Last Weekend’s Live PD Highlights
Here’s what you missed or may have missed on Live PD this past weekend.
Live PD is the ratings-winning, three-hour law enforcement ride-along show that ordinarily airs fresh episodes on Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network (unless an additional, “bonus” episode airs in a given week).
With typically about 30 to 40-plus cameras, Live PD producers and videographers embed in real time with officers and deputies on patrol from eight or nine different U.S. police departments and sheriff’s offices.
According to the show’s website, “Live PD viewers get unfettered and unfiltered live access inside a variety of the country’s busiest police forces.”
Given the need to adapt the show to social distancing protocols and other limiting factors for the coronavirus, recent episodes were two hours long, but Live PD has resumed its three-hour format.
To adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, Live PD indicated that it is operating on a “substantial delay” with officers and production crews “taking extra precautions,” including personal protective equipment, and, it seems, with more reliance on pre-taped segments. Accordingly, this includes a scaled-back operation/staff in the New York City control center.
Parenthetically, perhaps the person with the most job security is the studio technician that operates the bleep button that covers up the extreme profanity.
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.)
In an article published on March 19, the New York Times described the show as follows:
“Live PD cuts between footage of police officers around the country as they make traffic stops (suspected D.U.I.s, busted taillights), respond to calls (domestic disputes, gunshots) and go on high speed chases (on foot, by car).
“It’s all brought to the viewer live-ish. There’s a delay, in case something unusually gruesome happens.
“The mission of the Live PD is to provide ‘transparency of policing in America,’ said Elaine Frontain Bryant, the executive vice president and head of programming for A&E. “It feels like entertainment with purpose,” she said…
“The show gets by with showing some of the worst moments of people’s lives without their consent because it’s live, according to an A&E spokeswoman. ‘Live PD follows news gathering standards like any news organization — your local nightly news show or newspaper — would in covering a story,’ she wrote in an email…
“According to Nielsen data, Live PD averaged nearly 2.4 million viewers last season, which was its third…”
A Live PD recap with some of 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 idea for somebody to run from the cops after they’ve been taken into custody and handcuffed?
Live Plus Previously Recorded Incidents
Again, with usually about 40 live feeds coming into the studio, most segments broadcast on a reported five- to 20-minute tape delay.
When nothing of interest is happening in real time, pre-taped 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 and @LivePDMusings along with several other Twitter feeds, for the embedded clips and images.
Note: Embedded tweets do not in any way equal or imply endorsement of their content.
As the Live PD disclaimer indicates, not all outcomes are known or final.
Criminal charges, if any, may have been reduced, dismissed, or never filed.
When alleged criminal activities are depicted on Live PD, all suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty 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.’”
As this blog has previously reported, local politicians and activist groups have complained that the show makes their community look bad, This political pressure has in the past led to some departments terminating their contract with Live PD.
Last August, commissioners in Williamson County, Tex. terminated its Live PD contract. “Commissioners cited concerns from local prosecutors and defense attorneys over not having access to potential evidence gathered by film crews in their decision, and that the show put the county in a poor light, ” the Statesman reported.
Williamson is back on the show now, however, after Sheriff Robert Chody bypassed the commissioners court and signed a contract directly with Big Fish Entertainment. The court has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the production company, although this may have no affect on the filming. Both sides have now lawyered up.
Rules or No Rules of the Road?
Many subjects (i.e., individuals with whom cops make contact) appearing 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.
The first thing that officers usually say to a suspect in an adversarial encounter is “let me see your hands.”
Two Beers, Not My Pants, and Other Mantras
“I only had two beers” is a familiar motorist mantra when pulled over and asked about having anything to drink that evening, particularly if the driver appears tipsy.
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 someone they just met. The name of the friend can be a mystery.
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 (with a camera crew) 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.
A variation is “I just bought the car.”
“Not my wallet” is another innovation.
Parenthetically, males and female drug users often tend to conceal their stash in their private parts, making for some awkward if not disgusting pat-downs.
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.
Suspects in custody can sometimes go from combative and brazen to remorseful to tearful in a matter of minutes. They sometimes yell over over that “I didn’t do anything” or words to that effect.
Some mouthy or agitated 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.
Many 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. Many of them seem to enjoy cultivating an online following.
Parenthetically, many agencies seem to have a relaxed dress code, and officers’ facial hair seems to fluctuate from week to week.
Some of them may have a career in television media or politics after they retire from full-time law enforcement.
The Lingo
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.” Subjects often address cops as “bro” or “dude.” And instead asking subjects where they live, officers ask them where they “stay.”
They also try to reassure detainees that handcuffs “come off as fast as they go on” if or when a subject gets cleared.
In a pat-down, because of the prevalence of needles used by drug abusers, for their own safety, cops always ask if the subject has “anything in your pockets that’s going to cut, stab, or poke me?”
When asking a subject about drugs or other contraband, an officer often advises that “honesty goes along way” in the context of possible reduced (or no) charges. This does not include a subject’s fake honesty as discussed above.
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.
High-speed chases are common, as are slow-rollers who initially don’t pull over in a traffic stop. In the latter scenario, drivers often try to make it to their driveway or apartment complex to avoid getting their car towed. Slow-rollers can needlessly turn a routine stop into a stressful situation.
This is in addition to whatever other traffic infractions, warrants, or misdemeanors or felonies that might or might not be in play.
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. Based on how often cops find these devices, the digital scale business must be very lucrative.
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, subjects typically clutch and/or use their phones at all times no matter what, even when officers attempt to talk to them or or even when they’re 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. Or it’s in the car rather than in their wallet.
State laws differ as to the requirement to carry a license, but 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 say that they have a picture of their license, registration, or other required documents on their phone rather than in its 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. This is called officer’s discretion.
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 marijuana laws of some states, K9s in certain jurisdictions no longer get weed-sniffing training.
Last 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 “let’s get in a break” Abrams — he of the puns and the double entendres — and regular analysts Tom Morris, Jr. and Tulsa PD Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin provide commentary remotely from their homes rather than from the studio at the A&E network Hq. in New York City. With the same Live PD imagery superimposed in the background, they do the show from a “virtual studio.”
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 or observations about the incidents made by cops or Live PD, or anyone on Twitter or on another social media channel for that matter, may be incorrect, and no endorsement here of the content is meant or implied.
Live PD, Season 4, Episode 66, May 22, 2020
Abrams: “A high-octane night full of pursuits and attempted escapes…”
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Dep. Daniel Lambert attempt to make traffic stop for reckless driving. Pursuit at about 100 mph. Occupant allegedly throw gun and dope out of the window. Foot bail in residential area. Foot search by multiple deputies for suspect; K9 deployed. Update: Deputies ID suspect from prescription pills bottles left in car; warrants issued. Suspect alleged had prior warrants for fleeing from police.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Deputies stake out robbery suspect. Det. Glenn Henagan: “If he comes out the back door, he’s gonna get that four-legged love.” Suspect taken into custody as he leaves building.
- Clay County, Fla. — Traffic stop at gunpoint; possible stolen vehicle. Two occupants. Driver uses “honestly,” “God’s honest truth,” terminology. Sgt. Zach Cox: “The 16 year old has three warrants. He’s got some problems.” Cox: “You’re in possession of a stolen car, my man. You’re in the driver seat. He’s in the passenger seat, and he has three warrants.”
- Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to report of fight between security guard and his father who possible had a gun.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Traffic stop on truck; two occupants. Vehicle search. Pistol found under seat; gun is stolen according to dispatcher. One of the occupants already in cuffs runs but is quickly detained. “Not my gun.” Lt. Brett Cavaliere: “You about stupid. Well, it’s in your truck, so it’s yours now.”
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of man who was passed out in vehicle. Driver says he’s sober. Capt. Tracey Cantrell: “I would bet that your not.” Powder in baggie found that cops suspect might be fentanyl. Cantrell: Fentanyl “is very nasty; people have died from that stuff.” Substance tested positive for heroin. Cantrell gets some of it on his skin; another officer uses a chemical wipe on his arm. EMS summoned to check out Cantrell and treats him at the scene, but he has to go to hospital for further evaluation. Update: Capt. Cantrell is medically cleared.
- Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop; illegal left turn. Subject says he allegedly has one ounce of shrooms and four ounces in weed. Deputy Daniel Mulcahy: “Well, at least your honest.” Subject: “I’m not a liar, man. I’m a real human being; I’m not a bad person.” Lt. Danny Brown: “I know your not. Just because you got dope in there don’t mean your a bad person.” Abrams: “Those are not portobello mushrooms in case you were wondering.” Graphic: “Make’sshroom for this fungi.” Dep. Durrell Barry to subject: “They ugly, and they taste bad, but you still, like ‘I got to get spiritual.'” Abrams: “Sounds like he had a big Memorial Day Weekend planned, and instead, he’s just gonna end up with a memory of what could have been.” Subject arrested for possession, per Dep. Addy Perez.
- Crime of the Week — Sebastian County, Ark.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Deputies make contact with man and woman walking on road. Man has a BB gun under shirt. Henagan to male: “So just so you’re letting me know, the gun that’s tucked in your pants under your shirt is not concealed.”
- Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to motel on tip that some guys are allegedly selling meth from room. One suspect has warrants. Four motel room occupants detained. Officers allegedly find “stimulus: checks and printer in room; fraud suspected.
- Clay County, Fla. — After going to home linked to license plate info, deputies separately make traffic stop to detain teen who allegedly shoplifted from liquor store. Parents are very upset with son. Graphic: “Don’t mess with mom.” Abrams: “Sometimes the angrier the parents area, the more the police will them handle it.” Liquor store declines to press charges.
- Jefferson County, Ala. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “What began as a traffic stop for a tag violation turned into a dangerous pursuit.”
- Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies respond to report of break-in at residence.
- Missing segment — Greenfield, Ohio.
- Richland County, S.C. — Dep. Mulcahy responds to report of shots fired that turns out to be just fireworks. Mulcahy asks individuals to wait until the weekend.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Henagan and Agent James Lewis attempt to make traffic stop of vehicle for non-use of signal light. Extended pursuit. Occupant allegedly throws something out of the window. Female passenger eventually bails. Eventually the deputies lose sight of vehicle.
- Richland County, S.C. — Deputies investigate four individuals allegedly loitering at gas station. Car search. Dep. Barry to driver: “I’m just trying to make sure that you understand that you don’t have a drivers license so driving a vehicle on roadways is not smart. Carrying a gun on you illegally is not smart.”
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officer Charlie Kingery spots one or two women who have previously been trespassed from the property.
- Berkeley County, S.C. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “Cpl. Corinthian Green shared a very personal life lesson with a group of young teens.”
- Williamson County, S.C. — Dep. Charles Duvall makes routine traffic stop. Family requests to meet K9 Kato.
- Wanted segment — Louisa County, Va.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers attempt to serve a domestic battery at residence at an address that is different than on warrant. No one home.
- Richland County, S.C. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “A driver insisted he did not steal a car, but deputies found a few ‘cracks’ in his story.”
- Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop; speeding. Officers allegedly detect odor of weed and spot shake all over car. Car search. Driver says he has medical marijuana card. Officer Darrell Ross and Skyler Hargrove gives the driver the optiion of signing tickets and calling parents or jail plus car being impounded.
- Clay County, Fla. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “Some local residents were ‘fishing’ for trouble.”
End of episode (18 live segments and five pre-taped segments excluding the Morris blocks).
Live PD, Season 4, Episode 67, May 23, 2020
- Clay County, Fla. — Deputies respond to report of fight in progress at pool. Allegedly female vs. female. Graphic: “This went off the deep end quickly.” Graphic: “Investigating water fight.” Alleged victim declines to press charges. Alleged aggressor is trespassed from property.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop on big monster truck for swerving. Graphic: “Step ladder not found.” Driver released with no charges.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop. Cpl. Steve Zubkoff allegedly smell weed. Driver is on probation. Driver has blunt in shoe. Driver released with seat belt warning. Blunt is disposed of.
- Richland County, S.C. — Deputies respond to report of neighborhood argument/disturbance. Turns its just fraternity brothers socializing. No issue.
- Jefferson County, Ala. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “Cpl. Deanna Marshall pulled over a driver for a tag violation and then things got serious.”
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Det. Henagan and Agent Lewis make contact with couple (something to do with motel room access). Abrams: “A little confusing there, but apparently you heard there the possibility of a hand-to-hand drug deal, and they’re questioning whether this account actually makes sense and question of why he’s got the items he’s got in his bag.” Vehicle search; nothing illegal found. Both released with no charges.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop for not using turn signal.
- Pinal County, Ariz. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “A driver insisted she did not get in a fight but something about her explanation did not add up.”
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop. Driver allegedly admits to needles in pocket. Car search. Marijuana found. Cpl. Whetstone issues ticket fro no license and allows driver to call someone to come to the seen to driver him and the car home. Marijuana is destroyed.
- Crime of the Week — Moses Lake, Wash.
- Berkeley County, S.C. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “…During a traffic stop…a little ‘sole’ searching’ led to a big discovery.”
- Clay County, Fla. — Deputies investigate hit and run on motorcycle. Deputies subsequently question two subjects. Dep. Zach Cox to male subject: “Did you just fart on me? Goodness gracious. Well, I guess I did scare you. You just farted all over me. What’s wrong with you, dude? Subject: “I just got out of prison.” Cox: “That doesn’t mean you gonna fart on me. That’s disgusting.” Abrams: “Well, there’s another reason someone might want to wear a face mask.” Deputies are able to identify the vehicle but it is unclear who was driving it. Fortunately the motorcyclist only had minor injuries. Update: Female allegedly admits to being the driver. She is charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries. Abrams: “So that’s some classic police work there, right?. They’re able to identify the vehicle, they’re able to go and try to find the registered driver, wasn’t the person who was actually driving the car at the time, then able to go find the person who was, they deny it and eventually end up with an admission. So you have the full circle there on an investigation…consolidated in such a short period of time.”
- Richland County, S.C. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “Sgt. Furgal was called to a domestic dispute after a man complained about someone getting in his face literally.”
- Richland County, S.C. — Deputies respond to report of burglary in progress at apartment complex. Male detained; says he lives there but apparently is estranged from his wife. Door appears to be kicked in. Deputies also interview wife. Man leaves with some personal belongings. Deputies document incident in case apartment management wants to press charges.
- Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop on car that was spotted at two different motels. Car search; white substance found. Abrams: “So it cold be some form of foot powder or powder to keep shoes dry.” Apparently the substance tests negative. Driver and passenger released with no charges.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Deputies make contact with man at resident who says his wallet along with some underwear and socks were stolen.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Update on fleeing suspect from Friday night who is still at large. The Sheriff’s Office releases information on suspect and asks for the public’s help in locating him.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop. Officer Jason Heynie spots thre empty vodka bottles and one full one. Driver: “That’s not Live PD is it? I don’t want to be on Live PD.” Another officer called to the scene to conduct field sobriety testing.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officer Kingery responds to report of loud music and asks resident to keep it down.
- Missing update and new Missing segment.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Traffic stop on car that was sitting at stop sign. Deputies allegedly detect odor of marijuana. Vehicle search. Small amount of weed in car. Gun found. Det. Henagan issues summons for the weed. Gun is apparently clean.
- Tulsa, Okla. — Multiple officers respond to disturbance at skating rink. Officer Cassie Moore and many other officers disperse crowed, tells everyone to go home now or when their rides arrive. Several scuffles break out, and a few people are detained. Officer Moore: “I’m at a loss for words.” Morris Jr. points out that the “negative energy [of a crowd] feeds on itself.” No one appears to be social distancing.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop; possible false license plate.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Cpl. Whetstone responds to disturbance at convenience store. Abrams: “A guy misunderstands what the convenience part means. He apparently wants to take a shower.” Abrams: “Well, so it seems he’s worked himself into quite a lather here over the shower issue.” Subject is detained. Graphic: “Beeping in progress.”
- Lawrence, Ind. — Cops respond to “a guy who’s having issues with his man part,” according to Abrams. Officer Kingery to subject: “Here’s the deal. You can’t just pee out in the middle of the parking lot or pee in the middle of the street and not care if kids see…if you had kids, you wouldn’t want somebody peeing in front of them so they see your ding-a-ling hanging out.” EMS summoned to scene.
- Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop. Driver says he’s on probation. Dep. Aldonyia Brooks asks driver why he’s so nervous. Driver: “Because I was on the phone — I swear to God.”
End of episode (18 live segments, four pre-taped segments, excluding the Morris Jr. blocks).
Live PD returns on Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6, which is the show’s 300th episode.
