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 in real time with officers from eight different police agencies. A Live PD recap follows below, with Friday night’s episode marking its 200th episode, #LivePD200.

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.

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

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

As the Live PD disclaimer indicates, not all outcomes are known, and criminal charges 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 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. Contraband plus no valid license/registration is usually an ill-advised combination.

“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.

Some combative subjects talk themselves into an arrest even when cops are about to let them go with minor infractions or warnings.

Some of the cops have become social media celebrities as a result of their participation in Live PD.

Expect the Unexpected

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. Or it was stolen.

Some, but not all, of the subjects 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 PDdoes not always provide an update of how cops 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 26 and 27, 2019, episodes of Live PD follows.

Again, please understand that what is depicted on the show, and summarized below including any arrests, constitutes mere allegations.

Alongside regular studio analysts Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin and Tom Morris, Jr., Ashleigh Banfield (who was a little stiff and was pun-less) sat in for host Dan Abrams. Live PD is in the midst of an all-week marathon, although most of the upcoming contents appears to be repurposed from previous episodes, perhaps with new wrap-around commentary.

Several of the sequences in this weekend’s episodes were brief and weren’t updated.

‘Live PD,’ Season 3, Episode 59, April 26, 2019

  • Lawrence, Ind. — Police chase assist. Subject pulled over; no ID, no license. Subject subsequently jumped out of police car and fled. Officers took him into custody again (originally arrest was for suspicion of drug paraphernalia).
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; accident investigation. “I most certainly did not hit a car.” Lt. Kennedy field tested a substance allegedly found in subject’s pocket. Test positive for crystal meth according to Kennedy. Driver arrested for possession of controlled substance.
  • Franklin County, OH — Deputies attempted to serve warrant for multiple felonies. Home cleared; apparently no one home.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies respond to pedestrian who admitted he had “a lot” to drink. He was very bothered by presence of Live PD cameras. EMS summoned to check him out. Deputies planned gave him a ride home.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop. Strong odor of marijuana allegedly coming from car. Vehicle search. Deputies found drug paraphernalia. Driver seemed to admit to having meth.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Traffic stop. Long back and forth as to whether driver would consent to vehicle search. Apparently he finally consented. Started resisting officers and wound up in cuffs.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Trooper responds to report of woman stumbling in road. She was deemed sober and released.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; mismatched plates and rolling throw stop sign. Driver appeared to use mug shot paperwork as an ID; regarding the latter, he told deputy he beat up his dad. He also told deputy that there were dope bags in car when he purchased it. K-9 deployed; no alert. Driver released with warning.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop for running red light. No steering wheel; driver was operating vehicle with cylinder. Driver, who was very remorseful during the stop, admitted to apparently having several grams of marijuana in vehicle and also had a government-issued “weed card.” He passed field sobriety testing. Very patient trooper issued ticket for no license and for open containers plus warning.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; speeding and no brake lights. Driver apparently admitted to drinking. Officer conducted field sobriety test followed by breathalyzer (the latter which is not admissible in court). Driver blew a .213 on officer’s breathalyzer device.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Traffic stop; no front plate. Consensual car search. Officers found “edibles.” One occupant had a weed card; another didn’t. Occupants released with warning; told to keep all edibles in trunk as required by law and go directly home after making purchase at dispensary.
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped segment): Deputies responded to a report that a man’s sister had allegedly trashed the house. Complainant had warrant and was not happy. Banfield: “A man tried to throw his sister under the bus before himself being thrown into a cruiser and boy was he spitting mad.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers responded to an alleged domestic incident. Turned out to be a fraternity party. No issue; officers left after speaking briefly with resident.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; no passenger-side brake light or tail light. Driver told deputy that he was on the way home from Walmart after buying condoms for this 16-year-old son. No ID, no license. Apparently was drinking; also had warrants. K-9 deployed; no alert. Field sobriety test. Driver charged with DUI; wife came to the scene to drive truck home.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Officers responded to one car accident. Two teens in vehicle. No injuries; everyone went home. Car “really messed up.” No info provided as to whether any tickets issued.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; expired tag. Deputies detected odor of marijuana in vehicle. K-9 deployed. No charges; driver and occupants released.
  • Oklahoma Highway Patrol (pretaped segment): Banfield: “A driver was pulled over for having a broken mirror; superstition aside, that was really just the beginning of his bad luck.” Driver had no license; also had warrant. Deputies arrested him on warrant. Family member came to drive truck home.
  • Franklin County, Ohio — Multiple deputies respond to stolen vehicle report. Traffic stop on major road. Deputy claimed that driver appeared to be intoxicated.
  • Crime of the week, Orlando, Fla. — the incident involving the dude in the Easter Bunny costume made national news.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop for speeding. Driver was “courtesy officer” (armed security guard) who was belligerent. Apparently arrested for suspended license.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Brief. traffic stop. Driver was apparently beeping horn about large group of motorcyles. No issue.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Deputy encountered shoeless man walking in middle of road.
  • Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment) — Banfield: “A driver told deputies ‘I know who I am and what I am,’ but what he didn’t seem to know is which side of the road he was supposed to be driving on.” Deputies responded to wrong-way driver accident. Driver was allegedly going southbound in northbound lane. Deputies detected an odor of alcohol. Driver declined to complete field sobriety test and thus taken into custody for alleged DUI.

Missing segment, Redondo Beach, Cal. —

  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; no plates. Consensual search. K-9 alert; deputies searched vehicle. No charges; driver released.
  • Salinas, Cal — Traffic stop; vehicle ran red light according to officer. Vehicle inspected for improper sport-racing modifications. Citation issued.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Officers respond to report that roommate ransacked home.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol –Traffic stop; expired tag. Truck was loaded with what appeared to be miscellaneous items, including a stuffed gorilla.
  • Salinas, Cal. (pretaped segment) — Banfield: “An encounter with a man who may just want to rearrange his priorities and that’s number one.” Officer spotted man peeing on street. Issued ticket for urinating in public but refused to sign it. Officer contacted parole officer who authorized arrest for parole violation. Officer explained that “instead of going home with a ticket, he’s going to county jail for urinating in public and for his parole violation.”
  • Warwick, R.I. — Officers responded to public disturbance; people allegedly shouting outside. Everything quite when cops arrived. Male party at residence said he and his fiancee were arguing, having a “yelling match.” Officers asked to speak with fiancee.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers stopped bicyclist for no light. Subject did not give real name to officers at first. End of episode.

‘Live PD,’ Season 3, Episode 60, April 27, 2019

Dan Abrams returns to his normal hosting position on the left side of your screen. During the broadcast, he, Tom Morris Jr., and Sticks Larkin repeatedly encouraged AT&T-Direct TV to call AT&T-Direct TV to keep the A&E network as one the channels. Abrams also kept promoting the Live PD marathon, which appears to be mostly repurposed material with new wraparound footage, plus new episodes of the spin-off shows.

  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop. Guy allegedly said he consumed two beers. Trooper found unloaded gun in car. Field sobriety testing and portable breathalyzer test (the latter which is not admissible in court). DUI arrest.
  • Williamson County, Tex — Traffic stop. Deputies allegedly found marijuana and other drugs in vehicle. Occupants apparently had warrants. Male occupant had weed stuffed in his pants.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A driver who was nearly four times over the legal limit led [a trooper] on a wild pursuit.” Traffic pursuit and stop on overpass for speeding and erratic driving.
    Male occupant did not follow commands. Driver admitted that she drank “a lot.” Trooper says she tested 0.33 and 0.31 on breath test. Trooper says that driver was charged with aggravated DWI, attempt to elude, and no driver’s license or insurance.
  • Lawrence Ind. — Traffic stop. Cops detected odor of marijuana. Neither driver nor passenger had valid license. Nine-month-old baby in back seat with no seat belt or car seat. Officers issued ticket for no child restraint. Told driver to call someone with child seat and valid license to come to the scene to driver vehicle home.
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped segment) — Deputies tracked down a pair of alleged car thieves who crashed a vehicle and fled. Foot chase ensued; suspects detained.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop. No license. Consensual search. Driver on probation.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Traffic stop. Officer spotted driver repeatedly going round and round through same rotary. Driver apparently worked for Uber.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Woman called dispatch about husband allegedly being drunk on a boat with daughter. Deputies responded, trying to figure out which boat belong to the man.
  • Franklin County, Ohio — Deputies responded to accident report; car (which had “420” in back window) seemed abandoned.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Traffic stop for distracted driving. Driver admitted to smoking marijuana several hours earlier. Weed seized; driver issued citation and released. Sgt. Curley’s advice to driver: “Even though it’s decriminalized, it’s no different than drinking and driving. It still impairs you and that’s show accidents happen,..and that’ show people get hurt.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment): Traffic stop; improper temporary tags. No license, no insurance, no registration. Several citations issued. Vehicle towed. Trooper noticed sex toy in vehicle. Abrams: “There’s an old saying that one man’s trash is another person’s treasure. Well, that was apparently the case earlier in Oklahoma.”
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; no front plate. No license. Driver was a pro basketball player who played in China. Released with warning. Girlfriend drove car home.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; expired plates. Occupant said he found plates in scrap yard. Driver admits to syringes in pocket. Two occupants charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; one occupant charged with possession of stolen property. Abrams: “That’s a lot of needles; he’s a diabetic, a doctor, or something else.”
  • Wanted segment, Dunedin, Fla. — “bare” burglar:
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; brake light out. No license. Driver indicated there was a gun in car. Occupants were very compliant.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Officers attempted to serve warrants on two individuals but they no longer live at that residence.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Traffic stop; driver admitted to having a pistol.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop.
  • Franklin County — Multiple deputies and other officers responed to report of fight in progress at skating rink. About 1000 teenagers were outside. Chaotic situation. Deputies dispersed the teens.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; expired plates. No license or ID. Deputy issued ticket for driving while suspended.
  • Franklin County, Ohio (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A domestic dispute between a father and his trash-talking stepson.” Teen arrested and taken to juvie.
  • Warwick, R.I. — Officer spotted what he considered a suspicious person going into hotel. Located subject in hotel on second floor. No charges; released.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; mismatched plates. Officers spotted small bag of weed.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment): Traffic stop: speeding. “Abrams: A speeding driver cutting through traffic, and as you’ll soon see, this guy is prepared to cut through just about anything.” Older gentleman returning from bible class had multiple knives on belt. Received warning for speeding. Abrams: “Bible classes paid off for him.” Morris:”He’s a renaissance man; leather sheaves for his knives, handlebar mustache, full denim from head to toe, and an old vintage jaguar.”
  • Warwick, R.I. — traffic stop; “a Live PD love story.”
  • Williamson County — Traffic stop; car search. Field test of suspected heroin was negative.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic accident; possible hit and run. Front end of vehicle abandoned in residential area looks destroyed. Driver supposedly bailed.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop. “4-20” on back window. “I am the party.” “Jimmy Fallon” and “Ellen” in back seat. Field sobriety testing administered; driver taken into custody.
  • Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Deputies responded to what was literally a cattle call.” Deputies assisted when cattle escaped farm; Deputies assisted in roundup and return.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop, speeding. Driver was on way to casino. Trooper Flores: “Trying to lose money before you lose money?”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers responded to car stopped in middle of road. Portable breathalyzer administered. Appeared to pass test. End of episode.