Posted on 05/14/2012 8:00:29 PM PDT by Sybeck1
MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) – The Mississippi Highway Patrol is warning drivers to be cautious while being pulled over as they investigate two deadly highway shootings.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol's Bureau of Investigation said there are similarities between both incidents.
"The concern is that someone is posing as a law enforcement officer and that is how these vehicles end up on the side of the road," said MBI Director Lt. Col. Larry Waggoner in a written statement.
Both deadly shootings happened on Mississippi highways.
"I know there are a lot of rumors. We don't know anything right now that is concrete. Due to some of the evidence at the scene, lead us to believe both subjects that were killed were on the side of the road. You can speculate about different things. We are not eliminating anything as a possibility on how they got on the side of the road," said John Champion, district attorney.
On May 8, Thomas Schlender, 74, of Raymond, Nebraska, was found dead in his car on Interstate 55 in Panola County. On May 11, Lori Anne Carswell, 48, of Hernando, was found dead in her car on Mississippi Highway 713 in Tunica County. Both shootings happened in the early morning hours.
The victims did not know each other and the shootings happened 55 miles apart.
The Tate County Sheriff's Office posted a warning for drivers on their Facebook page:
"If someone attempts to pull you over with flashing lights and you feel unsure of stopping, DON'T PULL OVER. Use your cell phone and dial 911 and if it's a real officer then the dispatcher will confirm it for you and if it's not a real officer they will send help to you."
They also said their deputies have been told not to overreact if someone does not immediately pull over.
DeSoto County also issued the same warning and is ceasing the use of all the county's unmarked patrol cars.
A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case. Anyone with information can contact 1-888-8CRIMES.
Be careful in the Magnolia State ping
Unmarked cars across the country should stop being used because of things like this, though absolutely for routine BS.
So we have gotten to where a Facebook page notice serves as a public warning?
You're kidding, right?
Smart move. Frankly, I wouldn't pull over for an unmarked car anywhere in that environs.
Supposed there is no cell coverage? How are you going to call 911 and verify the unmarked car is really a cop?
All it took was the killing of two citizens to pull those unmarked cars off the road. Was it worth it? Jack Benny: "I'm thinking . . . I'm thinking".
I've got to thinking, why are unmarked patrol cars even needed now in this age of paramilitary police, Homeland Security and in-your-face TSA?
Seems like the unmarked car just functions as an insult to injury anymore.
No way I would stop for even a cop car on a deserted highway. I would drive slowly to the nearest police station or a place where there are people around. The cop would just have to follow me. If they can spend hours chasing car thieves all over creation, they can follow me to a safe location.
City of Houston will only perform traffic stops using clearly marked vehicles with light bars on the roof. In 1997 I was driving to Fluor in Sugar Land TX when a car was following me running wig wags (alternating headlights). It was dark at the time (early morning), but the timing of the headlights did not look right - like the driver was playing with the switches. add to that the silouette of the car looked like a subcompact of sorts. So I called it in, and did not pull over. Afterwards the car passed me on the right with the driver sort of hunkered down. HPD informed me that I did the right thing to keep going, since there was no call in about my car, and there was no such car in the fleet. Plus there policy of marked vehicles only for traffic patrol. This was also when some gangs were using props to make them look like LEO’s (FBI and DEA jackets) and doing agressive 3am home invasions.
To everyone here
If there is such monkey business going on, and you think you may have to pull over, do so at a place that is lit and there are people around. The officer may not like it, but will understand if there are these jokers around.
Any officers who run into these kinds of jokers, please give them some “special handling”. Be creative.
|
More likely a law enforcement officer abusing his authority. |
Red white and blue symbolizes freedom, except when they are flashing lights behind you.
So we have gotten to where a Facebook page notice serves as a public warning? You're kidding, right?
Doctor: [laughs] Right, kick a**. Well, don't want to sound like a d*** or nothin', but, ah... it says on your chart that you're f***ed up. Ah, you talk like a f**, and your s***'s all retarded. What I'd do, is just like... like... you know, like, you know what I mean, like...< /Idiocracy >
It’s not safe within a hundred mile radius of Memphis.
“If someone attempts to pull you over with flashing lights and you feel unsure of stopping, DON’T PULL OVER. Use your cell phone and dial 911 and if it’s a real officer then the dispatcher will confirm it for you and if it’s not a real officer they will send help to you.”
That is all. Have a nice day. :)
I told our daughter this along time ago. She's not required to stop, just because she sees flashing lights behind her.
Don't worry about calling, just turn on your hazard lights, so if it's a real cop, he knows you know he's there, keep driving, and head for the nearest occupied gas station, or some other location where there are plenty of people.
I guess you have heard about this.
This is going to be really bad for the business of unmarked cars setting up speed traps to collect revenue.
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