Posted on 09/01/2012 7:20:31 PM PDT by Orange1998
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- You may remember in December of last year, an Occupy Houston protest at the Port of Houston ended in the arrest of several people. Protestors were charged with manufacturing a criminal instrument -- a felony.
That protest and those arrests led to an investigation involving Austin police officers.
Officers who infiltrated the Occupy movement in Texas are accused of being part of the action that led to the charges.
The key question here: did Austin police officers go too far when they went undercover during the local protest?
One of the protesters, Ronnie Garza, says yes. Garza is part of a group charged with felony unlawful use of a criminal instrument.
Three officers from Austin PD apparently went undercover during the Occupy the Port protest at the Port of Houston in December. Garza's attorney says one of those officers named Shannon Dowell came up with the idea to have protestors chain themselves together using large PVC pipes and other materials.
When Garza and others agreed to buy the materials and chain themselves together in the street, they were arrested and charged.
(Excerpt) Read more at abclocal.go.com ...
The case was dismissed but the Grand Jury has indicted. I wonder how far the rabbit hole goes.
Felony? Really?
Did they rob a bank? Assault anyone? Embezzle something?
I have no problem arresting them if they’re being a nuisance to people trying to go about their business. But felony?
I am unaware of conservatives, "right wingers", or the tea party ever using this tactic, let alone being coerced or persuaded into it.
In the 1960s there were felony convictions for “conspiracy” to commit a misdemeanor.
Perhaps.
On the other hand, consider this example.
An undercover cop tells a bunch of OWS protesters , "let's grab some little girls, take them into a tent, and rape them." The protesters do so.
Are the protesters NOT TO BLAME for their own actions, for their own personal choices ? If I tell you to jump off a bridge because everyone else is doing it, who's fault is it if YOU DO ?
Perhaps you think The “Patriot Act”, “Homeland Security” and the TSA were good dieas.
Good 'ideas' they were, executed poorly and used to line the pockets of criminals they are.
Had the 'protesters' in this case been building IEDs instead, would you have the same objections ?
What is a PR-47 and where can I get one ?
OH.... "They TOLD me to do it." ... is now considered a FACT ?
Is it now automatically a lie?
By coming down firmly on that side you also commit the same species of error you wrongly accuse me of.
Had the ‘protesters’ in this case been building IEDs instead, would you have the same objections ?
No. But they weren’t
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