot show that it was derived from legal means.
The burden becomes yours (which appears unconstitutional) to request a hearing and to then show that the money is yours form legal sources. The police often seize money even cars even without the presence of drugs under this theory. If drugs are present and money is not the police argue that the drugs have not been exchanged for money yet. If the large amount of money is present but drugs are not the police then argue that the money is the product of an illegal transaction (the prior sale of drugs). Unless you can show through bank statements, casino winnings, or pay stubs that the money you are carrying is yours from a legal source I highly recommend you not carry large amounts of cash on your person or in your car, and do not keep large amounts of cash in your home.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110401224535AAPbpH0
Quote: treetopbuddyThe checked pant country club Republicans are walking around with woodies on this one.......how's that war on drugs going?
Quote: RonCYep. It is all the Republicans fault. Absolute horse shit. It appears to anyone who even bothers to read a bit that the war on drugs, in various forms, has been around for years and has been supported by every administration in some way.
Quote: treetopbuddyBrilliant RonCQuote: RonCIt appears to anyone who even bothers to read a bit that the war on drugs, in various forms, has been around for years
Your original post referred to Republicans and implied that they were totally responsible for the war on drugs. I called that horse shit--and noted that the war on drugs has been supported by every administration since even before it was called the "war on drugs". Are you one of those too invested in one party to see that both sides have fault? Did you cut and paste the statement to make an insult out of it rather than have a discussion?
I can't wait to see how you cut and paste this one!!
Quote: RonChorse shit-- "war on drugs". !
how's that for cutting and pasting, Old Sport?
Perhaps some of the police cars are on fire! Or maybe some of the police cars were kickbacks. Who knows.
Quote: treetopbuddyThe checked pant country club Republicans are walking around with woodies on this one.......how's that war on drugs going?
You mean Nixon was a Republican?
I'm shocked, shocked... No, wait. I'm not.
Quote: Remarks About an Intensified Program for Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Richard M. Nixon
Ladies and gentlemen:
I would like to summarize for you the meeting that I have just had with the bipartisan leaders which began at 8 o'clock and was completed 2 hours later.
I began the meeting by making this statement, which I think needs to be made to the Nation:
America's public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive.
I have asked the Congress to provide the legislative authority and the funds to fuel this kind of an offensive. This will be a worldwide offensive dealing with the problems of sources of supply, as well as Americans who may be stationed abroad, wherever they are in the world. It will be government wide, pulling together the nine different fragmented areas within the government in which this problem is now being handled, and it will be nationwide in terms of a new educational program that we trust will result from the discussions that we have had.
With regard to this offensive, it is necessary first to have a new organization, and the new organization will be within the White House. Dr. Jaffe, who will be one of the briefers here today, will be the man directly responsible. He will report directly to me, and he will have the responsibility to take all of the Government agencies, nine, that deal with the problems of rehabilitation, in which his primary responsibilities will be research and education, and see that they work not at cross-purposes, but work together in dealing with the problem.
If we are going to have a successful offensive, we need more money. Consequently, I am asking the Congress for $155 million in new funds, which will bring the total amount this year in the budget for drug abuse, both in enforcement and treatment, to over $350 million.
As far as the new money is concerned, incidentally, I have made it clear to the leaders that if this is not enough, if more can be used, if Dr. Jaffe, after studying this problem, finds that we can use more, more will be provided. In order to defeat this enemy which is causing such great concern, and correctly so, to so many American families, money will be provided to the extent that it is necessary and to the extent that it will be useful.
Finally, in order for this program to be effective, it is necessary that it be conducted on a basis in which the American people all join in it. That is why the meeting was bipartisan; bipartisan because we needed the support of the Congress, but bipartisan because we needed the leadership of the Members of the Congress in this field.
Fundamentally, it is essential for the American people to be alerted to this danger, to recognize that it is a danger that will not pass with the passing of the war in Vietnam which has brought to our attention the fact that a number of young Americans have become addicts as they serve abroad, whether in Vietnam, or Europe, or other places. Because the problem existed before we became involved in Vietnam; it will continue to exist afterwards. That is why this offensive deals with the problem there, in Europe, but will then go on to deal with the problem throughout America.
One final word with regard to Presidential responsibility in this respect. I very much hesitate always to bring some new responsibility into the White House, because there are so many here, and I believe in delegating those responsibilities to the departments. But I consider this problem so urgent--I also found that it was scattered so much throughout the Government, with so much conflict, without coordination--that it had to be brought into the White House.
Consequently, I have brought Dr. Jaffe into the White House, directly reporting to me, so that we have not only the responsibility but the authority to see that we wage this offensive effectively and in a coordinated way.
The briefing team will now be ready to answer any questions on the technical details of the program.
This briefing has been well known as the declaration point to the "War on Drugs", but all governments since have passed the needle.
Quote: NareedYou mean Nixon was a Republican?
I'm shocked, shocked... No, wait. I'm not.
It was common knowledge that Nixon had difficult time sleeping because he knew somebody, somewhere was having fun.
Quote: treetopbuddyhow's that for cutting and pasting, Old Sport?
Amazing!
Quote: boymimbo41,000 people, 105 officers (one cop for every 390 residents). 55 police cars isn't out of this world.
The region of Niagara here had 647 officers in 2006 serving a population of 427,000 residents, or one cop for every 660 residents. I think they have about 300 cars. I would think 1 car for every 2 to 3 cops or so.
Rant Warning:
Ok I accept your stats as correct. Here is what you didn't think about. 105 officers. Is maybe 70-80 on the street. The rest will be administrative, command staff, and desk people, that kind of thing. Most police depts. run 3 shifts a day, and officers work 3 or 4 days on then get a couple of days off. So to be generous lets say there are 80 cops on "street" duty. 1/5 of whom are on duty at any given time given the need for round the clock work and to cover peoples time off. So that's 15-16 guys on the street. So I ask again 55 fr***kin police cars for a city of 41,000. IT'S AN ENORMOUS WASTE OF MONEY!!! But because the money was seized from some hoodlum. Spend away. God forbid the forces of government might, just once, not spend like a 5 year old in Toy's R Us. End Rant!!
Out of state motorists are the focus of freeway attention because a wrongful seizure is easier to perform; the motorist has to get home and hire an in-state lawyer to get the car back and deal with the IRS. Cops win most seizure cases and will seize a car even if the secret compartment is EMPTY at the time.
Most road side consents are about as consenting as anything else involving armed officers and frightened drivers.
Some people have bought vehicles at auction AFTER police seizure and have had the vehicle seized a second time. Rare, but it has happened.
The cops get lots of money for focusing on drug cases and its so easy to do this sort of work than real policing.
Its the same way with large amounts of cash and domestic airports. Just because you are enroute to a casino or came from a casino, some drug happy cops can still seize it and let you argue with the IRS who are more than willing to remind you of your right to file a claim to your own money.
Those 55 cars meant 55 salaries and 55 union votes .... its almost as good as going around to high schools lecturing kids on drugs and gazing all day at teenage girl's breasts. After twenty years, you retire on atleast 100 percent pension.
Quote: vendman1Rant Warning:
Ok I accept your stats as correct. Here is what you didn't think about. 105 officers. Is maybe 70-80 on the street. The rest will be administrative, command staff, and desk people, that kind of thing. Most police depts. run 3 shifts a day, and officers work 3 or 4 days on then get a couple of days off. So to be generous lets say there are 80 cops on "street" duty. 1/5 of whom are on duty at any given time given the need for round the clock work and to cover peoples time off. So that's 15-16 guys on the street. So I ask again 55 fr***kin police cars for a city of 41,000. IT'S AN ENORMOUS WASTE OF MONEY!!! But because the money was seized from some hoodlum. Spend away. God forbid the forces of government might, just once, not spend like a 5 year old in Toy's R Us. End Rant!!
I wouldn't be surprised if where I am currently living has about 55 cars, and the pop. is only about 25k. It's the biggest police presence I have ever seen, and there is virtually no significant crime.
Quote: tringlomaneI wouldn't be surprised if where I am currently living has about 55 cars, and the pop. is only about 25k. It's the biggest police presence I have ever seen, and there is virtually no significant crime.
Well with 55 cars and a pop. of 25K I would hope not...do you have your own personal police officer? :)
Quote: vendman1Well with 55 cars and a pop. of 25K I would hope not...do you have your own personal police officer? :)
Haha, no. And I havent driven by the station to verify said number. I just see cops around...a lot. So I am guessing a decent amount are employed in town. Some of them need to move to where I used to live in Atlanta...lol
