A report from Fox News says Baltimore police keep 94 percent of seized cash without a warrant, without due process, without a trial by jury, without a guilty verdict, and without a judge’s order.
Asset forfeiture is a legislative scheme from hell designed to enrich the government by plundering cash on any person “suspected” of illegal activity in violation of the God’s law, “Thou shall not defraud your neighbor of his property . . . “ (Tenth Commandment).
In Baltimore and most big cities, the Police can bypass all constitutional restrictions on seizing private property, but if you want to get your money back you have personally go to some administrative court, fill out paper work, prove your innocence, take days of your time, and then maybe, just maybe, you might get your money back in three months.
“Data presented to the Baltimore City Council Tuesday revealed that over a period of five years police seized more than $10 million from drug and gambling investigations but only returned $643,000 . . .
The data was revealed after a Baltimore councilman called for “a full accounting of all seized guns, drugs, dirt bikes, and cash over the last five years.”
Maryland law permits police to seize money (without a warrant) that is found during investigations. But the procedure for clearing one’s name of any wrong doing is reportedly a tedious process. (Da, do you think?)
Residents can fill out a form seeking to get money back, but must do so in person. A police department lawyer reviews the form three months later and then forwards it to the city’s finance department for a refund if the lawyer believes the money should be returned. (What? No judge?)
The lawyer (not a judge) bases the decision on whether authorities in the investigation had “probable cause to believe the money was associated with a drug or gambling incident” rather than the court standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the Sun reported. If a resident disagrees, they can contest the decision in court. (Imagine! A lawyer who gets paid by the city and one who profits from the criminal acts of the State decides whether or not to refund money. This is like wolves deciding on whether to eat the sheep or let ’em go.)
An assistant public defender told the paper that the process is so burdensome that most people give up trying to retrieve their property.
“It seems to be intentionally difficult. The ripple effects are substantial for people living in poverty,” she said.
According to the Sun, money not returned goes into Baltimore’s general fund. Councilman Robert Stokes Sr. has called for the seized money to be accounted for in the city’s budget in future years” (Fox News, 4/4/2018).
The Baltimore police, lawyers, clerks, and administrators run a government from hell . . . the very thing the Bill of Rights was designed to prevent.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Apparently, in Baltimore the police and its paid lawyer have become the judge, jury, and executioner. Can you say, “HUGE Conflict of interest?”
The more devilish and antiChristian the government becomes, the more we’ll see the State pirating property from its poor sap citizens without warrants, probable cause, and a trial by jury. All the State has to do is “name it and claim it,” and its theirs. Bang, bam, bingo! After all, they have the guns, tanks, and helicopters!
The Constitution does not defend its self. It will take Rambo citizens to stand up and demand the arrest and prosecution of these government thieves.
Where is Attorney General Jeff Sessions when you need him? Why doesn’t the State charge and prosecute criminals in the Baltimore Police Department?
Oh, the hemlock justice of our times! “. . . for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock” (Amos 6:12)
Storm Brooks
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