Season 4, Week 7, 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) starting 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.

Live PD expands to 12 department effective next weekend.

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 users TG LivePD (@TLivepd), @LivePDFans, and @LivePDPundit and along with several other Twitter feeds for the embedded clips and images.

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. Sometimes “not my car” also is part of the cop-citizen dialogue.

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 just a warning.

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).

For law-abiding motorists sharing the road, the recurrence of non-insurance scenarios has to be disturbing.

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

In addition to a cigarette fixation, you’ll also note that subjects are typically clutching and/or using 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 16, November 8, 2019

  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of multiple shots fired in residential neighborhood. One of the bullet holes found in child’s bedroom. Investigation ongoing.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop; cocaine baggie allegedly found in car search.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop at gunpoint on alleged stolen truck. Two detained. Driver arrested for alleged possession of meth and on outstanding warrant. Passenger released with no charges.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop on motorcycle with no tag. Driver bought bike “10 minutes ago.” Released with warning.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to multiple vehicle accident with injuries.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Cpl. Sunday spotted the SUV that ran from cops last Saturday night. There is a warrant out for the driver of that vehicle after that incident. Traffic stop; deputies question female driver and passenger (they aren’t the wanted suspect, who is male). Other deputies go to the residence connected with that vehicle but no one is there; suspect is still at large. Abrams: “What’s amazing about this is this was going to be our ‘Wanted’ segment tonight because this is the vehicle that ran over the foot of of the deputies, but those were not the people who were driving the car.”
  • Wanted segment as a follow-up to the above incident.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Traffic stop; tag light out. Released with warning.
  • Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A real Cinderella story, and whoever said romance is dead apparently never met this guy.” Officers respond to shoe theft. Officer Hargrove: “So chivalry is not dead, that’s what you’re saying?” Subject charged with larceny plus previous larceny arrest.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Capt. Burt responds to report of someone slumped over the wheel at gas station. Burt wakes up driver who says he has no ID. Passenger arrested on outstanding warrants. Another officer administers field sobriety testing on driver. Abrams: “Never a good start when the police arrive and someone is sleeping in the driver’s seat, with the car on, at a gas station, but it looks like they haven’t determined yet if they’re gonna arrest him.” Driver’s breathalyzer reading allegedly reads well over the legal limit.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies make contact with a 15 year old and another man about nine bullets found in backpack. Cpl. Boyles questions subject about nine bullets found in backpack: “Perfect number for going in a handgun. Somebody you know got a handgun that these go to.” Boyles admonishes the teen to stay out of trouble. Subjects released with no charges.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop in apartment complex area with history of shootings according to Lt. Brown. Occupants detained; guns found. Deputies search immediate area for contraband. Arrests for unlawful carry.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Vehicle pursuit. Traffic stop at gunpoint in front yard. Noncompliant driver pulled out of car and tased. Possibly no license. Allegedly threw weed out of vehicle before stop. According to Cpl. Sunday, driver charge with marijuana possession, reckless endangerment, attempt to elude, resisting arrest, and drug paraphernalia. Abrams: “All the serious charges there relate to fleeing from police, in essence over very little.”

East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to traffic accident.

  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to disturbance in neighborhood and break up fight between two men outside.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers detain two individuals in woods over some dispute involving a tent. Male party released with no charges. Investigation ongoing.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to dispute between patrons (Johnson and Wales students) and restaurant over the bill. Cpl. Tiernan: “You’re all going to India and you came to a Japanese restaurant.” Abrams: “Two very different accounts of what happened. Tiernan seems to have mediated and/or resolved the dispute in some way. Morris, Jr.: “Well, get that credit card straight before you go [to India].”
  • Crime of the Week segment — Ohio.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop; swerving. No license and apparently no insurance. Blood on car from deer. Driver arrested as a habitual traffic violator. Car released to girlfriend to drive home.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Cpl. Marshall get her hands dirty on a traffic stop quite literally.” No tag; weed and gun allegedly found in car search. Marshall: So we’re looking at at least 20 bags, and that was all concealed in his groin, so I should probably wash m hands.” Passenger arrested; driver released.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Traffic stop in driveway. Suspended license and tag subject to seizure. Apparently no insurance. No charges. Abrams: “Now they’re just talking, trying to do a little community relations.”
  • Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A guy driving a group of people to the laundromat got taken to the cleaners.” After speaking with victim and canvassing area, deputies allegedly find gun, drugs in stolen vehicle. Driver still at large; deputies conclude that female passenger was also a victim, while male passenger might be an accomplice.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies respond to domestic dispute. Cpl. Walmsley: “I’m not going to draw my weapon. I’ve got a good rule–you don’t pull one out, I don’t pull mine out; you know what I’m saying?”
  • Missing segment — Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Vehicle pursuit (vehicle refused to stop). Larkin: “The Challenger, the Dodge Charger, they come in different models, and if they’ve got that souped-up SRT engine — I myself and my partners got smoked by one of those one time, and we literally started laughing about how far behind we were fell in that pursuit. We actually lost that car, so hopefully these guys well be able to stay with it.’ Driver detained after pursuit and says he has warrants (may only be misdemeanor warrants).
  • Nye County, Nev. — Traffic stop. Sgt. Fowles: “And you’re not high? You look high.” Driver declines field sobriety testing and put in cuffs. Fowles: “You think it’s bullshit? I’m sorry you feel that way.” End of episode.

Live PD, Season 4, Episode 17, November 9, 2019

  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers make contact with man reported as running into traffic. Subject says he just go out of prison. Released with safety warning and no charges; cops give him a ride home.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop; mismatched tag. Deputies allegedly detect odor of weed from car. Probable cause search. Occupants released with no charges.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Deputies respond to report of object or objects in road. Turns out it was broken or run-over mailboxes that damaged several vehicles.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Traffic stop; illegal turn. Deputies allegedly detect odor of marijuana. Driver says she purchased car in the the “last hour.” No insurance. Driver released iwth warning; passenger allowed to drive vehicle home.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop. Passenger arrested on warrants and on unlicensed gun charges. Driver has no license; friend comes to the scene to drive car home. Driver released with no charges.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop; wrong-way driver. Driver has gun in back pocket. Larking: “Anytime somebody’s carrying a gun, whether lawfully or not lawfully, if we say, ‘hey [is there] a gun in the car or on your person,’ and you tell us there is one, do not reach for it…verbalize it…don’t ever reach for it because we don’t know what your intention is in that moment, and something terrible could happen.” Field sobriety test. Driver allegedly records a .172 on breathalyze and is arrested for DUI. Car towed.
  • East Providence, R.I. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A DUI suspect was all over the road as well as all off the road.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Lt. Brown spots guy urinating in public. Car search. Brown says he found “roaches and blunts” in car and that the driver is “grossly intoxicated.” Abrams: “The good news is he wasn’t driving regardless of whether the car would start or not.”]
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop on SUV; no tag lights. Passenger ran. Foot pursuit by deputies through woods. Subject taken into custody and admits to warrants. Abrams: “And they had to run through some barbed wire there as well…a dangerous chase.” Larking: “Cpl. Sunday–they did exactly what I talk about. You want to try to stay in your car as long as possible because that extra 100 yards they’re running, they’re dumping their adrenaline. You’re saving yours…” Driver also fled in SUV but subsequently pulled over and detained.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Citizen complains that aliens are stalking him. Graphic: “Report of unfriendly lifeforms.” Abrams: “Keep in mind that Nye County is a tourist destination for extraterrestrial activity. Area 51 is not far from where they are…” Lt. Murphy canvasses area to reassure citizen.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Attempted traffic stop for brake light out. Driver apparently pulled into random driveway and left. Driver subsequently detained and later release with a summons for expired license and registration.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop on truck with elk in the back. Driver says he hunted the elk while he was riding a mountain bike. Graphic: “Stag party.”
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop; speeding.
  • Missoula County, Mont. –Traffic stop; equipment violations and no headlights. Abrams: “Those are hot wheels for sure.”
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies attempt to serve warrant but subject had already left area.
  • Richland County, S.C. –Deputies question man allegedly loitering outside apartment complex. He is released and heads to birthday party. Abrams: “But you’re never too old for neon glasses and a ring.”
  • Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A scary crash involving a mom and her two kids, and a truck driven by a guy who should not have been behind the wheel.”
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop; car didn’t pull over quickly enough. Car search. Driver released with warning to pull over immediately when lit up by cops, not to drive around with weed, and to wear seat belt. Deputies confiscate small amount of weed.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop on truck; expired tags.
  • Wanted segment — Missoula County, Mont.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Traffic stop; driver stopped in the middle of the road and tint was too dark. Released with warning.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Cops take alleged wedding crasher accused of assault into custody.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Cpl. Marshall gives peanut butter to loose dog.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Two guys went through the window at a fast-food restaurant, only neither was in a car, and they weren’t at the drive-thru.”
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report of someone trying to knock down door at residence. Subject (apparently an ex-boyfriend) left in vehicle about three minutes before cops arrived. Cops search neighborhood for subject. Subject (who is subject to restraining order) threatens to return to residence. Cops continue to canvas area for subject.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; slow roller. Driver allegedly texting and not using turn signal.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop at gunpoint on possible stolen car. Driver arrested. Cops released female passenger released with two children and give her a ride home.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop. Passenger taken into custody on warrants. Driver had suspended license.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Police pulled over a driver and had what turned out to be a very smelly package.” Traffic stop; speeding. Officer Martinez: “You reek like weed.” Driver allegedly had 56 grams of marijuana in crotch. Driver released pending testing of weed and possible future charges.
  • Lawrence, Ind. (pretaped segment) — In investigating chase from last Friday night in which the driver is at large, officers arrest squatters on warrants. House supposedly had ties to the driver. Male subject who was ID with fingerprint scanner was not, however, the guy that fled. According to Abrams, however, potential suspect in that chase has been separately apprehended.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop at gunpoint on vehicle that initially didn’t pull over and ran stop signs. Original reason was plate light out. Cops search for contraband that driver may have tossed out the window. End of episode.