So it goes before a grand jury

[wideym]

The amount of fairness in his trial will equal the amount of money he has in his account. Belive me this will go to trial. I've never heard of a DA that could'nt get an indictment from a Grand Jury. Although I don't know how they could turn a misdemenor amount of pot into a felony amount.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

well the s house lawyers from everywhere but va have chimed in

the dope and a gun make the dope a felony

and ebert is an extremely good lawyer but a fair one. u suspect this guy is toast

 

[Mike J]

The whole thing about the marijuana is was it actually there beforehand-or was it planted afterward in an attempt to justify their actions. Of course maybe I have a bad outlook on these types of warrants after some of the things that have happened in the Atlanta area. And then the cops trying to plant drugs to justify their actions after the fact. I know all police aren't as corrupt or incompetent as some in this area-just don't think all the facts are in on this yet.

 

[Robert Hairless]

The Virginian-Pilot news report said:

A confidential informant told police Frederick was growing marijuana in his garage. Police, however, found only enough marijuana to charge Frederick with simple possession.

Eric F. concludes:

Its easy to point the finger at the cops here but few take the time to say if this kid had not been dealing in drugs none of it would have hapened.

Something seems to be missing here. Perhaps it's fair to say that this kid should thank heaven that he's not being tried on an Internet gun forum. He can't do worse in a real courtroom.

 

[rse2]

Mountie855: right on the money. The militarization of our police with all their fancy toys aimed at non-violent business is unconscionable. They just can't wait to use them and this has widened the divide between us and them. I hate it. They used to be the good guys and they used to work for us. I know some of them think they are doing the "right" thing but I think most are just cowboys.
Will we forget Waco and Ruby ridge so quickly. More that one cop has been shot by civilians or other cops because of these tactics. More that one innocent civilian has been killed or injured by overzealous and/or incompetent cops. All over nothing but the style, make and model of recreational chemicals people choose to use. BS and really sad.

 

[Cel]

rse2 - Exactly.

 

[Poor East Texan]

Sure don't seem like a Tacti-kool raid was called for.....

I think I'd LIKE to be on THAT jury...

 

[Eric F]

If he was dealing, wouldn't he have more than a misdemeanor amount?

He might have however he had a growing operation in place it was a small amount because the plants were new and just started growing according to local news the plants had just sprouted. there fore by weight there was not enough to be charged with more than personal use, a few weeks later would have yeilded a diffrent responce. The police were told by an informant that this guy has a growing operation. Although he did have one it is still poor inteligence at best and he should have been observed for a longer period of time.

or was it planted afterward in an attempt to justify their actions.

with the imediate media coverage they would have had to have the plants in their hand as they went into the house. The medis was there on sceen with in minutes of the shooting, less than a half hour. They broke the air to cover the story live.

The amount of fairness in his trial will equal the amount of money he has in his account.

I agree with this, the south east virginia area has a long history of dealing with cop killers by handing out frequent death penilities.

 

[TAB]

He might have however he had a growing operation in place it was a small amount because the plants were new and just started growing according to local news the plants had just sprouted

its also poss that he was growing them for personal use ( IE medical, which I think is BS, but thats a nother thread)

 

[MIL-DOT]

(QUOTE) "Mountie855: right on the money. The militarization of our police with all their fancy toys aimed at non-violent business is unconscionable. They just can't wait to use them and this has widened the divide between us and them. I hate it. They used to be the good guys and they used to work for us. I know some of them think they are doing the "right" thing but I think most are just cowboys.
Will we forget Waco and Ruby ridge so quickly. More that one cop has been shot by civilians or other cops because of these tactics. More that one innocent civilian has been killed or injured by overzealous and/or incompetent cops. All over nothing but the style, make and model of recreational chemicals people choose to use. BS and really sad."

Well,damn,rse2 !! That was indeed a fine post. Welcome to THR.

 

[Chris Rhines]

I've been following this story pretty closely. I've seen no reports, anywhere, that indicated that Ryan Frederick had a grow operation in place. References, please.

- Chris

 

[poor_richard]

Its getting warm in here is the flame war on or what?

Its easy to point the finger at the cops here but few take the time to say if this kid had not been dealing in drugs none of it would have hapened.

Also living in the area of where this happened there are local news reports and information not mentioned in the above quote. What was not mentioned is that personal use is determined by weight. The plants were there but had just started growing, they were aparently just breaking the ground on the planters. to me the Police were justified and the kid was wrong his excuses are of no meaning to me, he made himself a target the fault lies with him.

Oh yeah Nomex hood and full turnout gear with scba on!(for non fire department folks thats flame suit on)

If your going to come here and make these accusations, then you need to provide such documentation.

Back in March it was reported that they were Japanese Maple’s that the burglar/CI mistook for pot plants. After the raid they found some marijuana that he claimed to be for recreational use. It was only enough to charge with possession. That’s a bit different than pot plants that, “were apparently just breaking the ground on the planters.”

I've been following this story pretty closely. I've seen no reports, anywhere, that indicated that Ryan Frederick had a grow operation in place. References, please.

- Chris

I’d certainly like to se those reports.

 

[freebird60]

The last I heard was he was growing Japanese maple trees, kid had a complete outdoor grow operation(horticulture?) for all sorts of plants. Original warrant was for his garage.

 

[Eric F]

If your going to come here and make these accusations, then you need to provide such documentation.

I will see what I can find it was a few weeks after the incident and I saw that on the 11:00 news. Wavy10 was the station. But I know what I saw and heard,(does not make it true though)

Back in March it was reported that they were Japanese Maple’s that the burglar/CI mistook for pot plants

I have not seen this do you have a refrence? If this is true then that explains a lot and also how the news could have misinformed. But all things being equal Japanese Maple’s are purple and weed is green how can there be any mistake?

after searching both the internet and wavy10's website I can find no refrence to fredrick the Japanese maple trees or sprouting weed plants. but I did find this

Just a few thoughts
Submitted by joek43001 on Fri, 02/29/2008 at 7:55 pm.
Narcs don't get a tip and cave in someone's door. It's investigated and if it has merit they apply for a search warrant to a magistrate by way of an affidavit. When preparing for a raid they use a point system to determine if the threat level necessitates the use of a SWAT team for entry. If not the narcs themselves conduct the raid and have sufficient training to do so. Two types of entry are "knock and announce" and "immediate entry" and the one used is determined by the threat level. Watching Law and Order, CSI, or Cops every night does NOT qualify the general population to be experts in the field of police work or evidence interpretation. Any LEO's length of service, my 20+ years included, does NOT qualify anyone to be a judge and jury and decide the young man's fate without a trial. The night was a tragedy for all involved. However, NO ONE should automatically assume there is a cover-up by the CPD or that RF deserves to be buried under a jail. We should allow the judicial system to work as it is intended and refrain from making statements not KNOWN to be facts. JMO

http://www.norfolk.com/2008/02/police-seize-phone-records-ryan-frederick

so with that I give it a rest, or is it arrest?lol(off humor)

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

if you think the pot biz is nonviolent you are mistaken.

 

[xjchief]

And if you think that a full frontal assault in a situation like this is anything other than dangerous, reckless, foolhardy, and just plain stupid then you are mistaken.

 

[Eric F]

And if you think that a full frontal assault in a situation like this is anything other than dangerous, reckless, foolhardy, and just plain stupid then you are mistaken.

hey lets all play nice here, one has little to do with the other. both comments hold merrit

 

[roo_ster]

I think that an embedded reporter or some sort of video & audio would work to the advantage of the LEOS 9 times outta 10.

There really is not enough to go on in the original article to make definitive statements.

I still think it was a piss-poor exchange: a little weed for an officer's life.

 

[Robert Hairless]

if you think the pot biz is nonviolent you are mistaken.

But I think the point being raised by some people is that they don't expect such violence in the Japanese Maple biz.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

if his story is legit i wish him luck he'll need it the prosecutor is a heavyweight

 

[lacoochee]

I think that an embedded reporter or some sort of video & audio would work to the advantage of the LEOS 9 times outta 10.

Given the availability of cheap good audio/visual recording equipment it's hard to believe they weren't recording the raid. Even if it is never used as evidence wouldn't you want it for the after action review during the next training session?

So, why wouldn't law enforcement and this department in particular want a record of each warrant served in this manner...? Hmm...? Can't imagine why...

 

[Eric F]

But I think the point being raised by some people is that they don't expect such violence in the Japanese Maple biz

Where are you folks finding this stuff from on the maples?

 

[Wheeler44]

I still think it was a piss-poor exchange: a little weed for an officer's life.

Oh, I'm sure his family will take solace in the fact that he died in the noble effort to keep kids from growing dope.

if his story is legit i wish him luck he'll need it the prosecutor is a heavyweight

Yeah, because the truth could never be enough.

So, why wouldn't law enforcement and this department in particular want a record of each warrant served in this manner...? Hmm...? Can't imagine why...

Me neither....

Where are you folks finding this stuff from on the maples?

From an article in the thread a month or more ago.... there is a search function at the top of the page.

AAARGH....... the war on drugs has militarized the police in OUR nation...you can cry about the nanny state etc. but to condone this foolishness ("testimony" from a known criminal to convince a judge to copy up a warrant.....late night no knock or not much knock intrusion on a home owner....weeks later a "full investigation" with no report available.. etc..) is just plain wrong, WRONG I say....many here will post " well if he didn't sell dope(with no evidence) or hang around druggies (like you can choose your family)... "then he wouldn't have brought this on himself.." ...

So lets recap... a known druggie claims that I have a grow operation...without any further investigation a warrant is issued....police show up and say Police..police, police, as fast as they can then they start to destroy property...if you meet 'em at the door with a loaded .44 you're a bad guy.. so what just roll over and hope for the best?....... and soon every leo supporter will chime in with it's safer for everybody involved if we botch errrr I mean operate this way...... AAAARGH

 

[Thernlund]

Given the availability of cheap good audio/visual recording equipment it's hard to believe they weren't recording the raid.

Perhaps each officer should be outfitted with these, or something similar, if they plan to conduct a raid.

http://www.vio-pov.com/


-T.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Sounds like a criminal shooting at police for getting caught, and not even "returning defensive fire" since the police didn't fire any rounds themselves. Pretty cut and dry murder in my book.

The weed may not be worth the officer's life to us, but it certainly was to the shooter. Let's be plain: he would rather kill someone than get caught. How can any of you defend that?

I'll be honest, if the type of people who defend this murderer are what makes up the majority of the RKBA crowd, we don't have a moral leg to stand on.