Season 4, Week 10, of the A&E Unscripted Hit Series

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 and deputies on patrol currently from 12 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 with some the pithiest quotes from the participants follows below. But first, the good idea/bad idea of the week. Is it a good idea or bad ideas to drive around with no tags when you have a gun plus illegal drugs in the car?

Live Plus Previously Recorded Incidents

With about 50 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 @TLivepd, @LivePDFans, and @LivePDPundit 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 the following:

“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.” 

Variety has more background from Cesareo:

“You could say Live PD was born out of necessity. Executives at Big Fish Entertainment, the production company behind it, realized that at a time when more TV viewers were moving to streaming services, a program that had to be watched live would be more compelling. The team noticed police departments across the U.S. ‘were providing these timely updates over the course of an evening’ to local residents via Twitter, says Dan Cesareo, who formed Big Fish. ‘We found it fascinating.’

“Getting things right took time — even after Live PD launched. Producers had to get access to police departments. Once they got on air, they had to learn to steel themselves against the temptation to jump from one feed to the next whenever a conflict or action appeared to be in the offing. ‘When you do something new that hasn’t been done before, there’s not a road map,’ says Cesareo. ‘It took us four to six months, probably, just to get comfortable with our own setup.’”

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. That’s why cops often begin an interaction by asking if there is anything illegal in the car.

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” or it’s “not my car.”

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.”

They also try to reassure some detainees that handcuffs come off as fast as they go on if a subject is cleared.

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, along with some of the best quotes.

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 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 24, December 6, 2019

  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report that vehicle drove into canal. Turns out it’s just a stuck vehicle adjacent to the canal but not in it.
  • Bradford County, Fla. – Traffic stop; truck with no lights on.
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Disabled vehicle assist. One of the occupants had a list a gripes about past traffic incidents where police failed to respond. Abrams: “Here’s the good news is that Capt. Burt is there with you now.”
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Cops respond to alleged armed robbery suspect who has barricaded himself in apartment. Larkin: “This is what’s called a stack…so they’ve got multiple levels of force options if it’s needed.” Abrams: As Sticks points out…they’re talking about having lethal and non-lethal options there.” SWAT Sgt. Michael Trowbridge outside of apartment door: “We’re in contact with a judge and applying for a search warrant. When the search warrant arrives, we’re gonna break your door. We’re not gonna pay for it…If you come out now, I can guarantee you’ll be safe. If you stay inside and you make the SWAT team come and get you, I can’t guarantee your safety.” Suspect comes of apartment voluntarily and surrenders. Officers enter apartment to search for other occupants. Apartment will be searched for evidence once officers obtain a search warrant. Abrams: “…They’re gonna go now into the home. This is not a warrant. This is a suspect, so this is someone who is not been charged yet. So they’re gonna do their investigation, see what they they can find, and then decide what charges may or may not be applicable.” Larkin: “…One of the things some of the viewers may wonder. If they didn’t have a search warrant, how are the offices going inside right now. Case law allows us, when we’re doing a search warrant, we can lock down a location, and they’re doing what’s called a protective sweep. They’re basically making sure there’s not anyone else in the house for safety reasons or they can potentially destroy evidence.” By the end of the show, the search warrant was still pending.
  • Bradford County, Fla. — Deputies respond to alarm at closed restaurant. The location appears secure. Graphic: “Time to moo…ve on.”
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop; mismatched plates. Deputy Longelliere allegedly detects odor of marijuana. Car search. Drugs allegedly found. Occupant arrested pending testing of the substance.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Cpl. Deanna Marshall was involved in a wild pursuit.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop. Driver allegedly admits to having 10 grams of marijuana. Officer: “I’m gonna give you a break. I’m gonna let you destroy [the weed].” Driver: “That’s the best you can do for me?” Capt. Cantrell: “Facebook is going to get you locked up…moving forward, never ever go off on what you hear from Facebook without checking with law enforcement, prosecutor’s office to that effect because in the state of Indiana, it’s still illegal…” Abrams: “The Facebook school of law. It’s often not the best place to rely on.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies spot man at closed car dealership. Turns out he is an employee replacing tires or rims on vehicle that were stolen.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to report of people on roof of school. One person detained (apparently he’s the only one there). Subject says he’s an HVAC contract worker doing maintenance. Larkin: “The Tulsa Public Schools actually have phenomenal alarm systems…” Abrams: “Sounds like he had a good reason to be there. They’re gonna check that out. It’s a different way to get high at school, though.”
  • Mission, Tex. — Cops respond to report of stolen Christmas Tree (Abrams: “A real-life Grinch). Officer Mercado makes contact with a driver outside store, but she is not involved; there is no tree in her car. Graphic: “It’s beginning to look a lot like larceny.” Store clerk says no one took a tree, and there is no tree pilferage on closed-circuit camera. Mercado indicates that it might be a bogus call. Abrams: “That’s better than a Christmas tree having been actually been stolen.”
  • Nye County, Nev. — Sgt. Fowles responds to drunk driving report of motorist who is already in his driveway. Fowles: “You look very drunk; you smell very drunk.” Driver says he had a couple of drinks — “three beers.” Fowles gives the guy a break because the stop occurred when the driver was no longer operating the vehicle. Fowles to driver: “Stop drinking an driving. You’re gonna kill someone or yourself.” Abrams: “We’ve seen that happen a number of times here on the show where they decide not to charge someone because the officer did not see the person driving and didn’t have them literally in the car.”
  • Wanted update –– Terre Haute, Ind., follow-up from last Friday night.
  • Wanted new segment — Glassboro, N.J. — Graphic: “Nude lewd man in heels.” Abrams: “I don’t know how he pulled that one off.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to shots fired report in apartment complex. They make contact with person in apartment. Officer Bishop: “She wouldn’t let us come in to search. Just in plain view, I saw two blinds that looked like they had bullet holes in them. I think something did happen in there, so we’re gonna go ahead and document it on the report, notify child services due to the fact that she had a one year old and a three year old inside the apartment where allegations of gunshots going off were.,,got to see a little pole work there. Apparently she teaches pole dancing…”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officer Graves respond to report of a man sleeping at a bank ATM. Subject is apparently homeless. Graves: “We’re gonna have yet again another conversation that he can’t come into these spots and use it as his temporary home.” Abrams: “Yes, Live PD fans are going to recognize him from last weekend, but the amazing thing is it looks like he’s cleaned up.” Morris, Jr.: “He had a mustache last week, and like Sticks, he’s shaved since then.”
  • Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Police responded to a report of a woman who appeared to be strung out.”
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to report of man spitting on people. He is charged with assault with a bodily fluid and also had an outstanding felony warrant.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officer search for passenger who fled from traffic stop. Cops allegedly found a “felony amount” of drugs in vehicle. Cops with K9s search car dealership and nearby woods. With the assist of a police helicopter’s thermal imaging technology, cops find suspect in pickup truck bay at dealership.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Deputies spot stolen motorcycle outside of hotel. Bike impounded and escort the tow truck to lot just in case there might be trouble from a motorcycle club. Investigation to continue to try to identify suspect.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to couple who found dog in park. Dog transported to animal shelter temporarily.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to alleged intoxicated man walking in middle of road. He receives warning to stay on sidewalk.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop; driver allegedly pulled out in front of cruiser. Car search; deputies allegedly find weapon and drugs. Charges included unlawful carry plus possession of stolen gun along with drug-related offenses.
  • Crime of the Week twofer — Albuquerque, N.M., and Newburgh, N.Y.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop; expired tags. Deputies claim car smells from weed. Car search.
  • Missoula County, Mont. (pretaped segment): “Deputies respond to a report of a hunter lost in the woods.”
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop at gunpoint. Occupant allegedly threw drugs out of car window.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Cops respond to report of man on hover board wearing a SWAT vest and camo allegedly harassing people (blocking traffic) in store parking lot. After making contact and some questioning, they release him with no charges. End of episode.

Live PD, Season 4, Episode 25, December 7, 2019

  • Missoula County, Mont. — Deputies question an alleged kidnapping suspect, but it may be a case of mistaken identity. Abrams: “To be clear, it turns out he was not wanted for kidnapping but does have another outstanding warrant, so it appears that he may have been telling the truth with regard to what he was staying.”
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop; driver search, car search. Driver: “Please don’t touch my nuts.” Deputy: “You got something in your pants.” Driver: “I have a penis in my pants.” What purports to be Epsom salts allegedly tests positive for meth. Abrams: “He’s gonna have to talk to the folks at the spa where he got that Epsom salt about what kind of stuff they’re selling there.”
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop on semi truck for failure to yield. Capt. Burt: “So if you can’t move over for some reason, then you need to slow down by at least 20 miles per hours…you didn’t do either one of those things…you scared the hell otu of me; that’s what happened.” Driver released with warning.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Neighbor complained about neighbor in apartment building allegedly smoking pot. Subject won’t answer the door. Abrams: “Well, so far, all [Insp. Sroka] can smell is that wreath.” Abrams: Well, that’s a good way to kill any buzz if someone was smoking marijuana — just keep pushing the buzzer if knocking doesn’t work.” No response; management company likely to be notified on Monday.
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop; seat belt violation.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Police responded to a very serious report of a stabbing at a fast-food joint.” Suspect charged with attempted murder.
  • Bradford County, Fla. — Traffic stop; K9 alert. Car search. Abrams: “Well, he doesn’t appear to be shaking in his boots; just shaking ’em off.” Deputies find urine-filled condom. Abrams: “Well, we’ve heard many times ‘they’re not my pants.’ This is the first time we’ve heard it’s not my raincoat.” Nothing illegal found; driver and passengers released with no charges. Sgt. Brandon Shoup: “Hey, your fake bladder is up there on the roof; you might want that for your next drug test.” Abrams: “Where the rubber meets the road.”
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies respond to shoplifting call and interact with woman who has a tattoo on her jawline and is uninvolved in the call. She is released.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Insp. Sroka responds to call that a son wants to get his stuff from mom’s apartment, i.e., his “beer, belongings, and shit.” Sroka: “Nobody is opening the door for me today.” Abrams: “[Sroka is ] gonna have some bruised knuckles by the end of this evening, and still, no one opening the door, 0-2.”
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop; seat belt violation. Car sped off after initially stopping. Vehicle pursuit; fleeing car crashed out outside residence. Foot search in area. Contraband found in trunk. One suspect who is wearing a “tie dye, air brush outfit” found hiding under a car. Abrams: “That is not the outfit you want to be wearing when you are trying to hide out.” Vehicle may be stolen in addition to other charges. Other suspect is still at large. Deputy Patterson: “There’s some Air Force 1s in there…if I was a betting man, I’m sure those Air Force 1s will fit him like a glass slipper.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; mismatched plates. Marijuana found. Officer Kingery asked driver to stop weed into the ground. and thus. Kingery gives subjects a break and releases them with no charges. Kingery: “The golden rule of law enforcement: Don’t do two illegal things at once, okay? If you’re gonna have weed in the car, don’t have a plate that don’t belong on the vehicle.” Abrams: “Once again, shows you if you come clean and you’re honest, you get a break.”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Disabled vehicle assist.

Richland County, S.C. — Lt. Brown questions man who was allegedly running in between buildings in apartment complex. Brown: “You understand nothing you’re saying is making any sense right now, right?” Abrams: “So it seems they’re just gonna chat with him, and he’ll probably be on his way.”

  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officer interacts with citizen with “adorable” puppy. Larkin: “Make it part of the new K9 unit when I get back to work.”‘
  • “Crime of the Week“– Tulsa, Okla. (Sticks):
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop; no lights. Drugs possibly found in car search.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; failure to use turn signal. Driver is slow roller; then stops in middle of the road and is slow to follow officer directions. May be the result of a language barrier. Released with no charges.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officer Graves responds to alleged cone thrower outside business after his vehicle was towed. Apparently the car will be released on Monday. Otherwise, it’s a civil matter. Graphic: “Cone placed on head.”
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to possible trespassing subject. Abrams: “He has become a Live PD ‘frequent flyer.'”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; driver ran red light. Insp. Sroka suspects that weed might be in car. Sroka: “If you’re honest with me, we can totally work it out because it’s officers’ discretion. If I find it on my own, if you guys are messing with me…then it takes a different turn…”
  • Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment): “It was the case of the stolen six-string.”
  • Jefferson County, Ala. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “What started as a traffic stop for a seat belt violation turned into a intense pursuit.”
  • Nye County, Nev. — Traffic stop; no plates. K9 alert. Deputies allegedly find drugs and paraphernalia found. Driver says there is a gun in the car. Sgt. Fowles notes that a gun plus drugs constitutes a felony.
  • Missing segment — Ansonia, CT:
  • Jefferson County, Ala. — Traffic stop, no tag. Open container plus Urine container found. Abrams: “So that would be the second urine incident that we have seen tonight.”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop or assist. Passenger apparently barfed twice since Insp. Sroka was following the vehicle. Sroka: “You’ve thrown up all over your pants. Oh vey. How are you guys not gagging…” Sroka: “She’s intoxicated, and that’s a Uber driver, and it’s all over the back passenger’s pants, and it stinks pretty bad. So that’s gonna cost extra…” Abrams: “That right there is an Uber driver’s worst nightmare and will ensure that your passenger rating goes down.”
  • Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop on car (with no front bumper) that was reported stolen. Abrams: “It would seem that if they’re going to steal a car, it might not be that one.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop; vehicle allegedly ran stop sign. Lt. Brown: “[Car] smells like weed.”
  • Terre Haute, Ind. — Officers respond to debris fire outside residence. Homeowner told to extinguish fire. Abrams: “Fire in the Haute.” End of episode.