Discussion for article #239281
So they obviously DON’T respect the First Amendment. Private property trespassing? So are they saying McDonald’s or its franchisee filed a trespassing complaint against journalist which I may point our were paying clientele? Anyone that have seen that video can clearly see the police was completely outta line.
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Why the charges were filed now should be a story in itself.
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So was McDonald’s pressing trespassing charges (it was their property)…?
I highly doubt that.
Something smells.
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So St. Louis County is looking to have a counter-suit for reckless persecution? They must have plenty of money.
I suspect because that’s how the clerks work there. The computer flagged the complaint as expiring, the clerk, without even looking into it, just started the process to get them into court to pay their fine. It probably never even dawned on anyone there who these guys were or what the charges were about. Just arrested around that time, so more of the locals we rounded up, so lets bleed them for a little more.
The charges are ridiculous; they had made purchases at the McDonald’s, from the videos, nobody there was expressing any desire for them to leave (until the cops busted in). So the trespassing charge is going to be tossed. Interfering with a police officer won’t hold up either, outside of their little kangaroo court. They complied with the officer’s orders, but more importantly, the First Amendment arguments are going to be clearly on their side.
I suspect once a judge or prosecutor figures out which case these actually were (which one would hope they have by now), a letter dismissing all charges will be forth coming before the week is out. Even city solicitors don’t enjoy losing, and definitely not what will be a highly publicized case.
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I was going to say this is unbelievable, but then I realised that that word doesn’t mean what it used to. The town will be bankrupt soon if this is the fuck-you plan they’ve adopted.
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To be honest, the real crime is that they were eating at McDonald’s.
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Sounds like another reason to not patronize Mickey D’s. I already don’t cuz of their fatty high calorie food. But if a paying patron can be arrested for trespassing… That would certainly cause me to refrain doing business with them.
Seriously now…you are right, this smells. It smells of cops not wanting what they do to be reported. This is intimidation.
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Just another shakedown of a potential perp (WaPo) that can afford the fines and penalties. It’s how Ferguson (and other regional hick towns) pay for about 25% of their municipal budgets.
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Working in a McDonalds is trespassing? the WAPO should sue Ferguson for false arrest and anything else they can throw at them.
Why complete and total bullshit.
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It is.
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I think you’ve nailed it. Inertia over Intent.
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Another bullet in the foot by the Ferguson chapter of the Barney Fife Brigade.
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I kinda wish that this would go to trial. The WaPo could afford it, and the spotlight would be useful in showing how ordinary citizens are stripped of their rights and their bank accounts.
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It’s a reminder that almost no one at the Post has done anything remotely courageous in the last 40 years.
I’d be willing to wager that neither McDonald’s nor the franchise owners are behind the charges. My guess is DaveyJones has it right on this one.
Yeah, The cops in Ferguson are corrupt. And it looks to be no better a year later.
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