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 from eight different police agencies. A Live PD recap follows below, including the Wednesday night, June 12 bonus episode that aired from 8 p.m. to 11. p.m Eastern.

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 on 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 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 the cops more often than not), 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.

Transporting contraband 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 claims that the pants that they are wearing in which cops find drugs belong to a friend.

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 are often like a flea market. Viewers never know what the officers might find inside vehicles after either a probable cause search pursuant to a K9 alert or consensual search. 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).

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.

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, 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 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.

This Week on ‘Live PD’

If you’re wondering what happened on Live PD this week/weekend, a recap of Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night’s Live PD follows (check back for updates).

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.

‘Live PD,’ Season 3, Episode 70, June 12, 2019

Again, please understand that what is depicted on the show, and summarized below, including but not limited to any arrests, constitute mere allegations.

  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputy flagged won by motorist who says she is being chased by another car. Occupants of other car, one of whom is her son, arrested for burglary and assault.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to parking dispute between neighbors.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies respond to tractor trailer and truck accident. No one seriously injured. Abrams: “Not often we see legal grass on the ground.”
  • Franklin County, Ohio (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A man had no business being behind the wheel let alone taking a 10 year old to school.” Traffic stop; cracked windshield. Driver cited for windshield; passenger arrested on warrants. Deputy says car not driveable with broken windshield. Driver allegedly a heroin addict.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; speeding, issue with plates. Driver cited for speeding but gave driver a break by not towing car.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; expired registration. K9 alert. According to deputies, vape pens tested positive for TCH oil rather than CBD oil. The former is a felony; the latter is legal. Female arrested; male released.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Abrams: “A guy with marijuana in his car gave the term ‘personal use’ a whole new meaning.” Traffic stop; brake lights out. Driver issued a misdemeanor citation plus a citation for the brake light and released. Weed seized. Officer explains that personal use in California is limited to one ounce.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment): Abrams: “We learned that if you’re gonna risk buying a motorcycle on Facebook, well, those are the ‘brakes,’ or the lack of.” Traffic stop; dirt bike on roadway. No tags, no insurance, no VIN, no chain. Bike towed.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; motorist operating car on roadway with flat time (actually on rim). Driver arrested on outstanding warrant.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Wellness check on occupants of car in parking lot.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; expired tag. Driver had medical marijuana card. Trooper searched car to determine if proper amount of weed being transported along with proper packaging. Trooper Perkins explains legal requirements to driver. Warning issued for tag.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Abrams: “Officer Bishop may have spotted a leak.” Man urinating in public released with warning.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Officers respond to house alarm (false alarm).
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped): Abrams: “A man had just been shot and yet was in remarkably good spirits.”
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; motorist sitting at green light. Apparently had warrant. K9 deployed.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; no rear license plate. Unsecured tires on roof.
  • Wanted segment: Two follow-ups from last weekend.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; truck with cracked windshield. Field sobriety test. DUI arrest.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; speeding, brake light out. Weed allegedly in center console. Car search. Small bag of white powder allegedly tests positive for cocaine. Subject charged with possession.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; passenger bailed. Driver remained in truck. Lt. Kennedy pursued passenger in brief foot chase and detained her. Arrested on warrant and also for evading. K9 alert; probable cause car search. Deputies find small amount of residue that allegedly tested positive for cocaine.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of about 20 people fighting and someone supposedly seen with gun.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; erratic driving/driving too slow.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop; speeding. Driver released with warning.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Traffic stop; texting while driving. Driver released with warning.
  • Crime of the Week, Flagler County, Fla. — Morris, Jr.: “A local man went postal — literally.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies detain man in apartment complex parking lot who allegedly fled from other officers. Car search; weed and gun found. Driver charged with possession with intent to distribute and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Passenger released.
  • Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “It took way ore steps than usual to administer a field sobriety test.” Traffic stop; expired registration. Motorist said he had “two beers.” DUI arrest. Abrams: “It seems that golfer could have used a driver.”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers spot car on side of road. Passengers were eating sushi. Officers told them to move to a safer spot.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Trooper Flores came to the aid of a gentleman who definitely was, maybe, kind of drinking a little bit.” Trooper responds to report of man walking on highway shoulder.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; taillight out. No license.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Suspicious vehicle; weed and gun found.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; occupant arrested on outstanding warrant.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Traffic stop; domestic violence investigation
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; drive admits to having weed. Big “beautiful” bong found. Stop will likely only result in citation. End of episode.

‘Live PD,’ Season 3, Episode 71, June 14, 2019

  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; no license plate. No driver’s license on person . Deputies who detected odor of alcohol began questioning “sweaty” driver. He tried to run and wrestled with multiple deputies who attempted to detain him. Tasered several times. Finally cuffed after a huge struggle. MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy or molly) allegedly found. Driver charged with assault on a peace officer, evading, and resisting arrest. Transported to hospital and then jail.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to dispute in residential neighborhood. Woman arrested on outstanding warrant and trespassed from property.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of goldfish theft outside home. Abrams: “Fish out of water story.”
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers make contact with residence in search for subject wanted for assault.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Officers asset woman who fell out of wheelchair on sidewalk.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; expired temporary tags. Passenger bailed; foot pursuit. Taken into custody after foot chase. Subject allegedly had loaded stolen gun, weed, no gun permit, and outstanding warrant. Subject arrested on multiple charges.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Trooper Kinsler pulled over a guy who said said he was simply trying to do his laundry and then he came clean.” Traffic stop for “adjusted” or modified paper tag. Driver did not have his license with him. Trooper allegedly found drugs and small firearm. Driver arrested.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; truck had no plates. K9 deployed.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Traffic stop. Officers say that passenger had warrant although he firmly denied it and claimed he was being harassed. Abrams: “He still seems to have procedural concerns, but if he had a warrant, he had a warrant.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Alleged street racing-related accident involving multiple vehicles with extensive damage. One occupant ejected from car. Several parties transported to hospital but they are fortunately in stable condition.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Foot pursuit; 16-year-old subject detained.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of burglary in progress. Home cleared; no intruders found.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Motorcycle stop; safety warning for kind riding in front.
  • Wanted segment, Pensacola Fla. — hit and run:
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; released with no charges.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop. K9 deployed. An occupant allegedly tossed pills out of truck window. Car search. Both occupants arrested for possession of controlled substance. Driver arrested for driving on revoked license.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop headlight out. Driver declines consensual search. Driver parked outside “known narcotics house,” according to Officer Bishop. K9 deployed but no alert. Driver released with warning.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; headlight out.
  • Lawrence, Ind. – Officers respond to report of boyfriend allegedly blocking girlfriend’s car with his car to prevent her from allegedly driving drunk. Woman takes portable breathalyzer test.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. (pretaped segment) — A “contentious domestic dispute” at a motel. Man arrested for probation violation.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; debris coming out of bottom of car. Turns out to be the remnants of a tree.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; not using turn signal. Released with warning.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; no driver’s license, no child seat. Trooper advises occupants to come with proof of insurance and to call a friend to drive vehicle home. Car won’t be impounded if they met those two conditions.
  • Wanted segment, Hollywood, Fla. — Morris, Jr.: “A pair of gas station goons”:
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; no front plate, bald tire. No driver’s license. Deputy Rudderham releases driver with warning. Abrams: “She gets a break there. This is Live PD — why would she be driving with a license?”
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; no headlights or taillights activated. Car has bumper sticker that reads “you say potato, I say vodka.” Driver passes field sobriety test. Deputy Winchell issues warring for allegedly driving while buzzed as well as equipment violations. Winchell: “Driving high is just as bad as driving drunk.”
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Officers respond to silent alarm at Subway shop. False alarm.
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Traffic stop. Deputies discovered, among other things, drugs, syringes, an illegal firearm, a shotgun reloader, fishing line, and yes, even some poetry about living on borrowed time.” Traffic stop; no signal when changing lanes, expired driver’s license. Both occupants “on paper.” Both men arrested.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; texting while driving. Warning issued.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Officers respond to intoxicated man (a “frequent flyer”) needing assistance. EMS transported him to hospital. Abrams: “Officer there to protect and serve, and sometimes it’s just to serve.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to disturbance at residence which turns out to be the same location as the episode’s second sequence. Apparently unrelated matter.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop;, no rear license plate light. Deputies spot sealed liquor containers in car.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Officers respond to disturbance in parking lot. Person in distress. EMS called. Drug paraphernalia found.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputies respond to report of assault at bar. Suspect had already left immediate area. End of episode.

‘Live PD,’ Season 3, Episode 72, June 15, 2019

Abrams:: “This has been ‘flight night’ here at Live PD; this has been just a non-stop night of people fleeing from police in different ways, shapes, and forms.”

  • Okla. Highway Patrol –High-speed pursuit of driver refusing to pull over; attempted traffic stop was just about expired tags. Subject was fleeing in excess of 100 MPH. Trooper Flores executed Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), a.k.a. PIT maneuver. Subject arrest for eluding officers, invalid license, unregistered vehicle, no insurance, and on outstanding warrant for domestic abuse.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers and EMS respond to report of two men fighting. Both appeared to be injured, and at least one of them transported to the hospital. Insp. Sroka: “They don’t like each other; that’s about it.”
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Traffic stop; speeding, illegal lane changes, non-use of turn signal. Driver says his wallet containing his driver’s license was stolen. Passenger has warrant; needle stuck Officer Arroyo during pat down. Officer being treated at hospital. Fortunately he seems to be going to be okay.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officer flagged down by citizen apparently over store’s refusal of service.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Three different, apparently unrelated traffic stops at same gas station. One of the vehicles may have supposedly been the same car with the taped back windshield from previous episode. Another driver suspected of intoxication. Deputies find drugs in wallet of occupant of third car.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officer Muscutt goes door to door to tell residents of apartment complex to evacuate owing to wildfire in nearby field.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; motorist ran red light and was driving without activating headlights.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Officers and FD respond to car fire (vehicle was unoccupied). Fired extinguished.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies allegedly smelled marijuana. Subject allegedly admitted to having a bag of weed in pocket. Arrest for simple possession. The two other men released with no charges.
  • Crime of the Week update (stolen RV from previous episode). Both dogs okay; up for adoption.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers serve warrant at residence and take subject into custody.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop on speeding motorcycle. Biker fled after initial contact. Car pursuit and foot pursuit. Troopers find bike abandoned in creek; troopers confirm that bike is stolen. Subject is still at large.
  • Santa Fe, N.M. — Officers respond to report of disturbance in parking lot outside strip mall. Subject had warrant.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Two people ran from suspicious vehicle. After deputy made contact with them, one male fled on foot. Deputies search apartment complex for subject who is still at large.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officer spotted man outside closed business. Released when his ride home shows up. Abrams: “It seems this is a different kind of gas station.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Troopers had to deal with a very unusual vehicle and two lawn mowers — one on top of the van and another on top of the man.” Traffic stop; no headlights, no no taillights, no mirror. Vehicle search; meth allegedly found. Passenger arrested on warrants; driver released with tickets for unsafe vehicle.
  • Wanted segment, Houston, Tex. — Alleged dognapper.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputies respond to report from residents about two men hiding in field.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop (unclear why). No charges.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to alarm at business; appears to be a false alarm.
  • Missing segment, Wellsville, N.Y.:
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop; driver bailed. Foot chase and search. K9 deployed. Driver still at large. Car search; deputies find shotgun and machete. Abrams: “A lot of people on the run tonight.”
  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputies respond to motor vehicle accident. Two citizens subdued one of the drivers while awaiting cops to arrive. Driver detained; allegedly ran red light.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers pursue and made traffic stop on alleged reckless driver who initially didn’t pull over. Vehicle was unregistered. Driver arrest for reckless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia, open container, and probation violation.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Abrams: “There’s a report of an assault over a fishing rod; unclear if there was a tackle involved.” End of episode.

Live PD will air another bonus episode on Wednesday evening, June 18, from 8 to 10 p.m. Eastern. Friday night’s regular episode (June 21) will include one hour of commercial-free content.