Galveston: Today's mopes and dopes

[WildBill]

While police were concluding the investigation, two men arrived in a car. One spoke with police. He was arrested and charged with possession of crack. The fourth man was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.
- Jim

I'm not one to cast aspersions on either the good guys or the bad guys but doesn't someone have to also be charged with DWI if they have crack on their person and knowingly drive up to a business surrounded by cop cars? "Like duuuuuude, are you arresting peope for stuff?"

Please read the current thread about not understanding how criminals think.

[seamusTX]

... but doesn't someone have to also be charged with DWI if they have crack on their person and knowingly drive up to a business surrounded by cop cars?

They would have to prove the driver was intoxicated while driving. With everything other than alcohol, a blood test is required for that. Possession of crack is a much more serious offense than DWI (which is a class B misdemeanor), so why bother?

You rarely see the cops "throw the book at" someone and charge him with every possible offense.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

On July 14 two men stole two rabbits from a bed and breakfast establishment on the East End of Galvestion that also operated a rabbit "sanctuary."

Police released surveillance video and asked for help identifying the men, who were described as "two men, either white or Hispanic, ... in their late 20s or 30s. They had short, dark hair. One wore bluejeans and cowboy boots. The other had on shorts and tennis shoes..."

Quote from the owner: "“I wish I would have had a gun. I would not have killed them over it, but I would have changed their lives forever..."

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/329258" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://galvestondailynews.com/blog/8858" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In completely unrelated news, a man who allegedly stole a carton of beer from Kroger at 57th and Seawall was charged with robbery and is being held on $10,000 bond. The charge was escalated to robbery because the suspect shoved and knocked down two people while running out of the store.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/329234" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A mope could hardly pick a worse place to steal beer than this store. The beer cooler is about 100 feet from the nearest door, and the front of the store is nearly always crowded. (It's where I shop regularly.)

- Jim

P.S.: I turns out someone that I know was in line at the cash register when this dope knocked down a customer. The customer was injured, not just jostled.

[seamusTX]

Some people just make the cops' job easy.

Police officers conducted a sting at a convenience store in the 7500 block of Stewart Road Friday. A clerk at the store allegedly sold alcohol to an 18-year-old who was working with the police.

While officers were taking information from the clerk, a customer in the store requested cash payment for his winnings from an 8-liner—and the clerk paid him.

The officers called the vice squad, who confiscated the machines and more than $10,000 in cash.

No one was arrested. The information was turned over to the DA's office.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/329542" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nearly every convenience store that I have been in has 8-liners.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

The abducted bunnies were returned unharmed.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/329874" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



- Jim

[old farmer]

Some people just make the cops' job easy.

Police officers conducted a sting at a convenience store in the 7500 block of Stewart Road Friday. A clerk at the store allegedly sold alcohol to an 18-year-old who was working with the police.

While officers were taking information from the clerk, a customer in the store requested cash payment for his winnings from an 8-liner—and the clerk paid him.

The officers called the vice squad, who confiscated the machines and more than $10,000 in cash.

No one was arrested. The information was turned over to the DA's office.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/329542" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nearly every convenience store that I have been in has 8-liners.- Jim

Who owns or sells the 8-liners? Individuals are making large amount of money as show by the $10,000 in cash from a small store. What is the income per year? My local store has 8 in the back room. The local PD are parked in the front for coffee every morning.
If you legalize the machine then the money is taxed and tracked. So, who is controlling the system?

[seamusTX]

Who owns or sells the 8-liners?

I don't know who makes them. I would guess the same people who make pinball machines and the like. Bally is one. Gambling machines are legal in some states and other countries.

I would guess the owner of the store owns the machines. When they prosecute someone, it is the owner.

If you legalize the machine then the money is taxed and tracked. So, who is controlling the system?

The state legislature and the governor control whether gambling is legal in Texas.

It's one of those age-old questions about whether the gubmint allows and taxes some activity or makes it a crime. Gambling, booze, marijuana, prostitution, are all in this category. People will do it either way.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

[January 15, 2012]In completely unrelated news, a man who allegedly stole a carton of beer from Kroger at 57th and Seawall was charged with robbery and is being held on $10,000 bond. The charge was escalated to robbery because the suspect shoved and knocked down two people while running out of the store.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/329234" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A mope could hardly pick a worse place to steal beer than this store. The beer cooler is about 100 feet from the nearest door, and the front of the store is nearly always crowded.

This guy went for a jury trial. He was found guilty of robbery. Friday he was sentenced to five years in the slammer.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/346266" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He had an excellent defense attorney, who likely was serving as a public defender.

- Jim

[WildBill]

He had an excellent defense attorney, who likely was serving as a public defender. - Jim

He probably didn't take his advice to take the time in the county jail.

[seamusTX]

I made a mistake.

The two stories above are about two different mopes who stole beer at that same store in different incidents.

In the second case, the defendant pulled a knife on a security guard, making it aggravated robbery.

I don't know why the second defendant requested a jury trial. It's his right to do so. Often it turns out worse than the plea bargain that he turned down. Maybe he thought the people from his church testifying on his behalf would help.

- Jim

[WildBill]

I made a mistake.

The two stories above are about two different mopes who stole beer at that same store in different incidents.

In the second case, the defendant pulled a knife on a security guard, making it aggravated robbery.

I don't know why the second defendant requested a jury trial. It's his right to do so. Often it turns out worse than the plea bargain that he turned down. Maybe he thought the people from his church testifying on his behalf would help.

- Jim

I wondered about that. I recalled that the original story was about a single six-pack of beer.

[seamusTX]

Today's mope allegedly robbed a 5-year-old kid.

A 22-year-old black man allegedly took a cell phone from a 5-year-old boy and pushed the victim to the ground around 8 p.m. Saturday in Wright Cuney Park at 41st and Winnie.

He ran away, eluding a witness tried to catch him.

One witness knew him by name.

He was arrested a short time later and charged with robbery. As of Monday he was being held on a $25,000 bond.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/348410" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I guess the tats are a warning that he is a real tough guy.

- Jim

[ELB]

What a dirtbag.

Little bunny trail here:

...took a cell phone from a 5-year-old boy...

5-year-olds have cell phones? I don't remember exactly what I had when I was five, but it wasn't a cell phone. Even had they existed (not for another 30 year or so), my parents most certainly would not have given one to me at five.

Guess I am getting old.

[seamusTX]

A lot of people let their kids play with cell phones. Most cell phones have games on them, and at younger ages they just like the beeps and changing displays.

It's not necessarily a functional phone, either. Nearly everyone has old cell phones that got flaky. My wife and I have probably gone through half a dozen in 10 years.

- Jim

[LongHairedRedneck]

Strong arm robbing a five year old.......real tough guy.