D.C. Police Checkpoints Prompt Lawsuit

Chief Says Roadblocks Keep Thugs Out Of Murder-Plagued Area, Some Residents Disagree

(CBS)  This weekend, District of Columbia police re-established a series of checkpoints in a neighborhood wracked by a series of shootings and stabbings. And as CBS Evening News Correspondent Thalia Assuras reports, the show of force has both strong supporters and outspoken critics.

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Washington's police chief described the recent violence in the capital's troubled Trinidad section as a brazen assault.

"To shoot two 13-year-old children in the back or to shoot them as they were trying to run away is the most cowardice act I have ever seen in 18 years," said Chief Cathy Lanier.

In the early hours Saturday, one person was stabbed, and seven people were shot -- one of them a 13-year-old boy who later died.

Trinidad, just four miles east of the White House, is a neighborhood in transition -- but in this police district, 22 people were killed through June -- more than double the number last year.

In response, Assuras reports, controversial checkpoints went up in an effort to "fence out" violent intruders. At the edge of the troubled neighborhood police stopped cars and asked drivers about their business.

"Do you have any reason to be passing through Trinidad today?" one checkpoint officer asked a local woman.

"I live two blocks up the street," she answered.

Reaction from residents is mixed.

"I can understand where the police officers are coming from, you know, helping the community," said one woman.

"Do they keep the bad guys out?" Assuras asked another woman.

"No," she answered without hesitation. "They still get in here."

The checkpoints in this area were initially set up last month after a similar spike in violence over nine hours left seven men dead. But the program also sparked a lawsuit.

"For them to take a roadblock and impede my progress, it's unconstitutional," said William Robinson. "That means that I'm living under martial law in a police state."

Robinson, who's lived here for more than 50 years, is part of a class-action suit demanding an end to the roadblock program. He also says it just doesn't work.

But police claim the checkpoints have been a huge success. During the last run -- no one was killed here.

"Until a judge orders me to stop I'm going to do everything I can to protect the people in Trinidad," said Chief Lanier.

Police plan to keep the checkpoints in place for another four days -- at least.

[steeepe]

There must be better ways to fight crime than using road blocks that are Orwellian and blatantly unconstitutional. What about more cops on the beat, walking around the neighborhoods?

[robjk1-2009]

Oh just show your ID and be quiet. Let''s not exagerate all this police state stuff.

Police can''t win sometimes. if crime is out of control then blame them, if they try to take measures to stop it then were in a police state.

[stick1770]

I say pull out the police and let them kill themselves then, *** if you don''t have police doing something then *** if they do. If they are worried that a police officer checking out people is a problem then let them just die. I''m not sure why just because you''re poor or down on your luck you have to have crime and death. Good culture there. Yeah i''d hang onto that great "African" culture as you call it. At least with their pants around their knees they will be easy to catch if you "ax" me.

[bhappy2-2]

Here''s an idea; Let the people have guns to defend themselves without the registration requirements they have now. The registration is just another hindrance and a way to track the law abiding citizen. The criminals don''t abide by the laws, so their weapons will not be registered anyway.

[omnibus66]

In Nazi Germany, citizens were required to carry papers and show them at checkpoints set up at numerous places. Sounds like the D.C. police have found a model to follow.

Police have the ''right'' to establish roadblocks and ask for identification, as long as they stop everyone and do not engage in profiling.

Answering any questions such as ''Where are you going?'' or ''Why are you here?'' is strictly voluntary, and using coercion or forcing an answer is illegal and unconstitutional.

[logix4]

Where in the constitution does it say they cannot do a roadblock? I think everyone here should read the constitution. The right to privacy is not there either.

[xraytwonine]

I can''t wait, 2084, complete police state, where there will be no argument, no emotions, no colors, the world is perfect.

[pollroller1]

Just let them kill each other. No road blocks no check points. If the people in those neighborhoods don''t want police protection, then leave them along. If they want to kill each other, then so be it. I sure wish we had police check points around our neighborhood so we could keep the crooks out.

[smurfcrusher]

"Some of the residents claim they are living in a police state"


Aren''t we all?

[edintex]

Hmmm, I wonder how many of the SHOOTERS had a legal weapon or a license to have one?

[edintex]

What about more cops on the beat, walking around the neighborhoods?
Posted by steeepe at 08:07 PM : Jul 20, 2008

Then the police would be accused of "racial profiling" since they are not doing the same increased patrolling in a majority white community.

[rowdywicca]

Good God!!!! Is this what we have to look forward to like a third world country?

[stick1770]

just another reason for "african" American''s to complain about police problems. Straighten your sh*t up and you won''t have people "profiling" you.

[republic1776]

Why don''t they profile?
Why do they mess with every body when they know that 90 percent of the crimes are commited young males?

[timdgrim]

Police Say Roadblocks Keep Thugs Out
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They should have had one at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. a while back, then they could have kept Karl Rove, Scooter Libby and D*ck Cheney out! Oh, I''m sorry..I read it wrong...I thought it said SLUGS.

[samthetvcat]

You know how the DC Gun ban just got deemed Unconstitutional by the Sup Ct, I guess that holding wouldn''t apply if people voluntarily agreed to give up that right and to agree to checkpoints if they signed on to live in like a ''gated community'' right?

Maybe DC could offer that alternative to people who CHOOSE to live in an anti-gun, pro-checkpoint neighborhood? People with young kids might prefer a gun-free zone (?)

[cyberus-2009]

*Until a judge tells me to stop*

That right there is IMO the center point of the problem we have with police and the government, rather than doing whats right they do what they want until a judge tells them to stop .. then they change a small thing and do it some more and the cycle starts anew.
Look at the gun ban in DC .. they made new laws that really didn''t change all that much, so until someone else can take the case to the supreme court its status quo.

[beehive21-2009]

The police need your help people,give them a hand set up the dealers and kill em, the problem will go away.You cry the blues and do nothing , get out there and fight for your neighborhood if its worth saving ,before they kill your kids,shooting them in the back, means, it''s time to kick some but.Be an American your forefathers stated it is your duty too preserve freedom, your living in a prison ,in DC, take to the streets and win them back.

[irliberal]

Police Say Roadblocks Keep Thugs Out
***********************************
*
They should have had one at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. a while back, then they could have kept Karl Rove, Scooter Libby and D*ck Cheney out! Oh, I''''m sorry..I read it wrong...I thought it said SLUGS.

Posted by timdgrim at 10:32 PM

LOL funny... but you forgot McSame!

[irliberal]

Here''''s an idea; Let the people have guns to defend themselves without the registration requirements they have now. The registration is just another hindrance and a way to track the law abiding citizen. The criminals don''''t abide by the laws, so their weapons will not be registered anyway.

Posted by bhappy2-2 at 08:54 PM

Better yet, why not deliver ak-47s as prizes from gumball machines?

Moron.

[lemonskink]

This is just the beginning of the end. These are practice runs before the state borders are set up. Citizen, show me your identification. How complacent will the people be? In the name of security will they accept? They''ve accepted wiretapping, the Patriot''s Act, and tasering of even the most minor acts of "disobedience." It''s coming folks.

[stick1770]

hey lemon...the sky is falling.

[whitemale08]

This is normal folks. Just take your Good Ole'' Boy Republican behind out the trailer for once and go to another 3rd world country and you will see that that''s standard proceedure.

It''s like Alex Jones says over and over again..."It''s already here folks, the New World Order Neo-Fuedalism Under Debt Serfdom has ARRIVED" !!!

All you can do is just embrace it folks.

[whitemale08]

This is how the rich little by little fence themselves off from the serfs in society.

I''m telling you folks, the police are their to protect the rich and their property. The rest of us serfs can go to hell.

Just go to any other 3rd world country and you will see the same thing folks.

[nojoy01]

I guess none of these "checkpoints" are on a bus route, or do they check everybody on the bus, or assume that the bus riders have business there? Do they stop taxicabs & ask if the driver or the passenger has business there? Do they stop pedestrians on the sidewalk & ask them what they''re doing walking into the neighberhood? And if some "thug" lies & says "I''m visiting whoever/live here/shortest route to where I''m going" then do they have to prove it to the officers'' satisfaction? If not then it''s all just a great big joke. A PR scam. If they do have to "prove" it, then what''s considered proof? Or do they tie up the airways & spend time checking to see if "aunt whoever" really does live at 123 anystreet? Do they set up checkpoints on every street into the neighborhood? If not, What a joke. What a PR scam.

[nojoy01]

Don''t forget, they''ed need checkpoints on the alleys also, if they were really serious. Otherwise, I see the checkpoint, move one block over, & go where I damm well please. What a joke.

[demwatcher]

Visit DC and see the places they never show on television.

A prime example of a city structured by politicians.

[feelfree4u]

Our militarized police force is looking more like the Nazis every day.

Heil!!!

[ioweign]

There must be better ways to fight crime than using road blocks that are Orwellian and blatantly unconstitutional. What about more cops on the beat, walking around the neighborhoods?

Posted by steeepe at 08:07 PM : Jul 20, 2008

Driving is not a right - it is a privilege.

Stopping you is not unconstitutional - it maybe a pain in the arse but it is "public" safety...

[brianbwb-2009]

Zeigen Sie mir Ihren Pass! (Show me your papers!)

[whiskyrocker]

A lot of murdering going on in D.C. ---shame

[dsr57]

This is how the rich little by little fence themselves off from the serfs in society.

I''''m telling you folks, the police are their to protect the rich and their property. The rest of us serfs can go to hell.

Just go to any other 3rd world country and you will see the same thing folks.


Posted by whitemale08
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What are you talking about? That really made NO sense

[gunfighter51]

DC 95%-LIBERAL What''s so surprising about this, just another example of the leftist''s at work.

[jakenoir]

Quit bringing NAZI Germany up already! I am so sick of that comparison. We as a country will never be so ordered and/or orderly for that matter. What we might become is a police state more in the order of a latin american country. It''s all bad stuff ofcourse, but look at the people who live in Trinidad. I downloaded Channel 7 DC news and heard the residents being interviewed. It''s the same thing where ever you go in the USA in reguards to a black neiborhood and crime. It would seem that quite a large number of AA''s are incapable of creating any nice communities where one would be safe to walk the streets. I see it everyday where I work and live. We have too many good services in Minnesota for those conditioned to a life of welfare. Crime has escalated and our bleeding heart lefties (who are in control) will never set foot into areas that need to be addressed. It is killing this area. Blacks far outdo anyother group when it comes to deteriorating the quality of life. This is NOT racism! This is a fact of life!

[jakenoir]

I just ''published'' my opine, but I do not see it. Maybe I clicked wrong. I push the button and see if my opinion went through. But first I will restate'' QUIT USING NAZI Germany as a point of reference!!!! We are not Nazi Germany nor will we ever be. We may become like a Third World police state looking far more like a Brazil than a European fascist state of the 1930''s. Little annoying liberal lefties love to be paranoid of nazi''s. Grow up little sheba''s, you have far more to fear of the thugs that live now in the millions in our society. THAT''s Frightening.

[nextgenman]

This is typical. I remember when "they" said property seizure laws - which happen BEFORE trial- were only gonna be used against international drug dealers in Miami. Then look what happened.

Then came "roadblocks" only to be used as a "deterrent" to driving under the influence.

Yep, "Papers, I need to see your papers Herr nextGenMan."

[jediservant]

I have a house in a neighborhood that is full of thugs and gang members that shoot people, stab them, and sell drugs every day. The police have started setting up check points in front of my house and I love it.

Each time they are there I see these thugs being carried off and their guns and drugs taken off the street. I only wish the check points were there 24/7 for several months so we could regain our neighborhood.

You people in D.C. should rejoice that your city is willing to spend money, manpower and resources to fight crime.

[shirk3-2009]

"There must be better ways to fight crime than using road blocks that are Orwellian and blatantly unconstitutional. What about more cops on the beat, walking around the neighborhoods?"

Why do "some" people need so much more police to watch over them than "others"?

Just a question. Oh and don''t say economics. It just doesn''t wash anymore.

[platteman]

Where is the ACLU?? Are they asleep??

[heavylexus]

Washington D.C. will never change. and yes its about my people who live there. we just can''t get along and realize that what is going own in the black neighborhoods in GEONSIDE. A distruction of a culture by that culture within that culture, that is stimulated by outside forces. It is a cancer that will not be cured. And its not just D.C most major cities are experienceing this. D.C. POLICE SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR THEIR EFFORTS

[ozarkbard]

This is how the rich little by little fence themselves off from the serfs in society.

I''''''''m telling you folks, the police are their to protect the rich and their property. The rest of us serfs can go to hell.

Just go to any other 3rd world country and you will see the same thing folks.


Posted by whitemale08
--------------------------------------
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What are you talking about? That really made NO sense

Posted by DSR57 at 05:00 AM : Jul 21, 2008
__________________________________

It made obvious sense to me. While the nation is fighting the "Democrat vs Republican" fight, we''ve traded our liberties for a false sense of security, and we will never get them back again.

[Gary Kempf]

People in these High crime areas complain that the lack of police presence contributes to crime, yet they complain when the police do make a strong showing to stop the crime...

which way do want it?

[rkj606-2009]

10-4. Let the killing continue. If they are refusing and throwing tantrums over a little inconvenience, refusing extra protection in their murderous and crime ridden neighborhood, pull the officers out! Or better yet, use the naysayers for a little block watch foot patrol!

[stupidrules3]

Maybe DC could offer that alternative to people who CHOOSE to live in an anti-gun, pro-checkpoint neighborhood? People with young kids might prefer a gun-free zone (?)
Posted by SamTheTVCat at 10:38 PM : Jul 20, 2008

The entire city has been a gun free zone up till now and I guess we all see how that worked out. Until the people of the community want to stand up and take back their neighborhoods from the thugs, the current situation will exist. Evil prospers when good men do nothing.

[komoncents]

I don''t want government taking the rights of citizens in the name of protecting us, potential for abuse of power is the escalating downhill slide toward a police state already underway - by design it seems.
What do we do? I believe it starts at the top. Corrupt leaders set the example for the rest. Lets start with prosecuting the criminals in the white house and work our way thru congress. Oh, except the cops don''t patrol the rich. And Americans argue amongst themselves, divided and voiceless, powerless to stop a corrupt bought and paid for national gov.

Then try bringing back jobs to America, instead of passing laws that allow, again by design, nationless, greedy, corporations to hire the poor of the third world at slaver wages and then dump cheap products here. Buying only American-made products and boycotting foreign-made would help, but instead we sacrifice our future for discounts at Wal-Mart.
And of course certain groups of people seem hellbent on sabatoging themselves and those around them, while looking for that proverbial handout, with ready excuses, not personal responsibility. Small wonder many feel the deck stacked, and choose non-conforming behavior. Acceptable behavior is easier when economic situations rise above hopeless.
I personally believe the powers that be are committed to turning America into a 3rd world country. Until we start caring about citizens here instead of wasting money killing foreigners for oil profit, expect more of the same.

[jdleeflorida-2009]

Simple solution. Set up a Green Zone. Bomb the area with B-52''s and send troops as they return from Iraq. Within 6 or 7 years, withdraw the troops from there and send them to Jacksonville, Fl.,where we had 3 murders yesterday alone. Meanwhile, perhaps the high gasoline cost will slow us down enough to stay home follow the news and recognize the urgency of awoiding the direction we are going. Count your childred at least 3 times daily to make sure you have them all. If you don''t have time for your children, someone does. The final solution rests with our coming generations. We are lost.

[antoniof123]

Can someone please explain to me why when Republicans get into power crime rate increase to levels that are twice has high as when they are not in power?

[mgeg1]

I''ve always said road blocks are unconstitutional. It borders on harassment.

[mgeg1]

Can someone please explain to me why when Republicans get into power crime rate increase to levels that are twice has high as when they are not in power?


The poor get squeezed, worsening their already tough situation. They feel abandoned by their government and society. Consequently, they are more likely to resort to crime and violence to survive.

[jijalagi]

73% of Americans agree that citizens have the right to be armed and defend themselves. The majority of the Supreme Court agrees. The DC mayor however knows more than the rest of us so he spends millions to fight the Second Amendment. Now it appears he doesn%u2019t like the Fourth Amendment either. Thank God people like that are around to do our thinking for us. If we became a nation run by rule of law and allowed to think for ourselves, who knows what evil might be produced. Democracy might break out and who knows what that could lead to.