Live PD is the ratings-winning law enforcement ride-along show that airs on Friday and Saturday evenings at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network. Videographers embed with officers from eight different police agencies. A Live PD recap follows below.

Because of its often intense action, unpredictability, danger,  plus quirky and humorous, and sometimes mundane, interactions between cops and citizens, Live PD is perhaps the closest thing that even approaches appointment TV anymore in the fragmented entertainment space.

As the Live PD disclaimer indicates, not all outcomes are known, and criminal charges may have been reduced, dismissed, or never filed.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law. 

Many subjects who appear on the show are covered with tattoos (as are some of the cops), love cigarettes, and often have warrants, along with carrying contraband on their person and/or in their vehicles, the latter which are often unregistered and/or uninsured.

Traffic stops are often like a flea market. You never know what the officers might find inside vehicles after either a probable cause search pursuant to a K-9 alert or consensual search. Moreover, no license, no registration, and no insurance consists of a trifecta in many of those stops.

Motorists sometimes claim to hold a valid driver’s license, but for some inexplicable reason, they aren’t carrying it with them.

Some, but not all, of the subjects express excitement about being on Live PD.

In switching quickly from sequence to sequence, and as you’ll see below, Live PD does not always provide an update of how officers resolved a particular encounter, if at all.

This Week on Live PD

If you’re wondering what happened on Live PD this weekend, a recap of the April 12 and 13, 2019, episodes of Live PD follows. Again, please understand that these are just allegations.

‘Live PD’ Season 3, Episode 55, April 12, 2019

With Live PD studio co-hosts Dan Abrams and Tom Morris, Jr., Richland County, S.C. Senior Deputy Sheriff Garo Brown (the dude with the massive physique) in the analyst chair in place of Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larson.

Deputy Brown mentioned that he bench presses 420 pounds, but he used to bench heavier weight and that he used to be bigger than he is now.

  • Greene County, Mo –Suspected stolen truck chase. Deputy deploys GPS tagging device. Chase temporarily abandoned. Deputies later find truck abandoned on street and detained several subjects walking on foot. Driver arrested for driving stolen vehicle; passenger arrested for riding in stolen vehicle.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies and Fire Department respond to vehicle on fire.
  • Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — “Run and hit.” Roommate dispute involving gun. Subject leaving the area backs car into police cruiser. Subject charged with aggravated breach of peace for discharging firearm inside of apartment plus DUI for Xanax.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop for speeding. Suspended license, no registration or insurance. Motorist said that she had also been pulled over and issued tickets earlier that day. Claims her purse was also stolen.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Traffic stop, tail lights out. Officer found butcher knife and baton next to driver’s side door. Items were determined to be legal. Citation issued for operating vehicle without lights.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Multiple officers responded to residence where two brothers were allegedly fighting. Subject was combative; officer describes it as “less than cooperative” and that alcohol was a major factor. No charges. One subject transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
  • Franklin County, Ohio — Traffic stop. Consensual car search revealed possible bottle of urine. Abrams: “Live Pee-D; you get to see a lot of interesting things.”
  • Warwick, R.I. (pretaped segment). Officers tracked alleged noncontact order violator through the snow. Suspect detained; great police work.
  • Slidell, La. — Traffic stop and consensual car search. “My wife is going to kill me.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Teen allegedly shot friend with BB gun and ran into woods. After foot pursuit, suspect located. Two BB guns found. Suspect charged with aggravated assault.
  • Fayetteville, N.C. (pretaped segment) — Man shot in torso. Gun found in car. Cops noticed bullet holes in other nearby vehicles. Wounded man transported to hospital.
  • Slidell, La. — Officers responded to report of boyfriend trashing residence.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputes responded to report involving ex-boyfriend and current husband who was arguing with wife in residence; gun allegedly brandished by boyfriend. Victim declines to press charges.
  • Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment) — Teen reckless driver allegedly going 120 mph. No arrest; ticket issued.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop. K-9 alert. Bird’s nest found in engine.
  • Crime of the Week, Sterling Heights, Mich. — Wild chase involving stolen police car.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop for swerving and no seat belt. Motorist had an expired license on person but trooper checked the database and determined that the motorist’s license was valid. Warning on swerving and ticket for seat belt violation issued. Motorist also advised to notify DMV of new address as required by law. Abrams: “A car wash wouldn’t hurt, but that’s not a requirement.”
  • Franklin County, Ohio — Deputy encountered panhandler in middle of the road.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop for crossing center line. No license and no insurance. Deputy said car smelled like marijuana. Abrams: “Driving with no license, no insurance — what are you high?”
  • Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment) — Traffic stop; tail light out. Abrams: “A driver thought a pullover was just a prank; unfortunately for him it was not.” Deputy found vape pen allegedly filled with THC wax. Subject arrested; he called mom to pick up car.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Traffic stop; mismatched plates. Suspect and car searched. Subject released with no charges.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Trooper responded to disabled car in ditch. Another vehicle allegedly fled scene.
  • Slidell, La. — Officers attempted to serve battery warrant.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop for speeding. Motorist says his suspended driver’s license was stolen. None of the other occupants had a valid license. Trooper suggested they call someone to come to scene who could legally drive the vehicle.
  • Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “What you might call a fashion crime involving four girls who apparently had a fondness for footwear.” Four teens detained for alleged shoplifting from shoe store and items from other stores. One store decided to press charges.
  • Wanted segment, Houston, Tex.:
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop for speeding, 110 MPH. Driver told deputy he consumed two 24-oz. beers. 3-1/2 year old girl in car. Field sobriety tests administered. Motorist potentially charged with DUI, DUI child endangerment, and reckless driving. Wife came to the scene to get baby.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A trooper trying to take a bite out of crime who ended up pulling over a guy with a jaw-dropping array of violations.” Operator of truck cited for no seat belt and no license and received a warning for no insurance. He accidentally dropped his false teeth on the ground upon exiting the vehicle.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop, no lights. K-9 alert. Deputy found suspected codeine mixed with soda and small amount of marijuana. Released with citation.
  • Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A driver seemed less than happy to be receiving visit from the K-9s.” Traffic stop for going less than the speed limit and minor equipment outages. Suspended license. K-9 search but no alert. Driver issued a citation and released.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Traffic stop for illegal turn.
  • Richland County — Individuals loitering outside a convenience store. Deputies told them to go home. Abrams: “I’ll be arm wresting with Deputy Garo Brown tomorrow night on the show.” End of episode.

‘Live PD’ Season 3, Episode 56, April 13, 2019

  • Salinas, Cal. — Multiple officers respond to woman screaming on 911 call. Naked guy detained. Officer says that female at residence suffered injuries to face. House cleared and secured.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Fan favorites Kevin Lawrence and Chris Mastrianni return to Live PD (since promoted from deputy to investigator). Traffic stop and vehicle search. Portable stripper pole found.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Officers respond to report of man who says he was punched in the face at his apartment complex.
  • Franklin County, Ohio — Traffic stop. Deputies say that car smelled of marijuana. Baby in car. Marijuana found. Passenger issued citation; driver given warning about lights. Deputy asks driver to call someone to drive everyone home.
  • Slidell, La. — Officers respond to report that a man refuses to leave hotel lobby. Subject is “Mike” who was on previous episode for similar reasons. Mike is allegedly drunk. Abrams: “When they make a movie version of this, Jack Black will be playing Mike” and “A different kind of mike drop here.” Mike is transported to hospital.
  • Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment) — Officers respond to report of ex-boyfriend who showed up at girlfriend’s home uninvited. Officers find multiple firearms in truck. Subject is arrested for trespassing.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Man with dog in the window flagged down officer for unspecified reason.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Traffic stop; truck initially didn’t stop after officer lit him up. Two occupants. The driver’s operators license was on suspended status since 1999. Truck had false tags. Truck impounded for 30 days. Driver likely just issued a citation; passenger released. Abrams: “He was driving like it was 1999.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A driver’s attempt to get off the highway after passing his exit became a last-ditch effort, literally.” Car in ditch. Motorist told trooper had consumed one glass of wine. Uncooperative with field sobriety testing. Arrested for DUI.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Home alarm sounding.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Dunkin’ Donuts requests customer removed from premises.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Truck stopped in road; occupants say they were in a minor accident and other vehicle left scene.
  • Salinas, Cal. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A report of a stolen car with a happy ending.” Traffic stop; driver detained. Drug paraphernalia allegedly found. Registered owner came to the scene and told officers that he did not grant permission for subject to use car. Subject arrested for vehicle theft. Owner got car back.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; speeding, unsafe land changes, and following too closely. Motorist, who apparently had no driver’s license, admitted to consuming two shots of vodka. Passed field sobriety testing. Trooper told motorist to park car and contact a legal driver who could drive the vehicle home.
  • Wanted segment, Cleveland, Ohio: Wild police chase of stolen truck:
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers investigate possible street fight. Subject questioned and released; no charges.
  • Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A dispute between a mother and her grown son who apparently had an appetite for trouble as well as fried food.” Deputies respond to domestic dispute. Son admitted to consuming two 16-oz. beers. Deputies told son to stop bothering mom but he did get permission to access her french fries.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop, brake light out. K-9 alert prompted probable cause search. No drugs found. Motorist released.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop for speeding. Motorist had suspended license. Deputy apparently was giving driver a break since he faced about $5,000 worth of tickets for various violations. Told to phone a friend to drive him home.

Missing segment, Brooklyn N.Y.:

  • Slidell, La. — Traffic stop, no signal on lane change, abnormally slow on highway, possible distracted driving. Motorist was holding cute puppy.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Alleged hit and run accident at McDonald’s drive thru. Officers tracked truck to owner’s home via license plate record. Filet of fish guy denied being involved accident. Apparently this will be a matter for insurance companies to sort out.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies spotted go cart illegally traveling on road. Police chase ensued. Operator and passenger taken into custody. Apparently the go cart had no lights, no tags, no insurance. Driver charged with driving under suspension, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and failure to stop for blue light and siren. Female passenger released. Lawrence: “Blue lights mean stop.”
  • Franklin County, Ohio — Deputy arrived on scene of serious, two-car accident.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop. Friendly, talkative occupants. Male displayed tattoo on stomach to deputies. Abrams: ” What a strategic tattoo in the way he thought about it. ‘I get fat, I get skinny, the good news is I’ll always be happy; I’ll always have a smiley face right there.'”
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop, erratic driving. Motorist initially didn’t pull over. Drug paraphernalia and synthetic urine allegedly found. Driver charged with fleeing and eluding a peace officer.
  • Franklin County, Ohio — Traffic stop. Deputy says that the driver and passenger switched places.
  • Warwick, R.I. (pretaped segment: Abrams: “The driver tired the old ‘I pay your salary’ routine, and yes, it went pretty much as you might expect.” Instead of one, driver received two tickets — driving in breakdown lane and on cell phone.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Officer responds to holdup alarm at Domino’s. Turns out it was a false alarm. Abrams: “And if that pizza now takes 31 minutes, don’t blame that driver; still give him a good tip.”
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to report of someone hiding in bushes outside residence. Suspect found and taken into custody. Suspect is allegedly a registered sex offender.

As the show was going off the air, Abrams announced that Lawrence, Ind., PD, will replace Slidell starting next Friday night, which is Live PD‘s 200th episode.

See also: This Week on Live PD, April 5-6, 2019