Here’s what you missed on Live PD this weekend.

Live PD is the ratings-winning law enforcement ride-along show that ordinarily airs fresh episodes on Friday and Saturday evenings at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network.

Videographers embed in real time with officers on patrol from eight different police agencies. A Live PD recap follows below. 

Given 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. (Live PD has also spawned several spin-offs.)

With 32 live feeds coming into the studio, most segments air on a reported five- to 20-minute tape delay. When nothing of interest is happening in real time, pretaped segments air, which Live PD describes as incidents that happened “earlier.”

For viewers, Live PD is addicting, which perhaps is an unfortunate choice of words in this context. While millions of Americans experiment — and more than experiment — with drugs when younger, Live PD reveals a self-destructive cohort hooked on narcotics (and/or booze) well into middle age and beyond.

Many thanks to Twitter user TG LivePD (@TLivepd) for compiling and sharing video clips on social media.

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

When alleged criminal activities are depicted on Live PD, all persons are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.

Rules of the Road?

Many subjects who appear on the show in law enforcement interactions are covered with tattoos (as are the cops more often than not), love cigarettes, and often have warrants. They often carry contraband on their person and/or in their vehicles, the latter which are often unregistered and/or uninsured.

Transporting contraband such as controlled substances plus no valid license/registration is usually an ill-advised combination as is contraband plus vehicle equipment malfunctions.

Alleged drug traffickers who fail to abide by routine traffic laws or, as noted, lack working vehicle running lights or other related equipment, can also wind up in big trouble following a probable cause search.

Two Beers, Not My Pants

“I only had two beers” is a familiar mantra from motorists pulled over upon being asked by cops if they had anything to drink that evening.

Another mantra is “not that I know of” when cops question a subject as to whether there might be illegal drugs in a vehicle or even on their person. In the alternative, subjects also often claim that drugs “belong to a friend.”

From time to time, they also claim that the pants that they are wearing in which cops find drugs belong to a friend.

Not my jacket or not my purse are also familiar refrains.

In addition to the drug epidemic across across the country as well as alcoholism, the obesity epidemic is also frequently on display.

When a subject begins a sentence with “I’m going to be honest with you, officer,” you can generally expect that things will quickly go sideways.

Some combative subjects argue themselves into an arrest (i.e., talking themselves into handcuffs) even when cops are about to let them go with minor infractions, citations, or warnings.

Some suspects seem more concerned about smoking one last cigarette before jail than they are about going to jail.

Several of the cops, who are impressively observant when they question subjects, have become social media celebrities as a result of their participation in Live PD.

As an aside, officers across the country have a tendency to ungrammatically add the preposition “at” to the end of a sentence. I.e.: “Where do you live at?” or “Where is he/she at?”

Expect the Unexpected

Traffic stops — the primary enforcement actions seen on Live PD — are often like a flea market. Viewers never know what the officers might find inside a vehicles after either a consensual search or a probable cause search pursuant to a K9 alert or another factor.

Among the weird items they often find include bottles of presumably clean urine used to circumvent a drug test.

Moreover, as suggested above, no license, no registration, and no insurance consists of a trifecta in many of those stops. (A disproportionate number of pick-up trucks seem to have issues when stopped by law enforcement officers).

Mismatched plates, expired (and/or doctored) temporary tags, and the like are also frequent infractions.

Somehow, a driver’s license became an optional credential for many motorists.

Motorists sometimes claim to have a valid driver’s license, but for some inexplicable reason, they aren’t carrying it with them. Or it was stolen. Is it any wonder that the cops often ask the person behind the wheel if he or she has a drivers license on them? Occasionally drivers will say that they have a picture of their license, registration, or other required documents on their phone rather than in their physical form.

Officers often give break to those who are driving illegally, however.

Judging by these traffic stops, driving while buzzed seems to be a growing, as it were, problem across the country. Weed laws vary significantly from state to state. Some jurisdictions have decriminalized possession of small amounts.

Some, but not all, of the subjects that police make contact with express excitement about being on Live PD (although occasionally they think they’re on Cops).

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

As alluded to above, K9s well trained in drug detecting and human tracking regularly assist cops in their investigations on Live PD. Note that because of changes in the laws of some states, K9s in certain jurisdictions no longer get trained for weed sniffing.

This Weekend on Live PD

If you’re wondering what happened on Live PD this weekend, a recap/summary of Friday and Saturday night’s Live PD editions follows.

Host Dan Abrams — he of the puns and the double entendres — and regular studio analysts Tom Morris, Jr., and Tulsa PD Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin provide studio commentary.

Live PD, Season 3, Episode 85, August 9, 2019

Again, please understand that what is depicted on the show, and accordingly summarized below, including but not limited to any arrests, constitute mere allegations. Initial assessments made by cops or Live PD analysts about the interactions may be incorrect.

Tonight’s episode includes Lafayette, La. PD brother and sister twins Morgan and Jordan Colla patrolling on the same shift.

  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputies respond to report of alleged armed man at apartment complex. Subject says he went to wrong apartment and has no weapon. Subject released after deputies check for any warrants.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputies stop bicyclist going less than five MPH on 45 MPH roadway and who is changing lanes without checking. Abrams: “the ultimate low-speed pursuit.” Subject arrested on outstanding warrants.
  • Lafayette, La. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A driver had a few drinks and then somehow managed to lose his car keys, and that wasn’t the only thing that was reported missing.” Officers respond to report of alleged intoxicated man refusing to leave gas station. Officers left scene to assist other officers involved in a fight but returned to location and subject was still there. Driver arrested on New Orleans theft warrant. He was also reported as missing. Morris, Jr.: “Solved two crimes there — fugitive and a missing person.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; speeding and obstructed tag. Trooper issues ticket for the former and warning on latter, plus performing a magic trick for kids in back seat. Abrams: “I’m sure that the driver would have rather have made those tickets disappear.”
  • Salinas, Cal. — Traffic stop; rolling through red light and obstructed plate. Officer notices that driver is fidgety. Driver arrested for meth possession and on warrants. Abrams: “Lots of energy drinks there that he says he had — who knows.” Dog transported to animal shelter for care.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; motorist did not pull over right away. Vehicle search. Driver released with no charges.
  • Lafayette, La. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A couple insisted they were not involved in an assault and car theft at a convenience store, but as people once said, ‘let’s go to the videotape.'” Officers arrest suspects for vehicle theft. Abrams: “It could have been a claim of self defense until they take the car…”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop, speeding. Driver passed emergency vehicles without slowing down below speed limit as required by state law.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “What started out as a traffic stop turned into a low-speed pursuit.” Traffic stop for erratic driver; driver slow to pull over and detained. Troopers allegedly find meth in driver’s purse plus marijuana. Driver charged with possession and eluding. Passenger who doesn’t feel well transported to hospital.
  • Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop; headlight out. Vehicle slow to pull over. Subject detained, but subsequently released with no charges.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop for various infractions: trunk lid open and mower unsecured, changing lines without using turn signal, illegal modified exhaust, and too-dark window tint. Abrams: “It seems she had ‘mow’ issues than she actually knew about there.” Trooper issues citation for no insurance and just warnings on other infractions or potential infractions.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputy spotted disabled vehicle (out of gas) and assist in pushing car into driveway and out of road.
  • Greene County, Mo., Update: In the reckless driving incident that tragically claimed three lives that formed the first sequence of the August 3 episode, Abrams puts out a call for any further witnesses to contact the Greene County Sheriff’s office.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; speeding. Driver is a prison minister. Released with warning.
  • Salinas, Cal. — High-risk traffic stop at gunpoint. Passenger apparently had a parole at-large warrant and was arrested. He also was wearing an empty holster. Officers search for weapons at friend’s residence, but find only BB or pellet guns. Friend arrested on warrant.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; speeding motorcycle. Subject released with no charges.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to disturbance at motel about laptop. Officers return laptop to owner.
  • Lawrence, Ind. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “it was a frightening call involving two babies who had literally wandered away from home.” Neighbors called police after two babies ind diapers show up in their front yard. Officers make contact with family across the street and the toddlers are returned to them (brother is supposed to watching the kids while the mother is working). Child protective services to follow up.
  • Wanted segments — Update on wedding crasher and new fugitive information (Amarillo, Tex.):
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers stop bicycle with no light. Released with no charges.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; not using turn signal and mismatched plates.
  • Salinas, Cal. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A victim was lucky to be alive after a horrific hit and run accident.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Troopers respond to report of domestic dispute.
  • Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A traffic stop involving a hot-shot realtor apparently offering some high-end amenities.” Traffic stop; vehicle ran stop sign. Driver was carrying gun and large amount of cash. Deputies find several weapons in car and marijuana. Driver — who allegedly had no concealed carry license — arrested for unlawful carrying of a weapon.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Traffic stop, swerving into lanes. Passenger has warrant; receives citation. Consensual car search. All occupants released.

Missing segment — Lewiston, Me.

  • Greene Count, Mo. — Traffic stop; mismatched plates and expired tag. Driver has warrant; occupants allegedly have history with law enforcement. K9 deployed but no alert. Deputies spot gun in car; probable cause search. Gun turns out to be pellet gun. Deputies issue ticket for no insurance and failure to register. Passengers released.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; driving too slow and crossing over center line. Driver released with warning.
  • Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A leaking car began blowing smoke and the same could be said for the passenger.” Traffic stop; vehicle leaking antifreeze. Deputies spot tourniquet kit in plain view. Probable cause search. Deputies find a stockpile of driver’s licenses and credit cards, plus an alleged stolen license plate. Driver released; passenger arrested. Possible identity theft and burglary under investigation.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers spot unoccupied van in closed park
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; reckless driving. Driver passed field sobriety test. Multiple beer cans and six pizzas in vehicle. Lt. Luera: “Two beers, the magic number.”
  • East Providence, R.I. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A woman may have been exaggerating slightly when she said the driver who hit her was going at least 100 MPH.” Officers respond to motor vehicle crash.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to domestic disturbance. End of episode.

Live PD, Season 3, Episode 86, August 10, 2019

  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to shooting in neighborhood. Two groups allegedly shooting at each from from their side of the street. One man shot and on ground. Cpl. Milazzo: “shell casings everywhere.” Wounded man transported to hospital. Investigation ongoing.;
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to report of burglary in progress at what turns out to be vacant business. Man inside on phone is somewhat cooperative with police, but he finally comes out. Multiple offices clear building. Subject released; he apparently had permission to be on premises.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; officers allegedly found needle and white powder that may be fentanyl. Insp. Sroka: “[Subject] was shaking like a leaf on a windy day.” Child in car. Driver released per supervisor. Passenger arrested. Child protective services to follow up.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; seat belt loose, brake light out.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies make wellness check on female pedestrian.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop. Passenger had frog in plastic water bottle. Abrams: “It seems they could use a prince here, and from what I understand, they got a frog.”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers spot man walking around car dealership after hours. Subject is noncompliant with instructions. Subject detained. Morris, Jr.: “He had the posture and demeanor of someone who might fight at any second, so that’s why they pulled out the Taser, and he complied at that point.”
  • Crime of the Week — Dunwoody, Ga.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officer Soileau flagged down by bicyclist for some reason. Abrams: “I wish we could all live that way: ‘Too blessed to be stressed.'”
  • Lafayette, La. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Officers rush to the aid of a man who’d been shot several times.” Man shot in chest and neck. Suspected vehicle and weapon found. Suspect subsequently captured. Victim survived after treatment in hospital.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officer Heiney (ironically perhaps) responds to alleged neighbor dispute in apartment complex about loaded dirty diaper left in front of apartment door. Graphic: “Soiled again.” Officer Heiney: “Smelly situation.” He will document incident at request of complainant. Abrams: “The good news is there’s no rash of these going around.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; motorist says he allegedly drank a 12 pack of beer. Trooper claims he reeks of marijuana. Field sobriety test. Subject taken into custody.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; deputy says moped made extremely wide right-hand turns.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; no front license plate. Vehicle did not pull over right away, but finally pulled over into gas station. Driver released with no charges.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to armed robbery at auto parts store. Subjects fled by the time cops arrived. Investigation ongoing. Abrams: “No [surveillance] cameras there. Wow–that’s is some either bad luck or someone may have known that.”
  • Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop; equipment violation of some kind. Driver tells officer he doesn’t know his female passenger’s name even though he says they’ve been friends for a year. Neither has ID.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to report of residential break-in. Suspect apparently fled on foot through neighborhood. Officers clear home and search nearby houses yard to yard for suspect. Cops believe suspect is hunkered down in one of the yards in the immediate area.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies on the way to a bathroom break spot man allegedly throwing bottles outside gas station/convenience store. Abrams: “Unclear if this is about broken bottles, broken hearts, but they’re just trying to make sure that no one is driving under the influence.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of possible home break-in. Officers clear house; residence seems empty.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; driver ran stop sign. No ID. Deputy spots small amount of marijuana in car. Probable cause vehicle search. Deputy Johnson points out the continuing ambiguity with the state’s new hemp law that the legislature has yet to correct. Weed confiscated as contraband for testing. Driver released with no ticket and no other charges provided his identity checks out.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputies assist neighboring agency in pursuit of driver who bailed from stolen truck and who was allegedly throwing explosives out of the window during the chase. Deputies search wooded area for suspect.
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Deputies encountered a guy with three things you don’t often see in public: pajamas, an extension cord, and a teddy bear.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of shots fired in residential area.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Attempted traffic stop on truck for speeding. High-speed chase ensues, followed by a foot chase after suspect bailed. Suspect taken into custody by multiple officers. Trooper indicates that a DUI charge is likely.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to possible loitering issue. One person taken into custody for unstated reason. End of episode.

Note: Okla. Highway Patrol Trooper Russell Callicoat will be the guest analyst next weekend on Live PD sitting in for Sticks Larkin.