ABC News: Police Stop, Handcuff Every Adult at Intersection in Search for Bank Robber

[cosmicaug]

Police in Aurora, Colo., searching for suspected bank robbers stopped every car at an intersection, handcuffed all the adults and searched the cars, one of which they believed was carrying the suspect.

Police said they had received what they called a “reliable” tip that the culprit in an armed robbery at a Wells Fargo bank committed earlier was stopped at the red light.

From http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/police-stop-handcuff-every-adult-at-intersection-in-search-for-bank-robber/


They had a tip. The tip didn't tell them if it was a man or a woman, short or tall, skinny or fat, dark skinned or light skinned, what color car or model the bank robber was driving, etc..

Curiously, the news story doesn't even bother to point out whether money was recovered.

[leveymg]

1. What happened to "Sit, there, on the curb with your hands folded, please"?

[cosmicaug]

2. Embarrassment.

I feel a bit embarrased. I just realized I found this right here on DU.

[gkhouston]

3. Perhaps because no money *was* recovered.

I'm wondering if the guy got arrested because they found loaded handguns in his car and he had nothing to do with the robbery at all.

[cosmicaug]

4. Thread right here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002773768

[RedRocco]

5. setting a precendent

next up, sealing off whole neighborhoods and searching door to door. afterall, it's ok to do shit like that to stop the bad guys, you know?

[Ship of Fools]

6. Goooood. Keep it up, 'Murikkka!!

[Javaman]

7. Round up the usual suspects...everyone.

do you have your papers?

[lonestarnot]

8. Wow.

snort

[HopeHoops]

9. "Bend over and cough." - I must have missed the repeal of the Fourth Amendment.

[Dawson Leery]

10. There is a reason I am not pro-law enforcment.

[cosmicaug]

11. It looks like they probably did get the right guy

... but I still don't agree with this tactic and I hope the police department gets sued.

http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/accused-bank-robber-is-former-music-teacher/
http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/chief-defends-detaining-40-during-bank-robber-hunt/
http://www.aurorasentinel.com/opinion/perry-even-in-a-gray-world-aurora-cops-must-abide-by-unreasonable-search-and-seizure-laws/

I found those links in the comment secion of a Volokh Conspiracy post:
http://volokh.com/2012/06/05/police-searching-for-bank-robber-stop-all-cars-at-intersection-handcuff-drivers-search-cars/

[Matariki]

12. Or whether the "tip" actually came from the robbers themselves

who were, by that time, far, far away.

[cosmicaug]

13. At the bank:

http://kwgn.com/2012/06/04/armed-bank-robbery-caught-on-camera/

Also, another report:
http://kdvr.com/2012/06/02/aurora-police-searching-for-bank-robbery-suspect/