Season 4, Week 6, of the A&E Hit

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

Live PD is the ratings-winning, three-hour law enforcement ride-along show that ordinarily airs fresh episodes on Friday and Saturday evenings (with occasional bonus episodes on other nights) at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network. Live PD producers and videographers embed in real time with officers on patrol from eight different U.S. police departments and sheriff’s offices.

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.)

A Live PD recap follows below. 

Live Plus Previously Recorded Incidents

With 32 live feeds coming into the studio, most segments are broadcast 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) who usually compiles and shares video clips from each episode on social media. Also similar thanks to the @LivePDFans and @LivePDPundit Twitter feeds along with several other social media users.

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.

Controlled Control Room Chaos

Don Cesareo, the founder and president of Live PD producer Big Fish Entertainment, told Deadline Hollywood that “Live PD is one of most enjoyable shows to produce because it’s such a challenge. We do a lot of prep work in terms of the field, but really what happens is that you show up on a Friday night and settle into the control room and all of the camera feeds come up and the show starts and we don’t have a run down and have three hours of TV to create. The easiest way to describe it is like having eight live breaking stories at the exact same time, but you don’t know all of the details. There’s an energy and controlled chaos that works.”

According to Cesareo, “The show originated after he and his team came across police departments that were live tweeting patrols.” 

Rules or No 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, and Other Mantras

“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.

Separately on the subject of wardrobe, males who appear on Live PD often don’t take the time to put on a shirt even when a cop shows up at their front door.

“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,” or the equivalent, you can generally expect that things will quickly go sideways.

Some mouthy 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, many of whom are impressively observant when they question subjects or investigate crime scenes, have become social media celebrities as a result of their participation in Live PD. Some of them may have a career in media or politics after they retire.

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?” Cops often address subjects as “bro,” “dude,” “bud,” “man,” “partner,” or “boss.” And instead asking subjects where they live, officers ask them where they “stay.”

Expect the Unexpected

Traffic stops — the primary but not the only 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 for another legal justification.

Apart from drugs and weapons, among the weird items they often find include bottles of presumably clean urine used to circumvent a drug test. Sex toys also show up from time to time.

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.

You’ll also note that subjects are typically clutching their phones at all times no matter what, even officers are trying to talk with them or or even when getting cuffed.

Excessively tinted windows beyond what is legally allowed increasingly constitute a safety issue for officers in traffic stops.

Driver’s License Optional

Somehow in America, a valid driver’s license became an optional credential for many motorists. Driving with impunity while suspended has become a thing.

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. Sometimes cops will allow the motorist to drive directly home or call another licensed driver to the scene to take over behind the wheel.

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 weed-sniffing training.

This Weekend on Live PD

If you’re wondering what happened on Live PD this past week, 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, Okla., PD Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin to provide commentary as usual.

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

Live PD, Season 4, Episode 14, November 1, 2019

Abrams: “A busy night already. We’ve had people fleeing vehicles, we had a stolen vehicle, outstanding warrant, an alleged gang assault…”

  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report of male with gun. Turns out to be an off-duty sheriff’s deputy who was checking on a well-being of a teen. Noncriminal matter.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies respond to a dispute between woman and the mother of the woman’s boyfriend. Abrams: “The good news is the dog seems happy. Seems like the only person who is happy int hat house right now.” Mother shows deputies cell phone video of woman allegedly smoking meth is arrested for possession of controlled substance.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to assault in progress that is possibly gang related. Subject arrested for assault. According to Larkin, subject may be affiliated with local gang.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to incident in which tire came off tire and struck window at business. Vehicle had fled. Cops subsequently locate vehicle in nearby parking lot that may be involved and examine car for any damage or other indicia. Occupants of car later released with no charges and investigating continues.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop. Driver allegedly has warrants in Tennessee. Proof of car ownership, VIN, and plates (or lack thereof) apparently may be issues.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers spot possible stolen truck. Two occupants fled vehicle. Officers search area and take two subjects into custody. Cops detain several others at apartment that may be connected to truck. Abrams: “It may have been the wrong night for a party at that house.”
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers serve warrant at residence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Subject detained at back door.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Vehicle pursuit on truck. Subject detained in driveway and arrested on outstanding warrants. Officers try to determine if he lives at that particular residence.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop; tag light issue. Deputies allegedly detect marijuana odor. Deputies allegedly find two mason jars of weed and a bottle ecstasy in bottle amounting to 6.9 grams in backpack. Driver faces two felony and one misdemeanor charge. Abrams: “Lot of vitamins and oregano right there…some vitamin E there as in ecstasy apparently. Looked like vitamins.”
  • Crime of the Week segment.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Police encountered a couple of newfound friends, and the woman sue seemed to want to know the man a whole lot better.” Couple questioned outside abandoned building and released with trespass warning.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Cpl. Deanna Marshall attempted to track down an armed man who fled on foot after jumping from his car.” Suspect located after a search and arrested for charges related to possession of a stolen car, a stolen gun, and felony warrants.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officer Weber makes contact with two teens in Halloween costumes. Weber: “You’re Batman; Batman isn’t supposed to be scared of dogs.” Abrams: “You’d think the dog would be afraid of a cactus and Batman.”
  • Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Officers often hear the excuse ‘those aren’t my pants,’ but for one man…that did not appear to be an issue.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Intense high-speed vehicle pursuit on SUV. Abrams: “This is so dangerous for so many different people out there. Morris, Jr.: “It is. And because he’s driving so recklessly, they can’t really break off the pursuit because they’ve got to try to stop this guy.” Larkin: “[The big SUV] could easily flip over, at the very least blow a tire.” Driver bailed at dead end. Foot search by multiple officers and K9s, and at least two agencies, in neighborhood for suspect. Vehicle is apparently not stolen. Abrams: “One thing that struck was how cool, calm, and collected Officer Weber was throughout that pursuit when the driver was zig-zagging and creating a serious hazard for many people on the road there.” Suspect is still at large.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to disturbance at residence.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report of home invasion in progress. Suspect wearing a mask had fled by the time the officers arrived. Investigation ongoing.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies respond to report of restaurant employee making threats with a gun (or claiming he had a gun). Abrams: “A lot of crabby people there, Richland County, not happy.”
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop. No ID. Driver had three aggressive dogs in car. Abrams: “As Tom just said, searching the car would probably not be a great idea right now.”
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop. Suspended license. Capt. Burt apparently issues citations for several infractions.
  • Wanted segment — Pinellas County, Fla.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report of fight in park. Partially blind man assaulted. Another man at the scene taken into custody.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Traffic stop; K9 alert and probable cause search. Deputies allegedly find meth pipe.
  • Missing updates.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop; erratic driving. Open container spotted. Driver may have warrants.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies investigate location after spotting lights on in abandoned trailer. End of episode.

Live PD, Season 4, Episode 15, November 2, 2019

Abrams: “What a night this has been. We’ve had the machete mother-in-law, we’ve had that pursuit and all the stolen items that were found as a result of it, and Jack Sparrow…”

  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Deputies pursue vehicle that fled from traffic stop, running over one cop’s foot in the process. Original stop was for seat belt violation; deputies allegedly detected marijuana. Driver had refused to get out of the vehicle. Deputies lose vehicle in search, but converge on residence where driver is known to hang out. Several subjects detained at house, some of whom have warrants. Deputy describes residence as a “dope house” Deputies find stolen rifle at location plus stolen vehicle in backyard. Abrams: “Turning out to be an active scene there.” Driver is still at large.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Abrams: “Sgt. Fowles just spotted a guy who looks like he’s right out of a Johnny Depp film…despite the hat, he’s not a flight risk.” Subject tells Fowles he just got out of jail today. He is released after questioning.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to a report of a mother-in-law swinging a machete at daughter-in-law. The latter showed cops a video of what transpired. Mother-in-law arrested on domestic violence-related charge. Abrams: “I wouldn’t want to be at that house for Thanksgiving for turkey carving, that’s for sure.”
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Cops respond to food truck where woman standing outside of truck apparently says her husband is missing. Cops indicate that she is intoxicated. Officer Martinez contacts husband by phone who comes to the scene.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Insp. Sroka responds to male face down in parking lot bleeding from head. EMS transports man to hospital; injuries are non-life-threatening.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Multiple officers subdue noncompliant subject who allegedly was knocking on motel doors. Officer Lum: “Definitely not a rational person right now.” Subject likely charged with assault and battery on officers, resisting, plus outstanding warrants. Larkin explains that in the tussle, the subject hit the emergency button activation (EBA). “That’s a little orange button that’s on our handheld radios, and it’s basically like ‘hey, I need help now.’ The officer didn’t hit it, the suspect actually hit it in the scuffle. But it puts a tone out that everybody is gonna rush to where that officer’s at.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A man was wandering around looking for his friend Tom, but something about his story didn’t add up. Actually, very little about his story added up.”
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies respond to 13-year-old operating a minibike without a helmet who was hit by a car. EMS transports the teen to the hospital; he is probably going to be okay despite the distance he was thrown.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies search woman; crack pipe allegedly found. Woman arrested for possession of crack cocaine. Abrams: “The good news for her is that it’s not her jacket.” Morris, Jr.: “It’s not her crack pipe either.” “Larkin: “The number of jackets, pants that just randomly have drugs in them — I want to know if they come from the department stores that way…”
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Capt. Burt assists truck that he spotted on the side of the road. Driver pulled over when he heard a weird noise coming from underneath the truck.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop. Cpl. Sunday: “So the driver was left off with a verbal warning and advised of his warrant, and the little one got a piece of candy, so definitely a good traffic stop.”
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Abrams: Understandably panicked parents called deputies after their teen went missing while rustling cattle.” Capt. Burt and other deputies, including their thermal imaging helicopter, search for the teen. Turns out he made it back home safely.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop. Officers will return 15-year-old runaway who is in the car back to group home. Some drug paraphernalia found in vehicle. Driver and other occupants released with no charges.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to neighbor dispute which allegedly resulted in someone’s arm being broken by a pipe. One man detained. Abrams: “Sounds like he’s suggesting this was self defense.”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers attempt to make well-being check at residence after teen’s parents expressed concern. Homeowner won’t open door. Insp. Sroka: “Call the police; we’re already here.” It later turned out that teen is okay and was not at that particular location.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop on vintage orange vehicle. Abrams: “That is a sweet shelco.” (sp?)
  • Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “One of the hardest things about breaking up can be the fight over who gets what. We saw that earlier…when a woman went to the mat for her mattress.” This is a civil matter. Morris, Jr.: “She might not want that mattress back.”
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers make traffic stop at gunpoint on alleged stolen vehicle. Three occupants detained. Driver arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle. Another occupant has warrants which she denies. A friend is coming to the scene for her dog.
  • Wanted segment — Washington County, Ore.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — High-speed vehicle pursuit after attempted traffic stop. Foot bail followed by foot chase. Deputies fin suspect and taken him into custody. Deputies allegedly find six bags of weed plus cash in vehicle. Abrams: “It was more than just himself that was endangered there; I think he’s coming to realize that.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies respond to report of fight in parking lot.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop; driver has revoked license. Passenger also has revoked license. Deputies arrest driver as a habitual offender.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; mismatched plates. Car towed; driver released.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Vehicle search; two guns found. End of episode.